Dylan Pipinich
Member
Hello All
This is my first post on the forum, though I've read it for years. I've been in the long range shooting game (as a hobby, not competitively) for about 5 or 6 years. I'm no record breaker, but can consistently hit milk jug sized targets to 1000 yards and beyond at the range.
That being said, I had a couple opportunities to test my capabilities in hunting scenarios this fall. On opening day of the season, at daylight, I had a nice 6pt bull at 742 yards. No wind, dead calm. While he was pacing back and forth, there were instances that he'd pause for long enough to get a shot. For some reason, I never felt comfortable and never pulled the trigger. I was augured in, prone, dialed in and ready to let fly. This is a shot I've made hundreds of times at the range and would put my confidence level at 10 out of 10 at a range scenario. Instead, I packed up my gear and tried to get closer - unsuccessfully. No dice, and that turned out to be my only chance at a a bull elk all year.
2nd Scenario - Mule deer hunting this fall I come up on a herd of deer with a nice mature buck in it. They work their way up the draw and bed on the other side, with the buck at 690 yards. Again, I get prone, little wind, range, dial, and auger in. I even dry fired on the buck several times. Never pulled the trigger at this range. The struggle I was having internally was that it was very possible to get closer. In fact, he was in a very stalk-able location. Again, I pack up my gear and get closer. During my stalk, I found that the ground was much noisier than expected and I wake the napping deer, and all of the sudden he's at what turned out to be 350 yards (I didn't have time to range before the shot) quartering towards me and ready to bolt. I kneel down and take the shot and with some luck (and I mean that sincerely) my bullet found its mark.
After that plays out, I can't help but think how much more of an ethical shot I had at 690. I was prone, the animal had no idea I was there, and it was likely to turn out to be a much cleaner kill.
My question for you all is, do you have any advice making the leap from long range shooting into long range hunting? Am I the only one that's struggled to pull the trigger? I truly am lucky that I got that deer. 350 yards from a knee is no easy shot, and I'm pretty sure I could hit a pop can consistently at 690 from a prone position with enough time. Up to this point, I've always gone by "if you can get closer, get closer" mentality, but I could have easily caused me to wound an animal. To be honest, I probably shouldn't have taken the 350 yard shot at all, and I got lucky. Lesson learned.
This is my first post on the forum, though I've read it for years. I've been in the long range shooting game (as a hobby, not competitively) for about 5 or 6 years. I'm no record breaker, but can consistently hit milk jug sized targets to 1000 yards and beyond at the range.
That being said, I had a couple opportunities to test my capabilities in hunting scenarios this fall. On opening day of the season, at daylight, I had a nice 6pt bull at 742 yards. No wind, dead calm. While he was pacing back and forth, there were instances that he'd pause for long enough to get a shot. For some reason, I never felt comfortable and never pulled the trigger. I was augured in, prone, dialed in and ready to let fly. This is a shot I've made hundreds of times at the range and would put my confidence level at 10 out of 10 at a range scenario. Instead, I packed up my gear and tried to get closer - unsuccessfully. No dice, and that turned out to be my only chance at a a bull elk all year.
2nd Scenario - Mule deer hunting this fall I come up on a herd of deer with a nice mature buck in it. They work their way up the draw and bed on the other side, with the buck at 690 yards. Again, I get prone, little wind, range, dial, and auger in. I even dry fired on the buck several times. Never pulled the trigger at this range. The struggle I was having internally was that it was very possible to get closer. In fact, he was in a very stalk-able location. Again, I pack up my gear and get closer. During my stalk, I found that the ground was much noisier than expected and I wake the napping deer, and all of the sudden he's at what turned out to be 350 yards (I didn't have time to range before the shot) quartering towards me and ready to bolt. I kneel down and take the shot and with some luck (and I mean that sincerely) my bullet found its mark.
After that plays out, I can't help but think how much more of an ethical shot I had at 690. I was prone, the animal had no idea I was there, and it was likely to turn out to be a much cleaner kill.
My question for you all is, do you have any advice making the leap from long range shooting into long range hunting? Am I the only one that's struggled to pull the trigger? I truly am lucky that I got that deer. 350 yards from a knee is no easy shot, and I'm pretty sure I could hit a pop can consistently at 690 from a prone position with enough time. Up to this point, I've always gone by "if you can get closer, get closer" mentality, but I could have easily caused me to wound an animal. To be honest, I probably shouldn't have taken the 350 yard shot at all, and I got lucky. Lesson learned.