Ethics of taking a "Long Shot"

Weasel-UT, I think that is where I am coming in on this at. A vast majority of my shots on coyote to big game animals has been well under 100yds averaged out. In my years I feel I have practiced good calling, stalking, and stand techniques. I have though been lucky enough to not have my livelyhood effected by my performance in the field, if that changed my ethics would probably shift with it a litte on long range shooting.
 
I had to play ethics this morn I had one 40 yds but no clean shot so I let it walk /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif first one in 5 months /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif
 
I agree with the fellas that want them in close. When I deer hunted I used archery equipment exclusivly. As far as yots, my thought is CLOSE!

Good Luck fellas /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

3rd Alarm
 
If I see a coyote suffering from mange and only offers a long shot then yes, if not then no. on some occasions they will come in with a coyote or two that has prime fur and the mange one will get it.

I think if there is a chance that the animal may suffer because of a shot that I'm unsure of then I won't take it, but conditions have to play into this fact no matter the distance.

a long shot for some is 100 yards but the next guy is comfortable out to 400.

I would say most people on this site have spent so many hours pursuing their game and have far to much respect for them to just start lobbing shots away, plus if you let them go and pass on poor shots you will have anouther day to call them in when conditions are right.
 
I wonder how many hunters shoot at flying birds at any range, or running bunnys, but yet say they won't take a running shot at any other game. If we all only want to take shots that we are "very sure of hitting the target", why is it wrong to shoot a dove off a tree limb? How many guys shoot at running rabbits, instead of waiting until they are sitting? If you want to "never miss" and only take "for sure" shots, why doesn't everyone wait until the geese have landed, or the ducks have landed? And don't tell me it's because a shotgun is being used, because I've seen plenty of feathers pulled off of every bird that has a season on it!
We all have different levels of ability, we all have different limits of ability, so a shot that is "ethical" for one may not be for the next. We all need to strive to do our best, but I, for one, will continue to shoot at, and even kill a few, coyotes on the run. Practice shooting a running coyote only comes from shooting at running coyotes! Practicing for long range standing shots comes from practicing long range shots while at the range! It's much easier to become proficient at long range standing critters than running shots! If I happen to wound one, than the task of finishing it is up to me, and I hope I can do so in a quick manner! BUT because someone else thinks its unethical to shoot at a running, or a far away standing coyote, won't change the way I hunt! I, like most, try to do my best. BUT passing on do-able shots isn't my way!! I'm not a perfect hunter, but I try!!
 
I enjoy longe range shooting and bought a WT partly because of it's long range remote (1 mile plus). My longest coyote, so far, was just over 1/2 mi (890YDS).

I got into the VHA "500YD Club" with a 703YD shot on a prairie dog, hope to get into the "1000YD Club" this summer, and will eventually try for the 1500 and 2000YD clubs (all shots have to be witnessed by a VHA member, so it takes some planning).

I have rarely shot big game (other than antelope) at more than 100YDS, usually a lot less. I pass up more shots than I take, but that's because I only hunt deer for meat and am shooting to sever the spinal cord (better tasting meat), not out of "ethical" considerations. I also hunt deer in an area where I can always take my choice of at least 2 or 3 deer, within 15 minutes of my front door.

If I were hunting for trophies, I'd take the animal I wanted at whatever distance I could kill it at with the equipment at hand.

I have gotten into hand calls recently, and I do get a kick out of "bringing them in close" (not that I'm very good at it yet), but I won't quit setting up long shots too.
 
Back
Top