RE: Shortest distance to recover your deer?
First Deer I ever killed with a bow. DRT (dead right there) and this was not a spine shot.
I was walking slow during very high wind, wind in my face, when a doe jumped up out of a grass field. I was 7 yards from her when she jumped. Well she jumped up but did not run so I performed the famous Texas heart shot (OK, I was an inexperienced bowhunter at the time (1982)). The arrow whacked the femoral artery and she fell, started kicking, and was dead in 10 seconds. She field-dressed at 90 lbs which ain't bad for GA.
What a first deer to get you hooked!!!