Shot distance poll
 

Please state your equipment and the average distance that that you shoot at.Throw in your max distance if you like .

Compound- 19 yards over the last 11 years.
Max distance would be 30, but I have never taken one that long.

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RE: Shot distance poll
 

Pearson Diamondback, 29" #70 shooting shockwave100 tipped goldtips with 59 ft lbs of energy.
Killed one at 12yds and one at 17yds this year and a grey squirrel also at 12yds. I think I'm going to pick on those noisy tree rats alot harder this next year though. I was very comfortable and confident with shots in this range.
I always have a good idea what my max. effective range is but saying how far I'd take one at would be too hard. Every situation is different and the conditions definitly have everything to do with it.

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My average shot at a deer would be about 15 yards. My max was 35 yards, but I won't shoot that far again.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

Since this is stemming from another thread, perhaps to prove a point, let's get a little more specific with our information.

What style of hunting do you use? Tree stand, ground blind, spot and stalk or still hunting? My favorite style of hunting and how I've taken most of my animals, is still hunting. If I have to, I'll do some spot and stalk. My least favorite is ground stand hunting and have only taken 2 animals on stand.

My new weapon of choice is a 54# T/D R/D longbow. My arrows vary from 2016 aluminums to cedars to bamboo and I shoot 2 blade Zwickey broadheads. The arrows all weight close enough that I don't have to vary my shooting to use them. I own very little camo. A vest in realtree gray and a treebark coverall that I use for turkey.

Successful shots on large game (blacktailed deer, Mule deer and pigs) my closest shot was 3 paces on a Mule deer while still hunting in the Sierras. My longest shot was on a blacktailed deer and was 25 paces. My average shot distance is 10-15 paces. I've missed a couple of deer, one at 6 paces and the other at 22 paces and have never (knock on wood) wounded and lost a single animal except a turkey that I gave a pedicure to, in the 14 years I've been bowhunting. I make my meat every year, whether it's a turkey, pig, deer, rabbit, squirrel, quail, pheasant or other critter. I usually kill several of the above during the year.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

I still hunt or spot and stalk ,I only hunt elk with a bow . I shoot a hoyt compound and my average distance would be ten to twenty yards .

Edited by - halcon on 01/22/2002 13:30:27

RE: Shot distance poll
 

Hoyt Magna Tec Intruder--#70, carbon express cx hunter 400's, 125 grain.

I practice to 50.

Elk--42 this year, would shoot to 50.
Whitetail-- 34 and as close as 7.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

Wayha, I don't know what stlye of hunting has to do with my question, but if you want to know.Still hunting and tree stand.Alot more tree stand. The 5 deer I have killed of the ground were all under 20 yards.I'm pretty quite for a 260lb.

Edited by - Charlie P on 01/22/2002 13:40:34

RE: Shot distance poll
 

I shoot a Mathews Q2 at 68# most of the deer that I have shot were shot at under 20 yards but I have killed deer out to about 42 yards. I mostly hunt out of treestand but occassionaly still hunt.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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?

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average is 22, max is 30.

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

RE: Shot distance poll
 

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.

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RE: Shot distance poll
 

In the 20 years i have bowhunted i have taken all my deer from a treestand. Farthest shot 15yards, average is about 8.
I have taken one Elk on the ground at 12 yards.
Compound bow.
One coyote at 10 yards with recurve out of a treestand.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

20 yards and under. Probably the max would be 30 yards. I'd be surprised to get a longer shot in the river bottoms that I hunt.
equipment: browning compound 65lbs, 2117 easton arrow with a 125 grain rocket mechanical tip. Next year I'm thinking about changing to a easton 2315 with a 100 gr tip. I was told with the bow I'm shooting it would give me more speed and more kentic energy

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I have a Buck, I haven't killed a thing......yet. I have set up a range in my back yard, from 15 to 40 yds. I am considering setting up a tree stand back there for practice, whats a good yardage to set up a tree stand?

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Artic,Set your treestand up then move your targets with out mearsuring distance.It will really help you to be able to judge distance better.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

I agree with Charlie P on moving the targets without measuring. What I did for a friend who can't walk long distances was put him in a tree stand and take a 3D deer that I used and carry it to a possition for him to shoot. Then I'd retrieve his arrow and move the target to another possition. He got pretty good at hitting everything within 25 paces of his stand and he got a Muley while on stand in that same pinetree.

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What a great idea Charlie P, and you sound like a heck of a friend Wayha.

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I shoot compound, average distance is about 12 yrds., give or take a yard.Longest shot was 18 yrds., shortest was 6 yrds.

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Compound-20 yards avg. practice 15-40yds. Probably would not take shot over 30yrds, unless it was a monster.

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I would guess no more than 20 yards, probably closer. 25 yards on an elk was my longest sucessful shot. I did shoot 35 yards at an antelope in SD one year - missed.

I now shoot a longbow, and right now 15-20 yards is my max - but yardage estimates are kinda mute shooting instinctive.

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Darton Maverick shooting a 398 gr arrow at 292 fps. Shot my first 2 bucks this year in archery. One my first was 35 yards second was 15 yards. I have no problem shooting out to 45 yards. MY pins are set for 15 25 35 45 yards and they are not there for decoration either.

Brian

RE: Shot distance poll
 

Billygoat,
Why force a shot at a big one, that is stupid. A shot is either acceptable or it isn't. A shame that people would lessen their standards as the rack grows.

PSE Nova 70#
aluminum with thunderhead 125's
hunt exclusively from a tree stand using a keller sight
Ave distance = 13 yds
Max I have taken is 20 yds
I would shoot to 25 but have never had to

RE: Shot distance poll
 

Oregon,

I hunt mainly public land. For anyone to suggest that whitetails don't change their patterns from summer/early fall fedding to rut behavior is simply ludicrous!

I'm going to get into a personal battle of senselessness with you over ethics. I made a 37 yard shot on a buck from my treestand. I'm comfortable at that range. It was on the edge of shooting light, and the second to last day of the season. I felt good about the shot, so I took it.

I really don't have to justify my actions to you...or anyone else. I did my homework...I got my deer. Just because it wasn't broadside at 15 yards doesn't make it unacceptable.

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i practice most around 25 yds, and my max is about 45, but i don't think i would shoot that far in the woods.

High Country Ultra Force w/goldtips and 100gr wasp Jak-Hammers

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I practice at about 20 to 25 yards....My max shot would be about 45 yards.....

RE: Shot distance poll
 

I'm was talking about average hunting shot.Guess I wasn't clear on that sorry.

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Maybe you should read my second post again Jason....THEN respond. I will reiterate for you yet again. Generally (this term means most, but not all) deer will hold the same patterns and routines from day to day, changing very little. Now I'm not a rocket scientist, but maybe, just maybe your 37 yarder wasn't one of the "most" used previously, and the remainder of your other deer would fall into that category.

IF you read through the posts, you would also noticed that I took my elk this year at 42...obviuosly I don't have a problem with shooting longer distances if you are a capable archer. Simply stated, in MOST cases (there is that word again...remember, that means a higher % do, rather than don't) there is no need to even draw at anything over 20-25 yards if your homework (this would be scouting/treestand placement/etc.) is done properly.



Nothing like stating the obvious.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

I bowhunt for elk only. My average shot is about 20 yards. The longest shot I will take is 40 yards.

RE: Shot distance poll
 

I currently shoot a Shakespeare Necedah recurve 55#@28". My max with this bow is 20 yards.

I used to shoot a Pro-Line Force II (Thus, the name). It was 74 pounds pull, with overdraw etc. I was comfortable to 40yds with this bow and shot 2 deer pretty close to that. My average was probably just a tad over 20yds.

As far as not having to shoot over 20-25 yards due to homework....That's rediculous.

Deer are patternable. They are creatures of habit...but to say that if you do your homework they will come down the same exact trail time and time again is foolish.

To say that if you do your homework it is not possible for a deer to show up 10 yds past where you thought is amazing to me. Here I was thinking I was a pretty good hunter...I must be an idiot! LOL <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

I've been a bowhunter all my life, but I don't claim to be the worlds best. I see lots of deer and even kill my fair share. But for somebody to call any deer &quot;LETHARGIC&quot; is an absolute joke.

Lazy, sluggish, dopey, heavy and stupid are all synonyms for lethargic. Doesn't sound anything like the deer I hunt.<font size=6></font id=size6><font color=red></font id=red>

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I shoot a Darton Excel 55# XX75 2013 arrows, thunderhead 100's. The longest shot was around 35 yards but I will probably not take that risk again unless I have to. Most are within 10-15yards. I hunt out of a treestand usually around 20-30ft up full camo, scent blocking clothing, attracting scents scattered about, and game calls. Some may see this as cheating I see it as fun. Nothing like that big broad beamed 10 walking over to your stand angry as all hell because he hears a challenger and smells a little lady that is ready. God I love whitetails in rut late November.