What's your range

Since the farthest that I am able to practice shooting in my yard is 40yds, I wouldn't shoot anything over that. That said, I have never taken a deer more than 30yds out, since I mostly hunt in the woods. This year is the first time that I have been given access to a field that I am hunting over, so I actually could shoot something farther out. I would have to say that I would be comfortable shooting at 35yds, but it would have to be perfect for me to take a shot at 40, with no chance that the deer would be able to move in closer.

 

Flinging arrows beyond your comfort range because its a monster is the definition of slob hunter. I'm surprised to see so many admitting to this practice.

If you are not completely confident in making a clean kill on a doe at 40, you definitely should not be willing to take that shot or a longer shot on a giant buck. There is a very marginal difference in the kill zone.

 

Open field with a relaxed deer. Never experienced it with a bow.

 

I would never take a shot I wasn't confident of. I've let many a deer walk I "probably" could've killed. Can you honestly say the killzone on a 100lb. Skittish little doe is only marginally smaller than on a 230lb. Big buck? Idk, I've pulled some giant lungs out of giant bucks and some pretty small lungs out of some pretty small does. Make no mistake though, I would never suggest taking a shot you weren't confident of. Just to me it seems easier to find the kill zone on a bigger target at 40 yds than a smaller one.


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30 or less for me. I hunt primarily hard woods and small plots. Once the gun season starts, the deer vanish into these thickets. I like to hunt the thick stuff.

 

I can honestly say that the difference in kill zone on deer would not determine the shot I took.

 

Fair enough. I'm comfortable to 50 and would only shoot 40 so I leave myself a safety buffer anyway. Main thing to take away is don't take the dang shot if you aren't sure of it.


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This hypothetical question is supposed to be under the most ideal conditions. When I say that I would shoot at a bigger deer at a little farther distance (40 yards vs 30 yards), the shot situation would need to be perfect. I am very comfortable out to 40 yards when practicing, but in the field there are many other factors that are difficult to simulate while practicing. I would never take a 40 yard shot on anything other than a completely broadside shot, anything else and the margin of error becomes much smaller when aiming for the vitals. Also, it is not like I am saying that I am going to just fling an arrow 100 yards or anything crazy?

 

IMO, the larger "kill zone" of a big buck is nullified by the increase of adrenaline and nerves when you see a big rack walk-in.

 

I practice out to 40 yards, so I would feel somewhat comfortable if it was a perfect scenario at that yardage. I would have no problem (I think) at 30 yards, however, all of my actual hunting shots have been inside of 30.

 

No more than 30...


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I took up bowhunting 50 years ago to become a good hunter, to get up close and personal with my quarry, and learn all I could about my quarry, have taken caribou, elk, whitetails and bear nothing more than 30 yards,

 

Well I can't hit a tennis ball at 100 yards like some (Vets will get this) but I'll go 35 yards...comfortable out to 45 but would need no wind and an incredibly calm deer to justify it.

 

Id have to say 40 is my limit at the present.

 

Ill do 40 but i like when there right below me at 10 to 20

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50 in perfect conditions.

 

I don't have any shots past 30 from my sets. My absolute max is 35 on a deer.

 

I practice out to 100 often. I would shoot 50 with calm condition.

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Amen!!!

 

I hunt out west often and I practice out to 70, I will go as far as fifty comfortably.