For me, 25 is the max I'll launch a stick at a deer. I've been guilty of it myself, but have now changed my views, but to me, the "well, if it's big, I'll shoot farther" line is not good practice. I've lost 2 deer in my life, and have been called in to help people unsuccessfully track others,( I've also been called in to help and found deer that probably wouldn't have been found)and to shoot at an animal outside of a comfort range just isn't worth it. It'll just make a guy feel worse if it's a monster, knowing he probably shouldn't have shot anyway.

The ones that get away without taking a shot make better stories than wounded deer not found, anyway.