How well does the average big game hunter shoot?

[Mike Matteson]

Here in Washington State I've seen more "hunters" make unethical shots vs their skill set. They serious just sling copper as fast as they can. Worst part is they don't look at their background. With it being a pumpkin patch in most areas around here you'd think they'd watch out. They don't. It's literally like an Elmer Fudd cartoon.

We hunt the high country of the Methow. My camp has been doing it for 15 years now. I started with my grandpa and dad in 1991 in the area. 3 years ago a buddy was up on the higher hill in a decently popular area. He jumped a nice 6x6 on his hike. Not to put pressure on it he just lagged behind a little as most of us do to get closer. He got within 250 yards when all hell broke loose.

Couple of idiots were on the road and spotted the monster. Immediately they got out of their rig and opened fire right in my buddies direction. He hit the deck and after they unloaded their rifles he stood up and started yelling and waving his orange. The idiots reloaded and continued to fire as they hadn't come close to hitting the deer and he didn't know what was going on.

One of them ended up hitting it in the leg. It took off with my buddy low crawling in his direction. He caught up to it laying in a gully. He spooked but didn't get far as my buddy put him down. I got to the scene as I was within radio and shot distance to hear the story and help him get it to the truck. I ranged from where he was to where they were on the way down. 835 yards up hill!

Got down to his rig and lo and behold they were there watching us drag him from the other side. With an extreme amount of restraint and a few choice words they left. My buddy decided to notify the game warden. To much avail, nothing was done as they couldn't prove that they were actually firing in his direction and I couldn't bear witness. He did say he'd talk to them but nothing ever came of it.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time this has happened to us it's just one of the worse ones we have experienced. I heard the shots and it sounded like a war zone. I've personally had bullets zing over my head while in the field. It concerns me a lot that idiots don't practice and take unethical shots per their skill but it bothers me even more they don't check their shooting lane. Well, off to the range for me! I'll be at cascade rifle and pistol if anyone else here in WA is bored!

I had some village idiots shooting over my head and others there with me. I don't know what they were shooting at, but it was going over our heads. With me it's not a good idea to do that. I will return fire. Anyway I figured they just shooting up the hill for the hell of it. I place a shot over there heads into a large rock. They left quickly. Shooting or looking at me with a scope doesn't bold well with me. Being an old combat vet I can and will return fire if needed and it won't just to say HI.

 

[Unionsparky46]

I had some village idiots shooting over my head and others there with me. I don't know what they were shooting at, but it was going over our heads. With me it's not a good idea to do that. I will return fire. Anyway I figured they just shooting up the hill for the hell of it. I place a shot over there heads into a large rock. They left quickly. Shooting or looking at me with a scope doesn't bold well with me. Being an old combat vet I can and will return fire if needed and it won't just to say HI.

Yep. I'm of the same mindset my friend. It took a lot of restraint for me not to return fire. I just waved my orange vest and they stopped. My brother was shocked I didn't drop one at their feet. This state has goofy laws though and I would have most likely been prosecuted if I did.

 

[Mike Matteson]

Yep. I'm of the same mindset my friend. It took a lot of restraint for me not to return fire. I just waved my orange vest and they stopped. My brother was shocked I didn't drop one at their feet. This state has goofy laws though and I would have most likely been prosecuted if I did.

No common senses.

 

[Unionsparky46]

No common senses.

Spot on. Sometimes those ******* don't know what the person they are actually looking at through their optic or sending rounds towards has experienced in life. They just crack another Bud Light and figure all is good until,….

 

[sp6x6]

44-40 I grew up the same way.I shot in small bore club in HS.Snow ski raced and tele raced.Raised my kid same.Took him in a basin when he was 9 bugling elk, big 7 pt across, started to drizzle, put a garbage bag on him and left my 44 in his lap. He was 6 year expert in marines with rifle and pistol. I also shot on state champ pistol team and archery league for many years.This a ten mile loop with my 340 I got when I was 20,and a belt knife.Im still doing it ,but pack twice the crap with me. my first 6x6 was at 500 +

 

[sp6x6]

The KID, after 4000vert on the fly field position

 

[NW Hunter]

The KID, after 4000vert on the fly field positionView attachment 471037

Great form, great country!

 

[sp6x6]

Results, practice pays off

 

[Shane Lindsey]

 

[FrogFire7]

But, But, you failed to mention how you went about the shooting on the animals you wounded at close range, as opposed to those you killed at long range.
Was there a difference in your shooting method that helped you on the long shots?
Simply wearing ear protection wont do that as you well know.

Well, one of the big differences was WEARING EAR PROTECTION.

If you are asking if I was proned out on a bipod or front rest, with a rear bag support for the close range deer shot, I'll go ahead and answer the question. No I was not.

 

[RockyRandy]

I don't know how many of you out there are like me but I wanted to read all the post before I tell you my story of how good of a shooter I think I am.
I grew up shooting sparrows in the tree's and at night with them sleeping in the eve's of our grain bins at the ripe age of 6. Then shooting jack Rabbits in the desert by our farm all with open sights and with open sights I was pretty deadly, then at 12 I was able to go deer hunting with a real rifle, 30-06 and a scope which I had a hard time adjusting to a scope (weaver 4x) thing seem to move around a lot with that scope! needless to say I only wish I knew then what I know now as to how to shoot with a scope and I would have some really nice bucks on the wall. But one must learn from there mistakes and I believe I'm a slow learner sometimes!
I will admit that I fell into the category that many of you have mentioned that you sight your rifle in at 200 yards and you sight it in at 2" high and you are good to out to 400 yards right!! wrong! (By the way I was shooting a 7 Mag) I would always shoot about 4 shots to make sure I had my zero and off hunting I would go missing more then what I was hitting only because I forgot about the heart beating out of my chest syndrome. Fortunately the only deer I hit and didn't recover was shot at 30 yards, then shot again at 20 yards and was going to shoot it again at 10 yards and didn't because I just hit it twice why shoot again, right! I followed it up the mountain for 3/4 of a mile and picked up over 12" of bone and lost his track, only late after telling my story to a experience hunter that he told me that my bullet wasn't a quality bullet and it was going so fast that it blew up on impact.
It wasn't until I started shooting long range that I really learned what shooting was all about and just how ignorant I really was. I'm a farmer and I am very blessed to have a paper range from 100,200,300,400 yds and a steel range from 400 out to 1355. Only now after going to 2 shooting schools and several 1000 rounds do I consider that I'm a okay shot.

 

[sp6x6]

I grew up right where I live now, rural.I trained myself, like in the shooters bible with a BB gun with no sites throwing cans in th air and shooting them.Hung coffee cans on fence at 1/4 mile and would shoot them off hand, shot in local rifle club.Same 243 I shot Deer then at fence line, back then everything was 300 zero.After loosing big bull with my 7rm, at 20 I picked up a 340wby,put 400 rounds threw it first year, packed it 35 more.That season shoot my first 6x6 at 500+We had a local 1000 yard range back then, I would ring the ram head steel at 500 with my duplex Leupold.As I grew up I got to see how the sister club Penn 1000 bench did it .Several there are my friends.Always around archery and rifle hunters, many very accomplished, still learning

 

[Bravo 4]

Careful with the term "average hunter" around here, some take offense by it. Kind of like how folks nowadays think that either you agree 100% with what someone says or does, or you have a phobia against it. Guess I have koinophobia (fear of being average or ordinary, or FOBO). I am after all, of below average height and intelligence.

 

[birddog 68]

I truly believe that the average hunter is a below average shot. I consider myself a average shot and after shooting numerous times with different guys that I work with (at least 8 of them) they are definitely below average or maybe I am slightly above average?