• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

How far would you realy shoot?

My personal is 40yds. I’ve had a couple animals at 40 though, and haven’t been comfortable with the shot due to factors other then distance.

I saw the reaction time question come up and found this article awhile ago, thought you guys might find it interesting.

www.grandviewoutdoors.com

Video: What’s Best for Bowhunters? Deer Head Up or Down? | Grand View Outdoors

To minimize the chance of a poor hit, bowhunters can learn from this informative video that details a deer’s reaction to the sound of a shot.
www.grandviewoutdoors.com www.grandviewoutdoors.com
 
Honestly I think it depends on the deer your shooting and where. What part of the country. I’ve seen deer in Cades cove you could nearly touch because they are so used to people. I was driving down the road the other day and watched a deer reaction to my exhaust on my truck. 2 deer kept eating, 1 raised her head, 2 bolted for the woods.
Out west I think you can take a much longer shot.
It seems to me that the 30 -45 yards is the sweet spot. Most of the deer run a few yards before calming down and doing a death walk for a few more yards. In my experience the closer the deer the farther the tracking job especially if I stop the deer “meh”.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I went with a heavy arrow this past season because I had already restricted myself to 30 yards with my light setup after some deer ducking issues.

Public land deer seem to be tightly wound regardless of how calm they may look.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
So this was more aimed at Crossbows with a high FPS question. The whole ethical question has been debated several times on here I have seen. The question of crossbow vs verticle was on my mind in that is a 500fps crossbow a big advantage over a vertical? Seems to a degree yes. But probably not as much I was personally thinking. So there for it has changed my personal opinion as to if they should be allowed in an area that all ready has a crossbow season. 500fps still seems to have way to much error factor 40+ yards. If a deer is that relaxed and you are to take the shot. Super fast crossbow or slightly slower vertical bow can all potential end the same way. Who knows. To many factors in play. The odds are really not in your favor with a deer that can react super fast. My concern is someone drops 4k on a crossbow they think is a 75yrd deer killing machine.
 
52 is farthest kill with the R26 and about 18 is the closest. I would probably push it to 60 in the right situation. But the situation would have to be perfect.
 
It all depends on the situation but 40 yards is my limit and I am shooting 380 fps.
 
I shoot 398 fps (Ravin R10).
I shot a buck at 70 yds in 2019. Extremely foggy day, very relaxed animal. Deer dead within 60 yards, but arrow didn't hit where it was supposed to due to deer moving during flight.
Thanksgiving this year i shot at a doe at 60 yds. She ducked right under that arrow in flight and a clean miss.
My crossbow now has a sticker on it that says "50 YDS".
When i first got my crossbow i researched string jump, and what i found was 47 yds was ethical max. Yes, i broke that max once and got away with it, and the second time i did not. So, i'll round up the research number and play at 50 yds and wait for a failure.

Deer are fast, and crossbows are LOUD!

Each of the shots above, were sent with the accuracy of putting an arrow in an arrow hole. There was no missing by the shooter, just the movement of the deer. Crossbow rested on knee, zero scope movement, exact yardages, broadside shots.
Each of the shots above, were also ground hunts.

There are days i think that compound hunters can shoot further due to lack of a noisy bow.
 
A number of years ago we did some experimenting at a local bow shop. They had a place they could test a bow after they worked on one in the back of the store. There was a bathroom to the side of this area up near where the target was located. If you stood inside the bathroom with the door open and someone shot a bow from 10 yards away you could hear the arrow coming by before you heard the bow. So it may be that the deer hear the zipppppp of the arrow before they hear the bow. At longer range they probably hear both before the arrow gets to them and they start the brake dancing.
 
Depends on conditions and circumstances. I’d love to say 30 and in but that 30-40 range isn’t out of the question.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I shoot regular out to 70yds but I would only take a shot at a live animal out to about 40-45yds. Too much can happen from the time you pull the trigger to when the arrow arrives. In my compound days my limit was 30yds.

Sent from my RCT6703W13 using Tapatalk
 
I have a hard time believing some of you all would not take a 31 yard shot. I have killed at 40 with a compound but I practice for it. If I feel comfortable with the shot I will take it every time. A rushed low percentage shot on a tense animal probably needs passing at any distance. I practice to 50 with my compound. With a fast scoped accurate crossbow and a rest aim and clear shot, I would let one fly well past 50.
 
Majority of the deer I have killed were under 20.
a few at 30 and one at 33 yds uphill .
All with a compound .
If they they were past 20 I aim low on the deer .
This is with a compound.
I practice year round and this is over 40 plus yrs
I have learned if the deers head is down shoot low even at 20 yds
 
For mule deer entered into the P&Y record book, average shot distance is about 35 yards, and more than one-third of record-book muleys are taken beyond 40 yards.

For whitetail deer entered into the P&Y record book, average shot distance is about 19 yards. Less than five percent of record book whitetails are shot beyond 40 yards.

According to Pope and Young Club statistics, about 50 percent of record-size elk are shot beyond 30 yards, and 25 percent beyond 40 yards.

Average shot distance on P&Y Coues whitetail deer is about 25 yards, but about one-quarter of record-book bucks are shot beyond 40 yards. Average shot distance on Sitka blacktail deer is about the same as on Coues deer, but nearly half are taken between 30 and 60 yards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I keep forgetting there are other deer out there.
I have chased nothing but the whitetail.
I know I live a sheltered life .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top