30 yards.

The Rifle Man

The most I would ever shoot is 30yds. Although I have practiced up to 50yds. I don't feel confident in making a kill shot from that far.

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40 yards

I shoot with a Keller pendulum sight from a treestand, so my maximum distance for any shot is determined by my bow and the sight. My old bow was accurate to 22 yds. I have bought a new bow that is much faster and should theoretically shoot further . All that being said, I still limit my shots at deer to less than 20 yds. I remember reading the results of a study several years ago that said, the average deer, given any sort of warning, can outjump an arrow at about 19 yds. I don't think wounding the deer is worth my shot. You must know your own capabilities and those of your equipment. Good luck.

Well not to say I would ever do this again.... I shot my first deer with a bow this past Sunday... I only had 4 days left in season so I took this shot so I would not get skunked my first year bowhunting. I was 25 feet in my stand and the doe was I thought at 40 yards. I am pretty sure at 40 yards and found a lane she was heading toward. I took the shot when she stopped in the lane and heard the thud. She took off and I saw her fall not even 40 yards from the shot. When I stepped off the shot it was 51 yards or large steps (I am six foot tall so they are very close to a yard or longer steps). In all honesty I would say that the shot was between 40 and 50 yards seeing how the measurement was by steps. I use gold tip 5575 with 4" feathers and spitfire 100 grain heads. The shot was almost a pass through (hitting the lower ventricles), the arrow fletchings were the only thing still in her when I found her. But in retrospect I would never take a desperation shot like this if I was not 75% sure it would be a kill shot. I practice at all range's from 10 to 40yards.

practicing i go out to 50-55,hunting i go out 35 yards MAX.

Just two pins on my bow......... if that says anything...get close its more intense that way!

IHW,
Shed

My buddy, who is a top notch shooter, had an elk duck his arrow at 25 yards this last season. The elk wasn't looking at him when he shot. He's lucky he didn't wound the animal.

Keep in mind, no matter how good you can shoot, you can never predict what the animal will do. Longer shots always increase the possibility of a poor hit. I know some people don't care if they hit an animal poorly, just give them a chance to get it, and they'll take that chance. Others, like myself, want to be sure that 99% of the time a killing shot will be made. In other words, some people have a higher tolerance for a poor hit, regardless of how talented they are in their shooting abilities. I can easily keep my arrows in a 4" group at 30 yards, but would never take a shot of that distance at an animal. My longest to date has been about 22 yards and I can't imagine that I'll ever take one longer. By the way, I'm 18 out 20 on big game. The two misses never hit the deer. Both times I hit a twig when hunting with a recurve as a teenager. Both of those shots were under 15 yards. I didn't realize what a little twig could do to an arrow. That was the last time I shot when a twig could possibly divert the shot.

I've taken a couple deer at 40 yards, but earlier in my bowhunting career. I haven't taken a 40 yard shot in probably 10 years. I've let more than one buck get away waiting for a better shot. The best example was a 12 pointer with some extra kickers, that would have made anyones book, standing broadside at 30 feeding on acorns. The way he was moving he was suppose to be in my lap in a couple minutes. A doe came running by and it all went bad real fast. Inside 25 I take the first good shot that presents itself unless I know without doubt I'll get a slam dunk.(Like the 12 pointer<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>) At 35 I'll shoot but usually wait to see what's going to happen. At 30, a good shot with little promise of something better I'll take. A lot depends on the deers state of tension, daylight, weather(raining or not), etc. Every deer is different. Sometimes I guess right.... sometimes I don't. That's all part of the game.