I’ve noticed that answers will vary to this question based on where the individual bow hunter resides in the U.S. When I travel out west, they tend to be okay with shooting longer distances. East coast and south east seems to be 40 and under due to foliage, etc.
I notice the same trend, and “ethical shot distance” seems to follow similar contours.
I can only shoot 20 yards, so my ethical shot distance is 20 yards.
I can shoot out to a mile, so my ethical shot distance is the limits of my shooting equipment and capabilities.
Rationalization in real time.
I have found that my shot distances start with “get close” and end with “how close can I get with wind direction consistency and speed”. And the end result is most critters I shoot are under 25 yards.
I generally don’t shoot at whitetails with the compound bow past 30 yards because of laziness - I don’t want to put the work in to track a poorly shot critter if I can wait for a better opportunity. But if a deer is standing broadside, calm, and I have an excellent shot angle, time, and all the rest, at a distance beyond that I’m comfortable shooting, I’ll do it.
I’ve deviated from this. But it’s not often. Of 40+ deer with bow, I don’t think more than 2-3 were further than 25 yards.