RE: 40 yard shot
I have killed groundhogs at 35 and 33 yards and a deer almost at a trot at 30 yards. I would feel comfortable shooting at a deer out to 50 yards if conditions were ideal and I knew the range. That is the biggest factor for me, range. My dad killed one of the smallest groundhogs I've seen at 46 yards, which was a combination of great range estimation and shooting ability. If you have the shooting ability and feel comfortable taking the shot, then you should take it. That's just my opinion and I know most other people disagree but that's what I think. I practice out to eighty yards and shoot tournament archery. All of which helps as far as the mechanics of the shot, but the situation is totally different when hunting.