How far would you shoot with a Bow?

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flipajig

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How far would you take a shot at deer size critter?
In different parts of the country you are limited on how far you are actualy able to see and some parts you can see for miles.
I used to live in Texas but have moved to Idaho where you can see as far as you want to.
So this raises the question how far would you take the shot. I have been shooting a bow for several years and shoot 2 to 3 times a week any where from 20 yds out to 70 yds in various wind directions I'm not bragging but I'm able to shoot a 3 to 5 inch group on very regular.
So given the right situation where the criter is not nervous and presents the right shot that you feel good about how far would you shoot.
To give you some insight on how I have my bow set up my bow is set at 70 lb carbon arrows that weigh 470 grains and 270 fps through my chronograph.
Lets here what you have to say.
Flip
 
When I was into bowhunting and practiced regular I felt that 20-25 yards was my limit with a recurve. With a compound bow, I could probably double that. I never really worked on shooting farther. Even if I made a hit, I'm not confident in a bows ability to cleanly kill from much farther.
 
30 is it for me. Even now with using a crossbow i dont shoot any farther. Im just not one that thinks tracking wounded deer is fun!
 
30 yards tops but I've taken most of my bowkills at considerably less.
Shooting a compound from a treestand.
 
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Range with a bow is no different than with a gun. Whatever range you can consistently hit the kill zone, For me that generally means 35 yards. But since where I bow hunt, there are few shot opportunities longer than 25 yards, I'm safe.
 
It becomes an issue of practice and ethics. I have seen friends consistently hit the target at 100 yards and I mean just about every shot. I have a friend who is awesome out to about 70 yards shooting a target but consistently misses deer at 30 yards.

A modern compound bow with a sharp broadhead is perfectly capable of killing a deer at 100 yards just like a 30-06 is capable of killing a deer at 800 yards but that doesn't mean it is a good idea for most. I don't know what the trajectory of an arrow shot at a target 100 yards away is but I know these guys were aiming at the sky and just a little bit of a breeze made it impossible. The farthest I have ever killed a deer with a bow was just under 60 yards and that was back in the 80s. Now I would never take that shot because I don't practice enough and I limit my shots to a maximum of 30 yards. If you are going hunting for Mulies, antelope or other plains species OR if you hunt the wide open plains for whities I think it is a good idea to be competent at at least 50 yards and probably more.
 
buck460XVR said:
Range with a bow is no different than with a gun. Whatever range you can consistently hit the kill zone, For me that generally means 35 yards. But since where I bow hunt, there are few shot opportunities longer than 25 yards, I'm safe.
Click to expand...
^^^^^^^^^ THIS.

If you can consistently hit the kill zone of a 3D deer target at 50 yards, then it's 50 yards. If you can only do it at 30 yards, that's what it is.

When I shot year-round I hit the kill zone on a deer target at 48 yards from a tree stand every shot. I have killed 2 deer at that distance or farther -- one at 53 yards, one at 48.
 
I'm confident to 35 yards. I have passed on several shots past that, but I'm not a trophy hunter so it really doesn't bother me. My conscious would be more affected by poorly shooting an animal than letting a large deer walk.
 
I am getting practiced up again, starting to get back in form after not shooting my bow for a couple of years. With the compound, I can keep 'em clustered in the kill zone from 30 yards consistently. From 40, mostly. So, at the moment, I think 30 yards is a good answer, but as I improve, out to 40 is likely. I ain't much good beyond that. My eyesight is part of the problem, light needs to be right for me to be consistent. That's part of the challenge of bow hunting, I suppose. Here in the woods, getting close isn't as big a problem as where you are, fortunately. And, we have plenty of deer and hogs here.

A friend of mine gave me a really nice Bear 50/55 lb stick bow, a wood recurve. I've been impressing myself with my ability to shoot without sights, instinctively. I never used to be that good at it, but I now know the reason. I'd never had instruction, just picked it up as a kid, but I was never consistent on my draw, never drew to the same spot twice. Concentration on follow through and consistent draw has helped me a LOT even with the stick bow, a new challenge. I am hitting, now, from 30 yards with the stick bow and think I could hunt with it at least from 20 with enough practice. Sightless traditional recurves are a lot of fun and even more challenge. I WISH I'd figured out the consistency thing back when I was a kid. I laid down my old Colt Plainsman 45 lb recurve for years, never picked it up. I got back into shooting bows and decided to try a recurve in 2008. So, even though I've been shooting a bow for a long time off and on, I'm not an accomplished bow shooter, but getting there. I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable taking a 50 yard shot at game with a bow, though. I think I'm about at my limit shooting 40 yards. I'm not even to the point I'm confident quite yet at 40. At 25 or 30 at this point, it's a done deal. :D

I believe in using the right tool. I don't bow hunt in open country, nor even do I handgun hunt in wide open country. If I lived in Idaho and couldn't find a trail in the woods for ambush, I think I'd stick with a rifle. Down here in the woods, I'm hopeful of filling a tag with a bow, finally. There's added incentive to bow hunt in this county, too, as doe are legal without a doe permit in bow season, not in gun season. I've got lots of doe. The doe/buck ratio seems a bit out of whack here due to this rule, too, methinks. With my bow this coming season, I'm going to shoot whatever walks. LOL
 
I regularly practice from 80 - 100 yards. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot 60 for an elk but would limit myself to 50 on a deer for the smaller kill zone and even then only under perfect conditions, meaning angle and the animal is relaxed and unawares.
 
40 for me. there's just too many variables that can come into play in the time it takes for the arrow to get there if you shoot very far.
 
I didn't read all the replies, but for me no more than 30 yards.
 
bow distance

For years I limited myself to 25 yds with a Whitetail Hunter and a Golden Eagle Evolution.
I know the bows had more distance but this was the range I could consistantly make good hits. I passed on many deer including a nice 10 point at 40 yds.

I stopped archery hunting for about 6 years ( bad rotator ) until last year when a buddy got me to try a cross bow. I ended up with a Ten Point Wicked Ridge and can hit 3" groups at 40 all day. At 50, the group spreads out to about 6" so I would say at this point, I would take a shot out between 40 to 50 and be comfortable doing so.

Last year, I connected with a 4X2 quartering away at 25. The arrow went through and hit exactly where I aimed. Deer ran 40 yds downhill. 3 weeks later, same tree, I had a doe at 25 yds quartering to me. Same result but she ran about 50 yds. Spitfire 100 hit dead on.

I just made some jerky yesterday :).
 
This is getting interesting. While in Texas my longest shot was 30 Quartering away the Grim reaper did its job. Even there I shot out to 50 yds even if the shot opportunity doesn't happen but having the confidence to make a long shot I feel that it's a big confidence builder. And if the shot was presented I had the confidence to make it.
The same applies here I shoot regularly out to 70 and having the confidence to make a 70 yrd shot doesn't mean I have to take it a lot depends on the situation.
As to my Bow and penetration I have no doubt it will have enough kinetic energy to penetrate into the vitals. In Idaho you can't use a expandable you have to use a fixed blade I'm sold on a 3 blade Muzzy.
Flip
 
Whatever range you can consistently hit the kill zone,
Click to expand...
Range with a bow is no different than with a gun. Whatever range you can consistently hit the kill zone,
Click to expand...

You folks are not mentioning an important variable..., impact speed. You might have a bow and arrow set up that you can consistently place into a paper target backed by a straw bale or into a 3D target, but you need to pay attention to what sort of penetration that you have as well as the accuracy. I know that you guys understand this but a newer archer who reads this thread might not so I mention this here.

LD
 
me - is 25-30 yds, tops. My gunsmith took a pronghorn at a measured 95 yards. His backyard range is 100 yards and he shot daily for months prior to his hunt...
 
I agree with Patocazador- its whatever you practice at with accuracy and confidence
 
I started this thread to get some input,opinions, and information on my first post I listed the details on my bow. I'm a firm believer in big and slow verses small and fast. The reason behind my thinking is Penitration two holes are far better than one. Another thing is sharp blades even though they maybe new out of the pack you still need to check them and sharpen as needed.
Flip
 
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