Charlie, it's just my own curiosity more than anything. It seems that many bowhunters, especially in the East, opt for the tree stand because it is more effective in their particular situations and I was curious as to how many actually ground hunted anymore. Either way we decide to hunt, I'm sure we all agree that a good clean shot must be made on the animal.

I've shot I think 4 over 30 yards, and all the rest probably were in the high teens to twenty. I shoot a compound and practice more at 40+, then 20.

I also try to set up for a 20-25 yard shot but it's impossible as the deer come from many directions in the wilderness/swampy area I hunt in.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan.

I better add a little to my post, as I don't want anyone thinking I just shoot at anything from any distance. For me to shoot the elk I got this year, everything was perfect, or I wouldn't have even considered it. Virtually no wind, VERY open area with no chance of catching a branch/bush/etc., she stood exactly broadside on a cross trail, and most importantly, she stood there long enough for me to use my range finder, knowing she stood EXACTLY 42 yards.

If any of those factors were different, I would have passed it up in a heartbeat. You must also realize that the kill zone on an elk is much larger than a whitetail...my cow was a biggin' at about 800 on the hoof.

When I was in Iowa/South Dakota growing up, I rarely took a whitetail at over 15 yards. Most of that was due to plenty of scouting and placing my treestand very strategically. As far as I'm concerned, if you are treestand hunting and you are shooting outside of about 20 yards, you didn't do your homework.

Just my $.02

15 yards would be my average. Longest ever was 35 yards and shortest was 2 yards.

I don't know for sure what you meant with your question. Are you just talking what distance do we normally shoot? Or what is an average shot while hunting? I took it as the first, but I will give both.

As far as goofing off in my back yard any where from 20 to 80 yards(70 meters actually). Every now and then I will lob a few farther than that, but it better be real nice out, and I don't expect to ever see that arrow again. Much beyond 60 yards for me and any little twitch or form error will really send the arrow off course. I normally practice at about 40 or 50 yards.

Hunting, I have limited myself to around 35 yards with a laser range finder. I prefer them to be 20 and in. I might take a shot at 40 if I had time to range it and it was a perfect shot. Relaxed deer, completely broadside ect., it would also have to be a very nice deer. I have only shot at one deer and hit it at 18 yards from a 16 ft tree stand. I would like to learn to stalk but will wait until I get a bit more experience from the tree or a blind. I am not real good at judging yardage, so stalking sounds a little risky for me.

Darton Yukon at 26" and around 60 pounds with 350 to 400 grn arrows. My exact set up changes almost daily, I am always messing with my bow.

Paul

Edited by - biteme/paul mohr on 01/22/2002 15:06:40

65lb-70lb compound bow. Avg shot distance about 25 yards.

Mathews FX
ICS 340 w/ 100gr Thunderheads
Treestand
Nominal shot : 13-16yds
Maximum shot : 40yds
I have taken one deer at 37yds all the others were between 5 & 25 yards.

That 37 yard shot was out of my Summit...I must not have done my homework...deer never change their habits or patterns, do they?

average is 22, max is 30.

BLACK WIDOW SA-II
15 YARDS AVERAGE
20 YARDS MAX.
COMPOUND- GETTING A GOLDEN EAGLE- MAX WOULD BE 30 YARDS.

Hmmm Jason, you have shot one buck at 37 and the rest (which is assume is more than 1?) at 25 or under...who's point are you trying to make? I think you just made mine.

And in most cases they don't change pattern unless you are hunting property where they are constantly getting pushed. Otherwise they are VERY repetitive because they are so lathargic.

So, what was your point again? That is one deer at 37 yards doesn't follow a set pattern. I cannot speak for the millions of deer out there, but I can tell you that MOST (sorry, obviously I need to spell it out for you) adhere to patterns and are habitual users of the same trails.