This will be my second year bowhunting. last year i only had about 4 weeks of practice, althoughI practiced intenselyi was only comfortable shooting at 30 yards because i felt that was my best shot without risk of wounding a deer. I ended up hitting and killing a nice doe at 30 yards with one clean pass through shot.
This year i have continued practicing and i feel very comfortable at 40 yards.Last year I saw two tremendousdeer 16 and 14points and neither would come closer then 55 yards.Iam confident thatthey are still there because I saw them 2 days before the season ended and did not hear of any big deer being taken. Here is my question. Is it worth it or possible for that matter to become deadly at 55 - 65 yards.I guess what I mean is what is the maximum distance that most good hunting archers max out at? I realize everyone is different but there must be apoint where most would draw the line.

I shoot a 65lb Bowtech Tomkat if that helps.

Thanks

i consiter myself a pretty good and steady shot, but, i dont feel comfortable shooting at a deer past 45 yards. target shooting i can shoot successfully at 60 but something always holds my back from shooting that far in the feild. not matter how big the animal or trophy

If the monster was in a field, head down, broad side you could stretch a 45yd shot maybe 50yds. In the woods forget about it, to much can happen. I would wait for a closer shot myself. I've been shooting for about 30yrs and huntn for 21yrs. Just my opion. Try a decoy with some sents at the correct time.

Thanks. yeah i saw those two deer 5 different times. They were always on the edge of a tremendous field about 55 yards off the edge where i was posted up. I do plan on trying a decoy this year so hopefully it will payoff.

Thanks again.

Good luck, Post some pics when hes down.

Hey. LI hunter where do you live, I grew up on LI went to Sachem HS and Suffolk Com. College.

Not enough experience to condemn that, but it seems really extreme.
There have been a lot of arguments here about that. A lot of people
who have bowhunted a while said their max was 30 yards, some less and
some more (general range seemed to be 25 yards to 40 yards).

Given your scenario I would move your stand closer. 60 yards is too far, too much chance for error and any errors will be magnified.

This is also my second year and I have been practicing a lot, and I only plan on taking a 30 yard or less shot.

i have pins out to 60....i shoot my 60 and 50 more then any others and am fairly confident in the shot....if a deer presented itself and the situation was perfect i would shoot out to 60....if there is any doubt (nerves, wind, trees, etc) no way......i hunt mostly open type country so there is no need to worry about loosing him to thick woods or forested area.

You can never be too close in my opinion. I too practice out to 70 yards, but would never feel comfortable shooting at a deer at that range. Too much chance for movement or miscalculation. Now, i've taken does beyond 40 yards, but perfect conditions and a clear shot. I normally take too long in judging a buck anyhow, so usually they are well within 30 before I'm ready to pull the trigger.

Practice long and it makes those 25 yarders a whole lot easier.

Well said Kelly.