How does one find out what his true limitation is if he never tries to surpass the arbitrary number he limited himself to?
For example, an archer decides he has a 30 yard max because during practice he can only place X amount of arrows in a specified target size at that range. Now while out hunting a target animal comes in to 31 or 32 yards and presents a textbook broadside side, what does he do? According to his self imposed limitation he should wait and hope the animal gets closer. I don't see the logic in that and would accept the challenge of being outside of my comfort zone and take the shot. If the shot goes perfect my confidence and comfort level at "an extended distance" should increase and if I shank the shot then I know I was lying to myself with the 30 yard max I originally set in my head.
Anyone who has hunted for years has had a bad shot at a close range, it happens for whatever the reason. How come archers haven't decided to limit their range to 10 yards? or 5 yards? The chance of you screwing up a shot at 5 yards or 35 yards is the same. Of course the further the distance the greater the arrow will be off it's mark. My point is setting a number that you feel comfortable shooting game at depends on many factors such as wind, weather, animal's level of alertness, shooting lanes, archer comfort and vantage point, level of confidence, amount of practice, etc. that I feel it places an uneccessary thought in your head that you have to filter through. The last thought you want in your head while your about to take a shot at your max range is " I'm at my max range I hope this works..."