Oh man, another can of worms opened!

BobCo, I do know that 'good shot' feeling. Wonderful feeling, ain't it?

I also know the depths of the 'bad hit' feeling, and I do everything in my power to keep from feeling that way, ever again.

That your deer would have taken that step at the instant you released and caused your arrow to hit too far back whether you'd have been at 10 yards or at 40. Maybe I should also include that split second between the time you commit to the shot and the arrow leaving the bow into my time of flight number. Anyway, the important thing is you did what you needed to do after the hit and found the deer. I'm sure you didn't get much sleep that night.

Your points on a living, breathing animal doing the unexpected at exactly the wrong moment are well made. Those rascals never have done what I expected them to do.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

I agree with you Arthur, there is a time factor in the commitment of the shot and the arrow leaving the bow. Good point. But, I think that you would have to admit there is a difference of a deer taking a step at 10 yards to one taking a step at 40 yards, and the time it takes an arrow to get to it.

And you're right, I didn't sleep that night, or concentrate on anything that evening. I have learned from this experience.

there is a lot of sense in what everybody has said
As for me tho I will not take a shot at a deer over 30 yrds but 20 yrds is my prefered distance.

I think everyone's points are well taken. As a new bowhunter my slant is, I feel absolutely confident @ 20 yds. 30 yds looks to be a long way in the woods. That last 10 yds is a long ways. Allot can happen from 20 to 30 yds. I notice my bow is pretty flat shooting to 23 yds, & than to 30 it starts to drop much faster. I'm also very calm & relaxed @ the range. Not so w/ deer around. That does change things. I don't see a need to shoot beyond 20 yds in the thick woods.

Phil.

i guess befor everyone jumps me i should add that my bow is shooting at 327fps with a 425gr arrow.

You should just keep on practicing going out furter and further you will be able to tell how you feel about the yardages.

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I find 20 to 30 yards to be comfortable.

You just need to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more until you find a range that is good for you. Remember that as time goes buy, you will find yourself comfortable at longer yardages, but a good kill range for you will be different than that which you shoot at a target.

For deer size game no more then 30yrs, but something like a Elk & Moose & Bear 40yrs I think it has more to do with the time of the shot.... Like the others have said Heart...Heat....Cold...Rain....wind.. I shoot from sunup to sunset... and I think of myself as a good shot, but no more then 30yrs for me

Live to Hunt.....Hunt to Live
NAHC & BuckMaster Member