Longest Shot?

[Brian Krebs]

I have seen studies by bow clubs that record kill distances and recovery distances. They show the closer the shot; the shorter the recovery.

[James Wrenn]

I personally think that study is flawed.The farther the shot the less reaction the animal has from the noise of the bow and is less likely to pick up on movement from the archer dureing and after the shot.I know my farthest blood trails are always on a close to the tree shot where the deer is alerted from sound above his head.jmho

[owlbait]

31 yards, the buck was the largest bodied deer I have ever shot. Rattled him in from the ground. He came in bristled up and walking like a pitbull. Thought he was going to finish me off at one point! Shot him with a Groves Spitfire T/D recurve with a sight and peep-site. I was just coming off that other equipment    I thought I missed because he disappeared. Hit him high shoulder, deflected up and severed his spine. Dropped right there. Most are 12-15 yards though, some at 4.

[beaver#1]

4ft cotton mouth snake,  8 yards in the head,  i know its not big game, but its all i have under my belt this year will be my second season.

[woodchucker]

141 steps.....

Back in the early 70's we were camped in a woodlot on my GrandDad's farm.

Next to the woodlot was a fresh mown hayfield.....in the middle of the hayfield was a woodchuck den,complete with main entrance,2nd entrance,and 3 or 4 "peek-holes".....On the other side of the hayfield was a pasture field with many small trees and scrub bushes.

I had a 50# Bear Alaskan and a bunch of cedar arrows with field points and I spent the better part of a day picking a tree or bush in the pasrure and seeing how close I could get to the woodchuck den. There was one small thornapple tree,that if I drew back and put the tip of my field point on it,I could drop the arrow about 3-4 feet from the main hole.

The next morning,my cousin came down for breakfast.....

After we ate,we walked out to the edge of the hayfield and we both saw the woodchuck about the same time. The conversation went like this.....

Cousin, "Hey look,there's a woodchuck"

Me, "I'm gonna go get my bow and shoot it"

Cousin, "You couldn't hit him with a .22, He's over 150 yards!!!!!"

I took my bow and nocked an arrow. Then I drew back,anchored,and placed the tip of my arrow on the little thornapple tree. The string slipped from my fingers.....The arrow flies through the air.....It starts to drop.....and then it hits.....PINNING THE WOODCHUCK TO THE GROUND.  

[Yellow Dog]

All my shots have been under 18 yards except for one. 15 years ago, a five point running full speed in a cut corn field at 45 yards. It was more of a reaction than anything else, deer running, me drawing my Custom Kodiak Takedown and arrow in the air. It seemed like it took forever but when the arrow hit it was a perfect double lung. That's the only deer I have ever shot at over 18 yards and I did it without thinking.

[ISP 5353]

44yards.  Whitetail doe.

[Jim Picarelli]

Longest on a deer was 22yds--closest was 10ft.Longest shot on a critter was about 37-38yds on a groundhog

[Don Thomas]

I've made a few, and I have no problem with long shots on gophers and such. But on big game, I always view a long shot as a stalking failure, even when I kill the animal. Just my opinion. Don

[Hattrick]