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Shot distances

35 yards is long shot for me and I am shooting 380 fps. I learned something about 25 years ago. It is not necessarily the bow noise as it is hearing the arrow coming. There was a bow shop in town and they had a place in the back of the store that they tested bows. Off to the side was a storage closet. In an experiment you could stand in that closet and have someone shoot an arrow that would pass by and you could hear the arrow coming before you ever heard the bow. zipppp twang. Yep I can hit a thumb size spot at 50 yards target shooting but not at game. They will be brake dancing before the arrow gets there.
 
Plenty of post of 50yd kills. The good xbows generate Plenty of energy at 75yds, and accuracy at 100 that would make a smooth bore shotgun jealous. Bow hunting has always been about how close i can get, but many limit their shots based on their accuracy. The xbow has extended that range considerably for many. Ya deer can move from the sound, or take a step, but the 2 i shot at 40yds with my compound just looked in my direction as the arrow hit them perfectly. They have a comfort zone for danger, similar to humans. Your washing the car and your neighbor says hi 10ft away and your startled. He could of yelled hi from across the street and you would just look up. Do what you want, its your hunt. Guys are feeling outgunned and changing to xbows to keep up with the neighbors.
 
The speed of sound is 343 meters/second.
There is no point in the shot where "the sound passes the arraow" The sound is faster than the arrow the instant it is shot - a longer shot just gives the deer more reaction time.
The deciding factor on shot distance is often the attitude of the deer. If the deer is relaxed and not looking at me or better yet,distracted by a hot doe, then chances are very good that a well placed arrow aimed just below the centerline of the kill zone will make a lethal shot.
 
So many variables to this. In my experience I’ve had more deer react to the sound of my bow and duck the shot at 15-20 yards than I have at 35-40 yards. I have shot many deer on video that clearly duck before the arrow gets there at sub 20 yards causing a high hit. I’ve shot others at 40 that stood there and took it without moving an inch. For the most part I am passing shots past 35 or so....but in some situations I will and have taken that shot with great success. Looking back at my kills I have killed four bucks in the 38-46 yard range and I am at 100% on shots with none of them ducking or moving at the shot. They were that “perfect” scenario for a longer shot. Looking at my closer range shots I have had several deer duck bad causing a spine hit and many of them were completely unaware I was there until the shot. The biggest thing is reading their body language and trying to guess what they are going to do which is pretty much impossible to get right every time.


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The sound of the bow going off doesn't seem to make them jump out of their pajamas on the longer shots like it does on the closer ones. I shot a doe at 49 yards 2 years ago and double lunged her after I had already missed her at 30. She never moved a muscle until the arrow hit her .
 
Interesting discussion. On western hunting forums the conversation on archery shot distance doesn’t generally involve friction until you start talking 60+ but shooting from the ground in September is a far different scenario than hanging from a tree all bundled up in late November.

I definitely appreciate the ethical nature of the conversation and agree that the above average whitetail archer is still not flinging arrows past 40. If you can, you already know you can.

To the OP’s question on crossbow shots, even with no crossbow experience I’d still recommend shots on live animals being under 40. You’re correct, they are all very loud and 400fps doesn’t prevent a deer from reacting.
 
I still limit my crossbow shots to the same as my compound which is a maximum of 35 yards. I have killed deer farther in the past when I wasn't as experienced but know better now.
 
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