Killing distance
 

Being new to traditional archery I am wondering what distances are you guys killing things at?

My buddy who shoots compound killed an elk @ 40 yards and a deer @ 60 yards...(of course he couldn't draw at a bigger elk at 15 yards and missed 2 deer at 20 yards or less)...

I am hoping to be comfortable taking 20 yard shots for next season...is that reasonable?

RE: Killing distance
 

20 yards is a good distance. I don't like to limit myself with a concrete yardage as a maximum. Every shot is different and if you listen to that internal computer that tells you when you can and can't make a shot you will be just fine. I have taken shots at over 30 yards and turned others down that were less than 20. If it "feels" right then take the shot, if not let them walk.

RE: Killing distance
 

I practice to 50 yards with the hopes of stalking in for a closer shot.

RE: Killing distance
 

Fuzzy,

Josh said it pretty well. I practice all year long to be hunt ready shooting not only 3-D, but target archery out to 80 yds. I pretty much limit myself to 20-25yds when hunting. I also think it depends somewhat on what type of game your hunting. A shot at a 100# whitetail is much different than an elk or moose where the kill zones are larger.

As far as your friend missing that happens to us all. There are those who have missed, those who are going to miss, the rest are lying! When I shoot compound I'm a whole lot more accurate at longer ranges. Where we hunt a shot over 40yds is unusual, but out west its quite common.

RE: Killing distance
 

The question should be "how close can I kill a deer ,moose ,elk etc?"I am a bowhunter with 44 years behind me And I still beleive 20 yard to be the longuest shot and one yard to be quite close.Too many thing can turn a nice shot to an horrible shot.I avoid practicing
30 yards cause I am human and if I get accurate I might try those shot in hunting season and hunting is not target shooting.Take my advise be a perfect shot at 20 yards and less and you wont feel sorry for a poor shot and a wonded animal that will suffer before dying.Don't fuel the antis with questionable shot.That is the way I am .
Now I am 58 and still do 20 and less shot.
The real trill in bow hunting is to get your quarry to less than 10 yards.
Try that and you will always be a bowhunter.
Many quit bowhunting due to malpractice this lovely sport.Think about it
Taureau Noir

RE: Killing distance
 

Know your limitations and stick with them. It might hurt your feelings to let one pass, but it's a whole lot worse to make a bad shot.

I practice shots at distances that are a lot further than I will take on game. Being a good shot at 40 yds makes 20 and under easier. Practicing at 80-100 yds will really show you how consistent you are and is a good exercise for working on your form.

I've been tempted to take a long shot on a live animal, but I've never done it. Even if I'm feeling good and know I could hit a target at that range, the animal doesn't know it's supposed to stand still until the arrow gets there.

Chad

RE: Killing distance
 

Hunting and target pracice present different risk, a lost or broken arrow vs a wounded animal, there is no comparison. kwowing your own limitations comes from practice at various distances and also under a variaty of conditions. You not anyone else has to be confident you can make the shot at that moment under whatever circumstances are presented, and the only one thats going to know whether it was right at the time is you. I have been haunted by making a bad shot and wounding an animal and I've still not forgotten it. someone said it earlier "listen to your gut instinct".

Happy shooting

Jim

RE: Killing distance
 

I like the gut instinct rule. Also I would never shot over a range you set. Then use the gut rule inside of that range. I know a very respected longbow shooter, that was at the top of the IBO, and passed a 200 class buck at 28 yards broadside. He had a bad feeling. I never really liked the guy until I heard this story about him. My opinion went up, that takes a real ethical person to make a decision like that.

RE: Killing distance
 

I can shoot al my arrows in a pie plate at 40 yards my guts tell me I can make that shot
but my brain tell me that there no easy shot in the wild.
So I stay to the 20 yards distance even if I get angry at myself to have left a perfect broadside shot at 30 yards.Dont forget that there might be a twig in the arrow's path,deer might move at the same time of the shot.In a milsecond wind can turn around and the deer react to a drift of different odor etc.Keep it to 20yards and you won't have to blame either your brain or your guts.
Happy hunting
Taureau Noir

RE: Killing distance
 

I can understand that, but I rely on discipline as well as my brain and my gut. I've had shots at less than 20 yds. I wouldn't take, but I'm not going to limit my shooting to the least possible distance. Just this past season I had a shot at about 15 yds, but the other conditions were bad--very foggy, on top of it being darker in the woods anyway. I almost did shoot, but noticed a branch in the way just in time. Limiting myself to practicing at 20 yds or less wouldn't have changed that scenario at all.

I'm not saying you are wrong in your reasoning--as long as that is what works for you, that's great. What works for me is practicing at longer distances, which makes me more confident on closer shots, and disciplining myself to not taking longer shots on live animals.

Chad

RE: Killing distance
 

Thanks for all the well thought replies.....

I live in the West and my last two deer were killed at 300 yards with my 25.06. My friends have been steering me toward compound bows for the greater range but they lent me a recurve and it was so much more fun that I went ahead and bought one.

The way I see it any animal I kill with my bow is gonna be a trophy and the bow extends my season and opportunities...

Plan on a ton of practice then alot of hunting...and maybe a kill as well.

RE: Killing distance
 

LBR.The reason I think that way and wont shoot 30 or 40yards is for Newbe to acquire a good tecnique before trying long shot.Like I said earlier, I can easily shoot up to 60yards but does a new bowhunter could try that without aggravation?.They will tell you that they are good shoot up to 30to 40 yards.You and I know that it is only the first shot that count
and being in a sitting or kneeling position for hours in the cold or rain . do not help accuracy.
To know if they are a good shoot.Take your bow,sit on a chair for an hour then,raise and tale a shot at a pie plate at 30yard.Do that every day, only one shot and you will be surprise how much it is hard to hit the center of the oie plate.That look like hunting situation.
Taureau noir

RE: Killing distance
 

I'm new to archery (compound or long bow) as well. Last year i borrowed my brother in laws PSE bow, put all new equipment (sights, peep,..) on it. I practiced with it ,on and off all year until archery season. I got real good..in my humble opinion:) at 20 yd kill shots on a 3D deer, and 4 out of 5 at 35 yds. However during archery season I had a real nice 6 pointer walk within 50-55 yrds from me. Blood pumping, heart starts racing, I called him in a few more yards. Breathing heavy, blood preasure I know is going up, mouth going dry, knees a little weak as I stand up in my stand. He didnt see me, one more soft grunt brought him within 30-35 yds..easy shot I'm thinking. 15 feet up in tree stand, he's standing nealy broad side to me. I let go the arrow,.. it went about 1 inch under his chest in to the dirt. All the practice in the wold couldnt have prepared my for the rush i felt calling the deer in. I said all that to say its hard to compare a 35yd kill shot in my back yard on a 3D target to the real thing in the forest amongst trees and branches. Next time I'll call him in closer for a 20yd for sure kill shot

RE: Killing distance
 

Now you know when I say I rely on 20yards or so.Target shoot is far from wild life shoot.
Taureau Noir

RE: Killing distance
 

For deer, 20 yards max.

RE: Killing distance
 

I shoot a Bear Grizzley 50# recurve that I have had for 30years; so I know my bow and I know what I can do and not do with it. I have taken deer out to 45yds. with it --- one shot kills. Someone in this post stated to let your internal computer tell you when to shoot and you will be fine. Don't take the shot until it does. That may mean passing up some shots even if they are close. I practice out to 50 yards with mine but usually wouldn't shoot at a deer that far unless that computer we were talking about tells me to. I find about 25 yards to be just about right for me and many times don't feel real comfortable with the real close shots even in practice. If you shoot enough you will soon know when to shoot---it will become instinct---trust it and you will become a shooting machine. My feeling is that with any shooting whether gun, bow, or throwing a dart is being absorbed in the visualization of the shot. Call it unconsious concentration if you will. Others may refer to it as becoming the arrow. Use your eyes and your mind will direct your body. You don't need a compound bow with lightning fast arrows to kill a deer; just put your arrow in the vitals and its lights out--no problem. Try a recurve bow; its lighter, easier to handle, and in my opion much more versatile than a compound. Sure the compound may shoot a little tighter most days but not by much. Try taking a quick accurate shot at a jumped from the bed deer or a running rabbit with compounds and recurves and you will see which is easier.

Mossie

"I live; therefore I hunt"

RE: Killing distance
 

Deer meat,

You have got to start thinking more like the predator that you are when you are hunting anything. Your mind is not in the right place if you are getting nervous when its time to shoot. Ask yourself this? Do you think a cat is nervous stalking a mouse? Do you think the coyote is nervous running a rabbit down? Of course not! They are predators; their lives depend on it. Deer meat---you are a predator; so start thinking that way and you will never be nervous again.

Mossie
" I live; therefore I hunt"

RE: Killing distance
 

I agree with Mossie, live for the hunt not the kill.