Ok so you have a 160 inch buck standing still at 50 yards. He doesn't appear like he is going to come any closer but he isn't alert at all. You have a clear shot and have practiced all summer long at 60 yards. Do you take the shot or let him walk???
Me personally. He's a dead buck standin still. That's a loaded question everyone know thier own limitations on the shots they can make correctly. For me when i was able to shot all the time and practice taking a 50 yrd poke is a no brainer but I have missed a few doe's at 50 too. nothing to blame there but myself but I would still have to say yes.
Two years ago, I'd have told you I'm dropping the string without thinking twice. Last year, I'd have told you I'd be mulling it over and probably shooting. This year, there's not a chance I'm gonna take that shot for two reasons. One I have not practiced nearly enough. Two, even if I had practiced enough I've learned that alot of things can happen in a short amount of time at 25 yards and doubling that is quadrupling your chances for error. If you have a buck at 50 and you are sure enough that he's not coming closer, than I'm sure enough to tell you that you are sitting in the wrong spot.
Probably not, but I’d have to hold off giving you a definite answer until after the situation had presented itself. At our weekly club shoots we shoot out to 80 yards on a consistent basis, and I'm not bragging when I say that I can kill a foam deer just about every single time at 60 yards. Judging from personal experience and from what I've seen on dozens of TV shows and DVDs though, a lot of folks who can bust nocks at 50 and 60 yards on a 3d course don't shoot anything like that when a deer is in front of them - especially a wall-hanger buck. Case in point: One of my friends at our club is one of the best shots of the group. He's a far sight better than I am, yet he's racked up more gut shot deer than anyone because when a deer is in front of him he loses that composure that he's known for on the range. Some of the other guys who are good shots have outright missed deer within 20 yards. They say "practice makes perfect", but even the best practice can fail you under pressure. As for Rob above, I’d say that anyone who has the cajones to take a bear like that with a bow can surely handle the pressure of a 50 yard shot on a deer.
I personally couldn't take it. I'm not experienced enough for a shot like that. Although if you are looking for a situation-specific answer, it says the shooter has practiced all summer at 60 yards. If this were my case then yes. If I was proficient and confident at 60 yards, I would take a 50-yard shot. However, back to my situation. I have a 4-pin sight that measures 10, 20, 30, 40. The 40 is strictly for target practice as of now. My groupings are generally within 8-10 inches at 40-yards. If the situation was this deer was standing still at 40 yards, I would be in an absolute battle. Its easy for me to say I would pass up the shot while sitting in my living room, but while sitting in a treestand at 8:14 on a crisp October morning...I could not tell you. I would have to be in that situation to find out what I'd do. I CAN tell you this: I have only taken 2 shots at deer in my short bowhunting career. Both were misses, and 1 I should not have taken. I was also 15 and not as responsible as I am now, 6 years later. Regardless, I cannot tell you for sure what I would do, given a similar situation. I have just under 2 months to figure out my shooting. Hopefully by the end of the season I will have an answer for you.
My bow is sighted in all the way out to 50 so I would shoot due to practicing this. My old bow only sighted out to 30 and I would of not shot with it. I shoot what I am comfortable shooting and with my pins going out that far now I think I would be able to make a good shot. The one that question shots like that is that anyone who went to the GTG and watched the iron buck shooting they know what I can do. I hit at 50!
It would never happen I have no lanes that long...and if it did I would let him walk 40yds and below for me at this point.
That is one shot I will never do again due to losing a nice 150 class deer is almost a straight down shot. Any more though you have chance at error at any distance! My 2010 buck was at 25 yards but the way he was standing I center punched the liver and if you look at the entrance spot on him it is in the Honey Spot. Here is the picture of him and you can see where I hit him.
No brainer for me. I would have to leave my bow on the tree and admire his beauty. Standing still or not, there is way to much in the woods that can go wrong in 50yd. On the home range I practice 50, 60 and sometimes 70yd shots. I feel sure I could hit where it counts but, he is a live deer not a 3D target and I have to much respect for the animals to injur him due to a marginal shot. Just couldn't do it.
Thanks for the input everyone. I know it's a pretty touchy subject and I'm wrestling with it in my head. Theirs alot of variables with this question and I just wanted to hear some thoughts because I need to have my mind made up before September 15th for confidence reasons.
Since when did a 50 yd shot become taboo? For the record - if It is calm out and I have the time to range him - I'm shooting!
If you're questioning the shot then I believe you lack the confidence and have answered your own question about taking the shot. Also, never rely on other people to decide what shot to take or not. You are the only one who knows your ability and you have to decide based on that ability. Take only shots that you feel good about.
I would much rather pass him at 50 yards than spending days looking for a wonded buck. No, it's not inevitable that you will wound him but your chances increase greatly. I've taken iffy shots in the past and paid for them. It is a sick feeling to shoot a DEER and not be able to find it.
