60 yd shot on a deer
 

I am in the process of buying a new bow. I have been reading reviews on the Z7 and one of the testers stated it was the first short bow he's ever shot that he would feel comfortable taking a 60 yard shot on a deer with. I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was. It would make the difference on if I upgraded my sight from a 4 pin to a 5 pin.

I wouldn't take a shot over 50 yards with a bow. My range limit is 45 yards with any bow and only experts should take a 50 but 60 is pushing it too much you might as well use a rifle cause the point of bow hunting is to get em up close

I shoot the Z7 an it is fairly easy to make a good shot while target shooting in the back yard at 50 yards. I have no plans of shooting at anything over 30 yards. Maybe under idea conditions a few more yards out. With that said, never have shot a deer past 27 yards. The majority of my shots are 20 yards an closer.

100 yard shot..... you decide if you would be comfortable!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwLMebFa9IM
Me, 50 yards is my limit. I don't really see the need to shoot any farther. The Bow is for close encounters IMHO. Why would anyone want to shoot that far with a bow? Just askin. Take all the fun of gettin close out of it. Might as well use a gun.
Live it up! Doug

lol....60 yards, a lot of my set-ups I can only see 40 yards let a lone take a 60 yard shot.

yep, I have a 60yd pin on my IceMan. I do great in the practice and 3-d shoots, but I would never shoot greater than 50yds most likely 45yds at a deer. too much room for error and a botched shot with poor results.

Not to completely disagree because I really don't think I'd ever take a 60 yd shot at a living animal either but in competitions guys are shooting 80 yds consistently. I hunt field edges a lot so a 50 yd shot is a common debate.

It's more up to the individual shooter's ability than a specific bow.

I have a Z7. I'm very accurate with it behind my garage up to 40 yards. On a deer though, I personally don't feel comfortable shooting over 40...so that is my absolute maximum range.

I am practicing out to 40 yards, and am pretty consistent at 40 yards, but would only take that shot if everything was right and I felt real good about it.

I have one pin set to 50 yards just to play in the yard.

Thirty yards is my max in the woods due deflection issues. Field edges I will take it to 40yards, beyond that they get horns, grunts or bleats in hopes of bringing them in.

40 yards is my max as well. I read an article along while back that stated the maximum hitting power of most all bows is between 30 and 35 yards. After that it is all down hill from there. I am not sure how true it is. But I have always went by that rule. I also have heard alot about those longer shots losing more deer than getting..Just not worth it to me..

My comfort zone is in the 40 yard range. I have never needed to shoot any further that any ways.

60 yards sounds like a good way to gut shoot a deer. You might be able to hit a target consistently but a lot can happen in 60 yards.

Sound travels roughtly 1100 feet per second and no bow is going to be that fast. Ever watched a slow motion bow shot at a deer. Even at 15 or 20 yards the deer will start to duck to start running. I wont shoot past 30. Even 30 is iffy to me and prefer 20 or less.

You might get lucky at long rangeson a white tail but ts irresponisble IMO.

targets don't move at 60 yards

I will only shot out to 40 yards.
In the video of the 100 yard shots, did you hear how long it took the arrow to hit the target.
That is a year for the deer to move from the sound of the bow or anything else.
Plus that is a shot in a wide open field, the arc of the arrow at that distance might be ten feet.
You need large/higher shooting lanes ( more height ) the further you shoot.

I guess if you were comfortable wiht a 60 yard shot. Personally for me it would defeat the purpose of why I bow hunt. For me 40 yds is too far and that has nothing to do with ability.

I see what your saying, I have a couple field edge stands and 60 yards looks closer then it really is.

I shoot the Bowtech Extreme VFT. I consistently hit and win alot of bets at hunting camps hitting tops of beer cans that have been placed on there sides at 60 yards. That being said it is kinda like a long drive contest in that it looks cool, but how practical.

You may be able to hit the target at that range, but way to many things can happen IMHO to make a 60 yard shot ethical. I will shoot at 45 yards, after that even a relaxed deer can react before the arrow nails it.

Really it has nothing to do with the bow it is the ability of the shooter. 60 yards on a deer in a field if you practice that far and further. I limit myself to 30 yards and almost all of my shots over the years have been under 25 yards.

At 60 yards the pin takes up the whole chest on the deer. How do you pick a spot.

Plus, they can jump the string way to easily.

I practice with my bow out to 80 yards. With that being said my limit is 40 yards no questions asked. A lot can go wrong in 40 yards let alone 60 yards. I've heard of people doing it but its not for me. Yeah speed helps but not that much I've got my bow shooting right around 300 feet per second right now the Z7 is moving at what 340? So a 10% speed increase roughly. Even if you did a percentage to percentage increase you're looking at basically 45 yards but again there is still a lot that can go wrong. Losing an animal after I hit it makes me physically ill so I feel that I owe it to myself and the animal to do everything in my power to make an ethical clean kill every time. I can't do that at 60 yards.

An archer tries to see how far away they can hit their target, a bowhunter see how close they can get their target to them.

Excellent advice...that ought to be in everyone's sig line on this board. It gets to the heart of why some hunters are addicted to bow hunting.

I hunt with a crossbow but there is no way I would attempt anything over 40 yds. myself. And 30 yds. is even better. I have hunted with a regualr bow and know that most people shouldn't shoot at a live animal beyond 40 yds. but depending on how you practice can make a big difference. If someone can hit accurately at 80 yds. or more, 50 or 60 yd. should be a chip shot for them. But, I think that if they decide to take that far a shot at a live animal that the conditions should be perfect. They should not take an iffy shot. The animal should be broadside, and no limbs or grass to shoot over or between.

I practice out to 60 yards and would take a 60 yards shot on an animal. If and only if the animal was alone, deaf or in quicksand : ) 60 yard shot on even a non alert deer and he'd be in the next zip code before the arrow got to him........ even if the bow is shooting 340+fps.

This is a photo of a grouping I shot yesterday at 60 yards with my z7. Obviously I was proud because I took the pic, but I USUALLY put 3 arrows in a fist size group at 60 yards. The reason I wouldn't shoot a deer from 60 is the holes you see in the target that are both to the right of my grouping in the guts. With one tiny torque of the bow thats where my arrows hit. Too much can go wrong from that distance IMO, so I keep my shots to under 50 yards, which is still a poke on a live animal.

Elk? I would shoot from 60 but their vitals are much bigger than a whitetails are.

On Saturday I had a 6pnt at 50 yards "stationary, and drinking from a stream". No way would I even attempt it with my bow. The buck then got closer to 30 yards, and offered a rear quartering away shot. Nope, didn't take that attempt either.

I strongly believe that an archer shouldn't shot past there known comfort zone. No matter what the situation. However I have known some hunters to take deer at 60 + yrds. Not to mention that pronghorn are routinely taken at these large distances. Keep in mind that at those distances wind is going to affect your arrow fight dramatically. Also the farther the arrow has to fly the faster it looses speed which results in kinetic energy loose meaning loose of penetration. So these things need to be kept in mind when making your choice. The bow will need to be one heck of a strong bow and you'll need to practice practice practice.

Great Comment and I plan on using that in my future distance discussions.

I've watched a lot of hunters hit targets at 50,60, and 70yards standing in my yard before hunting season. In the field shooting at game I haven't seen that many do it. And most times it's not a great hit if it is a hit. I know there are some out there that can shoot the eyes out of a flying eagle but most can't get it done when the blood is pounding in the head and taking away the perfect practice form in the field. Anything past 35yds is truly having control of yourself in a hunting situation. I do it myself and have done it a few times and I've also missed a few times. I'd rather have a clean miss than a bad hit that's for sure. It's not as easy done in the field as one might think. Maybe out of a stand on the edge of a field nothing to shoot around and having time to aim yeah I'd say that's a workable shot. Stalking a bull elk in the trees and having to move to get the shot and shoot within a mere few seconds not so workable.