Is there such a thing as a relaxed deer? I don't know. I know for a fact that I had a "relaxed" deer drop enough to cause a high "nick" on his back at 19 yards from a bow shooting 285fps. He was feeding, head down, foreleg forward and at the shot, he dropped enough to "duck" the arrow. ON FILM, when you play it in slow motion, the arrow would have took the top of his heart. They can drop at a shot no matter what the speed, no matter what the distance.

Regarding 40+ yard shots, I honestly feel that deer are LESS likely to "jump/duck" the string/arrow at farther distances when "relaxed".

I've taken 5 shots at deer at or over 40 (42 being the longest) yards in 26 seasons. All resulting in a double lung/heart shots on 4 of the 5 and the 5th was a pefect shot. The arrow went exactly where I was aiming, a touch low. I thought he'd react and didn't. I sent my arrow nicking his underchest exactly where I was aiming. I'll never hold low again. He'd been my best buck to date. He was extremely nervous and never heard the bow/arrow.

Yardages are subject to ethics, conditions, abilitiy and the temperature of the deer. I've shot more 3D courses than I could honestly count right now, sorry to sound arrogant but I know my abilities and my limitations. I've missed more deer under 30 yards and only ever missed one over 30 yards and that was that pefect shot on that buck. I say perfect cause the arrow went where I wanted it too. I think I calm myself to take the farther shots and try to hard on the close ones. I've made the statement before that I'd sooner shoot a deer at 30-35 yards than I would at 20 yards because of many variables.

I agree with NY Bowhunter as well as BTBowhunters threads as well. I think they are very well put.

When I went elk hunting, my hunting partner and I religiously practiced out to 75 yards with Muzzy's, placing them into the 10 ring of a McKenzie bull elk every time. I don't know if I would have taken that shot on a live animal. I'm glad I was not put to the test, I killed my bull at 33 yards. He missed 4 bulls under 25 yards. He's an incredible shot but nerves and excitement plays more into shooting than ability at the moment of truth. He claimed to not being able to remember looking into the peep.

More than ability comes experience. Some can claim to hit a pie plate in their back yard everytime but may have no business shooting 40 yards at a live animal. They may never had the pressure doing that exact same thing. That means alot.

Use your best judgement, take only those shots you KNOW you can make and not THINK or HOPE you can make. Get out and shoot 3D as much as you can, that time and money allows. 3D WILL make you a better hunter.

Every year I'll continue to buy my hunting license, I wish I could buy a Getting license but PA doesnt' offer them. [8D]