60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I was watching a hunting show today on the mens outdoor channel, and the guy took a 60 yard shot with his bow! Am i the only one who is a little surprised by this? im just a beginner and only shoot out to 20 yards, that buck was 3X farther than that. Granted he made the shot and killed the animal, and he was most likely shooting a top of the line bow with incredible power and fps, it still seemed far. Would you take that shot? he was using lumenoks, and i could honestly see his arrow in the air for quite a while between release and point of impact, the deer would have had time to turn and run before it even got there if it had known what was going on.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

No, I wouldn't shoot that far at any game animal. You don't think he shot that far to give the camera a chance to show off his sponsor's product, do ya? Naw...

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Yes, I have seen those kids of shots, but I am not impressed by them. But I am not willing to slam a guy for it. There are some bowhunters who are very proficient shooting to that distance. They can group to a tennis ball at 60 yards. So I am not going to question them about it. The only thing I have a problem with is that more often than not, they fail to explain to the viewers that that is not a proper shot for everyone. And that most people need to stay within about 30 - 40 yards max. They should have a disclaimer pop up saying " DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME ". But instead they don't and there will be a bunch of guys who saw that show flinging arrows over half a football field away, when they cant hit a paper plate at 35 yards. Get ready for more wounded and I can't find my deer, HELP , posts.

Oh well, I'll shut up now.

Good hunting.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I know what you're talkin about arthur, those shows are terrible, i saw one today where right after the kill this guy busted out about 3 or 4 different sets of knives to use to gut/field dress his deer, and coincidentally they were all made by the same company! anyway, i just like seeing the animals, not so much all the product placement. But it is way better and more respectful to the animal than some of the hunting videos you might see on youtube.com or other home-made hunting video sights.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I would never shoot that far. I am pretty good with my bow out to thirty yards but honestly I have a hard time letting my arrow fly at a deer at thirty yards.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

i cant shoot that far, my sight is as far down as it can go with a 40 yard pin, so i cant even get 50.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

that far is unethical..... too much room for error and wounding a deer

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Well said. I often find my old man at his housecussing the tv at many shows like this.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I was shooting spots today @ 60 yards with slick tricks. I was holding my groups inside a cd rom size even with a cross wind.

The "can be done" question is different than a "should be done". I for one think if you have the skill and your animal is calm and not jumpy and you have a quiet bow and you feel confident of the shot then its ok. But.... thats a lot of factors. I perfer 25yard shots :) Most of my stands have 38 yard shots as the max range.

BTW practicing at 60 yards with broadheads in a crosswind makes 30 yards seem so easy. Its a great confidence builder.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Shooting a target at 60 yards is one thing, but at game is ridiculous. To many things can change in the time it takes the arrow to impact the target.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I practice at 50 yards but am no where near good enough to try it in the field. I like 30 yards and under with my favorite being 20.
It's funny but you never see themwound a deer on TV. Either a straight out miss or a good hit.mmmmmmmmmm.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Yes I saw the same show and I don't believe I would ever take that shot. BTW did you also see the guy send the arrow thru that 200 class deer without hitting anything vital, right between the spine and the lungs he said. that right there tells me he should not have taken the shot because that deer was only 20 yards away and he didn't seal the deal. Just wonder what ever happened to that 200 class deer. Coyote bait more than likely.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

it's stupid, we all know, just don't bring it up/

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

http://forums.mathewsinc.com/viewtopic.php?t=45402

Go listen to these freakin clowns. Also....notice the pawns that suck up to this SAD, SAD boasting.

Jeff

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Gotta wonder if they would have shown it on TV if the arrow would have hit the animal in the guts and was never recovered. Also have to wonder how much footage of other hunts was never shown because the doofus missed or wounded other animals!

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Not saying it cant be done but why take a 60 yard shot to me if a deer is beyond 30 I wont even think about a shot

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I just took my longest shot to date a my Doe last evening! The shot was 32 yards and it seem like the arrow was in the air forever! I couldn't imagine a 60 yard shot! I don't think I even took a target shot at that distance maybe 50 but not 60! I'm not skilled enough to take a shot like that because I don't practice it. I working on a 40 yard shot just for the confidence factor! I like to get em in close as I can!

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Did anyone see the guy hunting elk that shot two massive bulls and wouned both of them and never recovered either. Why would you show this on TV. One he shot while he was comming head on and went doen the back strap.

I have shot an antelope at 60 yards in Wyoming when I was 15 years old. I practice out to 80 yards and felt confident that I could make the shot. Of course I was young and nieve. I did make a perfect shot and the antelope fell over after going maybe 70 yards max.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Keep in mind that the bowhunting legends of the past shot game out past 100 yards with longbows and recurves. In fact Pope and Young normally practiced shots at 60, 80, and 100 yards as their standard shot range. Of course they were the exception, not the rule, and I think their objective in those days was to prove the killing capabilities of bows even out to long distances. They were also shooting HEAVY poundage bows. I don't get uptight about it like is so prevelant these days but I do agree with another poster that they should give the caveat that they are only capable of doing said shots because they practice an insane amount of time and are confident in their shooting skills and that it is NOT a Hail Mary type of shot. If you don't know for certain where your arrow is going to hit at that distance and that you have confidence in your shot then don't take it.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

A buddy of mine went hunting with some guys that routinely shoot to 60 yards. one of them got a deer at 60 this year. my all time longest shot was 26 yards! I can't imagine shooting at a deer at that range. it happens, and people are successful at it. i think a deer is way too small to be shooting at that range. you have to be lucky to do it, who wants those odds.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Heck, just killed a chipmunk at 65yrds last night. I was bored and needed a pick me up.:D

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I shoot archery tournaments and am a pretty good shot, and i have killed multiple deer at 50+ i dont shoot every deer that far, it all depends on the attitude of the deer if ive got a giant standing at 60yds and he is calm not skiddish and i have a good shot and all things are in my favor you dang right im gonna whack him. but each is there own, just my opinion.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Everyone should know their maximum effective range for hunting purposes. Practicing and being proficient out to 60 yards with broadheads doesn't automatically mean that you can now take shots at this distance. Targets don't move right after your arrow was released, but a deer certainly can - and a perfect vital shot just became a gut shot.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I have takena few hogs with 60 yard shots. When you live in West Texas, you dont get a lot of close shots. With that said, I have never tried it on a deer. Deer tend to jump more than a hog, so the furthest ive ever taken a deer, or even attempted for that matter, was 45 yards. If you practice those distances, and have an animal the likes to freeze when spooked (like a hog), i have no problem with it.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I practiced out to 60 yards 5 days a week from July through the end of september. I did this for 2 reasons; I wanted to win our annual archery tourney(which I did:D) and by shooting at 60 yards, 30 would be easy. I took my 2nd doe at 35 yards this year, in part due to my confidence @ 60 yards. If a deer presented itself at 60 yards and I felt it was my only shot, Iwould take it. Would I rather have a closer shot...sure. For all of you who say thats too far, too many things can happen...thats BS. Those things STILL happen with a 20 yard shot. How many times have you heard "jumped the string" on a 20 yard shot? TONS. It all comes down to what you feel comfortable with. The guy on TV obviously has some skill to hit a deer @ 60 yards. Do you think he had never taken a 60 yard shot? I bet he practices all the time @ 60 yards.
It all comes down to the circumstances, plain and simple. If you have never even sighted in your bow to 40 yards, then by no means should you EVER take a long shot. If you practice and are a good shot at long distances, and the right circumstances allow you a shot...take it! My 2 cents for the day.

Good luck on whatever distance you shoot;)

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

...and those things that happen at 20 yards are three times worse at 60 yards. The deer takes just one step and that perfect heart shot turns into a perfect gut shot. You guys who say you'll take shots that far, I wish you the best of luck. You're gonna need it.Anddon't ever expect an invitationto share MY campfire.[>:]

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Heck I practiced at 60 yds a LOT, this year (62 yds from my back patio to the McKenzie Buck we own).

But I won't take a shot over +/- 30. I read somewhere that 75% of your practice should be at 2X the distance you plan to shoot in the field. Hence my long practice.

To each his own....but I have an IMMENSE respect for these animals we seek.

Jeff

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Have ya ever noticed, these forums are much like hunting magizines? Same topics over and over, with the same out come, year to year!! Except one difference, some of the same topics come up on these forums more often than annually, this poor horse has been pulverized how many times already this fall[:@]:D

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

With bow hunting it not how far you can shoot them, it's how CLOSE you can shoot them.

I'm more impressed with the guys that shoot bull elk on the ground from 5 yards while kneeling behind a tree.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I think you guys missd my point.....or I didn't say it correctly. The circumstances are important. If I have a deer at a far distance that is not spooky and just feeding leisurely I think I have a great chance of hitting it. Would I rather have a closer shot..of course. My point was don't just read something online and make a general statement that "all 60 yard shots are stupid", "your not welcome at my campfire for stuff like that" and so on. Remember, that guy on TV hit the deer perfectly. Under the right circumstances I believe it is an acceptable shot. Having said that, I passed a 55yard shot earlier this year because I didn't feel it as a good shot. The deer was spooked and I KNOW she would have bolted at the first hint of sound. It comes down to choices, and making good ones. Which is the better shot, a calm deer at60 yards or a jumpy one at 30 yards? Neither? Both? It will take .61 seconds for my arrow to reach 60 yards and .305 seconds to 30 yards.
Is an extra .305 seconds really that much? Really, I am asking. Will 1/3 of a second make that big a difference?
Hey, maybe I am wrong. I have only been hunting 2 years and maybe I am just a rookie who doesn't know what he is talking about. Wouldn't be the first time. Maybe over the next few seasons I will realize what you guys are saying is true. I am not above admitting I am wrong, or willing to be swayed into changing my mind. Isn't that what this forum is about?
May all your shots ring true,

Mike

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Yeah! They rock. I can't wait to have an elk hunt. Just not sure if I want to bow hunt one or Muzzleload. Several years down the road for me though...$$$$$

Mike

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I hope you meant hitting the vitals......and not what you wrote.

Jeff

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I agree with gzg38b. It's more sporting to get em in close.I would not take a shot at that distance.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

yes, absolutely. Dang it is sometimes difficult to articulate in written words what you WANT to say.[&o]

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Full Throttle, 1/3rd of a second is an eternity while the arrow is in the air. Even a calm, feeding deer can move quite a distance in that time at the distance we're talking about. Maybe it wants to nibble that browse just in front of it and it takes a step at the exact instant you release. That perfect heart shot in those perfect conditionssuddenly turned into a perfect gut shot.

At 20 yards, even 40 yards, you would have likely still gotten the back of the lungs or, at least, the liver. At 60, you wind up with a mess on your hands.

In this day and time, with bowhunting being a prime target for the animal rights goofballs, we bowhunterscannot afford to take chances like that. Ever notice how at least one wounded animal with an arrow sticking out of it somehow winds up crawling up and dying on some ARF'er's doorstep and then gets put on the evening news every bow season?

People need to start caring a bit more about the future of bowhunting, not just their own personal agendas.

Howler is right. This topic has had the crap beaten out of it. But too many people just don't seem to get the message.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn't do it because I am only confident out to about 30-35 yards. But Im not gonna knock someone who is confident at that range and can make the shot. More power to them. I wish I could group arrows at 60 yards. However, I am smart enough and also ethical enough not to take a shot atan animal atthat distance knowing my capabilities. Unlike some folks.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

I`ve never been impressed with bowhunters thattakeextremelylong shots at game60+ To me it shows a lack of respect for the game they huntand a lack of experience inthere own hunting skills.
I could care less about if someone has taken game at long distances sooner or later its going to bite you!

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Ok,
Here is another question. Again, I am asking because I truely don't know. Are good-quality bows quiet enough that a deer will even here it at 60 yards?
I took a shot last year at 40 yards durring a light rain and missed completely. Bad shot. I mis-judged the distance badly. ( rangefinder now) The funny thing was he didn't know I had shot at him. He just jumped when he heard the arrow hit on the other side of him. He stayed around for another 1/2 hour before leaving.

I understand what you guys are saying, and I may never take a shot at that distance, but I can't rule it out because I am confident there is a time and place for a long-distance shot.

Mike

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

Hell I'm a big fat pig and have the reflexes of a sloth and I could almost get out of the way. Phil Philips (dominant predator show)took a long shot and the buck was broadside on release buck whirled 180 and he hit him as buck was facing him right betwen shouldersa frontal shot. I know hes not shooting junk. Too much can happen at that distance yet they all crooned what a great shot. How come they didn't replay that one in slow-mo 10 times, reason he was damn lucky period.

RE: 60 yards!? are you kidding me?
 

i dont like making anything over a 30 yard shot. but ive been accurate on 3d targets to 60 with some extra pins. while hunting i wait for a good 30yd or less shot tho. i had a small buck come in on me 2 years ago that i REALLY misjudge the shot on. i knew it was on the long side but not as long as it turned out to be. it was about 55yards, i aimed at his spine and sunk a muzzy 90gr broad head behind the leg, but far enough back to miss the heart and barely get the bottom of the lungs. the shot would have killed him easily if given the proper time before tracking...but shortly after he ran off down the hill i heard the brush stop crashing...then BOOOOOMMMMM.

follwed a good blood trail down the hill where a father and his 11 yr old son were proud as can be over the boys first buck...a little 6pt with 2 holes in his side. i was bowhunting (legally) on the youth hunt day where kids under 16 can rifle hunt. the father and i both knew that was my deer, but when the wounded buck came to them his boy shot it...and because he dropped him in his tracks, that boy got to take home his first buck.

enough of my story tho, it was a good shot for such a long distance...but i'll keep mine to about 30-35yds max from now on.