No one is debating that there is a vast majority of people out there that should not attempt long range hunting. Still, I am not happy being lumped into a catagory by someone that says what I do is slob hunting and unethical when in the next breath they will take or write an article about the best rifles out there for use jump shooting whitetails in heavy brush.
It is far less ethical to shoot at a running whitetail or elk in heavy cover then it is to take a 500 yard shot on the same game that is relaxed and unaware of your intentions.
Even if the shooter is not well practiced at long range shooting, a 500 yard shot at a calm animal will produce far better results then shooting at a running whitetail at 50 yards in heavy brush. Still one is promoted as ethical and the other is scorned.
The problem with opinions is that everyone has one. That is not a bad thing, we need them and have a right to them. The problem is that when someone has a platform of power and uses it to spread their opinion onto those that are uneducated enough to make up their own opinion based on facts.
A prime example, Rosy O'Donnel. Am I saying Zumbo is as bad as Rosy, no, but the damage he could do to the shooting sports would probably be just as bad as Rosy.
Rosy things no one should have any firarms at all because she lives in New York where she sees no need for them.
Zumbo never hunted with an AR so it was his opinion that they were worthless for field use and made that claim in public and only recanted his comments when he was forced to.
Zumbo does not think long range hunting is practical or ethical because he has never taken the time to see what can be done with good gear and most of all an educated shooter. As such he things everyone should think as he does. If enough start thinking that way, do not be surpised if we start to see some range limits imposed, stranger things have happened.
Everyone knows Rosy is a quake and no one really takes anything she says as meaningful, but if the anti gunners hear that Zumbo, a well respected member of the shooting sports is against any area of shooting or any specific firearm system, thats more ammo for them to use by saying, "See, even one of the most well known hunters alive is against such and such type of hunting with such and such type of firearms!!!"
Ya think the libbers need any more ammo, especially ammo from our own family members???
I have nothing against voicing your opinion but when you try to impose your opinion on uneducated people it can dramatically sway their opinion on a subject for no meaningful reason except because if one "expert" thinks this way maybe I should as well.
Yes Long Range shooters and Hunters are a very small group of people, at least the proficent ones are but we are growing in number through education and the proper gear specifically for such hunting. We do not need to take beatings from those in our own shooting and hunting family.
Zumbo started playing with some ARs in the field largely thanks to Ted Nugent and seemingly has changed his mind on the matter. Maybe he should pay to take Shawns long range shooting and hunting course and I bet at the end of it he would have a change of heart as well..... Maybe not but at least he would know what good gear and good instruction could allow him to do.
As far as you not being able to reach out to 500 yards, with the right rifle, I guarantee after a weekend of shooting we could have you consistantly hitting small targets at ranges well past 1/2 mile in good conditions.
THis is the critical area of long range hunting, knowing the conditions and more importantly, knowing your limits. This is something no other type of hunting needs to really worry about and as such they seldom do, we do not have that luxury. As such, from what I have seen shooting with some of the best shooters in the world, those of us that are students of the long range shooting skills are some of the most dedicated, ethical and patient hunters there are.
I remember around 10 months ago when I was sitting on a mountain side with Shawn Carlock and Travis Reggear and his son watching a 160 class whitetail walk up a trail for nearly an hour. He was in plain view for most of that time but was either quartering to much or something did not work for a shot. He moved more then 150 yards farther away over that time making the shot even more difficult.
As we watched the buck walk away, the comment was made several times that it would be better to let the buck walk and try to get him that evening then wound him on a questionable shot. All were in total agreement with that comment. Fortunately after an hour of watching, the buck turned perfectly broadside at 850 yards and all of our patients was rewarded.
Now how many "ethical" hunters would sit there and watch a 160 class whitetail at 50 yards run through some river bottom brush and not throw at least one piece of lead at it as it flashed in and out of cover?????
Would Zumbo scorn this hunter, NOT A CHANCE. Would he scorn what we did in Idaho, probably since he was not there to see how it went down.
That is my point, if your not educated on a subject, keep your mouth shut until you get some education, especially if your in a position to influence a large mass of people.
Kirby Allen(50)
