Maximum shot distance

[hybridbow hunter]

I can shoot fairly as far as I can focus on a tight spot on the animal. Past that point I can t shoot good enough

In bright light and spotted or bared animal it can be quite far and I killed a few in the 35-40 yards range.
In low light/ dark animal 10 yards is sometimes really too far.

[hunting badger]

I killed an Elk at 44 yards because the shot felt right but most of my shoots are under 25 yards. It is interesting though, I just reread "The Witchery of Archery" by Maurice Thompson and I'm about half way through rereading "Hunting with the Bow and Arrow" by Saxton Pope, neither one of these guys give a second thought to shooting at game at over 70 to 100 yards! Very interesting!

[Bowguy67]

I've seen two threads on AT about this recently and there are always the guys who claim they can plant a deer at long range.
Honestly there are a few who probably can. 
But the vast majority have no business even considering it. 
Personally I think we disrespect our prey when we take shots as likely to wound as kill.  I know a lot of guys have tracking dogs and a marginal shot may end up well for them. 
I believe most traditional shooters look at shooting as close as possible.  Both of the two baddest trad killers I know like to hear them breath before the shoot and they have the kills to back up the application of that approach. 
I personally don't look at a guy who thinks a 40 yard shot at deer with archery gear is okay is all that impressive.  Heck, even with modern archery gear I'm not impressed with long shooters.
Granted I'm not real experienced with the trad gear but I stay way inside the range i can regularly and confidently tag my targets.  Even with the high end modern gear I shot the three decades previous very many of my kills were under that same range because to me bowhunting is about my ability to get close, take high percentage shots and watch or hear them drop. 
YMMV

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Good post

[Maddog20/20]

What I think is interesting is that if you talk to older hunters like my dad, they consider a “long shot” to be synonymous with “hunting fail.”  They shoot trad gear because, for them, the challenge is in getting as close as possible.  The guys I grew up learning to hunt from would think you’re a terrible hunter if you have to take 40 yd shots (West Texas, notwithstanding)...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[YosemiteSam]

20 yards max.  And since I don't carry a rangefinder, that means more like 18.  3 deer seasons with a trad bow & I haven't drawn back yet...  Had plenty walk by within range but nothing legal yet.  One was close to 20 but he was above me, up a steep hill, and there was a few scrub oak twigs in between me & his vitals.  Let him walk.  Next year...

[pavan]

When I set up along a deer trail, on the ground with no blind using available cover, it is the yardage that the cover gives me.  I have had deer pass me at a few feet that I couldn't feel right about the shot, but then shot them at more than 20 yards when the shot was right.  Shot timing is one of the last things most hunters learn.  It is not set in simple rules.  20 yards and in is what most instinctive shooter and three under shooters use because, depending on the set up, that is where arc comes into play in archery.  I have lost track of how many wired deer that I let go by regardless of how close they were.  It is easier to have a shot at an unaware deer at 25 yards, when still hunting or hunting on the ground, than one at 10 feet.  I like still hunting for deer, but the cover has to right, cedar shrub covered slopes being one, things can get very close.  Being fast, smooth and sure of yourself is a big plus in those situations, you may only a two or three second window to take a 12 foot shot.

[blacktailbob]

Well stated Maddog.

[Maddog20/20]

Well stated Maddog.

Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Maddog20/20]

Spot on Maddog!

Thanks.  I never judge, but I think too many guys think that long shots are somehow indicative of what a superior shooter they are....whereas I want to be close enough to be able to reach out and slap them on the rump!

In all seriousness, my sweet spot is around 18yds.  Inside of 15 makes me nervous because I just don’t practice that close and I know how much can happen in the time it takes an arrow to travel over 25yds.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Friend]

Have taken one shot opportunity ever at 24 yards and was successful.

The next furthest was 18 yards.

Over 90% of my shots taken on deer are 15 yards and under.

[Roger Norris]

I don't think I have shot at a deer further than 20 yards out. I killed 2 with a longbow last year, both were less than 10 yards away. The whole point of bowhunting is to get close....

I don't believe I have ever killed anything with a rifle much further...I can recall 3 deer that were out to maybe 60 yards.

By the way....20 yards in the woods is a looooong way.

We were experimenting with turkey guns and AR15's last weekend. We did lots of shooting at MEASURED 15, 25,40,50, and 100 yard targets, in wooded terrain. Anyone claiming legitimate woodland hunting shots at 40+ yards on a planned and regular basis (I completely understand shooting at wounded game or the extremely occasional" it just looked right" shot) with ANY archery equipment is either a liar, never measured distance, or has an ethical compass with a busted needle.

[Terry Green]

Not sure....I don't own a range finder. 

[TIM B]

Like a lotta others already said....I like'em close.  15 is good but 12 is better.....but I'll shoot them at 20 if I have to and only did that on a buck I was after and probably wouldent on a doe. 
I'm fortunate tho as I have been shooting trad 30+ years.  I get to hunt a lot, and have access to good lands.   And we have unlimited antlerless tags and lots of deer to hunt.
IF.....I didn't have the above and only hunted weekends where deer were scarce I would be more inclined to shoot farther and probably would.  Right now I just don't need to.
Tim B

[Roger Norris]

Like a lotta others already said....I like'em close.  15 is good but 12 is better.....but I'll shoot them at 20 if I have to and only did that on a buck I was after and probably wouldent on a doe. 
I'm fortunate tho as I have been shooting trad 30+ years.  I get to hunt a lot, and have access to good lands.   And we have unlimited antlerless tags and lots of deer to hunt.
IF.....I didn't have the above and only hunted weekends where deer were scarce I would be more inclined to shoot farther and probably would.  Right now I just don't need to.
Tim B

We agree on hunting close, but as far as the scenarios acceptable for a longer shot, we are exact opposite.

I would NEVER risk a longer shot on a buck I was after. What a shame to possibly wound a magnificent "target" buck. My success doesn't trump my ability.

Same goes for if I was only hunting weekends, or less (I am in the same awesome boat you are,hunt lots on good land). I'm darn sure not going to make my one and only shot opportunity an iffy one.

My acceptable range is my range....period.

[TIM B]

Roger- the buck I speak of was about 18....easily within my range.  And he was moving slower than a turtle. 
Simply saying a doe would have been safe in that spot that night as I had already shot 5 deer and was not in need if meat.  Just because I can shoot 25 doesent mean I'm gonna....unless I have to...the older I get the more I just love to watch them also.
Tim B

[Roger Norris]

Roger- the buck I speak of was about 18....easily within my range.  And he was moving slower than a turtle. 
Simply saying a doe would have been safe in that spot that night as I had already shot 5 deer and was not in need if meat.  Just because I can shoot 25 doesent mean I'm gonna....unless I have to...the older I get the more I just love to watch them also.
Tim B

Yeah....18 isn't 40. I have heard lots of "experts" talk about risking the shot because it was the buck of a lifetime. That's what I'm talking about....the buck of a lifetime deserves better than a risky shot.

[TIM B]

I agree completely and I should have answered the actual question of what was my max dustance instead of rambling on lol
Tim B

[9 Shocks]

Practice out to 30-40 yards. Prefer deer as close as possible. 10-15 yards! Trad for me is about getting close! Farthest I have shot a deer at was 23 yards.  And it just felt right.

[bigbadjon]

The longest distance I've actually killed a deer was 22 yards and that was with a GN Fireball. Ironically the last deer I killed with a rifle was 10 feet away. I used to feel differently but now I don't think an archer's ability is the end all of how far to shoot. A deers reaction time is so fast it starts to become questionable as it may be able to duck under an arrow or possibly duck into a poor hit. The question also begs do they hear the arrow or the bow? If they are ducking the arrow then shots under 20 are probably best. If they are reacting to the bow perhaps at longer ranges they would not react to the shot. I am erring to them hearing the arrow since I only practice to 40 anyhow, and even though I could hit him, assuming his reaction will misplace my hit.

[pavan]

An alert deer can move faster than any trad arrow can fly in 12 yards, there is a whole lot more killing a deer than simple yardage.  It seems the politically correct thing to do is to put number limiters on everything these days, a standing alert deer is a super duper motion detector device.  I think a moving deer sees less of the archer's motion than one that standing and checking out his surroundings.   I am not suggesting taking 40 yard shots at a fast walking deer.  Get out of the tree stands and hunt open country whitetails, they will seem like a different super spooky breed, compared to what one experiences from a deeps woods tree stand.  There are as many deer in the corn barren open country around here than the public woods.  A terraced slope a brushy creek bottom and they will call a 5 square mile area home.  Here today, way over there tomorrow.