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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fritz the Cat" data-source="post: 288993" data-attributes="member: 605">A fellow in Wyoming, Rob Shaul, came upon his favorite hunting spot and there was 10 non-residents from Michigan already there. Rob started a non-profit. I don't know if he figured they were shooting beyond their abilities or what...[h=3]Regulating Maximum Shot Distances To Address Increasing Hunting Technology[/h]Mountain Pursuit advocates and supports regulations which set maximum archery shot distances (bow and crossbow) at 50 yards, and maximum rifle/firearm shot distances at 400 yards. Why 50 Yards or Less for Archery?By definition, archery hunters chose to limit themselves to a short range harvest. For most archers using a bow (long, recurve, compound) a shot 50 yards or closer is required to place a vital shot with an arrow. Shorter shots means less wounding loss.Second, a 50-yard maximum shot distance automatically accommodates for increasing technology and leads to "cleaner" kills, not "easier" kills. Compound bows and crossbows which are lethal at 50+ yards will be especially lethal at 50 yards or less. Increased lethality = cleaner kill. From a regulatory perspective, rule-making authorities will no longer have to continually adjust regulations to accommodate new technology.Third, a 50-yard maximum shot distance honors and cements the agreement between archery hunters and rifle/firearm hunters, who tolerate special archery seasons in return for the more difficult challenge of getting closer to the game and subsequent decreased harvest numbers. Why 400 Yards for Rifle/Firearms?First, shots beyond 400 yards violate the hunter-game balance of "Fair Chase." Specifically, the game has a significantly decreased chance of detecting the hunter, and thus eluding him or her, at distances greater than 400 yards. Extreme range hunting tips the Fair Chase balance between hunter and game too far in favor of the hunter, and is unethical. Second, limiting rifle/firearm maximum hunting shots to 400 yards protects hunting and hunters from general public criticism. Today the general, non-hunting public still supports hunting, but this may change if the general public feels the game "doesn't have a chance" because it being taken from ranges 400+ yards out. Third, a precise shot of 400+ yards requires specialized equipment - long range rifle, high power scope, ballistic calculator, handheld weather meter, etc.Fourth, a 400-yard maximum shot distance automatically accommodates for increasing technology and leads to "cleaner" kills, not "easier" kills. Long range firearms lethal at 400+ yards will be especially lethal at 400 yards or less. Again, from a regulatory perspective, rule-making authorities will no longer have to continually adjust regulations to accommodate new technology.Mountain Pursuit is not alone here. The Boone & Crocket Club questions extreme range hunting in their Hunt Right: Hunt Fair Chase initiative <a href="http://www.huntfairchase.com/a-shot-too-far/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.Only one state, Idaho, has attempted to restrict extreme range hunting via regulation. Specifically, and Idaho regulation enacted in 1993 prohibits the weight for the weapon, scope and sling to be in excess of 16 pounds. At the time, extreme range rifles were exceedingly heavy, and this regulation was an attempt to prohibit their use. However, current firearm and optics technology allows for extreme range weapons weighing far below this 16 pound limit. <a href="https://www.mtnpursuit.org/mountain_pursuit_advocates_maximum_shot_distance_restrictions_for_archery_50_yards_and_firearms_400_yards_to_address_the_ethics_of_improving_hunting_technology" target="_blank">https://www.mtnpursuit.org/mountain_pursuit_advocates_maximum_shot_distance_restrictions_for_archery_50_yards_and_firearms_400_yards_to_address_the_ethics_of_improving_hunting_technology</a> </blockquote>

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