Inside 20 is my limit with the recurve. I'll mess around and take long shots while stump shooting but the slow bow is just that.
The furthest shot I have ever taken on a deer is 30 yards. I just always figured that the point of bowhunting is to be closer to the deer. Over half of the deer I have shot with a bow have been within 20 yards. I can and will practice out to 50, but the majority of my practice is done at 40 and in. Sent from my SM-G973U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
And the very next week, it went to sh1t...need to get that consistency. But I do know sitting groups instead of spots at shorter distance was just getting too expensive...
Also maybe take into account that drop rate of arrow at 50-60yd is like 2-3inch pr yd with a compound, so miscalculating your target distance with just a yd or two will have a big impact.
Whitetail I try to keep shots under 40. It’s all METT TC. Elk I will shoot out to 80. I practice for it and am very comfortable with that shot but it all has to do with conditions and having the self control to say no when it isn’t right. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m 30 and under! Low poundage and short draw though.. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
One other thing to factor in is the affect an animal has on the hunter. I regularly practice out to 80 yards and sometimes 100 yards. At 50 I can put an arrow in the kill zone on a target almost every time. Put a deer in front of me and adrenaline starts pumping. Suddenly everything changes. It’s more difficult to hold steady. The pin looks way too large. I have to fight to control my breathing and I get a little rattled. I’ve said before on here that the best target shooter in our club is by far better than I am but when he hunts he makes the worst shots. He’s racked up a lot of gut shots and misses.
Not that not changes the validity of your post in any way, but I’m convinced that it’s not the sound of the bow that makes the deer drop but the sound of the arrow hissing towards them instead.
That may very well be. I've been really wanting to try the AAE max stealths, heard so many say that they're pretty quiet.
After hearing the difference in flight myself, I would highly recommend it. Of course, I tried Heat Vanes, but I’ve heard that AAE Max Stealth Vanes might be even more quiet. The only downside is that folks who shoot bigger fixed blades may have to go to a four fletch to get good steerage. The up side to four fletch is you can’t nock your arrow upside down.
I run four fletch 2.25” bohning x vane with a single bevel (Strickland Helix). I tried some single bevel iron wills with bleeder blades and they were sort of noisy. The Helix’s are super quiet. I’ve also shot 4 fletched max stealths vs the X vanes and my ears seemed to think the X vane was quieter. but I work in a power plant, play guitar too loud, and my wife says I can’t hear.
You can’t really tell any difference in sound from the bow end. Well, I can’t anyway. Did you see the video I posted a few weeks ago of me shooting Blazers and Heat Vanes past my iPhone?
I'm a 30 yards or less at whitetails shooter - My colored blind eyes prefer 20 yards or less though in heavier cover/thick areas
I practice out to 80 yards just because it is a blast for me. I would feel comfortable with an elk at 60. The longest whitetail shot I ever took was 30 yards but most have been around 20. I try to take as many lay ups as I can.
I hunt hardwoods in Missouri, it’s rare to have a shot opportunity past 25 yards. I only practice out to 30, but my self imposed max distance is 25 yards. Furthest shot to date on a deer is 17 yards, most have been between 7-12 yards. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
