my most difficult shot involves ANY Animal I “really want” - nothing to do with distance, angle, time allowed to settle in and get the shot off….NO, it’s all about “How much do I WANT that animal”
I think you hit exactly the point.
I think technically most difficult shot I ever took, was when I was young kid, and managed to hit a flying duck in flight, at 180 meters with 22lr.
But this does not qualify. I dont remember it as a "shot of my life", i remember it as "the luckiest shot of my life".
Then I remember a shot at 204 meters at my 2nd roe buck, which I was really motivated to get. This was much more important to me then a shot at duck with 22.
He was moving between the branches on the edge of forest, and I was sitting in a corn field waiting for him to show up, behind first line of corn. I hade to place good shot, in perfect moment. And he could move back to forest any time.
And adrenaline and motivation and stress was much higher. At the time this was my second roe buck, and first one was taken at 30 meters previous year. So this was "long range shooting" in my perception then.
But this is not even close to what I experienced 2o years later after that roe buck, what I experienced this year..
I dont remeber this roe buck as "the most difficult shot". There were other good shots on roe bucks in years to come. In my mind it rests as "good demanding shot I took then".
Because, this year for me most demanding shot of my life was my cape buffalo. He qualifies. And I can compare the perspectives, situations and motivation.
Cape buffalo was an animal I was planning to get for years, and if I had failed, I wouldn't know when I would try again. Maybe never again. Maybe after several years of savings. Maybe I would be afraid of repeated failure, and not try ever again... etc.
There was also highest consideration of safety in my mind, becasue this was dangerous animal, and safety of my entire hunting team was at stake, in case of wounding. So, this caused serious adrenaline rush, a fear of failure, and caused my maximum focus not to miss, causing internal mental battles with myself. I need to control fear of failure, and stress, and make perfect aim. Internal battle of the mind. This is what makes it difficult.
With first shot from stick, I had to find a hole in the tall grass to hit vitals, 100 meters. (they never stand perfect, do they?)
Then we made few steps forward, situation now, was free standing at 90 meters (the stick left in grass behind), I made second shot to same area, and when he turned to us (not yet attempting to charge, but possibly contemplating to charge) I aimed between the eyes, and hit him below the left eye at cca 80 meters with third shot.
Two first hits were double lung shots, 4 inches apart. (I was aiming twice at the same spot at the shoulder)
Considering the distance, I dont think I could repeat the same in controlled conditions on shooting range.
I think this was result of training, and total focus I had on animal. I was in the zone, and had total narrowed vision centered on cross hair. I saw nothing but him. No peripheral vision. So, it is motivation, focus, being in the zone, and mental stress control, making it most difficult.
When all was quiet, and done, adrenaline came down, stress disappeared, my muscles relaxed, I think maybe I shed a tear.
And the same happened to my friend who hunted with me, and had his first buffalo some time later.
When I come down to it: We, hunters need to make only one or two good shoots in a similar situation.
But try to imagine, for example an Olympic shooting athlete. Imagine the stress during the final match, entire day, and he must keep his cool, and place dozens of perfect shots, trying to make 100/100 results, and getting very close to it. Imagine that mental effort! One miss in dozen of perfect shots, and he lost the gold medal.
Hunting is specific. And as difference in technique to when we train on the range, this can never fully prepare the hunter, to actual condition that happens when taking a shot in the field. The range time however gives self confidence.
Due to our training, we imagine perfect shots, on animal, broadside, standing.
But the animals are moving, standing behind the bush, range can be different then what we were used to, or hoping for, and angle of shot can be anything within 360 degrees. The motivation raises the stakes, and adrenaline kicks in, making shot much more difficult then on paper.
