Maximum range for deer?
#41
Yep, and that shot Lee took was damn stupid, especially to show on TV! Yep, Tyler also missed at 55! Anyway, that certainly shows they were shooting further than they should have like many of us feel too many people do with a bow or gun. It seems one member here feels that he's quite the expert on 60 yard shots at deer when he says he actually hasn't shot one at more than 20 yards! Just because you can shoot tight groups on a target doesn't mean you can do it on a living animal that may move at any second whether it's these long shots with a bow or a gun. What is happening in this day and age with all this fancy bow and gun equipment IMHO is that it's taking the hunting right out of the sport when a person feels the need to shoot an animal in the next time zone!
#42
actually I don't think they practice as much as the avg bow hunter.. The pro TV hunters I know and have hunted with don't have that kind of time...
#44
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 101
My thinking on the matter is that if you're shooting groups of 3 or 4 inches at 60 yards on a nonliving target and your centered on the vitals and when you let the arrow fly that animal just happens to take a step, not as a reaction to anything but just because that's what animals can do, and that arrow happens to be the one in the group that you shoot back a little bit you probably won't miss the deer, but there's a very high probability that you'll gut shoot it, which I understand can happen, I've done it, but in my book that's almost worse than missing. I don't know exactly how large of a step a deer takes but I could see it really throwing a wrench into things. Also, using the argument of "I saw it on the outdoor channel," is a very bad one…
#45
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Harford Co Maryland USA
Posts: 4,966
On the years I practiced out to 60 yards, I was quite accurate and confident at a completely relaxed and standing deer at 40 yards - shot one at that range and saw it fall 40 yards from the shot. My practicing doesn't always "go long" and now 40 yards is uncomfortable for me ... not because I can't make it, but I don't want it to be that "flyer" that seems to be in many groups and because deer will take a step when you think they're stopped. I've taken 5 deer this year on 5 arrows shot. All but 1 fell with-in 45 yards except the heart shot one which made 60 yards! Shots varied from 20 to 30 yards at relaxed deer standing still. Confidence in your shot is very important and I won't take a marginal shot.
#47
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 33
As far as you feel comfortable and have shot your bow out too. My last pin on my bow is set at 50. I pratice all the way out to 50 where I feel comfortable enough taking that shot. Furthest shot to date 46 yards on a black bear using muzzy mx3 100gr. most of my deer shots were under 25 and my 1 and only elk shot was 33.
#48
Spike
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 63
It really depends on what your comfortable with. I'm not comfortable with taking a shot over 40yds so I wont but others can and will. As long as your bow has the necessary power at that range and you can accurately shoot that distance your fine. My father shot a deer at 110 yards and has taken other animals at high distances. If a deer is watching you, don't shoot as it'll jump the string when it see's the movement but a comfortable deer generally isn't going to freak.
#49
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 90
long shots
Has anyone ever watched the hunting show called the Crush? On this show Lee shoots at big game out to 130 yards. On one show he killed a Sheep at 100 plus yards.im sure he's a expert long range shooter but thats pushing it a bit! I wounder how maney animals he cripples taking those typs of shots?
#50
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
Has anyone ever watched the hunting show called the Crush? On this show Lee shoots at big game out to 130 yards. On one show he killed a Sheep at 100 plus yards.im sure he's a expert long range shooter but thats pushing it a bit! I wounder how maney animals he cripples taking those typs of shots?