My effective maximum range with a compound bow is 25 yards (I would practice out to 30 yards); beyond that I am not confident in my ability to make a kill shot.

While I can shoot accurately with my Phoenix crossbow out to 40 yards, I have learned the hard way that my ethical range is still only 25 yards. I took a shot at a buck this season at 35 yards and ended up hitting him in the hind leg (when he took off the bolt sheared off and left the broadhead buried in his leg). Thankfully, I was able to track him down and finished him off two hours later, but I learned my lesson.

As others have noted, a crossbow is so much louder than a compound bow that string jump is greatly increased: I am convinced this is why I hit the buck in the hind leg (fully 2 feet back from where I aimed).