The Ethics of Kill Shots
By: Tommy Sitz, Staff Writer
With incredibly advanced technology, modern hunters have the greatest advantages they have ever had. Rifles that shoot 1,000 plus yards, scopes and bowsights that move themselves, and highly intricate camo that can practically make you part of a tree. This is great in some aspects but faulty in others. Hunters are taking shots farther than ever at animals that never have a chance to know where they are. This problem has been addressed by Wyoming Game and Fish, but no changes have been made.
In 2018, a Wyoming hunter shot an antelope at 1,954 yards. This is possible, but it seems almost inhumane. This shot was made from over a mile away. Taking a shot similar to this gives the animal virtually no chance. In most situations, it is fairly easy to become closer than a mile to an animal. An animal is not going to see a person from that far away, and is not going to smell them either. They can cut that distance in half to 1,000 yards, but the chance the animal has is still low. An elk or deer will likely not see a hunter from that distance, making it almost too easy for the hunter. I believe that hunters should put in more effort to approach the animal and become closer while hunting it. I know that the technology is available to be able to make these shots in perfect conditions, but because something is available does not mean it is always necessary.
Another problem is to be able to make a good shot from a far distance, conditions have to be perfect. Most of the time, while in the field, the hunter is not in perfect conditions. Wind can move a bullet from a perfect shot to a gut shot that could kill the animal, but not in a place where the pursuer will be able to find it. If the animal dies, it will likely take a few days, or a predator will take advantage of its vulnerability. Some hunters use anemometers to measure wind speed. Hunters use these so they can make the correct adjustments in their scopes to be able to make long shots. The problem with this when making a shot at 800 yards or more, the hunter might know the wind at their location, but it can be different in the space from them to the animal. This makes the shot unpredictable and unethical.
There are more factors to consider if a shot is ethical or not than solely distance. Practice plays a key role in being able to make a shot. Many people do not practice enough or at all before going into the field. They then wonder why they missed or made a bad shot. I am not saying that a hunter needs to shoot their rifle or bow every day, but once they have their weapon sighted in, they should put themselves in a few situations that would simulate a hunt. This will greatly increase their chances of hitting the spot when the time comes. I have been at fault for making this mistake, and it is a horrible feeling to see an animal suffer when you know you could have done something about it.
Hunters should consider these points before taking their next shot. Maybe it will feel more rewarding when they have to put in a good deal of effort to close in the distance on an animal. Or maybe they will feel satisfied knowing they made a great shot on an animal so it did not have to suffer. Before a hunter's coming up hunt, they should think about taking a couple extra shots with their rifle and know what distance they can ethically take a shot at. It is fair for the animal and can make it easier for the hunter, too.