Just a quick average of all of the post, and the average of all
the shots equals 33.9 yards.

I practice at 40 everyday - 90 percent of my shots (practice) I shoot at 40 - it makes 20-30 yard shots a breeze - Yes I still practice at 5, 20, 30 - anyway - my longest shot was 35 - last year - the deer went 20 feet. I would take a 40 if I had an open broadside at a deer and he was relaxed as said above - AND I knew the range (my laser rangefinder-gotta love it) I actually was stalking a field edge and came up on a 10 point last year near the edge... after a 45 minute wait, and inching along I got within 40 - I spot checked him with my range finder - 41 yards and he was in the wide open..... I waited for him to look away (seemed like an hour) and finally had a chance to draw..... when I did I was on my knee and SNAP - == it sounded like an atom bomb - a twig snapped under my knee and he looked right at me.... I was in full draw and he only stared about 10 seconds, then a lil tail flick, and he walked about 10 yards, then kept popping his head up while grazing, occasionaly looking my way... so I never took the shot. I was too afraid he would jump when I released so I passed up on a really nice buck....... Moral of the story.... I knew there was a chance for a bad shot due to the deer being alert to ' something' though he didnt pick me off, he was alert, and I knew it..... But I got an 8 point the next day (last day of my hunt) from a stand location I found stalking that day

Sorry about the paragraph guys =)