max shooting distance
 

i have set my max shooting distance to 25-30 yards this year but i was wondering what is the max shooting distance that you would shoot if acuracy wasn't an issue with a bow shooting 260-270fps just kinda wondering I would think anything over 45 yards and the deer would duck the arrow.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Deer can "duck the arrow" at 20 yards out of a bow shooting 285, don't be fooled.

Actually I see deer "ducking" spooking less out at farther distances. I don't know if they hear the bow less or because it's not as startling farther away.

Your maximum shooting range is your maximum shooting range and it may differ from mine. A bow shooting 260-270 is much different in every hand that shoots it!.

RE: max shooting distance
 

My max is 40 yards (at least at an animal). I sometimes practice out to 60 or 70 but I am not confident enough out to that range that I would make a good shot. Just remember how far you can shoot accurately during practice and make sure not to go over that in the field.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I shoot at 50 and 60 yds alot but still like to keep my shots on animals to 40 and under when the adrenalin gets pumping it seems to effect maximum range, at least for me.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I have set my limit at 30 yds because that is as far as my yard lets me practice. I don't think 40 yds would be a problem with my setup though. I'm between 255 - 260 fps.

RE: max shooting distance
 

A couple years ago I would have said 30 yards. After hunting out west I can say 50 would be my max. That is with at least a couple shots that far every day to stay in tune. Now I just came back from SD and I hunted with a guy that could hit at 70 yards no prob. He even shot at a target at 100 yards and was very accurate. He shoots for PSE and he shoots a lot. He did say he would never shoot an animal that far but I feel it is all in how you prepare.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I'm shooting 315 and i'm good out to 50 at a deer..

but you have to practice alot if you want to shoot that far

RE: max shooting distance
 

Deer don't "duck the arow" at all. The react to bow noise, by tensing their leg muscles to flee. That just naturally makes them drop. The more the noise and/or the more foreign to them the more they drop.

The speed of sound is approx 1100 fps and the fastest bows only shoot less than 1/3 that fast. You can figure the times out if you want, but the fact is sound still gets to the animal in 1/3 the time it takes the arrow.

Now that being said, the farther away the animal is the more subdued the noise will be from a normally set up hunting bow. Therefore the animal might be less likely to react to the noise at all. Every situation can be different.

In answer to the original question? I restrict my shots to a distance of what I can shoot 4" groups. That is noramlly going to be about 45 yards being as I'm getting older. OK, so now I set a tighter limit. 30 yards max. There are too many variables with each scenerio I might run into. I've also found that a bow shooting above 260 fps can be sighted in for 25 yards and hunting shots can be made from 5-30 yards without correcting for trajectory. I don't need a range finder or need to determine the exact distance. If the animal is within 30 yards I can hold mid range up the body and make the shot. The only thing I have to determine is if it within that 30 yards and my two eyes can do that easily.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I agree, I've posted that before as well. I hate the term "duck" that's why I "" it...

RE: max shooting distance
 

thanks I was kinda just wondering im a target shooter that turned hunter so im not great with my hunting bow but with a little more practice i could deffinatly keep a good group out past 50 yard. but i don't have any place where i could even get a shooting lane that far.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Thats too bad that you cant shoot 50 hoyt slayer[:o]

what kind of hoyt do you shoot?????

I shoot a v-tec:D:D

RE: max shooting distance
 

I can shoot out to 50 yards accurately, but in the areas where I hunt, I wouldn't take a shot over 30 yards in the thickets, and would only take a shot up to about 37 yards in a fairly open area.

RE: max shooting distance
 

hahaha i shot an xtec

RE: max shooting distance
 

It's more than accuracy, its also what could happen in the time it takes for the arrow to get there especially with respect to kill zone size. For example, a small southern whitetail that will tip the scales around 120 lbs, the kill zone is about 8 inches. If this deer, just steps as you release and moves 6 inches, I sure hope you were dead center. However a big bull moose or bull elk, the kill zone is alot bigger and that same 6 inch step won't make as much difference.

There's also terrain: field vs thick woods, animal attitude: nervous/relaxed, weather: wind, rain, day light

And above all your nerves.

I will max out around here on deer at about 30. i also just came back from Idaho on an elk hunt where if the conditions where right and the animal gave me the time, I'd go for 50.

RE: max shooting distance
 

As far as ethically &accurately feasiblebased on the weather conditions and the alertness of the quarry.

RE: max shooting distance
 

well if you are ever out in kansas hoyt slayer let me know you can come shoot 50,60,70,80 etc:D:D:D:D:D

RE: max shooting distance
 

my max is aroung 35 mayb 40 if it is a clear shot andi know i can kill the animal.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I shoot a vtech also but when hunting I like to keep it to a max 40yd shot.

RE: max shooting distance
 

When I was younger, I'd tell you 50-60 yards. I've killed 15 deer over 35 yards with bow and my longest was 51 yards with the help of a Nikon rangefinder. Now alittle older, I intensionally set up hunting conditions where shot are 30 yards or less. If a deer walks in its dead if I choose to shoot it. Any longer shots than 30 yards increase your potential for a long evening.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I would say about 35 yards currently for me.

If I can find a way to purchase a bow in the near future with a much faster arrow speeds. I would stretch that out quite a ways. Hunting on the high plains in open spaces, tough to get within 35 yards.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Let's just say the answer to this question (max distance), gets SHORTER, not longer.....as I learn more about whitetail deer hunting.

RE: max shooting distance
 

My max distance would be 40 yards. If the deer was relaxed and the wind was right.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Max for me is 25 yards....Most of my deer are killed from 15-20...

RE: max shooting distance
 

I won't shoot past 30yds myself.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Bless you for paying attention while you are out there.

I can kill one out to 50 I guess.

Since 1964 - furthest shot 37 yds (In reality I shouldn't have taken the shot)

I try and set up my shooting lanes and tree setups for 22-27 yds.

If one sets foot in that zone......

RE: max shooting distance
 

I've made my mistakes, leo.....which led me to this (recent) declaration.

Finding out you're not as good as you thought you were is humbling and necessary.;)

RE: max shooting distance
 

I practice out to 50 yds just to make my 30-35 yd shots easier. Wouldn'tshoot past 35 yds not at this point anyways.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I bow hunted for antelope for the first time this year, and tried several shots in the 60 to 80 yard range. I'm shooting in the 260 fps speed range. I missed a couple of them that, had I remembered to take the lazer rangefinder along on the stalk, would have been going home in the back of the truck. Shot at one that was looking right at me, about 75 yards - he jumped an entire body length before the arrow got there. Shot was perfect . . . . it almost looked like he spooked from the sound/sight of the arrow coming towards him rather than the sound of the bowstring.

Anyway, I'm thinking 50 yards as well here. Even though a paper plate at 80 yards is a high percentage shot, there is just too much that go wrong under field conditions.

RE: max shooting distance
 

My max is around 40 yards. I'll try everytime to allow the deer to get closer, if it seems reasonable to think it might.


GH

RE: max shooting distance
 

I can hold a 4 inch group at 65 yards unless I am having gusty conditions. I don't think I would take a shot at a deer that far though, too much can happen while you are waiting for the arrow to arrive. Even with range finder, 290 fps and a 400 grain arrow 45 yards is about all I feel comfortable with.
I want the animal calm and busy with his head down eating more than I want a close shot.
If Igot to pick a range to shoot at every time I like 30 yardsish. My bow is superquiet at that range and I know I can hit where I want. I don't like being right on top of the animal.

RE: max shooting distance
 

30 yds on Deer, I can hit a target out past fifty yds. with tight groups, but I wouldn't take a shot past 30. Elk is a different story.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Depends on the conditions But if they are totally right i would shoot one at 70 yards because i am confident i can hit the vitals at that distance.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I shoot just under 210fps and have feathers, so drag gets me after about 35 yards. I practice to 40yds, tune to 40yds, and then shoot animals within 30yds. I really like it up close anyway. That's my big thrill...knowing I got inside their comfort zone without being detected.

Enough goes wrong out there when you do everything right. I don't have a desire to stack the odds against myself, and be left with more wounded deer than recovered ones.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I know that would win every 3D shoot I've ever shot in......and I've never shot beyond 45yds(in a tournament).

RE: max shooting distance
 

Ive grouped my BH's in a 3 inch circle at 60yds, cant do it with FP's though. In a hunting situation I wont shoot more than 40 usually. Just to keep myself from long shots I try to hunt areas where a long shot wouldnt present itself. I have the confidence to shoot farther than 40, and I think thats a bad thing to have cuz further than that and your shots become less ethical IMO.

RE: max shooting distance
 

Just read an article written by Chuck Adams. He placed a great deal of importance on a razor sharp broadhead.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I feel comfortable shooting an animal at 60yds.

RE: max shooting distance
 

40 yds. is my limit

RE: max shooting distance
 

20 yards limit!

It's my first year bowhunting, my bow is an older model PSE with a flipper rest, and my broadheads don't group with my fieldpoints.

10 yards: FP and broadheads group about the same.
16 yards: FP still on the money, BH are 2" or so to the right
20 yards: FP still centered, BH are about 4" to the right.

Until my BH are grouping more like my fieldpoints or at least grouping the same regardless of the distance, I don't want to be adjusting for more than about 4". It may be a tuning issue, it may be using an older, less accurate setup.

Plus, it's an older bow and though I don't know what the FPS is, I know it's slower. I did a video shoot recently with a couple of friends and the speed difference was easily observable. On the bright side, I totally held my own at 20 yards in the video shoot and the friends are both quite good with a bow.

RE: max shooting distance
 

I have shot just over 50 yards in 3D shoots. 3D is not all about grouping however, its mainly distance estimation. I can be consitant and group like crazy,but grouping in the 12 ring at an unknown distance... thats a different story.
I have won a few 3D's though:D