effective bow range in the west

T

trophyhill

Guest
ive taken alot of heat on other bow forums for asking this question. seems like other forums are overun by eastern hunters, but here goes. i have been talking to folks at the archery shops in and around albuquerque and sportsmans warehouse and found that alot of deer have been taken with a bow at long range, anywhere from 80 to 110 yards. eastern hunters that hunt out of tree stands above there feeders have a hard time with this topic. i am new to bow hunting so i would like your opinions on this. do you think this is acceptable or ethical. with todays speedbows it seems to me that it is more than just doable. here in new mexico there isnt a whole lot of cover.my hunt a couple weeks ago i got on between 25 and 30 big bucks all between 25"-30" wide but busted every time by a doe i hadnt seen. closest i got was 100 yards on about a dozen and a half times. rutting and too many eyes ears and noses. i did not take the shots cuz i didnt practice at these ranges but inside 60 yards there in trouble. what is the longest shot you would take at a big buck standing broadside not knowing you were there in wide open country.
 
My limit was 20 yds...and except once, i still missed all the time. My trouble was not that i couldn't get close, cause i could. I just couldn't hit a deer to save my butt. I finally quit and sold that recurve fer peanuts. :)

Joey
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-20-09 AT 10:10PM (MST)[p]i've found that when i'm running around the prairie hunting mule deer that whatever is my longest comfortable distance is always 10 yards shorter then i can get on them. When i first started i practised at 40yards. After the first couple of years i realized that every buck i went after would allow me to get 10 yards shy of my mark. I figured i had things made when i tuned my skills into 50 yard shots. That same year the deer decided i was only allowed to get within 60 yards of them. I'm now working on 70 yards so i should be In Like Flynn next year. If the deer have switched to 80 yards i'm giving it up.

I think a person can take a shot out to 60-70 yards if our comfortable. I see guys on tv taking 100 yard shots and it kind of bugs me. Even if your accurate to the distance i would think your arrow is losing alot of energy by the time it gets there.
 
I believe 100 yards is WAY too far to cast an arrow at a live animal for most bowhunters. Some can consistently do it on a 3D range......but those critters don't move or react like the living ones. Be patient, learn the behavior of the critter you're hunting, and get closer. Just my opinion though.

BOHNTR )))---------->
 
Bowhunting is a short range game no matter where you are. To much time for the deer to move when shooting at those long distances, even if they are not alert. Keep the shots under 50 yards. If you want to shoot deer at long distance use a rifle or muzzleloader. It is not about getting a deer at whatever cost it is about getting within range of the deer and executing a perfect shot. If you can't get into a decent range don't shoot. I don't understand why people feel they need to shoot at these distances. The whole point of bowhunting is to outsmart the deer and get in close, if that is not what you want to do use a gun. My goal is to get as close to the deer as possible not see how far away I can shoot him.
 
You got very good answers from two of the best; BOHNTR and SASKMAN. I would say they are right on track. Where I often hunt in southern Wyoming, wind is a very important factor. It allows you to sometimes sneak in closer, but it can cause problems with those arrows when it's blowing 40 mph. I try to get within 40, but practice to 70. I'll shoot to 50 if everything is just right.
 
I will shoot at an animal out to 50 yards for the first shot. My 60 and 70 yard pins or in case I hit the animal and he gives me another shot out a little further. Too much can go wrong when the distance is out too far. A 3 inch mistake at 20 yards can turn into a 12 inch mistake at 60 yards, not to mention the effect at 100 yards.
 
I'm an Eastern hunter and I say your effective range can only be determined by YOU....nobody else. Shoot out to and beyond 100 yrds., see how you can do, that's the only way you will know how far you can ethically kill an animal. Unless you're Jim Ryan and can shoot a running grizzly at 80 yrds. on TV.....amazingly they didn't get the 'impact' on film. Yep,...Bass Pro Shops hunting show actually put that on the air a few years ago. If you can consistenly hit the kill zone at 100 yards....put it to him. Good luck!
 
I think for every person it is different I know guys that set a limit at 50 or closer and have heard of some over 100 myself I have no problem what so ever to take a 80 yard shot with perfect conditions level ground , little to no wind, no obstructions in the way I practice at the distance and would not hesitate touching an arrow off at an animal "under ideal conditions" I think everyone should find their ethical comfort zone and stick to it so what it the jone's can shoot 5 yards farther. Its up to you
 
I think you have a LOT better chance of killing a big buck if you are willing to take those super long range shots (anything over 50-60). You will not recover as many, but you will DEFINITELY KILL more.
I agree with BOWHNTR and Saskman. There are just too many variables in the wild. It is a different game on the 3D range or shooting hay bails at 100 yards.
I have read about a lot of questionably ethical shots that were successful on this sight. A 370 inch Utah bull (rifle) this year at 900+ yards. A 400 inch bull (bow) shot last year (or maybe 2007) at over 100 yards. The problem is that we never hear about the other 2000 idiots that attempted similar shots and left thousands of piles of coyote bait in the hills. I suppose that its good for the guys who go looking for sheds and "winter kills" and "lion kills" in the spring.
Soup
 
this is just like the topic awhile back about long range rifle hunting. just becuase you can make a 1000 yard rifle shot at a target or a 100 bow shot at a target, does not mean you should take those kind of shots at game. im sure a lot of it is bragging rights. id rather brag that i snuck into 10 yards on a huge buck/bull and sealed the deal. i think it is 100% unethical and disrespectful to the sport of bowhunting and should never be attempted. im probably not near as avid a bowhunter as most of you, but i still consider a 40 yard shot a long shot no matter where you are.
 
Depends on what you are shooting at too. I will shoot a lot longer on a Lope than say a deer or elk, just because of the terrain you have to keep an eye on them after the shot. If you make a not so perfect shot on a lope you can usually watch them go and lie down where you would not on a deer or elk. That and lope seem to die easier. For elk i limit myself to the 60 yard range for energy reasons, even though they are a large target.
Go do a lot of longer range shots, and judge for yourself on how many times you would connect on a certain range, then back down some for margin of error. Keep in mind wind will mess with long range shots as well. Shooting a bow long range is like shooting a gun long range. Unless you do it well, you shouldn't do it hunting.
 
You can practice all day long at 100 yards and hit a 2 inch circle but in the time it takes an arrow to travel 100 yards that deer can move a long ways. Your arrow may still hit the 2 inch circle you were aiming at but that circle would now be in its guts or its ass. If you can't get into effective range come back tomorrow and try again. Is it really that important to kill that big buck that you will risk injuring it at long range?
 
Two weeks ago I was on a beautiful 4 pt in central AZ. I had him slowly walking broadside at 52 yards and I passed. I never got that close again, and I would make the same choice if presented with the same circumstance. Not saying it can't be done, just not by me.
 
My opinion...

...go to any archery league night at any archery club and watch guys take long-ish shots, 50-60 yards or so. It won't take long to see that for the VAST MAJORITY of guys 50 yards is a pretty darn long shot. Probably too long a shot to be taking on a live animal.

There are guys who aren't included in that vast majority however, and longer shots can definitely be made.

Hard, probably impossible to "draw the line" anywhere.
 
Why are people giving up on actually hunting. Try hunting and getting close to your game. I bowhunt because I love the experience of getting within 40 yards. when I rifle hunt I want to be within 300 yards. Try developing your skills as a hunter and lets stop just flinging arrows or lobbing bullets!

If your shooting that far your not hunting, you have give up on hunting and are now hoping you can get lucky.
 
I believe real bow hunters brag about close shots. Like 20 yards or less. Anyone can flip a stick long distance. But when the circumstances call for a long shot and you have practiced that shot all year the same as any other shot, and you confidently know where your arrow is going to go, there is nothing wrong with it.

You set your own ethical standards.

I've seen firsthand what an arrow will do to a deer at a hundred yards and the outcome was no different than at 30 yards. Rule of thumb, whatever you can consistently hit a paper plate at and never miss is your standard. But take in mind the energy of your arrow at that distance as well. Newer bows today have no problem with accuracy or energy at long distance. Just make sure you don't have a problem with it.
 
> But when the circumstances
>call for a long shot
>and you have practiced that
>shot all year the same
>as any other shot, and
>you confidently know where your
>arrow is going to go,
>there is nothing wrong with
>it.
>
You may know where your arrow is going to go but you have no idea where the animal is goig to go. At 100 yards a relaxed animal has more than enough time to take a couple steps or completely turn around while your arrow is in flight. The arrow may go exactly where you were aiming but the animal may no longer be there. I think this is the part people are not realizing. Targets are stationary objects that are not going to move on you.
 
+1 Ed. I think we have passed on shots that we could have taken, but didn't because we respect the animal enough wait for a better shot. Sometimes waiting to get closer, for a better angle, for the animal to settle down, etc. means no shot at all, but that's the chance we need to take. I can certainly live with myself for passing on an iffy shot, but I would have a lot harder time living with myself by taking a marginal shot and losing the animal.
 
I have shot one elk and one deer at 100 plus but both where already hit and i was trying to recover them for someone else. I pin wheeled a bull at 104 yards and it felt awsome to do so but i would never shot that far unless he did not already have an aroww in him way to far back. I shoot alot and have killed alot of bucks at some long range but 70 to 80 yards is my max. That is if he is not aware that i am even there with no wind and so on. Call me crazy but i would rather take a good 40 to 50 yard shot that i can take my time with than rush a close 20 yard shot. Every time i get that close something always seems to go wrong. I shoot 80 90 and 100 all the time in my yard but for me it just helps me shoot 50 and 60 like they are nothing. Plus if i ever have to use that distance to finish a job i can do it. Alot of guys are using that sliding sight by sure lock and think they can shoot 100 yards plus like it is nothing but if you really talk to them they have less than 50% recovery rate and that is horrible. By the way 60 yards is my max on elk. They are so hard to bring down as it is. A one lunged elk can go for ever.
 
My son and I have been hunting the same monster buck now for four years and have passed on a few shots beyond 50 yards in hopes of getting an ethical shot. I can't imagine how we would feel if one of us would have taken a long shot and wounded this old boy. He has become a part of us and if we never harvest him, he will still live long in our memories. So, why would you want to ruin those opportunities with a questionable shot.
 
>You may know where your arrow
>is going to go but
>you have no idea where
>the animal is goig to
>go. At 100 yards
>a relaxed animal has more
>than enough time to take
>a couple steps or completely
>turn around while your arrow
>is in flight.

You must be shooting the slowest bow ever made. The animal could jump an arrow at any distance.
Sometimes they do, almost all of the time they don't. Becides the chances an animal jumping an arrow going a hundred yards in a little more than half a second is not likely, Possible but not likely.
 
>>You may know where your arrow
>>is going to go but
>>you have no idea where
>>the animal is goig to
>>go. At 100 yards
>>a relaxed animal has more
>>than enough time to take
>>a couple steps or completely
>>turn around while your arrow
>>is in flight.
>
>You must be shooting the slowest
>bow ever made. The animal
>could jump an arrow at
>any distance.
>Sometimes they do, almost all of
>the time they don't. Becides
>the chances an animal jumping
>an arrow going a hundred
>yards in a little more
>than half a second is
>not likely, Possible but not
>likely.

At 300ft/second, which is quite fast for a hunting bow, the animal would have a whole second before the arrow gets there. An animal can move a lot in a second, even a calm one. I am not talking jumpind the string, I am talking taking a step or two. That step or two is the difference between a good shot and a gut shot or ass shot. If he jumped the string at 100 yards you wouldn't come close to hitting him. I am guessing your a guy who would not think twice about flinging arrows at 100 yards.
 
An ARCHER sees how far away he can get and still hit his target....a BOWHUNTER sees how close he can get before he hits his target.

Just my opinion though.

BOHNTR )))---------->
 
I
>am talking taking a step
>or two. That step
>or two is the difference
>between a good shot and
>a gut shot or ass
>shot. If he jumped
>the string at 100 yards
>you wouldn't come close to
>hitting him. I am guessing
>your a guy who would
>not think twice about flinging
>arrows at 100 yards.

Obviously I'm guessing you are the one who doesn't think twice about shooting at a deer at any distance if you shoot at a deer that is walking, taking a step or two.

Yes, I have shot a couple deer at long distances. Out of 8 elk and 6 deer I have never lost one to a bad shot. I've never lost an animal yet. So say what you want about me if it makes your incompetent attitude feel any better. Also all of them but three were within 30 yards. One at 3 yards. Sorry my job isn't sitting at a computer where I can read the next heinous remark you leave about me. At least not for a couple of days.

As for archers and bowhunters the best choice is to be both.
 
its simple. some people care, and some dont. some people hunt, and some people shoot. why risk it people? i know there is a risk at any yardage but the probability becomes far greater, the longer the shot. you cannot argue that. obviously people are set in their ways and are going to do what they want. i guess it boils down to what you can live with. personally, i cannot live with that risk, so i choose not to take it. so take that for what its worth. and also, give hugs, dont take drugs:)
 
>Obviously I'm guessing you are the
>one who doesn't think twice
>about shooting at a deer
>at any distance if you
>shoot at a deer that
>is walking, taking a step
>or two.
>
>Yes, I have shot a couple
>deer at long distances. Out
>of 8 elk and 6
>deer I have never lost
>one to a bad shot.
>I've never lost an animal
>yet. So say what you
>want about me if it
>makes your incompetent attitude feel
>any better. Also all of
>them but three were within
>30 yards. One at 3
>yards. Sorry my job isn't
>sitting at a computer where
>I can read the next
>heinous remark you leave about
>me. At least not for
>a couple of days.
>
>As for archers and bowhunters the
>best choice is to be
>both.


You obviously don't read very well. No where did I say I was shooting at moving deer. A STATIONARY deer at 100 yards has lots of time to BEGIN to take a step or two while the arrow is in flight. If my remark to you is classed as heinous in your eyes ( by your own admission it was a true remark) you need to get much thicker skin. By the way, keep shooting at long distance and you WILL wound a deer and lose it.
 
Trophyhill,

Doesn't matter what other people can do when it comes to your abilities. Sounds like you've done your homework and YOUR limit is 60 yds. When you demonstrate you can shoot a tight group at 100 yds on a windy day uphill, then by all means, 100 yds is a chip shot.

No offence, but we should ask this kind of question at a shooting range, not on the web.

smelly
 
One thing we have to realize here is no one is right or wrong. Its all just opinion. If you practice that far, shoot well at those distances then go ahead and shoot. Another thing to remember is, is that the same thing happens at 80+ yards can just as easily happen at 20 yards. (Target Panic, Bad Shot, Wind etc.) The only difference is, is the odds are greatet at 100 yards or so than they are at 20. We all know while bowhunting everything can go from picture perfect to your worst nightmare in a matter of seconds, and that is a fact. Shooting long distance, has and always will be a controversial topic. Right or wrong, hit or miss, dead or alive, shooting long distances is in the eyes of the beholder. I personally feel if you practice that far, and feel good and confident about shooting long distances do it. That however is just my opinion. I practiced all year long for my Nevada archery mule deer tag and when my 90 yard shot presented itself, I was confident in myself and equipment and knew that my practice would pay off. I hit the deer perfectly, double lung and grazed the heart, the deer traveled no less that ten yards. I'm sure alot of it was luck, but practice, confidence and great equipment also played a HUGE factor. Just my two cents.....

-Erik Rowley
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>>-Bull Ridge->
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http://www.bullridge.com
 
I agree with everyone on the issue at hand. But New Mexico offers some great cover for bowhunters. I hunt mainly in Southeast New Mexico and cover is hard to find. So how do you do it ? Slow and watch the wind. I can understand your problem with getting busted. But you got to keep at it and hard at it. Some people quit after a couple of seasons and I mean 90% of them .That is a huge percentage of those guys. But, if you are a real bowhunter you'll go back again and again just because it gets your blood flowing. We should have a forum for bowhunters blues on all the unsuccessful seasons that guys have been on.This was my 4th season and I finally got a great buck(NM forums NM Late Season Muley under George Flores pics on photo gallery)at 21yards and that was the hardest/painful hunt ever. But I had a mission and that was to take that buck. No matter what it takes. So all I have to say is keep with it and dont give up so easy.

George Flores Jr
Southeastern New Mexico Bowhunting Pro Staff "IN TRAINING"
 
Seems more and more folks are looking for validation or looking to justify the long shot these days. I sure do appreciate the comments of saskman and others on this thread, plenty of good guys out there that archery hunt because it is hunting and not archery shooting! Personally, I shoot hundreds of arrows per week year around, more than half of those are at ranges from 100 and 120 yards. I have all the latest and greatest equipment, 415 grain arrow at 298 FPS, blah, blah. The longest shot I've taken on a big game animal was 48 yards. Practicing at long range is very enjoyable but as others have already pointed out, foam targets don't move and no matter how much money is riding on the shot there is no REAL consequence for a bad hit on a foam target at 110 yards. I'll give you a perfect example and there a thousands of examples if you wants facts rather than validation of poor ethics. In the last installment of Eastman's hunting journal on Outdoor channel, David Long takes a great buck in the Colorado backcountry at 42 +/- yards. As for real archery hunting, the conditions don't get much more "ideal" than what Mr. Long had set up for himself. If you have a chance to Tivo this episode play the shot in slow mo and watch how much that buck moves at the sound of the shot. That buck was oblivious to David's presence, judging by David's archery tackle he is shooting in the high 280s low 290s FPS. In spite of perfect conditions, an oblivious animal and a fast arrow, that buck was on the move by the time the arrow made contact. As distances increase two things happen no matter how good you shoot, your groups do get bigger and the animal has more time to move before impact. If Mr. Long takes that shot at 62 + yards under the same conditions, it could very well have been a liver shot or worse and not because he missed his spot! Another good example, Randy Ulmer, this guy is one of the most accurate archers in the world. He has hunted terrain with a lot of cover and terrain with little to no cover but, he limits his shooting distance on big game to very respectable distances and still gets the job done. Bottom line, it doesn't matter the terrain you hunt, the equipment you shoot, how well you shoot or how perfect the situation, if you can't close the distance you shouldn't justify the shot.
 
Trophy
The longest shot i will take is 50 yds and even then I hesitate. Anyone hunting a 100 yds or farther in my book isn't too ethical. You may be consistent on the range at that yardage but it is diffrent in the field. To hunt the west you really have to do your homework on the animals to get in close with little cover and a good line of sight for the critters. If you are new to bow hunting its gonna take some practice to get in on them. I would stay away from the long shots and work more on getting in on them.
Good Luck and Great Memories
 
I took a shot that some of you might classify "to far" this past deer hunt in Utah and it worked out great. Hit exactly where I aimed and the angle took out 2 vitals...I've had a lot of time to replay that exact moment in my mind the past months and can confidently say I'll pass on those shots in the future. That shot cost me killing a lot bigger buck a few hours later also...a 31 or 32" 4 point that would have gone over 180...dammit!! I took the shot because I had passed on 23 bucks already and just wanted to kill something already, then spent the next 3 months being pissed off wishing I was trophy hunting the Wasatch Front...

SASKMAN is 100% correct when he says none of us know exactly where that animal is going to be when our arrow gets there. Also when some of you say you know exactly where your arrow will hit at 100 yards you're full of sh it!! I know for a fact I shoot more 100+ yard practice shots on 3D targets than 99% of people who own a bow and I can't hold a 2" group at 100 yards on my best days...

~Z~
 
How far we shoot is a personal choice and one we have to live with. I archery hunt because I enjoy the thrill of seeing how close I can get to an animal. But all this posting about 100 yard shots isn't doing any of us any favors especially in todays world. The posts about animal movement speak volumes about experience and knowing all too well what can happen when we take that hail mary. I know you're shooting a bow that shoots over 325 ft./sec. Well just for fun how much of a gap do you have between your 100 yard pins? 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch? Well when you're standing there holding your bow and we all know you won't be rock steady when that adrenalin gets flowing just how much movement do you'll think you'll make? If you move 1/2 the distance between your pins in any direction will ultimately result in a poor shot or if you're lucky a miss. Now factor in the wind, a slight pluck, nerves, and just unforseen movement and you may have had a shot with a bad ending. I don't care how good you are shooting stationary targets MOST of us are not going to make a perfect shot under those conditions and that's what it takes. Think I'm wrong next time you're at a 3 D shoot and have a coyote or small deer target move back to 100 yards and let a few fly at that target and judge your talent fairly with your friends watching. Most of you will miss that target the majority of the time and most of the hits will in actuality be poor shots. The small target is used because it puts pressure on you to hit it because it's smaller and more difficult to hit just like that 100 yard animal. Some can but I think you'll find that most can't. Shoot within your limitations what ever they may be and it'll be a lot more enjoyable. A little food for thought.
 
I know a kid who "flock shot" a group of elk at 100+ yards. Made a clean kill through the jugular of a calf. He is now has a 100% kill and recovery percentage on shots over 100 yards. I guess he should keep doing it.
Just because you have gotten lucky doing something stupid, doesn't mean its a good idea to do it again.
I believe that anything beyond 50-60 yards moves from skill to luck. 60+ is just playing the lottery.
I have taken ethical/accurate shots and had animals not even there when the arrow reached its destination. My father had a good "SKILLED" shot on a 5 pt. bull turn into a disaster because the bull whirled when it heard another bull's bugle or something. Great skill + bad luck = a lot of time trailing blood.
A greater distance just means that skill matters less and luck matters more.
Please don't gamble with everyone else's animals.
Another 2 of my cents,
Soup
 
I practice out to 60, but in the field with my heart racing a mile a minute, chances are slim I'd ever take a shot past 40. It's not worth just wounding an animal and having die slowly and more than likely not finding it.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-26-09 AT 09:05PM (MST)[p]I think 100 yard shots are joke 1/2 a step and you went from the lungs to the guts. But if you don't respect the animals and your new you will probably have a 50/50 chance so go for it. Hopefully some where along the line guilt will set in. Some how hunting has become more about shooting than hunting skills. All we need are a bunch of guys braging about the 100 yard shots and the rifle guys will be glad to point out all the wounded animals they are finding during the rifle season. Nobody on here wants to talk about the ones that got away. Does it happen at 25 yards you bet but it won't happen as often. We owe to the animals to take the cleanest and most ethical shots we can rifle or bow.

Flame all you want but I doubt if you will come back and admit to gut shooting or crippling an animal. Maybe you will be able to tell us how good you are at tracking animals for miles.


If there is any proof of a man in a hunt it is not whether he killed a deer or elk but how he hunted it.
 
Respect for something your gonna kill. That one always cracks me up.

........thats just something bad shots say.............

Is that ethical?
 
I think it depends on the person. some say 30 yards max some say 50. I shoot more at 60 and 70 yards because i think it helps me be a better shot at closer ranges.

I shot my bull this year at 66 yards. I think that is a long shot but I feel confident at that range because of my practice. I would always like to get closer but given that shot again i will take it! 100 yards? way too far for me!
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-09 AT 08:41PM (MST)[p]anybody check out the FMP 3 video? what did you guys think? most all of those shots are probably 100 yards or more.. wonder if it will expand archery or just get slammed for being un-traditional
 
Shooting at animals with a bow at very long ranges, and with a bow shots at the ranges you asked in your original question are not only very long, they're extreme, are unethical. There is no room for hedging here. A 50 yard shot at an uninjured animal is a long shot, and if you don't believe that, you either have little experience bowhunting, or you don't have a very high ethical standard.

Too many people don't remember that archery is a close range sport. The objective isn't to see how far you can kill an animal, but to see how close you can get, and if it is withing your range where you are completely confident you can make a killing shot, then you might take it. Even when an animal is withing killng range, there are many factors that might dictate that you don't shoot with a bow, when you wouldn't think twice with a rifle or even muzzleloader.

I suspect you're a troll with your question. Any ethical bowhunter (and many who lack ethics) knows the answer before you asked it.
 
I will weigh in on this topic. The answer is their is no real definite yardage limit for everyone. Each person must know the distance they are accurate before they try to take the shot.

Bowhunting is NOT 3D shooting. IMO one must not treat a live animal that flinches, steps, twists and turns at the drop of a hat like a 3D target. No one can predict 100% for certain what the animal will do while the arrow is in the air. Regardless of bow speed, the animals can be quicker.

I have passed shots at less than 25 yards because of the "conditions". I have also shot an antelope at 55 yards. The conditions were perfect and I was younger and needed the kill more than I needed to get closer.

I have progressed as a hunter and have come to a personal realization that I OWE it to the animal to hit them perfectly and kill them quickly.

For some they should not be shooting past 20 yards, for others 50 yards. IMO if you are shooting 100 yards at live animals you are in the wrong sport. Either get better at stalking or lay down the bow and pick up a muzzy. Bowhunting is not a long range sport and bow speed does not compensate for a lack of ability to sneak in on an animal.

My personal limit now is 50 yards. I can and do shoot further at 3D targets and stumps etc. I also have pins for 60 and 70 yards. They are for this purpose and the off chance I need to finish off a cripple that I have hit poorly. In that circumstance, I have no self imposed limit on my range. It becomes an all out effort to finish the animal quickly.

Good luck and have a great day!

Chad
 
I'm not sure yet how to feel about the long shots.. I practice 100 yards 3 times a week leading up to the season starting and shoot 60 every night if I can. It all adds up to what your comfortable with. As for game, I only have 3 kills 47, 53, and 62 with my bow. I did lose a goat that I shot at thirty yards this year which was a heartbreaker. I honestly feel that 40-60 yards is my most comfortable range, generally the animal never knows what hits it and they don't jump at the shot like they do at 20-30 yards generally. I'm still learning though. That being said putting 5 arrows in a pie plate at a 100 and an arrow though the vitals are 2 completely different things.
 
Alot of guys on here stated it as archery is all about getting close. As for someone bragging about a long shot does not impress me one bit. Makes me think of how many animals they lost or wounded. I get more impressed with how close someone gets. Whether it is a P&Y buck or someone shooting a doe. Shooting long distances is for practicing not for live animals. I will tell you that bragging about or preaching long shots only impresses beginers. It also teaches them bad habits.

Here is something that goes with this "RESPECT". It was brought up earlier. Respecting the animal you kill. If you do not have RESPECT for the animal then you must not care about what you KILL. I for one RESPECT the animals I kill because I do not want to make an iffy shot because I DO WANT that big ol mature buck to breed them doe's. Instead of a bad hit and losing that buck. So I RESPECT them animals. This is my RESPECT of the animal I kill. So if you brag or portray them huge long shots are just chip shots then when you tell them guys about it and they start thinking it is cool and try it and start hitting animals and losing them then you will see the effect in the area's you hunt. Believe me you will see the mature bucks going down hill. This is what MY RESPECT is.

As for some video's out there that was brought up. I have and never will watch them. Guys have discussed it with me will not get my endorsement on any video like this. My take on them video's.

Try taking a pie plate and hooking it on a remote control car and have someone move it on the release of your arrow and see if you will connect at 100 yds.

My 2 cents. Good luck this year.
 
Certainly without mentioning names, there is a large group of guys who film on the Wasatch front, and they shoot at absolutly OBSCENE distances. In my eyes, and Many Many people's eyes, this does NOT make them bowhunters, and it certainly DOES NOT make them respectable hunters. They've killed much larger animals then I, but I won't take the risks, and the irresponsibilities associated with such ridiculous archery shots. All of this combined will ultimatly be the downfall of bowhunting, we must protect our beloved past time, not use it as a prostitute to turn a profit. SilentStalker says it best, If you shoot those shots, you're in the wrong sport. I don't care who you are, how many arrows you shoot at those distances, you're NOT A BOWHUNTER, get a gun. And I don't care who your friends are, or how great of a shot they are, I don't care, learn how to harbor your prey at closer distances.
Jeff Dumas
 
Anyone can say... I will only limit my shot to 50 yards in... When you are out in the field and it is your last day or when you have that big bull or buck with only one shot from a farther distance... You better believe you will be flinging arrows from farther distances... I killed a cow last day of a hunt holding out all hunt to shoot and I drilled it at 70 yards and it piled up 10 yards from where I shot it... I also drilled a big 6x6 70 yards or so late one evening with the only shot and only distance it gave me ran 80 yards and piled up... Both clean pass through shots... Everyone has different opinions but if it aint flying it aint dying...
 
>Anyone can say... I will only
>limit my shot to 50
>yards in... When you are
>out in the field and
>it is your last day
>or when you have that
>big bull or buck with
>only one shot from a
>farther distance... You better believe
>you will be flinging arrows
>from farther distances...

I don't believe that for a minute. I have had oportunities at long distances at big bucks but didn't take the shot and let it walk. Not worth wounding the animal. I don't need to kill an animal that bad.
 
+1 Saskman,

I have passed on several iffy shots on some great bulls and bucks. It is not worth the risk or heartache of wounding an animal and losing it.
 

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