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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: John3 on April 01, 2008, 09:45:00 PM

Title: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: John3 on April 01, 2008, 09:45:00 PM
I was curious as to avg. shot distance broken down by bow type.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Doug S on April 01, 2008, 10:05:00 PM
I couldn't vote for just one bow type. I only use 1 type. Maybe this is april fools. I would also like to see it 0-10 10-20 20-up. I am split between 2 distances evenly. Half 0-15 half 16 -25. Most right at 15.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: ZaneD on April 01, 2008, 10:35:00 PM
I put 0-15 for all three, my average distance is 10 yds or less.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: kennym on April 01, 2008, 10:53:00 PM
I'm with Zane,0-15 on the average. Good poll,BTW
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Pat B. on April 01, 2008, 11:36:00 PM
I'd have said 10-20...
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: JDinPA on April 01, 2008, 11:38:00 PM
I have to 0-15 as well.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: bowmaker07 on April 02, 2008, 12:46:00 AM
I didn't know if I should go 0-15 or 16-25 most of mine average 15.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: bowmaker07 on April 02, 2008, 12:56:00 AM
I posted for the first time, but my picture didn't come up....does anyone have any suggestions on how to get it to come up.  I entered the complete URL in and it still didn't come up.  Thanks
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Brian Krebs on April 02, 2008, 01:30:00 AM
Used to be that Michigan Bowhunters - and I don't remember the actual name; kept records of game type; bow type; shot distances; and recovery distances.
 And as I recall; there was a correlation between the shot distance; and the recovery distance-- the longer the shot; the longer the recovery distance.
 With bears; all my 17 or so kills have been within 15 yards; on deer when I lived in Michigan; I remember over a dozen kills on whitetails; it was an average of 19 yards on my shots; and about 150 on recovery.
 Now I hunt muledeer and bears and elk; and with mulies; my average shot is about 30 yards; its what I practice at. If I go roving and shooting at unknown distances; I usually end up thinking the perfect range at a target - without knowing what it is; at 33 yards. In other words; if I see a target and walk up to where I feel assured I can make the shot; and do; it will walk off 33 yards.
 On bears; like I said; its up close no matter what bow; and with elk; I have taken all within 20 yards; and some have wobbled and fallen over; and others ran 300 yards.
  Hunting in the open and practicing in the same envirnment I will hunt in: seems to open the distance of my shots.
  I don't use a range finder; if a deer or elk looks within range; I take the shot. With bears; I hunt over bait; and I only take up close shots.
  There are some factors about range beyond the weapon type.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Jim Picarelli on April 02, 2008, 06:26:00 AM
My closest shot was 10ft and the longest was 22yds.Everything in between was under 15yds--probably closer to 10yds and under
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: James Wrenn on April 02, 2008, 07:03:00 AM
I like the 16/25 range with any bow.I am not sure why bow type would make a difference on close hunting shots?
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Dave Lay on April 02, 2008, 12:19:00 PM
0-15  been along time since I killed one past 20 yds
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: 52 bow on April 02, 2008, 12:36:00 PM
Took 2 this year at 8,one at 12 and one at 27 on a wet dark early morn.{thought it was 20}My practice is at 17 yds.{big root in yard}
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: WildmanSC on April 02, 2008, 01:16:00 PM
I voted on all three, even though I've never owned a selfbow or BBO type bow.  At present, I don't own a longbow.  I may have to purchase a set of ILF longbow limbs, however!

Bill
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Mike Gerardi on April 02, 2008, 05:24:00 PM
I average 10 to 15 yards and still miss those big Ohio white tails from time to time.. Oh well....
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: BUFF on April 02, 2008, 05:35:00 PM
0 to 15 for me
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Bowman0202 on April 02, 2008, 05:38:00 PM
Squirrels and rabbits - probably about 30 ft. Deer, usually 10-20 yds. but got a doe this year at 45 yds. Don't usually take those kind of shots, but just turned out that way. Wind was going fickle, was able to take my time and made a good neck shot.  Deer flipped over, hit the ground, got up, made a couple of jumps and it was all over - nice fat one.

Only shoot long bows, mostly Hill/Schulz, but there again, made the doe shot with a Great Northern Classic - Bamboo backed with two lams of Osage. Only glass on it is thin, thin layer on belly. 62" - 64@27. Pretty, pretty bow. They don't make it any more.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: BRITTMAN on April 02, 2008, 05:38:00 PM
0 to 15 but I have taken a few at 20 .

Mike
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Apex Predator on April 02, 2008, 06:56:00 PM
14 yards!
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Jeff Roberts on April 02, 2008, 07:38:00 PM
I don't really pay a lot of attention to distance but more to whether or not the shot feels right. I've passed on 10yd shots and have taken deer up to 43yds. Prefer my hogs shots to under 20yds and not much further than that on deer. I can say that I will shoot a deer further than a hog or turkey just becuase I can read their tendencies or mood a little better.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Brian Krebs on April 02, 2008, 08:05:00 PM
Jeff- good point! That is about 80% of shooting with a traditional bow on game- knowing their tendencies or mood etc. I shot a whitetail buck that was alerted once at 19 yards; it tried to take off and my arrow hit it in the belly and came out over the shoulder; and continued into the ground!! A nervous whitetail is a different target than a browsing mulie. I went out scouting and looking for a couple of mountain goats today; and took some pictures of a bedded muledeer; which laid there and let me take plenty of pictures; then there were some whitetails and they let me take one photo and it was a stampede of hooves and whitetails. I saw some elk; two of which were boxing; and they stopped when I started to click the picture ( of course) but remained pretty calm after that.
 Bears can be counted on for stopping in one spot and checking out scent or a bait; and that allows for time to draw and anchor; and get settled in the shot.
 I have missed a couple turkeys because they were on hyper-alert.
 To us; I think the distance of the shot is dependant alot on our own knowledge of how close we can get in a given situation; and how the animals we are hunting are going to react.
 good thing to mention Jeff   :notworthy:    :archer:
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Biggie Hoffman on April 02, 2008, 08:18:00 PM
Since I'ma raptor :-) I find the 0-15 yards from a tree is a little too close. I prefer them out a litte more for better angles to both lungs.
10-20
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Colt on April 02, 2008, 08:35:00 PM
I've made kills from 5 yds to 45 yds and every distance in between.

My long shots are usually on pronghorns. I love to spot and stalk those guys.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: bowdude on April 02, 2008, 08:47:00 PM
As close as I can get them.  I typically hunt thick stuff as I believe bucks are more relaxed there as well as more likely to be up and around.  Haven't sat on a field edge in years.  That may change now that I am in my new place the Lord has blessed me with.  Food plots are on the menu!    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on April 02, 2008, 09:34:00 PM
15 is the max at to ground blinds & all tree stands.The closer the better.. I did the 200plus yardage shots... Now I like them Close.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: joel smith on April 02, 2008, 09:45:00 PM
deer probably average out around 14-17 yards, turkeys much closer, more like 10-12. Haven't killed enough elk yet to say there is an average. Closest was 10, farthest around 35

i do tend to shoot a litle farther with recurves, i shoot them better most of the time even though i really prefer the longbow
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Slasher on April 02, 2008, 10:01:00 PM
18 is my magic number... real avg is probably less... but a mean avg regardless of weapon over the years has been about 18-22 yds with a couple on both end of the extremes thrown out not to skew the numbers...
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Missouri Sherpa on April 02, 2008, 10:57:00 PM
I practice 5-45 yards at the target butt and stump shooting.  I like a close in shot as much as the next guy and usually have a 15-20 yard shot at waterholes, bear baits and deer treestand hunting.  Spot and stalk hunting is another matter.  I will take the first shot I am offered that I feel I can make with a high degree of confidence.  I have killed elk as far out as 40 and 43 yards, or bedded mule deer at 13 yards. Hog shot this year during the TxSweat was 45 yards (see avatar).  I don't even think about how far usually until after the shot. If I am roughly within my practice zone of 45 yards and the game isn't keyed up I will shoot at the first opportunity.  When I am hopped up on an adrenalin high from stalking I can think of only one thing, where I am going to put the arrow.   It is fun to be able to get close enough to touch your quarry but I will not blow a stalk getting any closer than I need to.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Brian Krebs on April 02, 2008, 11:42:00 PM
Biggie- I agree about the angle thing; but I live in Idaho where either your going uphill or downhill. If I am up 25 feet in the air on my stand; the bear can be almost level with me at 12 yards.....
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Biggie Hoffman on April 03, 2008, 06:00:00 AM
:bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: Bonebuster on April 03, 2008, 06:59:00 AM
I rarely get higher than fifteen feet in a tree, so the angle isn`t too bad when they are close.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: 3Under on April 03, 2008, 07:47:00 AM
This past hunting season  my vertical distance (15 ft.)was greater than my horizontal. Shot a mature doe about 8 ft. from my tree stand (double lung/heart). She went about 50 yds.
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: bayoulongbowman on April 03, 2008, 08:06:00 AM
27 yards with my longbow!... :)
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: John3 on April 03, 2008, 04:59:00 PM
Thanks to all that voted in the poll. I am a bit surprised by the modern Longbow results.


Sanderlin III
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: myshootinstinks on April 05, 2008, 01:58:00 PM
This is open country, any shot under 25 yds is a bonus. Never hunted from a tree-stand, nearly always spot & stalk. Plan to try a ground blind this year or possibly a tree-stand.  How could you miss a shot under 15 yards?
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: scriv on April 05, 2008, 02:14:00 PM
Shot at what?  :confused:
Title: Re: Average shot distance-- Poll
Post by: myshootinstinks on April 05, 2008, 02:40:00 PM
Deer, elk. I miss the tennis ball target all the time at 15 yards.  :goldtooth: