Average shot distance

[LeverActionman]

What is the average shot distance you take hunting? The only deer I have shot so far was about 12 yards.

[Rick Richard]

15 yards

[Biggamefish]

20 Yards and under I have shot deer at 23 yards but it is a far shot after 20.  Has to be perfect conditions.

[David Mitchell]

I like 20 and under but took my antelope last year at 25 because the set-up just looked perfect--and was.

[Gordon Jabben]

Deer, squirrels, rabbits, all average around 15 to 20 yards.

[JamesKerr]

I can't say there has really been an average to my shots. Some have been as close as four yards and others around twenty. If I had to guess my average shot is somewhere around twelve to fifteen yards. As has been said above twenty yards and over is really pushing it for whitetails and other really spooky game.

[Bill Carlsen]

My longest killing shot on a deer was 37 paces. I killed a caribou at 55 yards (I practiced a lot for that hunt). Of the 6 bear I have killed I don't think one was over 15 yards, maybe a bit more but not by much. I like to shoot deer at the 15-20 yard  range. Any closer and they over react to the shot and often jump the string or wind up spine shot. Any longer than that depends on  how much I have  been shooting and the circumstances.

[BOWMARKS]

15 Yards  

[Stumpkiller]

12 to 20 yards on whitetail deer and squirrels.  Bunnies in the snow occasionally hold longer (and I don't see them earlier) so 7 or 8 yards to as close as 4 yards.  

Stumps - anything goes.

[Tim]

20 and in for deer....As I approach the 50 year mark my eyes just don't focus like they use to.  Anything much over that looks "really" far in the woods!

[Tom Leemans]

The longest shot I've ever taken on deer was 25 paces. Shortest was probably less than 5 paces. I like to hear them trying to smell me.

[magnus]

Never killed one over 13 yards. Have missed a few at 20.

[wooddamon1]

15 yards. Killed a doe years ago at 35, I thought she was closer and the shot felt "right", as they say...

[Orion]

I try to set up for 15 yards give or take a little.  Most of mine have been 12-17 yards, a few over 20 yards, longest was probably close to 30 yards.

[NOMAD88]

I think it's a matter of circumstance.A clear down hill shot when you are 20 ft up in a stand...30 yds might not be out of the question.It's mostly a matter of what you are comfortable with and how much time you have to track.  

[ESP]

18 average

[Jmatt1957]

I was able to step off the yardage after I shot my buck this year and it was 24 yards. That is the longest shot I have ever taken at a deer. Most of my shots are 10 yards or less.

My average would be 12-14yds.

Bisch

[drewsbow]

17.5  

[Sean B]

I like 20 & in.  I do practice at farther distances, but 20 and in is my comfort zone.