Distance of shots?

[THE PIG STICKER]

Just was wondering how far you guys shoot at game. I try to make all of my hunting shots 25yards or less. I am comfortable up to 35 when shooting in my back yard.

[lpcjon2]

Same as you

[T Folts]

20yards max right now

[coaster500]

Same thing, 20, 25 yds hunting with these old eyes, more and things start to open up. I practice up to 40 yards sometimes for fun out to 60, makes things tighter up close  

[1/4 away]

I generally practice at 20 - 25 yards in my back yard but prefer my hunting shots to be around 15-18 yards,

[Big Bird]

I try to keep my hunting shots 25 yds and under.

[blueline]

5 steps or less

I am more concerned with hunting than shooting

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

It depends; however, my average shot distance on deer is around 14 yards.

[LongbowGuy83]

20-25 practice. 15-20 hunting

[pitbull]

All my animals taken are between 7 and 25 yards. I practice beyond that but I can really see the arrow dropping off after 25 yards so I stay under that.

[scottm]

Under 25 yards.preferably under 15.

[bozara]

Of my eleven elk, closest was 8 yards, furthest was 21 yards.  Deer out to maybe 25.  I try to set my stands for 15-18 yard shots on whitetails as it seems beyond that they are more likely to jump the string, closer the downward angle gets chancier for a double lung shot  and it's easier to get busted by noise and motion.

[Hoser1268]

20 yards and in for me.

[ron w]

I like 12-18 yards.....if things were perfect, and they never are, I would shoot out to 21-22 yds.

[Bob B.]

well ... I hunt from the ground so too close is just often too close.  I guess I like from 12 to 25 yards, my comfort zone anyway.  Just shooting around, I like 0 to 40 I guess.

Bob.

[Brian Krebs]

This has a lot a whole lot to do with where you live; if you hunt from a ground blind; if you hunt from a treestand if you spot and stalk; and if you practice out to long ranges.
 In the east and in the west - if I put up a treestand it will be to provide me with a shot under 25 yards- and too: with a ground blind.

 If I am spotting and stalking; in open country with lots of distance practice- my range is not known until after I shoot; and pace it off.

 I once saw a herd of elk walk by an opening for a clear shot in some brush. I shot over a calf elk; and then under a cow elk in less than a minute- the size differences threw me off as to distance.

  Bears- I am up to 17 kills and I have never shot over 20 yards; all but one shot have been at or under 15.

 My first deer with a bow - it headed towards me with a bunch of deer; and then it fell behind- in the one day absence of hunting; the farmer had torn down the fence row the deer walked down to get to where I was at. The buck was confused - and so was I- I had no idea the fence was gone either as I walked in - in the dark.
 So the buck was walking away- and I knew it was out of range; so I shot my rubber blunt way past and over it - to try and turn it around. It stopped and then continued; and I shot again over and past it by 15 yards. It turned and came to me; where I made a fine shot at 16 or so yards.
 
 I tried that again when bowhunting here in Idaho; I had a herd of over 100 deer walk by me at ten yards; followed by a P&Y buck. Then one doe that apparently was in heat - ran back to where they came from- an open hillside.
 The buck followed. So I shot my rubber blunt over the doe; and she headed my way. Then she turned and headed back towards the hill again. I had been glassing that hill; watching the deer herd walk down it-  and had just walked down it a half hour before.
 I remembered my first deer taken- and tossed a broadhead tipped arrow way past the doe- and it smashed against a rock; and the doe turned and headed my way again.
 The buck was hot on her - then she turned again and ran over towards the hill; and I took another broadhead out and shot that arrow as far into the air as I could: to get to some rocks on the hill. I  really wanted to get a shot at that buck !
 Well that arrow went up; waggled in the wind; stopped; and came straight down.
  It hit that doe right between the shoulders and dropped it right in its tracks.      
  I saw down in disbelief; as the buck walked past me at ten yards.
  I gps'd the position I was in; and went to where the doe hit the dirt- it was 187 yards.

 I am ashamed of that shot- and so proud of the 20 and less yard shots I have made !!!!  

 Shoot when you feel total confidence.

[BowMIke]

20 yda and under for me.

[T Lail]

I try to keep all my shots 20 yards and under.....did take a doe one time at 31 steps.....it just felt right and she was meat in the freezer.....I also missed a large pig at 9 steps.....go figure.....

[BOWMARKS]

I hunt from an ATV and still let them pass over 20 yards.

[joevan125]

I can shoot tight groups out to 25yd but i love that 10-15 yd shot.