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Yet another ethics question
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posted 14 September 2010 01:57
My brother in law shot an antelope this past weekend. Here's the situation as it was told to me:

first shot at 300+ and missed. animals ran 100+ yards and stopped to turn around. target animal was no lasered at 425 nearly directly facing away with ever so slight quartering presentation. second shot managed to hit it in the neck killing it.

based on the facts as they were told to me and presented here, was this an ethical shot to take? BTW, rifle caliber was 06.
 
Posts: 2267 | Location: Maine | Registered: 03 May 2007Reply With Quote
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posted 14 September 2010 02:05Hide Post
If your BIL knows his bullet's trajectory and can make the shot regularly, then I see no ethics issue.

George


 
Posts: 14623 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: 22 May 2001Reply With Quote
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posted 14 September 2010 03:48Hide Post
that's my point, george; an animal facing largely away with a slight quartering presentation means he was shooting for the little bit of belly showing hoping to drive it forward into the vitals and missed his target instead hitting it in the neck and luckily killing it.

I call it questionable and personally would not have taken the shot.

Just my .02 cents.
 
Posts: 2267 | Location: Maine | Registered: 03 May 2007Reply With Quote
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posted 14 September 2010 06:27Hide Post
If he missed cleanly at 300 he had no business taking that shot! An antelope @ 300 yards is a big target! If you miss @ 300 what would possibly make you think you could hit let alone quickly kill at 400? That guy should be kicked in the box. I would bet the ranchers house was in the background of his scope.
 
Posts: 849 | Location: MN | Registered: 11 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Picture of Doc
posted 14 September 2010 06:34Hide Post
Some like to just "get a bullet in it" or "just get an arrow in it" regardless of situation.

Based on the very little information, I'd say it was pure luck he killed the pronghorn. OR, he got buck fever on the first shot or something just messed it up and he is very familiar with his rifle at over 400 yards and made proper corrections to make the kill.

Maybe he was trying for a butt shot.


Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns
 
Posts: 7906 | Registered: 05 July 2004Reply With Quote
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posted 14 September 2010 13:15Hide Post
JSL.

He missed the first shot, and the second shot "managed to hit it in the neck".

How much wind was there. Does her regularly practice at these ranges, or does he sight in at 100 and think he's good enough to humanely take game at 400 yards? So, was the neck shot called, or was he lobbing rounds, and one just happended to hit the neck??

Weather the shot is 200 yards, or 1000 yards is irrelevant. The question is, what the shot reasonably within the capability of the shooter and his equipment. Since you know your brother-in-laws abilities better then I do, you are in a better position to answer the question then any of us on this forum.

Obviously you have some questions, or you wouldn't be asking the question, so here is my advice. When in doubt, spend more time on the practice range. Practice at range, and under adverse condtions. Shoot 300, 400 500 yards. Try it when the wind is blowing, and from non-standard shooting positions, or in a light rain. Yes, you wife will think you are crazy, but this is how you build you skills, so that when you have to take that 400 yard shot from the sticks you know it's well within your capability to make is a humane shot.
 
Posts: 3034 | Location: Colorado | Registered: 01 July 2010Reply With Quote
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posted 14 September 2010 22:15Hide Post
Sounds like a poke and hope to me. Had he taken a leg out from under the lope, I'm sure he would have doggedly tracked it acrost half of WY to put it out of it's misery. Yeah, sure.


Aim for the exit hole
 
Posts: 4348 | Location: middle tenn | Registered: 09 December 2009Reply With Quote
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Picture of Red C.
posted 14 September 2010 22:39Hide Post
Concerning the antelope shot:
Not being there and not knowing every fact of the situation it is hard for me to say, but based on the things presented, having missed the first shot and now presented with a second, that is much harder, I don't think I would have taken the shot.

BUT, maybe all these points are moot because he made a clean, quick, humane shot.

As for the bow shot, I personally think 90 yd shots are inappropriate, unless made with an extremely good crossbow following many hours of practice shooting it at that distance.


Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
 
Posts: 909 | Location: SE Oklahoma | Registered: 18 January 2008Reply With Quote
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posted 15 September 2010 20:34Hide Post
Not a shot I would have taken. But, different values for different folks.

Rich
 
Posts: 23062 | Location: SW Idaho | Registered: 19 December 2005Reply With Quote
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posted 15 September 2010 21:21Hide Post
 
Posts: 3628 | Location: cajun country | Registered: 04 March 2009Reply With Quote
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