Quote:
The best hunter will take the shortest shots.
I'm curious as to what led you to that belief? Is there that great a challenge to getting a deer close to you in MA?
I have never hunted MA, but I can tell you for sure that getting close doesn't necessarily have anything at all to do with "the best hunter".
In NM I took a deer every year from the same bluff overlooking a stream where there are deer almost any morning of the year, 15 minutes from my house, and I shot them from 15-30YDs away. It wasn't hunting at all or even shooting, just putting meat in the freezer.
The only reason I went so far away was to get out of the village limits where shooting was legal. Otherwise I could have taken a deer from my front porch any morning as they went to bed down.
I have spent WAY more "hunting" time looking for a place to kill the animal where I wouldn't have to pack meat across half a state than I ever have looking for game.
I've always been a meat hunter, but why do some guys look for trophy animals? Could it be that just "hunting" (finding the game) isn't enough of a challenge?
The same thing applies to many bow-hunters. They use a bow because they wouldn't be challenged hunting with a rifle, it's just "too easy" in their opinion. Not necessarily because they are shooting from close up (they could shoot from as close with a rifle), but because of the other "challenges" involved, holding a bow at full draw (whatever it's called) for minutes at a time while remaining perfectly still, etc.
Even then, many bow-hunters are trophy hunters too. Why is that do you suppose? Could it be to increase the level of challenge even more?
That is precisely the reason some folks choose to hunt from long range. Shooting from close up is just too easy, and they want more of a challenge.
I haven't hunted anything but predators for several years now. The biggest reason (besides not having a freezer anymore) is the LACK of challenge in big game hunting. Deer are very often a nuisance on my predator stands (in season or not). Getting close to them (or them to me, LOL) is a matter of irritation, not hunting skill.
When I call in a coyote at 1000Yds+ using my long range e-caller, and (using my caller) get him to stand still long enough to set up and take a shot, I will be proud of that as an accomplishment worth noting. (I haven't done it yet, but I'm trying)
Depending on a coyote's behavior or just on my mood, I've given singles that come in on a more normal 100-200YD stand a pass, just to watch their behavior and reaction to scent and different sounds, and truthfully sometimes just because they were too easy.
If/when I call in a triple or better on that short stand and manage to drop all of them by myself, THAT will be an accomplishment I'll be proud of as a hunter/shooter. (I haven't done that yet either, lol)
If either one of those ever became easy, I'd look for something else to do or another way to do it (maybe a 1500YD called coyote).
If getting them close up is a challenge for you that's great, but even if you plan on jumping on the animals back and strangling him, the challenge to "close in" hunting has it's definite limits.
Long range (theoretically) has no limits, and the challenge will always be there just by extending your range.
Either way is as much "hunting" as the other in my experience.
