Maximum Range for Stalking

[MK-38]

I understand this has probably been done to death and that everyone has there own opinion and of course depends on experience etc.....

However I came across this on a stalking page on facebook and thought it was completely outrageous.

I am sure everyone will have there own opinion. I certainly have mine

 

[User00040]

Aye fine if he did it in a safe area and the beast went down cleanly but shouting about it on social media is bone.

Have to ask yourself why?

 

[MK-38]

I just don’t understand why anyone would even attempt a neck shot at 420 yards.

I think it is just complete disrespect for the animal. At that ranges the chances if wounding a beast are very high.

 

[sharkbait]

Too much to go wrong at that distance!
And after all it's called stalking for a reason

 

[John Wild]

That seems an awful long way. Your obvious an experienced shot but could you run us through why? Is it not a bit risky taking those super long shots?
Cheers
John

 

[Sika-Hunter]

Maybe didn't have the fitness or fieldcraft to close the distance for a more sensible range on live quarry.

 

[Stalker62]

Just curious about how many distance neck shots he took that he messed up and then failed to post...

 

[cjm1066]

Personally a 420 yards stalk is a bit short, its fun when its longer and clearly he had the option of a far longer stalk. Clearly he has some dedicated followers, I wonder if any of them are deer stalkers?

 

[hunter243]

Ego??

 

[slider]

While not something I would do I would guess he is trying to minimise time spent while shooting for numbers control purposed and not for the experience of the stalk.

Different people have different reasons for shooting.

 

[TomT3]

Willy waving - ‘I thought this would interest some of my followers’. For all I know this chap may be a world class sniper and could shoot a nats nutsack at 1km consistently but it doesn’t need to be posted all over fakebook.

It’s ok if your shooting gongs and doesn’t really matter if you wound the enemy - they are still out of action, but not when you are trying to humanely dispatch animal. If he can do it all day everyday fair play but I doubt that.

 

[Apthorpe]

I have a slightly different question:
How far can a stag's neck move in 3/4 of a second?

 

[McKenzie]

I just don’t understand why anyone would even attempt a neck shot at 420 yards.

I think it is just complete disrespect for the animal. At that ranges the chances if wounding a beast are very high.

He was probably aiming for the head.

 

[SDM]

Professional people don't brag on social media about there exploits

 

[Triggermortis]

At 420yds was he even aiming at the neck?
At that distance it could possibly be the result of a missed chest shot?

 

[topscots1]

I’m fairly certain he was aiming at the neck. Perhaps he dialled his scope in and is capable of reading the wind ? Yes perhaps some people class it as a long shot, but really not in the grand scheme of things. If he has the ability and equipment with a need to make long shots I don’t see an issue. It is each individuals choice to make a decision, I would hazard a guess many people would take the same shot against a fox ? Is one life more important than the other ? If this is active Deer management then fair play. It can not really be classed as stalking however there is clearly a need for both. And yes the head could have moved, however the stag may have been bedded down in a static position. Only the shooter can make the call, given that he did an achieved his aim. I have seen many people miss and injure deer at 100 yards, it is the individual not the distance.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Devil's advocate here, he could have aimed at the neck? He could have been shooting a 2 inch gong when it stepped out? Highly unlikely obviously but i could have happened. He states it was a neck shot, presumably first shot or maybe he took a shot at a badly shot animal to drop it? Without all the facts we can't really say a great deal

 

[Essex stalker]

I think it shows the varying attitudes different people have to deer. To some they are a majestic and wonderful animal that deserves respect and treated humanely and to others they are simply a target

 

[sikasako]

It's all down to personal capability and shot placement repeatability.

Attempting neck shots at the range mentioned in the post is totally irresponsible in my opinion.

 

[SDM]

I dont do FB but is Field Sports Scotland an outfitter or just a FB stalking page