Originally Posted by Semisane

Totally agree Breechplug. I took a few stupid shots in my younger and brasher days. But I grew up and now don't take a shot unless I know I can make it. Usually a standing still deer. But never more than a slow walk.

I'm confortable out to 175 yards on a standing, relaxed deer with two or three of my scoped muzzleloaders if I have a good rest and perfect conditions. With iron sights or something like the scoped .54 round ball shooting Renegade my limit is closer to 100 yards. In the real world of pine woods/small food plot hunting, my longest shot on a deer in the last ten years with a muzzleloader was 88 yards. Passed a lot of longer shots on meat does, knowing I could get a closer shot tomorrow or next week.

Exactly Semisane, I also learned a lesson back in My younger days and we need not talk about it as Im sure you, me and many others have made the same mistake, some of us learned from it and other's have yet to.
I also strive to get as close as possible to game, but not too close, sometime too close is bad, I'd prefer 20-30 yds as the perfect shot. I also have waited for that closer shot on that Big Buck, but more times than any he never showed again and left me thinking if I should have, but I think back to that day when I was a younger fool, and it reminded me that I made the right decision even though I never got another chance. Just remember once you pull the trigger there's no turning back.
(BP)

You're a better man than me MountainDevil. I would never attempt an off hand shot that far.