How far would you shoot with a Bow?

[HB]

Depends on how bad I'm shaking! I'd say 30 yard on deer though. Bowhunting requires a lot of confidence and practice. If you've practiced to 40 yards consistently and have experience shooting deer, that's your max range. That being said I've met numerous hunters that have killed deer at 60+ yards. And not trying to sound like an advertisement but Rage broadheads have changed bowhunting considerably for me.

HB

 

[Captcurt]

Too Many Variables

Love to bowhunt. Have since the mid -60's. There were several years when I shot in 2 clubs with a 3D match monthly. A 60 yard shot on a deer target was routine and an elk at 70 was a dead elk. Maybe not in the 10 ring, but dead just the same. It did wonders for my hunting shots. There is just one problem. Paper and 3D targets DON'T MOVE. I have had deer "jump the string " at 25 yards. One left me with a 400 yard tracking job in the dark. Luckily I found that one. Now I shoot a faster bow but rarely take a shot over 30 yards. I know that I can hit where I want but when it is flesh and blood there are too many things to go wrong.

 

[Bowhunter57]

flipajig,
This is an easy question to answer...as it should be for every bowhunter.

I shoot as far as my skills will allow...with respect to the alertness of the animal that I intend to kill.

By this, I mean... I can shoot 4" groups at 60 yards. There's a difference between target shooting and hunting. The target shooting insures the skill and/or ability. Hunting skill will test everything you may have thought you knew, before the hunt.

However, a bow that's shooting 300+ f.p.s., which is about 1/5th the speed of sound will not defeat a deer's reflexes to duck an arrow. A deer can drop its' body's height in 1/3 of a second...if it's on alert.

Even a relaxed animal, at 40 yards, could turn to scratch its' butt and next thing you know, you have a wounded animal on your hands. Hopefully, a long blood trail and a good recovery.

That being said...if a bowhunter hunts long enough, you're going to wound one and hopefully find it. :banghead:

Bowhunter57

 

[flipajig]

Bowhunter 57 you are right there are alot of variables in Bow hunting and to make it happen everything has to happen just right. I have spent my share amount of time on a blood trail both great stories and some not so great as we all have if you spend enough time in the woods.
And every one who has stated that deer and other critters are not targets and the do move in split seconds. This is when it comes down to taking the shot or not and letting them walk when the time comes and they are spooky jumpy or what ever you are best to let them walk even if it is a 20 yard shot.
Another this is the differance between a White tail and a Mule deer. In the White tail woods my limit would be 30 yards depending on the deer.
For a Mule deer I would streach it out to 60 yards again depending on the deer and how the are acting.
Flip

 

[peacemaker45]

I've got a 50 yard pin on my bow, but the conditions would have to be perfect for me to try it. I'm not the greatest judge of wind the world's ever seen, either. Any normal day, though, 35-40 yards.

 

[Spike_akers]

The farthest I've ever successfully killed a deer was at 67 yards. I was using some old muzzy 125gr fixed broad heads and my inherited golden eagle compound..

I first shot at 20 yards, believing I missed when it finally stopped I estimated it at 70 and did my best (no pins over 40 yards)... I watched it go down 20 yards from the second shot. When I went to get the deer, found that I hit both times but the first shot was too close to the shoulder blade and it snapped off immediately as it ran, which is why I believed I had missed.. I normally won't try that far. But I wasn't letting that massive of a buck get away... Weighed in at 190lbs... Not huge for where I was, but big enough for me to not want to let it go.

 

[T.R.]

I've been hunting with a crossbow ever since an unhealed elbow fracture ruined my recurve shooting. I rarely shoot much beyond 20 yards or so but would take a broadside shot if presented at 35 yards.

TR

 

[josiewales]

40 yards and thats pushing it.