Howdy,

I am new to bowhunting. I have been a rifle/shotgun hunter for a few years now for the hogs/turkeys/blacktails here in California.

I purchased my first bow a couple of weeks ago and I love how much fun it has been to practice with it. I plan to get ready for deer season here from august through november.

My question is: what is the maximum range you would shoot at a deer, assuming that it is a clear shot. my bow has a 60-70 draw weight (that's what is stamped on it). I have been consistently breaking hangingclay pigeons from about 25 yards. This is with the top pin of my sight dead on, so I am assuming that I want to move this pin up to about a 15 yard range? And use the other two to get a bead on ranges of say 25, 30 yards? (Depending on the max shot distance for my bow).

Thanks for all the help,

Dan Rotlisberger

Dan, welcome...maximum shooting distance comes down to personal comfort zones....what's maximum for you might not be for me...I've been shooting competition for more years than I can remember and bowhunting more than 20 years....I wouldn't expect someone starting out to be like me...if your comfortable shooting out to 30 yards, set that as your maximum shooting distance...more realistically most animals are taken under 25 yards.....it comes down to practice, practice, practice and you'll learn where you need to set your limitations....and be strict.

I've been shooting for about 35 years (not competitively)and can consistently hit the killzone at 50 yards on my target! However, in the field (as you know from hunting) a whole set of factors come to play. Adrenalin has probably ruined more killshots than all other factors combined. And then there's wind...and angle...and deer position, etc, etc.
Personally my comfort zone is about 40 yards. Any more than that and it would have to be the perfect shot opportunity (broadside presentation, no wind, etc.). Alot of hunters say that they might shoot a trophy outside that zone, but then, instead of looking at the killzone, they fixate on that rack and blow the shot. The only thing I could think of that would be worse than missing a wallhanger would be wounding one and feeding the coyotes!

Bows can shoot up to 100 yrds easy but its not a safe shot I try to keep my shots at 40 or under. I too live in California But here in humboldt County The woods are soo thik that I barely use my 40 pin I usually stay about 20 - 30. As for your pins depending on what part of Ca you are in. I lived in the bay area for most of my life and hunted the open country of napa county there I had 4 pins 20,30,40,50; because a 50 yrd shot in the napa hills isnt uncomon in humboldt I only use 3 fiberoptic pins (It isalways overcast here) 20,30,40. Anyways i'llstop talkin your ear off. Just wonderin where in cali are you-Email me

welcome to the forum and your max distance would be at where you can consistently hit a 3-4 inch circle.practice is the key

with a 60 pull you can pull off a 50-55 yard shot if theres a monster out there but its risky,Iwould recommend 40 or less,

Welcome my man. Yes, shooting targets is fun, but wait till you pull back on a beast! Your heart will be jumping out of your chest. I still gun hunt, but it just does'nt compare anymore. There is nothing better on the planet!
If I have an open shot out to 50 yards, I'll take it. Invest in a rangefinder also, I would'nt leave home without it.

The furthest i would shoot is 30-35yard cause any distance over that ur bound to make a bad shot

Very well said.

This is the smartest thing I have read on HNI in a long time! Cudos NC!