Brilliant article about hunting in July GUNS 2011

[Subal das]

what a great article !!

[shooter]

cant view the full article but the gist is what every hunter follows (or at least should follow) and what is a legal reqirement in the uk.

Long range shooting not advised.
dont shoot at a moving animal unless it is at a wounded animal.

[timmy]

Here's a link for the digital editions of Guns Magazine. One can pull up the July issue and read the article:

http://www.gunsmagazine.com/digital-editions/

I think that the article makes a very good point -- the great majority of people cannot handle this kind of shooting.

Back 30 years ago in Montana, I recall a story of a special hunt that took place on state land. The elk would come through a gap in the hills on their migration, and those who had drawn for this hunt were waiting. Apparently, several of the hunters were equipped with .50 BMG rifles. They opened up at a considerable distance, got their elk, and chased off the rest so that everyone else went home empty handed.

I admit to being less than impressed by this sort of stuff. I could see it for antelope hunting -- they are thick out west and most ranchers consider them to be pests. But for elk -- they are smart and a rash of this kind of hunting will make hunting them more difficult for hunters with normal guns.

The author of this article taps on an all-too-prevalent attitude in gun circles, at least over here: "I'm not affected by recoil, though I realize there are weaklings who are."

On another board where I used to participate, this question periodically arose: "I am getting older and don't see the sights so well. I don't want to use a 'scope. What can I do to continue to shoot?"

INVARIABLY, some windbag would post, "I'm 62 years old and I've got 20/20 vision, you don't need a scope to shoot, etc, etc, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseam."

I would always respond back with a quote from Victor McLaglen from the movie, Rio Grande: "Yeah, and I once swam the English Channel with an anvil on me chest!"

The absence of such chest-thumping is one reason why I enjoy the company and discourse on IFG.

[Subal das]

some quotes from the article

Discussing ethical issues is a risky business in this era of moral relativism, where expressing values is decried as being “judgmental.” I’m aware of the argument “as long as it is legal” we mustn’t criticize what others do.

We can debate what “long range” means. Certainly your definition is as good as mine.

Generally the claims are accompanied by disclaimers such as “long-range hunting isn’t for everyone, just special people like me.”

People have a happy facility of forgetting failures.

[prashantsingh]

"The modern day equipment has the accuracy and power to kill big game at 2000 yards and further".

Would you call shooting an animal from 2000 yards hunting?
I wouldn't.
For ME hunting is getting as close to the animal as possible and then taking the shot. A very important part of the hunt is the chase . Giving the animal an equal chance of escape.
From 2000 yards the poor animal has no idea that you are going to shoot him.

cant view the full article but the gist is what every hunter follows

Long range shooting not advised.

[Subal das]

that is the point, got a money buy good rifle, scope, range finder, windmeter, ballistic calculator, bring small bench rest with you. shooting range day out. and if somebody express different values is decried as being “judgmental.”

[timmy]

I don't exactly reject the idea of this sort of hunting. It's a lot like varmint shooting, where accuracy and shooting skills over long range are paramount. I simply don't see it as something that's desirable or applicable to big game hunting here in the USA. If we were back in the 19th Century, when game was plentiful and people were few, that would be one thing, but we are not. I agree with Prashant that the idea ought to incorporate the chase and stalking. Even though I am not a bow hunter, I agree with bow hunters being given an advantageous season. Likewise, black powder hunters. However, when it comes to black powder hunting, I do believe that traditional type arms with traditional iron sights, along with round or minie balls, should be used to obtain an advantageous season, as well. The idea here is the chase and stalking as part of sportsmanship. However, I'd readily agree that this is my opinion.

I do see hunting as an integral part of conservation. Therefore, it makes sense to allow as many people as possible to hunt, but to limit hunting weapons in their efficiency so that the number of successful hunters is kept to a level that ensures optimal game populations.