ethical shots
 

My quesstion is related to the 60 yd grouping post.
Who thinks they can ethical take an animal @ 60 yds?

RE: ethical shots
 

bryant:

What if someone says they can? Not being argumentative.....just asking.

RE: ethical shots
 

An ethical shot is one the shooter is reasonably sure he can make a clean, quick kill. Period. That goes for distance, shot selection, placement, timing, the whole bit.

RE: ethical shots
 

Yeah........I'm pretty sure I can't. But i bet there are people who can, more power to 'em

RE: ethical shots
 

I just wanted to know how many think they can, I am not judging them for it. More power to them

RE: ethical shots
 

I could make an ethical shot on a 3D target at 60 yards but not a real deer to many things could go wrong.

Die Hard

24 Days!

RE: ethical shots
 

i feel if the condition was right iCOULD ethically take a deer at 60 yards...actually out to 65 yards would be my max right now

RE: ethical shots
 

i grouped the 60 yarder, no i couldnt do it again, it was luck, however i can get in the vitals consitantly at 60, but its a still target... a real deer moves, if the deer had no idea i was there,head was down grazing, had plenty of time in an open place i might take a shot at 60.

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With enough practice at 60 yards I dont think it is out of the question. If someone is confident and has practice it then more power to them.

I would not think it was an ethical shot if it was taken by someone who never attempted the shot before.

RE: ethical shots
 

If everything was just right I know I could.But just because you can doesnt mean you should.IMO

RE: ethical shots
 

Forty years ago thirty yards was considered ethical , with the bow speed and arrows straighter than ever believed imaginable its not out of the question to shoot sixty yards today.

That being said I think its foolish and unnecessary but what do I know.[:o]

RE: ethical shots
 

I wouldn't try at 60. I feel comfortable at 40. My longest kill was 43 yards. I don't practice at 60, so I wouldn't take the shot at 60.

RE: ethical shots
 

.........Roger that ;)

RE: ethical shots
 

Is it ethical to take a 60 yard shot at an animal? It is easy to say NO. However, whether it was ethical or not I have killed three mule deer at 50, 70, and 80 yards. All were one shot, clean pass through kills. FYI, I actually had someone with me to witness all three shots. Now, let me say that all of these shots were several years ago when I was chasing the 3-D circuit hard and all were perfectly boradside, wide open shots. At the time, I practiced daily and probably shot 500 arrows a week. I practiced out to 80 yards mainly in preparation for antelope hunting. It just happened that the long shots that presented themselves were all on deer. I believe every archer has an obligation to determine a maximum effective range. If you do not have confidence you can make the shot, do not take it. Even though I still shoot an occasionsl 3-D and practice year round, I would not take a shot over 50 yards on anything as big as a Deer and nothing over 40 on an Elk. So, I guess I am saying it is only ethical if you have put in the practice to develop the skill and confidence to take the shot. After all, you have to live with the results once you pull the trigger.

RE: ethical shots
 

For me, it would be stupid, as well as unethical, to shoot at a deer 60 yards away.All of my shots are inshooting lanes in big woods close to thicketand pine lines. A few field stands, but again, right on the woodline. Hitting the anamil at 60 would be one thing, but tracking it would be quite another. It wouldbe tough to pick up the blood trail 60, 80, or 100 yards away. To me, an ethical shot is a recoverable animal.

RE: ethical shots
 

This is a topic that comes up frequently.Personally I don't think it is an ethical shot on a whitetail deer,I don't know enough about other game animals to speak to the validity of taking shots at that distance.
I don't care how good a shot someone is they cannot control the movement of the animal that they are shooting at.The deer takes a step forward,or shifts to one side or the other and your in their guts or shoulder.Drilling bulls eyes on a target at that distance and drilling an animal are night and day different.
What is an acceptable liklihood for someone,if they can make the shot 9 out of 10 times,8 out of 10 times?Some would say 10 out of 10 times,meaning if you absolutely don't know that you can make the shot you shouldn't be taking it.I am of that belief.

RE: ethical shots
 

If a bowhunter can consistantly shoot good groups a 60yrds then yes;it would be an ethical shot.What would make that shot unethical is to not know your own limits and taking a shot you are'nt prepared to take.Me personally would not take that shot,but if I praticed hard and got to the point where I could consistantly group at that range then you bet I would take that shot.It is no different for a capable archer to take a 60yrd shotthan it is for a capable gun hunter to take a 700 + yard shot,it all depends on the person's skill that is doing the shooting.

RE: ethical shots
 

i shoot 1-2" groups at 40. just started shooting 50 and the couple times i have been 4-5" groups.

whats my max distance?? 25yards. you might call me crazy, stupid, an idiot...yes i can shoot. dad says shooting is my gift...i can shoot anything that is shootable..not tooting my own horn...with practice, i honestly believe ANYONE can shoot well. and that i do ALOT more than the average guy around here...but the reason my limit is 25yds is because ive never seen a foam target move. although the arrow is in flight for somewehre between 1-2 seconds, thats ALOT of time in "Deer time" also...my good groups and good shooting has been on the flat level ground of my back yard. days when the weather conditions are perfect. my muscles are warmed up but not fatigued. i feel i owe it to the animal NOT to try stickin them at 40+...

IF i hunted with a range finder AND had the time to range that animal AND the weather was absolutely perfect(no wind etc) AND i had a wide open field or something similar to shoot into i would take farther shots. but still not much farther.

only way im using anything other than my top pin is if i ranged it and conditions are perfect(might have a 30yd shot in my orchard this year...but i gotta hit it with my buddies range finder FIRST) and weather gotta be GOOD. other than that, if i wound one and it runs and stops 50 or 60yds away, i will do my best to try and get another arrow into that animal. 2 arrows would be alot better than 1 IMO...even if they are both bad..

RE: ethical shots
 

It would either have to be a very big animal or a very small animal.

Or with a rifle....

As it is, I can't see 40 yards in the thick swamps I hunt. If I was going out west or to some place where shots average 30+ yards (like in some types of elk/mulie/antelope hunting, you bet I'd be practicing those super long shots... Heck I practice them now. But there is no point in even thinking about taking a shot that long, not where I hunt.

I'm comfortable under correct conditions to about 40-45 yards.

Longest shot ever on game was 32.

Average is about 13... and that I'm proud of.

RE: ethical shots
 

You can argue the fact that 60 yards is way too far, too much can go wrong. The deer can move, the wind can blow, the list can go on and on. There are some people who shoot enough and are good enough that 60 yards is comparable to 30 or 40 yardsfor others. I shot 60 and beyond all the time, I practice more over 50 than I do under 50 yards. If you get good at those shots the 30 and 40 yarders seem easy. In my opinion the equipment is more than capable and if the shooter is than by all means let it fly as long as the situation permits it.

RE: ethical shots
 

the furthest i would shoot ethicaly is 40 yds because i can keep about a 4 inch group consistanltly and i personaly dont think there is a reason to take a deer further than that

RE: ethical shots
 

why bowhunt if ur going to hunt out to shotgun range.

And people like to be complemented on good shooting not called a liar. If took a 60 yards shot and made it good would u be proud?

RE: ethical shots
 

Simple....because I can. Why would I limit myself to a certain yardage when I know that I'm completely capable of making a clean killing shot at a further distance?

RE: ethical shots
 

If I felt confident out to 60 yards I would hunt too at that range. But right now in my area I would not see a clear shot to 60 yards on a deer.

RE: ethical shots
 

there is no such thing as an ethical 60 yard shot on a whitetail that can drop at over 700 ft/sec. way too much can go wrong on whitetails on a bowshot at 60 yards and I don't care how tight you can group, it is simply a BAD SHOT to take!! i guess i take pride in the sport and respect the animal too much too risk any marginal shot taking, especially one at 60 yards. BIG game are different, like elk, caribou and moose, a 60 yard shot isn't advisable but can be ethically taken due to their delayed reaction time compared to deer. you just shouldn't risk taking a 60 yard shot on deer, bad choice!

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i don't care how good you think you are snake, you cannot predict that a whitetail will just stand there and wait for your arrow to pierce their heart, if so you are at what i call a 3-d range. I have seen deer duck arrows at 20 yards, let alone, 60 yards, you may be a great shot, but again you can't beat a whitetail to the punch. i would quit bowhunting if i got so reckless and desperate that i felt i needed to take 60 yard shots!

RE: ethical shots
 

thx man sum1 needed to be put back in thier place. lol jk

RE: ethical shots
 

Maybe you would like to point out exactly where I said I would shoot 60 yards?If you read the post, the one above minehe asks

"why bowhunt if ur going to hunt out to shotgun range."

Many people have different views of what exactly shotgun range is. Personally if I feel the need to take a shot gun hunting, it's going to be some pretty brushy stuff that I feel a standard rifle round will not go through and chances are I can't get a shot past 40 yards.We don't have a shotgun season here, but you do have the ability to carry a shotgun instead of a rifle.

At no point did I say about how great of a shot I thought I was. If I feel confident with a shot, I'll take it regardless of who likes it and how it will effect their judgement of me. I don't hunt to impress you or anyone on this forum for that matter. If you feel a shot isn't ethical, that's fine, but if you read carefully; at no point did I state a 60 yard shot was ethical or not. Maybe when you buy my equipment, my license, and own the land I hunt you can tell me what is ethical. Everyone has their own opinions on what is ethical and what isn't. To state you're opinion is one thing, but to try and come at me because you have nothing better to do with your time, thats just sad.

So here is my opinion since you like to think you're Mr. Ethical 2007/2008. Personally, I wouldn't shoot out to 60 yards. I target shoot 60 yards, but I'm not confident enough to take ANY animal at that range. I will however shoot 50 and below. If I felt confident that I could make a clean kill on a deer at 60 yards would I do it? Ya damn right

RE: ethical shots
 

So what type of Equipment do you need to be preforming a 60 yarder??
Ryan.

RE: ethical shots
 

every1 has to raelize locations are not the same. we cant use a rifle where i hunt because of houses. so i said shotgun.

RE: ethical shots
 

I know my limitations and I'll stick to under 30. Besides the woods I hunt in you can't see more than 25yds out!

RE: ethical shots
 

well then i suppose you can make your 50 yard shots all you want, im not saying it is impossible,simply unethical,but i will stick to my plan of getting close, which is the object of bowhunting. fred bear would be ashamed to know this thread were even created.
let me know when you make a clean fifty yard shot on a whitetail (michael waddell)next year and i will tell you when the cow jumps over the moon.

RE: ethical shots
 

Well it's a good thing that we all care what Fred Bear would think or feel. Granted he is a big inspiration to bowhunting, but lets face it.....he didn't invent it.

Quick question... Do you think Nuge should be president?

RE: ethical shots
 

I shot one at 60 yards, about 27 years ago. He had his head down eating beans and was standing next to a fence post I knew was 60 yards.
I had an 80 yard range in my yard, and we shot it on a daily basics weather permitting. Things were a little differnt back then, most clubs had a NFAA range which had an 80 yard target. 2D's (flat pottenger) the IBO and NBEF were just taking off in the early 80's.
Alot ofnew bowhunters are smarter today both ethically and woods wise due to websites like this one, the NBEF and3D shoots. Only the shooter knows for sure what an ethical shot is for them under the immediate circumstances.
But then 60 yard shots are common in the western states where the biggest thing you have for cover is a gopher terd!

RE: ethical shots
 

I think if Fred Bear were alive, he'd say have fun, be safe, and do what is right for you and the wildlife in front of you. He'd say mind your own P's and Q's.For the most part, all of us are presented with different skills, differenthunting locations, different equipment, etc. There are people who should not be taking 20 yards shots-for the very same reason some should not be taking 60 yard shots. Should those people be called unethical? It seems silly to base ethicson simply a yardage factor.Is a 60 yard shot beyond the realm of certainty? For me? For you?

At some point we must blend our shooting skills with our hunting skills. Wemust adapt to the terrian, the animal species being hunted, the weather...so on and so forth. A sixty yard shot on a calm day verses a sixty yarder on a windy day...I'll leave that choice to the indian behind the bow ( I take for granted he has respect for the wildlifepursued and has confidence in his abilities- a result of many years behind the wheel).

Wouldn't it be nice ifall things pertaining to bow hunting were so percise and perdictable? On the other hand, ifthey were, thenthis sportwould be incredibly boring! Yes, the nature of bow hunting is getting as close as possible... Would I take a 60 yard shot? Absolutely!However, the conditions would have to be perfect and the gap would need to be uncloseable (every option available extinguished).

There's my two cents!

RE: ethical shots
 

Idk if i would, i would hate knowing that i have a wounded deer runnin around in the woods, if i shoot i make sure that i can make the shot, the wont shoot past 35 yards.

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i think i could if the deer didnt move but the places i bowhunt im lucky to be able to shoot over 35yards

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I would take a 50 yard shot at a deer in the right situation. I practice it everytime I shoot and enjoy shooting long distances and my margin of error at that range would never leave the boiler room.

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I probably could but would I? Absolutely not. In 60 yards that arrow loses alot of momentum. I dont htink its a wise decission even with todays highspeed bows of 348fps.

RE: ethical shots
 

Fact or spectulation Wis? How much KE is needed to harvest a pronghorn or any other big game animal-blesbok for example?

However, I appreciate your way of thinking. When the moment of truth is upon you, you'll need to weigh all the research you've gathered and apply it to the situation.