How far is "fair"

[Encinal]

I recently saw someone post on another site that a 400 yard shot wasn't fair chase...

How far is "fair" in your opinion?

[Mijamen78]

I think as long as you can ethically make a clean shot, any distance is far game.

[Slingblade]

I grew up in New Mexico hunting Mule deer. Our average shot was 350 yards. I made two long shots during my time there, one at 500 yards, and one at 530 yards both clean kills. So it just depends on what distance you are comfortable shooting at. I have not shot that far since I moved here and that's been 23 years so I would have to practice at that distance to be confident in shooting that far again.

[Horitexan]

I think as long as you can ethically make a clean shot, any distance is far game.

I agree.

So, the other thread suggested that a 150 yard chip shot from a box blind was more "fair chase" than a 800yd shot that requires all sorts of ability, practice and experience making calculations? Lol!

[JSF]

As far as I can hit it!

[keep]

That's the same thing as asking what's ethical. It varies per person

[RiverRat1]

I think they mean fair chase because the deer has no chance to even know you're there.

May as well calculate shooting a laser from a satellite.

But who really cares? Just get out and "harvest" something.

[M16]

There is no such thing as "fair chase." Unless you hunt deer with a hammer or a rock. And even that wouldn't be totally fair. So further than arms length is not "fair." I don't hunt to be fair. I hunt to kill.

[systemnt]

Fair chase is hand to hand combat with no tools. That is the only way it would be 'fair'.

I'm human.
We've adapted and utilize tools.
If I can hit that animal at 400 yards with that tool.. I win.

[PSD Ryan]

I hunt just like the primitives. For food and using the best tools available at the time.

Some person somewhere probably once complained that it wasn't fair when people started using sharpened rocks on the end of sticks instead of throwing round rocks at heads

[randal]

Fair is taping horns on your head and killing a deer with them.. I will shoot out to 400yds.. If someone can hit at 500+ then cool.. I can't so that's why 400 is my limit..

[Mike Javi Cooper]

I'm thinking 1100 meters is about right

[BTLowry]

I don't see any difference in "fair" at 30 or 300yds.

If you can consistantly make a 500yds shot then fine but I do not think it is ethical to sling lead at something 500yds away just because you can see it and the gun will reach but you have only shot out to 200yds.

I like to get close to the critter I am after, some people are all about long range shooting. Different strokes for different folks.

Also I would think that if the B&C thought it was unfair they would have a rule against shooting something at long distances. Maybe they do but I have never heard it.
Of course in East Texas I can't even see 500yds unless it is on a ROW (ie powerline, pipeline etc)

[az2tx]

As far as you can make the shot

[elkbowhunter]

What ever distance you can effectively kill an animal without saying "I smoked him" or BOOYA!!