To each his own. You do your thing, I'll do mine. I find that deer beyond 30 yards are far less likely to react or drop or jump at the sound of a bow going off. It's not close enough to startle them. Instead of dropping, they may look up but usually don't do that. They're far less likely at 40 than they are at 30.

When it all comes down to it, isn't it not what we all practice for??, like at all these 3D event at those kind of(40 yarder) events so that we can all be pros at putting meat on the table, or all we all just going to pass up those kind of shots till another season? i_don't_think_so

Just a comment on that. When shooting at whitetail at 40 yards, thereare more things involved then an archers skills, abilities, and confidence. Of course this is true at 15 yards, but it is magnified at these longer yardages. I'm not saying take or don't take the shot at a live animal, but be aware of the variables. Heck, even some of my archery hero's took shots at distances that I can not even comprehend. Example is Howard Hill's Elk shot at 185 paces.

Personally, for me when the "hope factor" enters the equation, I usually will not shoot. For example, I hope I can seethe uninterupted flight path of my arrow (no small limbs, leaves, grass, in the way), I hope the deer does not decide to move an inch before my arrows gets there (and I don't just mean jumping the string). etc. etc.

On the second part ofyour post, I really can't comment. To tell you the truth, I don't hunt to put meat on the table. Although I do enjoy it, and donate what I do not use.

Bob, your absolutley right, a 40 yard shot should never be attempted when there is the presence of doubt. Archery is more mental than physical and when doubt is present, doubt takes over. The same variables exist at 40 yards as they do at 20 yards. The animal is the same size, the animal can move just as far in that millisecond it takes an arrow to travel at 20 yards as it can at 40 yards. The biggest factor in taking/not taking a shot at that distance is confidence in your ability, execution of your shot and simply put mechanics. Not everyone should attempt it and most shouldn't ever shoot over 30 yards. I've passed animals at 35 yards because the shot is not right or I had doubt. I've passed them at 20 yards as well. I've taken two shots over the 40 yard mark both being double lungs and I've passed animals over 40 yards as well. The two I took were not record book animals. I've missed under 30 yards, and one at 40 yards because I held low. I've had misfortunes at 20 yards, not one over 40 yards.

It comes down to the hunter and the hunter alone at that very moment the opportunity exists. All we can hope for out of one another is that you use your best judgement, don't shoot beyond your abilities and pass it if doubt exists. We live with ourselves alone and each of us knows that ache in the pit of the stomach and I believe we all strive to never feel it again. Do what is right for you and you alone, I will do the same.

Taking a 40 yard shot on a deer has nothing to do with ethics. It has to do with archer skill as everyone has already stated. Right now I will not hesistate to shoot a deer at 40 yards, I can place 3 arrows inside a golfball sized group at that distance. I am now working my way to 60 yards so I am prepared for my upcoming antelope hunt out west. If you don't feel proficient at longer ranges, don't take the shot.

If the deer is relaxed at 40yards and it gives me a broad side shot i'll take it

Not trying to be a wise guy or anything, but a deer can move twice as far at 40 yards then it canat 20 yards before the arrow gets there. Even further if you take the deceleration of the arrow before it gets there.

Here is my reason/experience for doubting a shot with a compound at a whitetail even past around 25 yards. I was shooting 300fps setup at the time with carbons and I was shooting at a buck at about 35 yards. A shot that I took sucessfully more then once in the past and a shot I felt 100% confident in. The buck was grazing at 35 yards broadside alone and had no clue I was there. I drew back on the buck, and everything was right. I released my arrow. However at the point of no return on the releaseand the time the arrow got to the buch, he took a quartering away step.By the time the arrow got to him (believe me, it sure seemd like a long time), it didn't hit where I wanted it to. The arrow went exactly where I shot it though and itflew unobstructed. Nothing about the shot I felt was my fault. But the arrow still didn't go where it would have if the deer would not have taken that step/turn. To make a long story short, I caught the liver and one lung instead of the double lung and I had to let the deer expire overnight. I collected him in the morning. But it left me with a real bad feeling.

Below is a link to a little info on the amount of time it takes an arrow to reach a deer and how much a deer can move before it gets there. For those who may be interested (scroll down to my post):

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=240480&mpage=2&key=mph%2cdeer%2c move&#240618

Extremely well put IMO.

For me it depends on the situation. I practice and can make that shot. My two longest shots have been a doe at 42 yards and a six point at 45 yards. One was in open woods, the other was in a field. I shoot tight groups in the yard at 40, I feel confident doing it in the woods.

Good post Bob.

No. Too far for me. I try to keep under 25 yards 30 is my limit. Thats what I go by and I stick to it. If you know you can make that shot go for it. You should know your limit and stick to it. You owe that to the animal and yourself