whats your effective killing range?

[bowtough]

Joe Ahston: You are right on the money dude, very good advise for us all! Due respect for live animals dicktate sound wisdom in shot decisions! Could not have said it better. Thank you,Gary.  

[LimBender]

So far my effective kill range is about 20 yards. But I want to get that to 25 - practice, experience, increasing poundage and lightening my arrows some (the 12 gpi I'm at seems a little high for whitetails) will hopefully get me there.

If you are proficient and draw undetected on a relaxed deer, don't see why 25 or even 30 should be a problem under the right circumstances. Was reading Bear's Field Notes last night and he matter of factly talks about 40 yard plus kills (and misses).

[Mojostick]

For Michigan deer, I've found 12-13 paces to be that magical "just right" range for setting up my natural ground blinds off of a good trail.

When you get in that 8-9 paces range, it seems almost too close. Anything past 15 is getting "out there" for my comfort zone.

Around 12-13 paces, it's hard to screw it up or make a bad hit, yet it doesn't seem like the deer is so on top of you. Even if you're off a bit on a shot, you're still in the vitals.

In addition, due to shoulder issue's, I shoot about as light of weight that's ethical. So with a silly sharp 2 blade and heavy arrow, with very light bows I can still make fast, clean kills on deer at 12 paces.

[BAK]

I like them close as I can get them, but within 20 is comfortable, though there have been times when 30 to 35 has "felt right" and worked.

[Bladepeek]

Doesn't seem to matter for me this year   :(  

I haven't had one within rifle range let alone trad bow range. Oh well, Michigan gives me until the end of December to make good yet.

[PUDDLE JUMPER]

My first year with a recurve. 12 max but I prefer 10.

 Of course a live animal makes a world of difference.

[Larrydawg]

there are a lot of variables.. is it windy, uphill, downhill, out of a tree?? I like them within 10 yds but can shoot accurately to over 20yds. I hunt for the challenge of getting close as I can. I have plucked a hair from the tail of a Buck.
 I practice shooting kneeling, setting even laying on my back, out of tree stand, and all distances, I have some big blocks of Styrofoam that I take out to the field across from my house and take shots at various distances,out to 50 yds. I never step them off I just take it out there and throw it down. I also practice shooting at thrown targets, milk jugs swinging on string from tree limbs etc. every little thing I can do to test myself and become a better archer. now this was with my osage and pecan self bows,
 Im having to reteach myself with my recurves as they had hung on wall for 15 yrs with out being even strung! this is my45th yr of traditional archery and after the self bows I cant believe how much I forgot about tuning and shooting recurves.
LarryDawg

[frankwright]

I have two 3D deer that I shoot from my 2nd floor deck. One is 18 and one is 23 and that is where I practice in my yard.

In the woods, I really like 15-18 but would shoot a relaxed deer in an open area a little farther.

Close is always better to me.

[Robert Armstrong]

25yds & under. Most of my deer are shot at 20 yds.

[Ulysseys]

I'm good to 30 but rarely have trouble getting plenty of deer inside 20 yards over the course of a season so I'll say 20 yards.  Traditional archery is a funny thing, I think I finally understood it when I realized I'm supposed to work at getting animals closer, not shooting farther.  That's when the success comes.

[Knawbone]

The optimum word being "effective".......20 yrd

[elkken]

I have been killing critters with my bow since 1970 and I have yet to find my effective range. While I have had much success in all these years I have also had a fair amount of misses at very close distances .... I have completely missed a caribou at 8 yards and killed elk at 35. Some times a shot presents it self and it just feel right and I'll take it, and make it .. but as I have grown older I am much more selective in my shot choice both in angle and distance. Now days I would prefer to have them all 15 yards and closer.

Practice, practice, practice and have fun, you'll figure out whats best for " YOU "

[don kauss]

I usually just bring my bow on hunts for ritual's sake ...most of my kills are executed with a razor sharp pocket knife...I generally like to (quietly) lay down my bow at around 5 yds., then slide in (low-crawl) and cut their throat at arm's length...occasionally I wait until 3 yds to put down the bow, but it gets real tricky between 5-3 yds; they can smell you, even with the wind in your favor, at that range...

[Slickhead]

under 15 yards

[ishoot4thrills]

My longest kill shot was on a doe at 23 yards with a Beeler longbow. So, I'm gonna say 23 yards is max for me.

But, I'm MUCH more comfortable and prefer 20 yds and under.

[reddogge]

Actually I can kill at 250 yards that is if I hit what I shot at. My effective  hunting  yardage is 20 yards and under.

[fredhill]

25 yards but only from the ground. I don't use trad equipment from a tree stand. There's something about it that makes me miss/make bad hits so I only ground hunt. I can't explain it.