I have been guiding Mule Dee on the Greys River area of Wyoming for a few years now and it is known for its huge Mule Deer and steep terain. This hunt is sometimes called a poor mans Sheep hunt as these deer live on top of clliffs that you would only think Mountain Sheep could get to. I have seen some deer over the years that we call unkillable because there is no way to get close enough to them with out beeining seen. This last fall one of my guides and his hunter looked at one of those deer on top of the world with multiple escape routes. He was 770 yards away acording to my guides leapould range finder. His hunter informed him that he could make that shot, I would have liked to seen, the look of you bet on my guides face. The hunter asked for the range angle of rise and took out a wind meter. He oped up a book with ballistic charts made some adjustments on his scope and shot. The Mule Deer Buck fell over dead. This was done with a Christenson Arms 7mm Mag with a Leapould Scope. This hunter told us he has been waiting 25 years to make a shot like that on wild game instead of paper targets. What a shot!

I feel compelled to reply to this post as I am also a fan of the “long shot”.  Many people would think that shooting at an animal at those distances would be considered unethical because the margin of error is so fine that wounding an animal and not actually killing it seems almost definite.  Consider this….....there are many styles of hunting and to be an ethical hunter you should always prepare yourself to make the most humane shot you can.  How?  Practice practice.  Whether you are shooting a bow, rifle, shotgun or whatever, you should know your limitations and follow them strictly.  I have friends that will go to the rifle range, set out a milk jug at 50 yards and if they can hit it 3 out of 5 times they are good to go.  Then I hear them talking at work about the big buck that they wounded.  For me…..I am not happy unless I can shoot a group the size of a dime at 100 yards.  You wont hit a dump truck at 500 yards unless your gun can shoot like that.  Bottom line is if you know you can make the shot, then take it.  If you have any doubt then dont.

I have talked to many people about distance shooting and the biggest quarrel I have heard is that it isnt really hunting.  In some ways I would agree because I am not strictly a distance shooter.  I still enjoy stalking and getting down and dirty in the woods.  I have shot big deer both ways, but understand the argument.  To me, I have adapted to my hunting area. When I was a kid I used to watch big deer pass by me out in the open bog and never shot at them because I thought they were too far to shoot.  My dad bought me a ruger 300 mag for graduation and together we looked up ballistics and “worked” up a load for it.  I never go to the bog without it and I feel comfortable shooting without wind, up to 500 yards.

At any rate, I am sure there are people out there who dont share the same sentiments as I do but there is a common bond here…....the love for the outdoors and the passion for the “hunt”.  Or “shot” or whatever it is that gets into your blood.

Mike Higgins

USW Local 449

Check out these long shots. Don’t if you are weak hearted or stomached. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
These are supposed to be Canadian sniper units in Afganistan. I can’t get the written part of the e-mail I received this in, to copy to the forum. It says the record for a confirmed hit is 2,400 meters or 1. 48 miles. They use 50 cal. McMillan bolt action rifles that hold five rounds. This came off the internet so it might be a fake. It’s kind of neat tho, altho, as the streaker song goes,  “don’t look ma” if you’re weak hearted.

http://mysite.verizon.net/dslyr1/longshots.wmv

what are the shooting (and hitting) at?  and what are they shoot with?
amazing shots but it looks like animal and not people.

as far as long shots being “politically correct”. i think maine guy said it best “adapted to my hunting area”. if long shots are there and you are able to put down a animal with a sot then take it.  dont take a 22 auto and shoot 20 rounds and hope you hit something. that is not hunting.

my only question would be if you make a long shot and you feel you “missed” do you still walk over to make sure? that would seperate the hunters from the killers.

oh and this is #300.  COOL!!!

As a proud bowhunter, to me there is nothing better than killing game at close range. I practice at length to make the ethical shot and increase my chances during the season. The challenge for me is to get as close as possible to my target. With that being said, if I were a rifle hunter there would be two challenges. The first challenge would still be to get as close as possible to my target (50 yards or less). The next challenge would be to practice my butt off to make the longshot and then actually make it. Both are enormous challenges and if accomplished are someting to be very proud of. The key is the hard work of studying, researching, and practicing. All of the above make for sucessful hunting and that is what our sport is all about. Buying a tag and then going hunting is always the EASY thing to do. But working and practicing at our sport is always the REWARDING thing to do. The confidence he had in himself is extraordinary. Great story! I love to hear about when hard work pays off.

By the way, Ron, those longshots are freakin awesome!

Bigbird, you ask a great question.  And my answer is absolutely!!!  Any hunter who shoots at anything has the obligation to look for a hit.  Just because the animal runs off doesnt mean he is not hit.  I have had many times that I thought I missed only to find a downed animal a few feet away.  One particular stands out…...was hunting with my sister and I shot at a nice buck.  He presented me with a shot at 175 yards so I shot for his neck. She was watching through binoculars and immediately said that I hit him.  When I saw him run off I thought there was no way that deer took my bullet in the neck and ran off but you know what? Thats exactly what happened.  Teach your kids at a young age not only to hunt but to have respect for the animals they hunt.  I like venison too much to leave them to the coyotes!!

Just a little reply to the video…......I am not sure what they are hunting or killing or whatever you want to call it but man o man, there is nothing left!!!  Hope they arent hunting because there is nothing left to eat!!

Mike Higgins

USW Local 449

Like I said I couldn’t get the printed story that came with the e-mail to copy so I could paste it here. These are Canadian soldiers in Afganistan doing the shooting. They are not on a “high dollar outfitted hunting trip.” The targets are supposed to be people that are watching the roads for our soldiers to come along and watch them get blown up by the roadside bombs they planted. Instead we get to watch them get blown up. I wonder if they have to have all their parts when they get to heaven, and their 72 virgins. Looks like some have to be reissued some.