Under 20 ..."PLEDGE"

[Ragnarok Forge]

I hold the line at 20 right now,  I am improving and will probably extend that to 25 this coming season.  I agree with Rob.  Keep it to where you know you can make the shot.

[twitchstick]

Nothing better than to hear a deer snoring before you shot it.  

[JEJ]

pavan, similar thing happened to me. Six does got too close to me while I hunkered down behind my turkey camo fabric blind, and I had no shot. Wind was just right from them to me, and their deer smell was mucho strong, so they just feed all around in front of me. As a ground hunter a couple of things are working: no tree stand angles to figure, bend at waist, etc. so I can shoot like I practice all off season ... advantage me. But, I am at whitetail eye-level so any movement is advantage deer. No pre-set number of feet, but on the ground I will take a shot at a deer at greater range than I will while in my ladder stand. I will not push a shot beyond what my gut and conscience are telling me. I guess I believe all the variables (open shot or through brush, good light vs. almost dark, feeding deer or "wired" deer, etc.) that go into a shot should determine whether you take it or not, rather than a pre-determined range limit.

 

[LKH]

Absolutely not.  First, I don't hunt from trees or portables.  I'm on the move almost all the time and quite frankly don't often know the yardage.  I've shot animals from so close that the arrow was in the animal before it left the bow to about 35 yards.  Note, I said about since I don't really know how far it was.  

Pavan has it right about short shots being tougher.  This year I shot two caribou.  One over 30 thru the ribs.  One at about 4 yards that I hit in the hips when it exploded just as I was releasing.

[Jerry Wald]

Sorry I am regulated enough in life. I will take any shot I think I can make, but I won't take a shot if it's questionable either.

We are getting way to regulated PERIOD.

JB

[poison arrow]

I would not take that pledge. To each his own. It can be said I have a differing pledge.

[tradtusker]

Originally posted by kadbow:
  Much more goes into an ethical shot than just the distance.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

What Rob said.

[StanM]

I once shot a black bear on the ground at 10 FEET!  Not sure I'd want to do that again even if I had the chance      

[Last of the Breed]

"Here we have a weapon of beauty and romance. He who shoots with a bow , puts his life's energy into it. The force behind the flying shaft must be placed there by the archer. He must approach within striking distance. And when he speeds his low whispering shaft and strikes his game ,he has won by strength of arm and nerve. It is a noble sport".
Saxton Pope

[LKH]

I've taken shots to 80 yards: COYOTES

I just can't help myself and don't think therapy would make any difference.

[Chesapeake]

I dont believe in a pledge. Actions speak louder than words. I dont care if a guy were to tell me he didnt take bad shots. I care that a guy doesnt take bad shots. Yardage isnt the only aspect of a bad shot. There are plenty of bad shots inside 20 yards.

[Steve Crowl]

I shot my first deer at 45 yards with 41#@28. It went less than 25 yards. I was 16 shooting target archery at 90 meters, so heck it looked close to me. Now under 20 and 10 is even better.

[wtpops]

I will take any shot that i am 100% sure i can get an arrow through the vitals. There is no number on this.

With that said i think from reading your post 3 times that your are saying that if we limit our selfs to 20 that in the process we will learn to become better hunters to be able get with in that distance. I understand that but i think that with our choice of weapon we have already done that.

[acadian archer]

I have always kept within my bounds.

[Earthdog]

under 20,not a chance,,I still live in the free world.

[cbCrow]

I have always used what Dirty Harry said when it comes to shooting at critters; "a man has to know his limitations" To me a profound word of advice!  

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

Most of us live by  "we are only respondable for our own action" AND WHAT IT BRINGS. Most take only good shots at fair ranges. What I was thinking was...and from doing it that we become a better  hunter at the closer shots. We learn different things. I'm right but after thinking.. wrong too. You can say the same on "VERY" long shots too. It would take great practice and skill to do that right as well. My point is learn all you can to become the best hunter. Theres many and more rewards too !!!! ...Jeff  P.S. and yes we are "FREE" Thank God !!!  

[varmint101]

No sir, won't do it.  If that's what YOU need to do then by all means.  It mostly works out under 20yds anyway, but not always.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by Guru:

What makes 20yds. the magical distance??

I honestly don’t know, but I always get a little skeptical when things like hunting ethics and skill are hitched to an arbitrary measurement of shot distance (not saying that’s what’s happening here).

I know a guy who for years has claimed the moral high ground because he kills all his deer within 10 yards (and wounds a lot too, but that fact only rarely creeps out). He’s fond of saying that 15 yards is, to him, “a terribly impersonal distance.” I’ll admit that I was impressed for a while, until I shot a few 3D courses with him. Then it became apparent that the only reason he doesn’t shoot past ten yards is because he can’t hit the broad side of a barn at fifteen.

If a person can kill deer all day long at 30 yards, but restricts himself to 15 or so because he feels that it’s a greater challenge, then God bless; a pat on the back and I’m with you. But if the reason someone only takes short shots is because they can’t hit anything beyond spitball range, well, I’ve never seen any reason to take pride in not being able to shoot well.