i think it varies archer to archer and plays more on ability than anything. like you said, we all know an arrow is still going to be deadly at some pretty LONG ranges. if the archer KNOWS his/her own shooting abilities, and confidently can say THEY CAN put that arrow where they want it to go, thats their decision.

myself, last season, i know i could have easily put an arrow through the lungs of a deer out to atleast 40yds.

i wont shoot much past 20 90% of the time. why? i can shoot well within the vital area of a deer VERY consistantly much past 20 yards or so...why limit myself??? other factors...deer can and will move, the areas i hunt are generally very thick...anything 20yds and your going to have a hard time finding a clear lane. i dont hunt with a range finder and i know i stink at estimating range within a few yards once im up in a tree...on the ground im fine...i can range a groundhog within 25-50yds nearly every time out to about 500yds...farther i can still usually get close regularly...i just stumble when im 20ft off the ground and have slopes up and down and left and right and everything else...environmental factors like wind and such...

just right now, in my neck of the woods, under my circumstances, it will be a very odd day if i shoot at a deer past 25yds with my bow. not because i cant shoot well past 25yds...but everything else that plays in on the shot for me....