Woodsmanship is certainly not part of the newer hunting clan(s). It's great to see the eyelashes on a deer! And not through a rifle scope. Figuring out where and why that critter does what he does is the best part, then setting up to determine if what you did was correct!
I agree with this article. I started out muzzleloading for deer - when it was a patched roundball, blackpowder and open sights. Most shots taken were under a 100 yds. I know it made ME a better STALKER/HUNTER. Not dissing on long range. Both have their own levels of difficulty. Kudos to those who do both well.
I agree the long range thing has gone crazy its hype to sell products everyone wants to be a Sniper. I have only shot one Deer past 40yds,and have killed my share with iron sighted muzzle loaders that i built myself.I use a scope on my rimfire squirrel rifles and my center fire rifles because of my eyes,i use a modified peep on my muzzleloader.
Go on you-tube and check out videos by The Real Gunsmith see want he has to say about LR hunting or shooting.
A great article, and one the expresses the feelings of most hunters on this forum. Squirrel hunting will certainly "make a hunter" out of you, I know it did me. I am a die-hard bird hunter mostly, and live 3 months out of the year with a shotgun in my hand. But once the cold of winter sets in, and the freezer is full of quail and a deer or two, I'm going to grab my trusty .22 and head to the woods for some squirrel hunting. Sitting on a log and watching a den tree, or listening and stalking, or (here lately) following a good Cur dog is some of the finest hunting a person can get. There's certainly a measure of pride (and skill) involved in popping a golfball size target at the top of a giant oak tree. And if I can come home with a limit, so much the better!
The vast majority of shots that I have taken at squirrels over the years have been fifty yards or closer. Ever once in a while you can happen to see one at a longer distance, but around here the woods are very thick with multiple canopy/underbrush, and those long rangers are the exception rather than the rule. Can't see them, can't shoot them. The only deer I have ever killed was shot from less than 20 yards. I was sitting quietly watching for squirrels, dozed off in the warmth of the sunlight coming through the trees and it walked right up on me. I guess that a lot of folks fantasize about Western style big game hunting, where spotting critters at long distances is possible. Most deer around here are shot from box blinds and tree stands, often at shorter distances. There are some places where there are clear cuts of timber tracts where long shots could happen.
Thanks Sophia, I know Will personally, met him when he was going to MSU in Murray,Ky..He brought a shotgun to my shop for repair..He is a down to earth country boy family man, has killed a lot of big game, but he takes squirrel hunting as serious as if he was hunting Elk.
This was a great article. I agree that the long range hunting craze is out of control. Hunting ethics have given way to hunting ego and self aggrandizement. There are countless videos on youtube showing ridiculous shots being taken and hitting the target but you have to know that for every 400-700 yard video where the shot took out the elk or deer, there were plenty videos which never made it to youtube of wounded animals that wandered off and suffered prior to dying because of a poorly placed shots that never should have been taken.
I dont want this to be an indictment of hunters or shooting sports but we need to spend more time teaching hunting ethics in hunter safety classes. Our quarry deserves our best efforts
This was a great article. I agree that the long range hunting craze is out of control. Hunting ethics have given way to hunting ego and self aggrandizement. There are countless videos on youtube showing ridiculous shots being taken and hitting the target but you have to know that for every 400-700 yard video where the shot took out the elk or deer, there were plenty videos which never made it to youtube of wounded animals that wandered off and suffered prior to dying because of a poorly placed shots that never should have been taken.
I dont want this to be an indictment of hunters or shooting sports but we need to spend more time teaching hunting ethics in hunter safety classes. Our quarry deserves our best efforts
Thanks for sharing, Sophia!
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