Stationary targets and deer are 2 different things. In a hunting situation, I would say 40 yards is max, and that would be only under ideal conditions. The longest shot I've taken at a deer was 37 yards and I missed under the deer (this was before I had a range-finder and was shooting a slow x-bow with peep sights). The longest shot I've made on a deer was 26 yards. I've also taken a turkey with the x-bow at about 40 yards.