Captain Dave
From one Dave to another, though I prefer the moniker Field Marshall, I need to ask you a direct question. Just what exactly is it you are trying to say?
Three recent threads in this section, nominally three different topics. But I sense an agenda. You said you want a discussion about ethics, well have one directly then instead of fannying around.
If you are after a debate on hunting “ethics” you’ll find a few here willing to take a side and usually that’s to slag off those of us who actually know what they’re doing past 300yds. Some stalwarts of the long game will stick to their guns though. But all good, each to their own, like I said a few days ago I have experienced many different flavours of hunting. To the non-hunter they would seem to be one and the same sport. But they aren’t, each flavour requires its own specific competencies and experience. Step outside your skill level, and as in most aspects of life, you might end up flat on your face in a pileo’shite. It was good to see
@CarlW making a sensible statement about hunters judging other hunters, well said Carl.
So just be straight: you’ve stated somewhere that a shot past 150yds is a long ‘un for you in your hunting environment. My initial reaction to that was, well if they are difficult to track, shoot them in the neck and/or get a dog!
Well the business of going longer than 150yds, or whatever range is your limit, is not an ethical issue, its a competency issue. If you can’t, then don’t. If you can’t, but try anyway, that’s an ethical problem. But if you can, and you are confident, then go for it. (FWIW my view is that if the shooter can’t shoot a deer stone dead on the spot out of a blind with a solid rest at 150yds then I’ve got some questions to ask them about their competencies.)
So hunting “ethics” isn’t a question of ethics alone, far from it.
Lets define ethics quickly:
moral principles that govern a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity
Lets define competency:
the ability to do something successfully or efficiently
If you
don’t have the ability to shoot a deer DRT at greater than 150yds, then don’t try it until you so have the ability. If you are a proven shooter to whatever range, be it proper medium or proper long range, you’ll get no argument from me. Its up to each and every individual to define their limits based on their competencies, and their knowledge of their equipment.
DO define your personal ethics by establishing and maintaining your competencies. Maintenance of competencies is the critical part - calculation, proving your ballistics, practice, practice, practice.
DO NOT use an arbitrary ‘ethical position’ on hunting ranges or shot placement to judge others, on a hunting forum or elsewhere, as it makes zero reference to others’ competencies.
I have very clear max ranges for all my rifle and projectile combinations, with factors based on what the wind is doing. For light framed, thin skinned medium game like goats, fallow and smaller reds, those ranges are
proven to deliver requisitie accuracy and
proven to kill quickly. For bigger heavier animals like large pigs, mature hinds or heavy stags, another factor is applied. Same result: clean quick killing shots. No one else has the right to tell me squat about what ranges I should be shooting animals at and if they try I’ll explain why.