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Hunting range limit

Here in my parts of northwestern Pennsyltucky (Pennsylvania) during gun season for deer it’s really just ambushing. Sure if there’s some snow on the ground, you can do some still hunting, if you have a big enough piece of property to do it on. I remember my dad telling me years ago you’re not hunting you’re just ambushing. You’re paying the game commission so they don’t have to do their job, they should be paying you to reduce the numbers of the deer herd. I thought to myself, blah blah blah and as I got older, I realized he was right as he usually was. Like the same goes when handed a bag of lemons learn to like and make lemonade. Some people like to plant a garden for produce during the cold winter months. I like to plant a couple of venisons to make it through the winter months.
 
L.Sherm said:
Have any proof of that or is it the internet lore.
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I don't know of anyone keeping records but how may people that you know practice and maintain their equipment well enough to make a cold bore shot at 400, 500, 600, 700 yards in the field in field conditions?

Let's make sure we add in the fatigue of the hunt, the shooting sticks or make shift rest, the difference in altitude and temperature that you practiced in. Then add in the fact that you shot groups and didn't test only one cold bore shots. You shot good groups and zeroed but didn't returnnabd fire just one shot and check that cold bore.

It's a reasonable assumption that shooters talk better then they actually shoot.
 
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If people practice enough limits can be moved out fairly quickly.

I shot X-Course and Silhouette for decades. I also hunted for decades. To this day I can shoot offhand standing, kneeling, squatting, sitting better than most can shoot from a bench.

Since I have not done any F since Covid-19 when last I was out practicing I noticed my post Covid-19 belly getting in the way a bit shooting prone. I am working on it I suffer long covid and loseing the weight has been a problem.

What get's in most peoples way the most is wind calls and range estimation. Once you eliminate unknown range it is being comfortable in what ever postion you chose to shoot from. Also when not using a rest you have to know your own personal wobble well and time the trigger break.
 
I think it should be more like Europe where you have to prove your ability to hit moving animals on a screen to get liscense. They already charge enough for a liscense that they can set this up cheaply today.

I think driving tests should be much harder too again more like Europe.

I also think hunting seasons should be multiple times a year for all game especially big game and the limit should be higher!
 
ELR LVR said:
Objection: Speculation and Argumentative
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Maybe but everyone has their own definitions, when I was running my business I did guided hunts. No time for taking two weeks, way too much money being lost, college, mortgages, insurance and employees to pay. So yes this was the hunt that my lifestyle allowed, they were not the one I remember. No one I want to relive.

The one I remember was 52 years ago, the day before I shipped out, I hunted a very good buck all day. In the field at first light, out of the field at end of day. With about an hour left in the day I had him, very close range, he was mine and I let him go.

I had to drive to dinner with my family and catch a flight at 5AM, no time to dress the animal or enjoy the reward. I didn't need the meat, I needed the experience, I still have dreams of that day. That would be the hunt to relive!
 
Alright,
For people who don't know how
Bear no relevance with people that do
Pictured:
Typical 600 cold bore
I regularly check my DOPE on my long range guns to ensure from season to season they are ON
Meaning, whatever I am aiming at, I do not miss by more than 1 inch
Not 1 MOA at 600 which is 6 inches
but 1 inch regardless the distance out to 600
And this wasn't even my most accurate rifle
2 Shots fired to check for consistency
2 Shots Because 1 shot could have been luck
yet 2 Shots within 1 inch of POA is skill
Notice how well the elevation held for both shots
Meaning the Load is fine tuned to correctly coincide with a DOPE chart
and velocity spread is nill
the 1 inch miss was due to not factoring in a small cross wind, because I first wanted to see how much the small wind pushed the bullet.
And it's good enough for a kill hit because the correction would have amounted to
1 click
(The lines on the paper are .275" spacing)
Once an accurate firing solution is confirmed
Then, I can hit anything between me and the red arrow
Some of us don't live on the bench, but out in the field
 

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If you hunt the country i do your a fool to hunt alone.
Have you ever tried to pack a Elk out alone?
Thought so
 
That gun that shot that Buck shot this group for the 3rd time right before hunting season started at 665, the very left one is the cold bore then the middle and right one were 2 and 3 all off a bipod
Thats a 1.5" black sticker.
 

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Same gun with fully prepped WW brass before I switched to ADG.
As you can see its not a one off wonder.
This was actually at 700 yards.
My other primary gun a 30-28 shoots pretty much same way.
 

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David Milisock said:
I don't know of anyone keeping records but how may people that you know practice and maintain their equipment well enough to make a cold bore shot at 400, 500, 600, 700 yards in the field in field conditions?

Let's make sure we add in the fatigue of the hunt, the shooting sticks or make shift rest, the difference in altitude and temperature that you practiced in. Then add in the fact that you shot groups and didn't test only one cold bore shots. You shot good groups and zeroed but didn't returnnabd fire just one shot and check that cold bore.

It's a reasonable assumption that shooters talk better then they actually shoot.
Click to expand...
My wife and daughters have filled tags, one shot, cold bore and at those ranges. They’ve never lost an animal. You bring up good points but there may be more people than you suspect who do what you mentioned. If it’s not for you I understand that too.

It just goes back to how much time you spend preparing before the hunt. We are shooting four times a month now, everyone who has tags, and will do so right up until the hunts in November, December and January. Some gadgets now days figure most the variables, altitude, temp etc. It’s the wind that causes us to pass on shots at range more than anything else and we’ve passed a few we really would have liked to taken a shot on.

For me, my opinion, it just goes back to stay with in your comfort zone, your skill set.
 
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To the inexperienced:
We can explain it to you
But we cannot understand it for you
----------------------------------------------
Maybe some of the guys who keep using or think they need a 300 Winmag
would be wise to watch this video
Having the "CORRECT" equipment is really all it takes
and not using more gun than you actually need
He went from punishing his shoulder and not being able to hit plate once
To suddenly making 700 yard shots with the right caliber and right reticle scope
You think us guys that shoot long range don't know the right equipment to ensure success?
I've taken 13 year old kids, and allowed them to make 600 yard cold bore hits on steel
Then taken their dad who "THINKS" he knows what he's doing and cant make one hit with his gun and do the same as their kid did with my gun.
(With my gun meaning, IE: the right equipment)

 
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