Exactly and I get my satisfaction from killing big bucks and I don't care if they are 30 yards or 6 yards. Surely you would agree that killg a 4.5 year old buck at 30 yards with a compound would derive more satisfaction that killing a doe at 6 yards. It all depends on your priorites and what floats your boat.
Now, just imagine the thrill from taking that mature buck from 6 yards with a selfbow. You would have done something very few people will ever do. Again, I question, is it just about the kill or does the experience also count?
Why do you want to even judge where it ends. It is that persons own business to what extent to take their archery passion as long as it is legal and ethical. It is not for you to determine so why try to impose your standards on others?
I'm not sure where you think I'm trying to impose my standards. I'm doing no such thing. I'm just discussing an issue that has come up. Is there a limit to equipment advances that will change bowhunting into some other kind of hunting? Personally, I think there is and am voicing this concern, not trying to impose my standard. It seems many people in this thread cannot handle a discussion on this subject without getting defensive, and accusing people of being elitists, etc. It is my opinion that as kills are made at further distances, the character of bowhunting is changed and the upclose, personal hunting experience has been lost. Just like gunhunters shoot way before a deer ever gets close, bowhunters who can shoot effectively at 80 yards, will not wait until the deer is at 8 yards.
Why would anyone bowhunt when they could use a more efficient weapon? I can think of two reasons. One would be to extend your hunting season, since bowhunters get a generous, separate season. Two, because it is a more personal, up close, hunting experience. In other words, a way of testing your ability to get real close to your quarry, because that is what this weapon requires. As the weapon evolves and changes, the closer it gets to eliminating reason number two. As the killing distance increases, the bowhunting experience decreases, in my opinion. This is just an opinion. I'm not impossing on anyone, nor am I saying I'm better then anyone. It's an observation that people should be able to read, without seeing it as an attack. Is it okay if bowhunting ranges evolve into ranges that are similar to distances commonly taken by gun hunters? I'm just trying to get people to think.