A new swing on things!!!
 

Okay guys,

With the post going around about how far is your max shooting distance, I figured I would post something a little different.

Why is it that alot of guys brag about how far the deer/animal was when they shot it? I hear guys say things like "Man, I smacked that bad boy at 45 yards, it was an amazing shot"

It seems that some guys just brag about these shots because they can "accurately" hit a deer at that distance, but they don't take into consideration, that having a deer at 10 yards and getting a shot is typically more challenging just because the animal is that much closer to you.

Okay guys, lets hear your thoughts and opinions!

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

Well,
I've had deer (Does) bed underneath my tree stand.:D 15 feet up, I guess thats 5 yards. Didn't shoot it though. Just watched it for about 45 minutes. Also didn't have any Scent-lok stuff on. Just paid attention to what I was doing.

I'd rather shoot a deer between 15 to 20 yards though I practice out to 50.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I agree, ....I think.
I haven't had too many shots at anything. I did have a chance at a doe from approx. 6-8 yards, I couldn't (didn't want to) move a muscle. It sure was cool being that close though!
Then again, I kinda believe that any "good" shot is worthy of a little bit of braggin.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

Really it is two different things.


Making a good shot at 45 yards requires good shooting ability and/or luck.



Getting a deer into 10 yards takes a lot of hunting ability and /or luck.


Sometimes a deer just isn't coming in NO MATTER how good a hunter you are so you either need luck to bring it in the rest of the way or be able to make a good shot at that distance.

I prefer to rely on my abilities first and then have some luck.


I actually prefer deer beyond the 20 yard mark because drawing isn't as hard.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I agree Buck. I'm definately one for getting them "in your face." I like to see the steam coming out of their nostrils in the early morning light. At the same time, it is pretty cool to have a long shot and see your fletching crossing out the "x." I honestly haven't had a long shot like that on an animal.

Well said TFOX.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

Perhaps because where I usually have my stands, most of my shots are within 20 yrds, and getting close is more challenging to me than making a long shot. My longest has been 35 yrds., right through the lungs......a passthrough. Not any more thrilling than a 5 yard shot.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

To piggy back on what Cougar said....Alot of shot opportunities come about by how and where you setup your stand. It's more than picking a tree that's in the vicinity of a deer trail and hunting out of it. Trying to understand where the deer come from and which direction they come on that trail really helps out. Example...if most of the deer come from right to left and a trail, I will setup my stand so that I have some cover inbetween me and the deer coming so I can pull back without the deer being able to see me. And then when the deer gets within my exceptable range(25 and under), I'm ready to go when he/she gets there. Sure that's a perfect situation, but I think you get the point.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I agree with TFOX. I have never hunted from a tree stand before though. The hunting I do is spot and stalk. In the places where I hunt, it is some timber, some sage and some just plane open ground. You don't always get a 20 yd shot. I figure the closer the better but sometimes a 30, 40, or even 50 yd shot is what you get. In the real world the elk don't just come right to you with calls like in the hunting videos. Alot of times the elk are call shy and go the oppisite direction of the calls.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I hunt in over populated areas. Every hunt I have deer from 0yrds to 40yrds out away from me. Normal hunt is 12 - 24 deer. Twice I had 4 dozen all with in 35 yrds. My last hunt I had over 60 come by with 30+ bucks with several large ones not huge.

It isn't very challenging with only one or two deer underneath your stand unless you don't climb high enough. It gets way more challenging when you have a herd underneath you. Where I hunt you need to be 30'+ in the tree. Deer do look up.

As far as shot distance, it depends on my mood that day. 90% of the time I hunting for the huge deer. I don't care about large ones I want the huge one. The other 10% of the time, when I hunt late in the season or a spot where I don't feel the big one frequents, I may feel like taking deer. I can say that may be my atitude before I hunt, but most of the time I convince myself I don't feel like dealing with the deer after the kill. Therefore, I don't kill something that day.

What makes my choice of shots? Sometimes it's the first Bambi other times I pick the deer with the bad attitude. Either way I don't care if it's 5yrds or 50 yrds. If I made up my mind to clean a deer that day then I will drop the deer I'm shooting at.

I will end this with the most difficult shot of all. The one where the deer is right below you. Before you attempt this shot, you better practice.;)

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I have a buddy who consistantly shoots deer at 40-50 yards. [&o]

He says he'd rather have it that way. Personally, I think it's more of a thrill to have them in my face.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I got to thinking about this and near as I can remember my average range on the last 8 deer is 18.625 yards.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

This almost sounds like a rifle hunting versus bow hunting type of argument considering that most rifle shots are taken at longer distances and most bow shots are under 20 yards.

Personally I think either scenario requires practice, patience and the ability to be able to make the decision at the correct moment.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

Buck:

You can take it to the bank that a percentage of these claims are based on lucky "Hail Marys" or the actual distance extends by 5-yards or more each time the story is told. ;)

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

The farthest I've ever shot a deer was 35yds.

Most of the others were right around 20, a few 10 or less.
I try to set up my stands for a 20yd or less shot!
The only way I can see myself takeing a shot more than 35 is if I stalk one and can't get any closer. The only way I would shoot is if had time to range the deer!

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

Buck Magnet I agree that getting them closer is more challenging but does that mean you won't shoot at a booner because he is 35 yards instead of 10 yards? Sometimes deer don't show up where you expect and big bucks don't always follow trails. I try to get them as close as possible and I rarely shoot over 20 yards but I don't want be called 'lacking in ethics" because I choose to shoot at one that is 45 yards when I know that I am quite capable of making that shot. I would much prefer to not shoot at one over 30 yards but I am certainly not ruling out a 40 yard shot nor a 45 yard shot if the conditions are right and I know that I can hit it.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I practice out to 80 yards and am working on 100, but have no intentions on shooting game passed 40 I just like what the long range practice does to my groups up close. I would rather have a big bull at ten yards than 40 a lot less can go wrong.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I think it was Wenzel who came up with the 18-35 yard rule. The gist of it is that archery shots should be taken from between these two ranges to help prevent the deer from reacting to the string, yet maintain a relatively high percentage shot.

I've never shot at anything beyond 25 yards so I can't comment on long range shots, but I did give a six pointer a back shaving at 10 yards when he jumped the string. I wonder if he would have jumped had I given him a few steps.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

C903,
I agree--just like the bucks' rack keeps growing after he's been taken:D:D

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

I prefer them close. My average shot distance of the deer I've taken is some where in the 13-14 yds range. I've only taken 3-4 that were over 18 yds. with the farthest being 24 yds. In a lot of places I hunt I physically can't shoot any farther than 20 yds. It can be quite intense cause when they step out they are in range.
It doesn't matter what I can do on the range, I will shoot the deer under my terms, which is nice and close.

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

My last three elk kills added up to 36 yards 15, 3, and 18 yards. I agree with others that under 10 yards or so it makes it hard to draw a bow. I don't have much experience with whitetails but with elk as I draw I also cow call and that will usually hold them there for a few seconds befor they bolt. More than enough time to send a arrow accurately on it's way. With mule deer my average shot is between 20-30 yards. Antelope well? If anyone wants a bowhunting challenge it is fun and difficult to stalk antelope in open range, where the cover is only ankle high. I have yet to be successful in this hunting method. I will not shoot past 40 yards. And every time that I have crawled under 40 yards, when I raise up on my knees to shoot they run out to 60-90 yards and turn and look at me. I know that I can get close shots in ground blinds, But I want to harvest one buy stalking it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

RE: A new swing on things!!!
 

Buck! I have to agree with you on this, the closer the better .My heart start's pumping and it's hard to move a muscle when the animal is this close .When the deer is 40 to 50 yrds away I don't get this adrenelin rush ,although even if i did have the 40yrd shot I'm not so sure I would try this shot .I guess it would depend on the situation ,whether it be standing looking away or whether it was walking .

nubo