True hunting distances

[Hogpatrol]

If your PH observes you and sees that you can't hit shit because of recoil, no practice, unfamiliarity with the firearm, hunting inexperience etc., he/she will probably limit you to close shots, 100 yards or less. I shared a camp with a couple of well heeled newbies from an eastern European country. They did just ok at the bench but one of them missed the same kudu bull at 150, 100 and finally 75 yards.

 

[Dbrown4183]

If your PH observes you and sees that you can't hit shit because of recoil, no practice, unfamiliarity with the firearm, hunting inexperience etc., he/she will probably limit you to close shots, 100 yards or less. I shared a camp with a couple of well heeled newbies from an eastern European country. They did just ok at the bench but one of them missed the same kudu bull at 150, 100 and finally 75 yards.

 

[Dbrown4183]

Though i would never claim to be a competition marksman at long range i have been hunting for over 45 years and can honestly say if i didnt feel confident in being able to put an animal down at 100 yds i wouldnt be in the field. I have shot the 416 more than the 300 win mag and that is why i feel more comfortable with it out to 200-250 yds but if i didnt feel that i could shoot the 300 win mag with accuracy as well this wouldnt even be a discussion for me. I will readily admit that all my shots in the field over all these years have been 275 yds or less with 90% or more being under 100 yds. Living in the Northeast USA there are not a lot of long whitetail shots. I want to thank everyone again for this very helpful input.

 

[TTundra]

Jackal attempts 35-200 yards

Little buggers are like Houdini once you get shoulder'd

 

[Hogpatrol]

Little buggers are like Houdini once you get shoulder'd

I have the most problems with springhares. Get the post point on them and they hop a couple feet. Get them dialed in again, another hop. After a few hops, and a little more rapid response on my part, the Fireball puts them in the tracker's pot.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I think the most important thing is to know at what range you can confidently (and honestly) say “I can make this shot” and then let your PH know that is your limit.

Any PH worth his salt is going to respect the fact that you have practiced enough to know what you are and are not capable of reliably doing. He will respect you even more for being man enough to admit your limits.

Other than the odd baboon on a mountainside, or sheep/goats, and perhaps a few other species, you’ll be able to get most animals inside 150 yards most of the time in most places.

 

[crudeoildude]

I agree with Bert if you are booked with a repitable outfitter he should honor your wishes.Haveing grown up on the plains of wyo you learn that 250-300 yds are about normal .my ant and deer rifles are zeroed at 200 my varmiters at 300,the advent of todays rangefinders has done wonders for knowing distances,converting over to bow hunting was a drastic change learning to know distance from a ground blind or a tree stand,there again rangefinders are awesome.