350 to 500 yards

[Ackman]

My folks had a pair of Canada geese hanging out in the front yard. Those things are poop machines and it was all over the place. Stuff looks like cat turds, and 30 cats probably wouldn't make as much as those 2 geese. In your situation I'd likely also nail a few.

 

[M700]

"want to go hunting out west some day hopefully"

Despite what you see on the internet and on some TV shows, most hunting "out west" is at ranges far under 500 yards. Sight in a typical hunting rifle at 200 - 300 yards, be prepared to take shots a little farther. Come on out and hunt. Most of my mule deer have been taken somewhere between 100 - 300 yards. A few farther, a few at much shorter ranges.

Somehow year after year we manage to take game out here with archery gear, muzzle loaders, and traditional lever guns at appropriate ranges.

You can of course seek out long - range hunting opportunities, but just hunting will get you shots at far more normal ranges.

Regards, Guy

 

[model 12 toby]

i heard that. where you live? it might be a reality this winter. got some dough saved up. the woman said i'm allowed. lmao. ;D
i hope to hunt antelope. maybe some predators.

 

[M700]

OK - just so there's no confusion - I'm not inviting you to come out and hunt with me. That's something I do with family and close friends. Am saying you should come on out and hunt "out west."

Do some research first. I hunt mostly Washington where I live, and make the trip to Wyoming for mule deer or elk every two or three years. I also fish in Idaho, Alaska & British Columbia now and again.

Pronghorn? I've never seen so many as in Wyoming! Also quite a few in Montana. To hunt "out west" you'll need to get with the various states - they all have different application processes and fees. For example Wyoming requires non-resident hunters to apply quite a ways in advance. I believe that's already closed for antelope & deer this year.

There's a bunch of public land in most of the western states, but some fine hunting is also avail on private land. Some of that private land is easy to access. Some isn't.

Seems all the states have some kind of on-line hunting license & tag application process anymore, or at least info on how to apply. Some want a substantial chunk of change up front, but refund that money to you if you're not drawn.

Good luck! Guy

 

[Ken]

seems to me if you want to shoot 500 yds then practice at 500 yards. I put clay birds at 500 yards and try to hit them. Not a big trick with most rifles including fast twist 223s. In my opinion based on years of long range prairie dog shooting your scope must have target or tactical turrets. Sight in at 100, zero the turret setting then shoot and record comeups at various distances out to 500 or even 1000. My 223 AI 75 amax need nine and three quarter minutes of elevation to be on at 500.This way you hold the crosshairs dead on the target and estimate the wind and mirage. Hitting the clay bird the first time a 500 is a little tough but once you shoot and see the environmental effects its fairly easy to click in
the corrections. You shouled hit it on the third try.