RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I shoot 30-35 yards as a max, I hunt from the ground so I can not say the exact range but, it is within that ball park. Nothing more then that for me though.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

60 for me....

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

50-55 depending with the correct circumstances

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

This thread is a waste of server space. 85 yard shot = douchebag

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Thanks for that bit of intelligence. :eek:

60 yards for Elk/Mule deer sized game.

50 is pushing it on whitetail.

For me.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I will shoot out to 45yards IF the deer is out in a bean/corn field, but in the timber about 35 is the max due to limbs of some sort.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

It all depends on the situation. If the deer is calm and I have plenty of time I have no problem shooting 60 maybe 70 yards. But the closer the better.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

We think pretty highly of ourselves, don't we now Hunter, Teenager?

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

When we're able to recognize the fact that every archer is different, that every archer has a different set of capabilities, and that only that archer can decide what is and isn't an ethical use of the capabilities, then yes. I do think highly of myself.

Thanks for your poor attempt at trying to condescend to me though, the effort is noted and appreciated. :eek:

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

OH, noted huh? If you're going to "note" it, then I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

60 is no problem for me, thats what I actually practice at and it makes the short shots a breeze. I am going mule deer hunting this year in CO if I get drawed and I plan on my max shooting there to be 80yds. I will practice all summer for it, but I am going to increase my chances of getting something there. I dont want to come home empty handed. Hopefully the shot will be much shorter, but I will be prepared for it.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I shot my bow outat 86 yards I am beter then my cuzin.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

86 yards??? C'mon man, get some more pins. I'll bet you're not better than Washington Hunter thinks he is.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

That sums up this thread. The entire B. Hole family is....uh...challenged... or, special, or whatever the PC word for retarded is today.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

you better hope martin murphy doesnt beat you up

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Caught the tail end this thread, but I feel anything past 35yds. is irresponsible.(35yds. is pushin it)

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I'm a relatively new bow hunter. I realize that you absolutely have to shoot within your comfort zone, but anytime you shoot 50 yards plus it's a risk no matter how good you are. When is that risk acceptable?

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Many hunters have killed at 50 yds, but in my opinion it's irresponsible hunting. There's far too much that can go wrong at that distance, which leads to wounded and suffering animals.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

:D:D:D Its been entertaining listening to all you newbies. lol:D I lead the beast 62 yds in a 60 mph wind. Yea I was being serious. ;) All who know me knew I was kidding but I guess I should clear it up. I have never shot over 30 yds because I never had to. Thanks it was fun.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

What!?

You mean to tell me that wasn't gospel!?

I may have to totally rethink how I'm doing things from now on.

:D;)

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I think its pretty funny that people can't understand that some people can shoot better at 50+ yards than others can at 30 yards. Effective range is all depending on the person, how much they practice, their equipment, the conditions and situation of the shot, and their confidence. If anyone thinks a 50 yard shot is irrespncible I think they need to practice a bit more.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Yes, I'm a newbee, and yes I feel it's irresponsible to shoot 50 yds at an animal. Somehunters can pull it off, if conditions are right. Most hunters I know won't take that shot. You can hit targets all day long at 50, and better. In the field it's another story. Passthru79, what's so hard to to understand. The chances of an animaljumping string are huge at that distance, but you already knew that...........right?

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

It was gettin' a little deep there for awhile. Had to get my boots on and get my shovel out.

A shotgun slug or a .30 caliber bullet is still moving at a pretty good clip 60 yards from the muzzle, but at that distance an arrow has slowed down quite a bit.

I can nail a target no sweat at 60 yards and I even have a pin set for that distance. But targets don't move.

Put me down for 30 yard max on critters.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Did the thread title say anything about ethics? I must have missed something. I thought it said "your maximum range". And since both range and ethics vary between people,who thinks we shouldstick to the question asked?

I am sighted in out to70 yds. so I guess that is my bows max range right now.Max range on a game animal isbased onthe situation and the circumstances, period.

Have any of you "ethical shot range" people ever heard of Saxton Pope, Arthur Young,or Fred Bear? Justcurious.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

You know, I have watched alot of hunting video. I have seen some of the "pro's" miss a deer or maybe not make such a great shot on a deer, even at a closer range.Like mention, there are alot of things that can go wrong the farther you are from the deer.IMOthe farther the deer is, those chances of something happening go up.
I like to stay around 30 to keep those chances as low as possible, because I don't only owe that to myself!
Crutch

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I have shot stationary targets(3D deers) at 127 yrds consistent in the kill zone with my set up. But83 yrds is my furthest kill to date. I am still looking to better that distant some day. I do it just to say hey, I whacked it at 127yrds with a bow. I practice every day for couple hrs with my bow and rifles also. My rifle furtherest kill is 839 yrds. I am just good.;)

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I understand what you are sayingbut at the same timeI know howmuchpractice I put inand the precautions I takewith my bow to keep it quiet, fast, and accurate (like most doI'm sure).I letthe situation dictate the best shot. I could have a deer come in at 30 yds.that's real spooky and jittery and Iknow that is not going to be an animal that I willprobably get a good shot at and the probabilityof it jumping is higher due to its behaviorso I will more than likely sit tight and let it walk. But giveme a 40-50 yd shot (quartering away/broadside)at a calm deer that is feeding/grazingor otherwise undisturbed and you may as well Cancel Christmas for that one. It comes down to individual choicesthat we all make based on our personal confidence levels/shooting abilities, hunting/deer experience, and situational details of each hunt/shot. If you know your bow, know your range (to target,rangefinders help), know your ability, and judge the deer (behavior), then you alone are the one best suited to make the call on what shots you take or don't takeand if they are ethical or not. Just my .02.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

It's not a question of can I hit a target at 50 or 60 yards. I can, every time.

But targets don't move and if a gust of wind hits my arrow, no harm done. But at 50-60 yards away, by the time my arrow gets to the animal, a gust of wind or a bit of a move by the animal can turn an on target shot into a clumsy miss with an animal dying a couple days later unfound.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

When I put 60 yard max down, I should have specified the situation. When I am hunting whitetail back east, I would never imagine taking a shot that far. There is much greater opportunity for closer shots.

Now put me into another situation on spot and stalk for antelope. You may hunt several seasons before getting a shot as close as 40 in open grass country. I have spent an entire day crawling with a herd getting no closer than 80 yards. And when I was at 80, there was no way to get up to take a shot.

Hunting late season mulies in the open sage brush is another story. According to a study done here in Idaho, the average shot was 49 yards.

Shooting past your max distance is only irresponsible within itself. To better my max yardage, which was about 10 feet many years ago, I decided to start practicing. I have been shooting 3 nights a week for the last 10 years or so and blind bail in my garage 1 or 2 nights a week. I shoot around 25-30 tournaments a year, and never take my hunting bow apart including broadheads which I try to shoot once a week during the off season.

Practicing longer shots will increase efficiency greatly. If I can group my arrows with broadheads in a 3 inch circle at 60 yards, why would I pass up a shot on a relaxed animal at 60 yards? Last year I had a better shot opportunity on a 62 yard mule deer than I did at 20 yards. I took the 60 yard shotafter Ipassed up a huge 4 point mule deer buck at 20.

Call me irresponsible for taking longer shots if you want, but the only 2 animals that I have ever lost were in my very early years, and both were under 20 yards.

I agree with the fact that hunting is different than 3-D, It is very important to read the animal in each situation, notice that I said that I take the long dogs on RELAXED animals.

If you ever get a chance to hunt the big sky country and have a limit of 20-30 yards, there is a good chance that you may be taking your tag home......

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

You know, I find it rather ridiculous that hunters in this forum find it necessary to explain themselves regarding their own personal ethics. I find it fairly humorous that some people can't seem to grasp the fact that ethics are a personal decision and that no two people may have the same capabilities as one another let alone the same ethics or values.

Ethics are personal, don't argue it.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

It takes an arrow about one full second to travel75 yards. Lots of things can happen in one second . . . . . . For that matter, in 1/2 second. If it wasn't for that aspect of this maximum range thing, it would be the longest distance at which one could reliably hit a grapefruit. Which for me is about 45 yards.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Elkcrazy, I've been out west to Wyoming on mule deer and antalope hunts. I've taken 2 antelope with a rifle, and no I couldn't imagine bowhunting for them. I admire you for that. They're hard enough to get within 100yds from, let alone 50. Bowhunting big sky country is a whole different animal. Taking "long dogs" on relaxed animals is only 1/2 the battle though.You must be great at judging wind, because I know it never lets up out there. It'll do a real number on a arrow at 50-60yds..........Have you triedhunting the water holes?....In any case, I was referring to whitetail hunting. In my experience, there is an aweful lot that can go wrong shooting 50-60yds at a whitetail. I don't care if you practice 365 days a year, and you can slice through an apple at 80yds. It makes no difference to me. You cannot control the wind, and you cannot control the reaction time of a whitetail. Yes there are hunters that have killed at these distances, but there are more hunters that have lost and wounded animals. Deer running around with arrowsstuck in their hams or guts don't make bowhunters look ETHICAL, and this does nothing forthe sport we love. If anything at all, it gives fuel to the antis.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I follow you but things like movement, wind, etc can effect your arrow at just aboutany range beyond point blank. Those are things every shooter should be analyzing beforethey take a shot no matter the distance.The difference in travel timeof an arrow shot 30 yds and one shot 60 yds is minimal at best,if we deal with hypothetical situations (animal moved, jumped string, wind gust)there are about a million reasons you shouldn't take any shot but that's not very practical. Practical would be taking the best shot presented within your owncapabilitieswhile taking all things shot related into consideration. I respect anyones decision to limit or extendtheir shooting range to whatever range they feel comfortable for whatever reason as long as I can do the same.

Any one heard of these guys: Saxton Pope, Arthur Young,or Fred Bear?

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

I'd shoot out to 50 comfortably.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

25 yards while hunting.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Hey to each their own, if someone doesn't feel they can make a 50 yard shot on a deer thats fine. I try not to judge people for only taking close shots, there isnt anything wrong with that. At the same time people need to not be so critical of someone who is comfortable shooting game at longer ranges.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

And as for pigirona deer is actualy more likely to jump the string at closer ranges than at 20 yards. there isnt anything wrong with taking a shot at a calm feeding deer that is oblivious to the world at 50 or sixty yards when the wind is calm and the shooter is capable.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

sorry typo thats suppose to be at closer ranges than at 50 yards

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

Yes I do hunt waterholes, and do prefer them, but as with anything, there is tough competition over the waterholes and there is often funny business. Often times when hunting public land, two fellas will be eyeing the same waterhole. A guy may find his blind floating in the water, or worse yet, the vegetation starts to die on the edges, meaning that some moron has bleached your waterhole, that will turn a goat away fast. Then you are left to the stalk.

Don't get me wrong here. I LOVE a close shot and will take that over a long one, but often times get tough and if a guy wants to be successful without being wreckless, he needs to be ready for a situation that presents itself.

I would not preach taking long yardage shots and the guy that picks up his bow 1 month before the season, heshould not even think about pushing the outer limits. But I have to tell you that there are people such as myself who NEVER stop shooting. I also want to say that I don't take animals when they hit the 60 yard mark, that would itself be wreckless, but put an antelope, bull or whatever at 60 yards, and thats all I feel that he will get, if it has its head down feeding or is relaxed and the wind is right, it will be hammered every time..........

I do use 60 as my limit though, I have a 50 yard pin and stack for 60. For hunting use, I will not stack over 1 pin, so this limits me.....Even though I know I can stack to 100 yards and have a high success rate. I know I can still stack one at 60and put in in there every time.

RE: What is your maximum range on a game animal???
 

For me 25-30 yards!