hoppdoc
.400 member
Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 1791
Loc: Southeastern USA
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Comments on another thread bring up an interesting question-
Is DG hunting still "hunting" when a longer than normal shot is taken??
I shoot Elk at long range and have no qualms about it but the distance to the animal can vary from 25 yards to 450 depending on the situation encountered.Is the elk being taken as a sniper would take his target? Yes.Is it ethical?
If you can make the shot--yes.
Elk are NOT DG though-- Completely different consequences here.
If I am going to go after DG I wish to be sure to make a fatal shot due to the horrible potential complications possible. Closer is better.
How far is too far??
I feel that reasonable limits of an accurate fatal shot are still hunting and not "sniping" if this term is meant in a derogatory fashion.The animal will be dead with either shot.
I would agree that longer than usual ranges does take the" D out of Dangerous game". But if I just want that euphoria I can always get really close and use a bow or a spear instead of a rifle.
I guess it all depends on the hunter and his rifle skills/comfort level.
What do others think?
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An armed man is a citizen of his country, an unarmed man just a subject.
Edited by hoppdoc (14/03/07 02:26 AM)
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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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A sniper's work is nasty business and I do whatever I can to keep discussion of it separate from hunting.
Long range shooting and hunting game are not sniping.
Anyone can screw up a shot, whether it's up close or a at a great distance.
Your responsibility to hunt ethically is the same at six paces as it is at six hundred meters.
--Tinker
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--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--
"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...
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Badger_Matt
.224 member
Reged: 29/10/06
Posts: 43
Loc: Simpsonville, SC
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Keeping in mind that I haven't even been to Africa and have only played footsy with a couple Brown Bear...
I wouldn't enjoy shooting DG from longe range but, more importantly, long range shooting at DG could put my PH and trackers, not to mention myself, in greater...eventual...danger. It would simply be more likely we'd have a pucker-filled follow-up on a not quite stiff animal. I'd be far more convinced a killing/stopping shot at 25 yds than at 200 yds.
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Grizzly
.333 member
Reged: 05/12/05
Posts: 359
Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA
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Something to keep in mind is the energy loss of your round at greater distances. One of the more useful purposes of ballistics charts is to show the energy and velocity bleed at longer distances.
With DG, you want as much punch as possible, both for your benefit and that of the game you are hunting.
Long range hunting certainly has its place. My personal view with DG is the closer the better.
With that said, I agree that we need to pay some attention to the words we use - "sniping", "canned", etc. play right into the anti PR machine.
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DSC Life Member
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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I would strongly prefer not to shoot any cape buffalo at a range of more than 25 yards or an elephant at a range of greater than 15 yards.
Getting close is a big part of the fun.
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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I haven't hunted DG....yet. I'll get my first chance in August of 2008, when I hunt Cape Buffalo with Vaughan Fulton, www.fultonclassicsafaris.com in the Caprivi Strip area of Namibia. Vaughan told me that no shot will be taken in excess of 50 yards, and will, most likely be in the neighborhood of 20 - 30 yards.
Edited by mikeh416Rigby (14/03/07 09:22 AM)
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