When it comes to whitetail bowhunting there are different schools of thought on what qualifies an “ok shot.” “Yes you can take the long shot if you can make it,” and “No you should never take a shot that long.” I personally think the second one is unfair. Let me premise this blog by making some things very clear.
- We do NOT approve of shooting an animal and leaving it for dead in any event ever. Get your knife out and finish it.
- We do NOT approve of a lax part-time hunter out trophy hunting and taking a shot they can’t confidently make.
- For the same reason we don’t advocate bad angle shots, taking animals out of season, taking animals without a tag, poaching, etc…
All that being said, I am talking about avid hunters only, who practice routinely, care very much for the integrity of the sport, work hard to perfect their marksmanship, and make the humane harvesting of mature animals a priority. In this reality, the accurate shot is unique to each hunter. Who is one hunter to judge and correct another hunter based on their own preference. The “okay shot” should be defined as that shot which a given hunter is accurately and ethically confident and capable to take in a high pressure situation.
Don’t agree? Is hunting not a sport? Is a hunter not an athlete? If yes on both then wouldn’t we have to agree that athletic ability varies depending on how far a given athlete pushes themselves? If, for example, I run 15 miles a day and run with barbells and start my mornings off with one handed push-ups and haven’t skipped my daily 50 round archery shot routine in 6 months….do I have your permission to take a 60 yard shot at whitetail deer when it is broadside with an excellent shot window?
I believe the hunter who has qualified his ability with practice should be granted the respect he or she has earned by that. I can ride a bike without training wheels but I most certainly cannot pull a Lance Armstrong on a 50 mile ride, and I wouldn’t try. To each athlete his own preference and from the rest of us in our treestand or the peanut gallery how about little faith and respect? I want to know what you think, post your thoughts in the comment box below.
