When mentioning "handgun" the mind goes to a typical handgun with a 4" or 5" barrel, a T/C Contender with a 12" barrel is obviously in a different class. Somehow your statement that I am entitled to my opinion belies the prickliness of your response. The word "ethical" seems to have touched a nerve.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, as are we all. And yes, while we're being candid, perhaps to be referred to as unethical does, and should, touch a nerve.
My own opinion is that you are taking on a bit much to enter into this "Handgun Hunting" thread, apparently for the sole purpose of calling into question the hunting ethics of those of us who participate, when you apparently have either an incomplete or erroneous knowledge of it.
Your statement above is smug disapproval based largely on misperception, and you pronounced negative judgement of the character over ALL those who handgun hunt - doesn't get a lot more "prickly" than that.
Anyhow, that's just my opinion.
My post was thorough and was intended to provide you a better perspective on the actual practice of handgun hunting which you outright condemn without fully understanding. Everyone's situation is not the same. Everyone's frame of reference does not fit everyone elses.
You'll notice my post above yours was also thorough, and was intended to convey techniques and ideas to enhance the odds of humanely dispatching game, attempting to promote ethical hunting.
FWIW, and while not legal in some states, even a 4-5" handgun of sufficient power and precision is capable of humanely taking larger game. If one can humanely kill a deer with a sharp stick (ask any bowhunter), killing deer humanely with a handgun is not all that far fetched. It is like using anything else one might use to humanely harvest game; good shot placement and sound judgement are required.
