Max ethical range

[swashington2128]

This is probably a re-run of an old question but should the max range be for elk. I practice out to 80 yards and put hundreds of arrows down range each week but.... is an 80 yard shot ethical. First time bow hunting elk so will the arrow lose enough energy to just wound an animal and not kill.

I shoot a 450 gr arrow with a 29.5" draw at 70lbs. I can definately get an arrow there but will it be enough. Right now while I can hit the target pretty much every shot at 80 I feel comfortable out to 60yds.

Looking forward to the responses.

[92xj]

You determine your ethics not anyone else.

[hughjorgan]

are you practicing with broad heads at eighty yards or just field points?

[LeviD1]

My pins only go to 60 so I keep myself at 60. Granted ill shoot 70 and 80 yard targets at the range for fun guessing and hit the target every time but when its a foot and a half group I'm not shooting an animal at that distance. If this is what your meaning by hit the target I recommend not shooting 80 if its the same meaning as my hit the target haha. For max range hunting I like to have less than 8 inch groups so I know it will be in the kill zone. 

[swashington2128]

shooting with field points now. I have shot the broad heads out to 50 with nearly identical flights as the field points.

I think I will try to crony but dont see the point of doing it at 80 yards. Just like a gun the muzzle velocity should be all the info you need.

Am I wrong on that?

[RadSav]

You have plenty of energy to kill an elk at 80 yards with your setup.  Probably enough energy to kill one at 150 yards.  Effectiveness of a broadhead doesn't change much with velocity unless it is very dull.  Not nearly as big of terminal difference as there is with a bullet at long range.

Ethical and plausible are two completely different things.  IMO an eighty yard shot with a bow like yours has a better chance of killing -vs- wounding than does the average hunting rifle at 800 yards.  Does that mean it is ethical?   I'll stay away from voicing an opinion on that.

[hughjorgan]

Personally for me my ability to hit my target time and again is 50 yards and that is what I hold myself to. I am no where consistent enough to shoot at 80 on animals but will practice at those distances. To me archery is a game of getting close. Like has already been stated ethics is a personal thing and everyone's vary.

[go4steelhd]

For me it is different each year. Depending on how much I shoot with field points, then with broad heads just before season. I shoot field points until two weeks before season. Then only broad heads. I start with my first shot at maximum range, then move up as my practice session goes on. My theory is if I can't walk out and make my first shot with a broad head at my maximum range. Then I have no business shooting in the field any further than I have proven to myself as an ethical range to shoot with my equipment and ability. For everyone what is ethical is different. But I can say for myself I can hit a softball a lot further than I will shoot at an elk

[Skillet]

You have plenty of energy to kill an elk at 80 yards with your setup.  Probably enough energy to kill one at 150 yards.  Effectiveness of a broadhead doesn't change much with velocity unless it is very dull.  Not nearly as big of terminal difference as there is with a bullet at long range.

I'll stand "informed" on that point.  My old Hoyt pushing 2117 XX75 sewer pipes (31" draw) topped with 125 old-skool Savora's had a very different penetration depth on my targets from 30 yards to 50 yards.  Of course, I only practiced with my grouse broad heads... the blades were probably sharper on the back than the front.  The trajectory on that combo also made me feel like I was "lobbing" arrows at anything over 40 yards...

Carry on.

[stevemiller]

If you are an ethical hunter you will know the answer to your own question here.No one else can honestly tell you.If you can hit your target at whatever yardage consistently  Thats your ethical yardage. When it starts hit and miss then your to far. (This would be with a kill zone also)

[kentrek]

All shots have a certain risk factor of becoming less then ideal.... figured out what risk is acceptable for you

Beings that you've never shot an elk I'd highly recommend going and buying the entire born and raised move collection....take pad and pen and keep track of the shot distances and weather the shooter felt sick or excited..pay attention to the 40-50 yard mark

I hate feeling sick after the shot...other guys may not mind it as much..were all different...every situation is different...

Good luck !

[Nice Racks]

Shooting at a paper or 3D target is a lot easier than a living elk.  Last year I was confident out to 60 yards, but when I actually had a chance at a 26 yard broad side shot at a 4x4 on opening day, I dang near blew it.  I was hyperventilating, shaking and my confidence just wasn't what I thought it was. I managed to pull it off, and killed my first elk; but it wasn't as easy as I expected.

[Johnb317]

Something to consider; shooting at a static target on a flat range is a bit different than being in the field, high tension, live animal, waiting for him to look away so you can draw your bow, or you've been holding at full draw for how long waiting for the right moment.

[swashington2128]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Glad to hear so many like opinions. I grew up on the east of the country and to many of them a 40 yard shot is crazy. Being out west for a few years it seems logical that if I can't reach out to 50 - 60 yards because of lots of practice I would be losing opportunities.

Thanks again for the comments.

[coachcw]

You have to know how the shot feels , everyone is different . If your 100 percent confident you can put a arrow through both lungs then I'd say that's ethical . That could be 20 or 80 yards for the same guy depending on conditions .