ORIGINAL: Rich Baker
Touchy subject here, most guys will say 20 to 30 yards. Because its a ethically sound statement. The truth is I have shot and killed elk out to 98 yards with a mathews feather max, a cougar faceing me at 50 yards several muley bucks out to 70 yards. Open country hunting is quite a bit different than small eastern hard woods. I practic to 100 yards . I have lost one animal since I have been bowhunting (25 years) a whitetail buck He was shot at 15 yards?? That said 80% of my kills are taken at or around 40 yards. Its my sweet spot I am deadly at 40 yards.
Now Last year I switched to a recurve to spice up the fun a bit. I wont shoot at a animal over 40 yards I can sink them into a paper plate back to 60 with it but I am not confident that the speed is where it needs to be.
Im sure this up set the ethics police but thats how it is. Most spot and stalk, open country hunters all shoot to these ranges at game Even thought they don't have the balls to admit it.
Damn Rich, that is some good shooting. I suppose, practice at any distance and you can get good. I know Dan Evans that invented the Trophy Taker drop away practices regularly at 100 yds sothat if the animal offers another shot he can send another arrow it's way. Look at Byron Ferguson, he shoots the flame out of a candle at 100yds with a longbow