Always remember, attempting to take the life of a living creature is very serious business. When hunting, the object is to make a clean, one-shot kill. Every time.

Shooting steel targets “way out there” is one thing. It’s entirely another to try and hit an animal out past a quarter mile. It is not recommended for those without the proper equipment and/or those who have not practiced enough to make the shot every time at extreme distances something they expect to do, not something they are surprised about when it happens. Be cognizant of the environmental conditions at hand. Strong, gusty winds make it imperative to sneak close. (Doping the wind and wind drift is a complex topic for another day.) The target animal must be calm and stationary. And you must be able to get a rock-solid rest — preferably prone or sitting with the rifle rested solidly on shooting sticks or another solid object — before you ever click the safety off.