My closest has been 1 yard from the base of my tree. Think I have done that 3 times. I've heard people say they don't like them real close, but I have never lost a deer I've shot inside 5 yards and have shot 10-12 in that range. To me, the ideal distance is 7-10 yards. I'll take a 20 yarder, but don't really like them even though it's a gimme shot in the backyard. The 9 deer I killed last year were shot at 4, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 9, 12, and 17 yards. Average = 8.1 yards
This is from a couple years back at 1 yard with a Simmons Tree Shark.