I have shot 3 or 4 mule deer in my years of hunting and every one of them was within 15 yards. Take your time and do some scouting and you shouldn't have a problem getting them into a better range.

I have only shot 1 elk and he was exactly at 18 yards.

I couldn't agree more. Way too many variables come into play at that range.

i have shot muleys in close too, at about 6 feet, but to say that all shots should be kept to 40 yards is just not true. i think a hunter should set his own limitations. i know i said i killed a muley at 70, that is true. that was also a long time ago when i was young, and understand limitations. now, i would not shoot past 60. 60 itself would have to be perfect, but i know i am accurate to that range. last year my brother shot his muley at 50 yards. by many people on here's thoughts that should not have even been tried. my brother's shot groups at 50 yards are plenty good enough to make that shot, and he did.

i do realize that more can happen when there further away, but still more deer are wounded in close every year, for 2 reasons. 1) of course there are way more shots at those ranges, hence more wounds, and 2) string jumping usually occurs at closer ranges, where the deer perceive the noise to be more of a threat. you can simply get away with more at 40 or 50 yards.

i will still take the long shot at times, but i do like to get close. i think a persons limits should be set by themselves, and they should stick to their known limitations no matter what.

You know, I'm not a young and dumb, inexperienced bowhunting folks. Some of the guys here read and believe, but I've been there and done that.

I've gotten several SD antelope within 20 yards. Getting them to be still is another story !

Mule deer are animals you can successfully stalk very close to, not unlike elk.

Ya'll are compound shooters, you take 50-60 and beyond yard shots because you can. If you COULDN'T take those shots, you wouldn't and you'd find a way to hunt your way into 20 yards.

I'm all for ya'll taking long shots if you can make them, it aint for me to say whether you can or cannot make those shots. But being a trad shooter, I full well know that getting close to game while bowhunting is just as possible to do with elk and mule deer as it is whitetail.

Huntign out west requires further shots is a Wives Tale - its simply not true.

I agree with this too. But like you said earlier... i know i said i killed a muley at 70, that is true. that was also a long time ago when i was young, and understand limitations. Too many people think that if they can hit a target that don't move, that they can hit a critter that don't happen to be moving at the time of release.

If you are comfortable at making those shots, by all means do it. But for somebody to say that you can't get an elk or mule deer closer....I personally think they need to try a little harder.

My whole argument with this post is one comment.

I just think this is a bogus comment to make. I personally know more people that have taken these animals in close range than I know that have taken them at longer ranges.

I have taken 3 mule deer and 7 antelope with a bow. The farthest shot on any of them was 32 yards and that was from a ground blind at a water hole. That was the only one taken from a blind. The rest were decoyed or spot and stalk and all 20 yards and in. I don't subscribe to the shots are farther out west theory. There is greater potential for longer shots in the west, that's a fact of the geography. You can get close if you work at it, that's a fact of hunting.

mez - now dammit, don't be confusing these guys with real life experiences ......... a lot of them live in a fantasy world where everything they know if read from Bowhunter and North American Whitetail

I have not hunted out west yet but plan on hunting elk opening season in Colorado. If a bowhunter can regularly and confidently make a long shot, then more power to him. Not everyone's abilities and skills are the same. That being said...............to take animals on a regular basis, it takes more skill to get in close regularly than making a shot. At least thats my opinion.

Cougar - where you going ? I think I've successfully modified my high country mule deer hunt (rifle) to include a buddy thats going with me. Well do 3/4 days of elk, then go into where I'm going to shoot a big muley, then 3/4 days of elk after I tag my buck. Not the first week of season, the second week, central Colorado in game unit 43 give or take 75 - 100 miles ( we don't really know exactly WHERE we're going to elk hunt yet !! )

be able to shoot as far as you can ...... and hunt to get within 20 yards. Do that and you got no worries

I would have to agree with the majority here I have taken long shots and have killed everything I was shooting at but I would not tell anybody that does not know there own ability or the animal there hunting ( body langage or habits) to shoot past there abilitys.

I shoot between 200 & 500 arrows just about every day from 0 to 80 yards . I would never take a shot pass 70yds (at any animal) and every aspect would have to be just right for 60 to 70yds.

The reason I shoot 80 is it seems to help me with target panic, and it helps me with lesser yardage groups.

To each there own.

I have 5 bulls under my belt.. The farthest one was taken at 25yds. Closest at 6yds.
Of the 3 mulie bucks I have been fortunate enought to harvest.. The farthest one was at 42yds. Closest at 10yds.
You know that is kind of our own downfall. Everyone is always looking for the fastest most powerful bow. IMO The main reason to Bowhunt is to get close. Close the Distance! And it is better then any drug in the world!!!! I will never shoot at a Bull if he is past 40yds. And for me that is pushing it... You have to ask yourself.. Is it worth it?