What's your max sure kill range?
 

After 40+ years with bows, my shoulders have decided no more so I'm a rookie crossbow dude. I've been practicing for two months with my new Parker and am confident I can hit anything that's still in the arrows path out to 45 yards.
My question, with a crossbow sounding something like a .22 rifle going off, what's your experience tell you that your surefire that deer ain't going to jump or duck or spin out of the way arrow range.
I'm thinking my Parker should be a sure bet at 30 yards but beyond that, I don't have that experience factor to know. What's your experience tell you. Please, no speculating, experience only.
thanks

At 30 yards alert deer have been known to swap ends or duck an arrow before the arrow arrived. Surefire? No way. If you are loaded with a pretty light arrow for the best speeds aim low (heart shot) and you'll either have a clean miss or a good shot.
If a deer has it's tail down, looking away, ears pointed away, eating I'll take a 40 yard shot.

That is a tough question to answer as there are way too many variables. Every opportunity presents a different situation. Although myself or other experienced crossbow shooters are capable of consistently shooting accurately to 50yds, I personally am hesitant to shoot at a deer over 30yds away.
I believe to be an ethical hunter you owe it to you quarry to do everything you possiblycan to insure a clean, humane and quick kill.
To me the challemge and enjoyment of hunting any animal is to get as close as possible to minimize a bad shot/hit.. A persons ability to shoot accurately to 50yds or more is not any guarentee when hunting.
Each person (should) know their skill and proficieny and always, always hunt and shoot in the most ethical manner
In 40+ years of hunting I have never lost an animal that I shot. That s because I only take a shot when I believe I have a 99.9% chance of a clean kill. Conscquently I have never shot at a deer , elk, moose or other big game animal with a crossbow or vertical bow farther than 28yds.

Heck i have no trouble reaching out to 100 yds fer a shot,---------using my ML. Using Miss Vixen wid my logs on unalert deer 35 yds. If'en the deer has winded me or is really spooky 20 yds.

I have hit the ten ring so to speak out to about 43 yards. Many factors would limit that to maybe under 20 yards.

Targets ain't deer. Regularly practice by shooting out to 60 yards with all three of my bows. Deer, as already stated, their alertness state matters greatly. Out of respect for the game-and the sport of archery-I prefer under 30 for my kills, regardless how fast the arrow is going.

About 35 yards, prefer 35 feet.

about the same here... still prefer about 30yrds and under. Though I am feeling more confident this year. Switching arrows to the GT's w/brass inserts and getting the flemish string put my poi pretty much spot on. Also got alot more practice in this summer.

30 yds, I have had them looking the other way and still duck far enough at the sound 30 yds away to aim at the low on the body and still hit the spine.

Won't shoot past 35 yards.

Thanks for all the replies. I realize the range decisision is based on many factors. I will probably keep it under 30 yards. I'll be glad when someone invents a way to take the noise out of the crossbow shot. I was use to 40 yard shots with the mathews with complete confidence on a kill.
Opening morning, I saw 16 deer +/- and only had 3 come under 30 yards. One was a button and the other two still had a few spots so I passed. Good luck to all.

About 40 yards.

I've had plenty of issues with deer jumping the string with an x-bow. Because of this, I prefer 20 yards or less. I would shoot out to 25 if the deer was completely relaxed. But I shoot an older bow at 260 fps or so. I can shoot accurately to 35 - 40 yards and made the mistake early on of thinking that meant I could shoot deer that far. Well after a few misses and poor hits, I learned better....

as you see,these are true SPORTSMAN on here.they take ethical shots usually 30 yds and under.
not like idiots i am seeing here in my area of pa taking 50 yd shots on bear and deer.they are wounding them too.'

these crossbow lazy meat hunters i am seeing in my area are disgusting.
i cant stand even going near them in town or at club or archery shop talking about how easy it is to get deer at 50 yds with crossbow.

wow... yea that's pretty bad. Targets shooting 50yds sure. hunting ... not hardly. I let one walk this morning. she was at 30yrds but the angle was poor and some brush in the way. There was one moment I prolly could have let one go ....but it just didn't feel right. Maybe get her on her way out tonight!