Max ethical range

[npaull]

It's not about how far away you can hit a static target. That's actually largely irrelevant. It's about how far away you can be and still be confident the animal isn't going to move so much after the release that an otherwise perfect shot is wounding only.

I therefore believe that ANY bow shot (follow-up shots not withstanding) over about 50 yards is firmly unethical. Even 50 is pushing it. Deer can jump the string impressively even at 20 yards. Out past 50ish, you just have no control over where that arrow is hitting. One of the bow hunting magazines actually ran the numbers on this not too long ago. It's just not about you or your gear at that point, it's about the animal, and you have to think of it in those terms. 

It's a close range game. If you want to take long shots, get a muzzle loader.

[Jonathan_S]

Of course you have control over where the arrow hits past 50 yards    Rad's friend Del had a Coues deer jump the string at like 17 yards so why can't I shoot a deer at 50?

A responsible person should definitely realize how much an animal can move but there is always a risk that the animal will jump the string or twitch and it doesn't matter if it's 22 yards or 62. 

There are many scenarios in which I would take a shot over 50 yards.  Imagine an elk 60 yards away feeding next to a rushing stream.  He has his head down and is broadside, he isn't going to hear the string hardly and if he does it will be at 180 ft away that he won't drop like they do when they hear a "SLAP!" from much closer.

You say 50 yards...some would say 30.  Many do say 30, especially back East.  Some people on here have made 60+ yard shots on big game that were successful kills and recoveries.  Every year we see these lost elk and deer from "perfect shots" that were 20-30-40-50-60 yards away.  The range never seems to be the factor.

[eastfork]

Each individual knows his own ethical limit. Practice, practice, practice. Then you need to be able to hold your composure when it counts.  I shoot out to 150 with field tips. I shoot to 120 with broadheads.  I shoot one shot. Then once I pull my arrow I sprint back to my bow and shoot again. Start doing this at 20 or 30 yards and slowly work out. I've killed many deer just inside a hundred yards.  And I've killed a couple elk right there also. If the shot is under a hundred dead animal.......I have shot many animals under 30 yards also. Also......animals react different to noises further away. If it's out past 50 yards they usually don't jump. They just turn there head to see what's all the commotion........

[Smoke]

80 yds for elk??  I know people that can make that shot, and do, but far and few between...  conditions hunting are far different then at the range where you have time to steady your breathing, steady your aim, and your heart beat isn't 150+....  my rule of thumb is the max distance I can put every arrow in the kill zone at the range, then 2/3rds that for hunting... ie.. 60 at the range, then 40 for hunting... 80 at the range, about 55 for hunting...  in the end it really comes down to what your comfortable with... if you feel your skill level is good enough, and your calm enough, and there are not branches in the way for that 80 yard shot... the bow can do it.. can you?.. if so, take the shot

[Duckslayer89]

My 70 pound carbon spyder is comfortable out to 80 for me with how much I practise with broadheads. My old ultra tech however was a 60 yard broadhead bow. So it's all about your equipment and confidence.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

That's one thing that has been overlooked is the equipment has evolved from years past.  My bow puts arrows out to 80-100 yards a lot faster than my old bow.  Gets way more penetration.  And is more accurate by far.  That has a lot to do with the other gear attached to it too but the consistancy of the new bows is way better.  Might as well have a muzzy with some of the more expensive rigs out now days.  Ten years from now I bet the technology evolves even more and the max ethical range will too. 

[tgomez]

My furthest bow kill is 82 yards on a mule deer doe. I made sure I practiced everyday for 3 months straight and could keep every arrow in a soft ball size group at 80 yards. I never would have taken that shot without extreme confidence and knowing exactly how my equiptment performed at that range. My arrow double lunged with a complete pass through. Your Max range is what you can shoot consistantly and effectively, only you can decide this for yourself, but remember you must be honest with your abilities. I wouldn't recommend you shoot at 80 yards though because its too easy to make an error and wound an Elk. They are BIG and TOUGH animals that can take alot of punishment. Id stay within 65 yards or hold off personally. Whatever you decide just know your limitations and don't try to strech them.

[Duckslayer89]

I don't understand how people say 80 yards to far for elk but not for deer which are 1/4 of the size/target. I've never not had a pass through on 4 elk all were from 55-75 yards. That's with an old ultra-tech.

[tgomez]

Just because my Hoyt Charger will kill an Elk at 120 yards, doesn't mean I should shoot 120 yards. Most people simply are not accurate past 60 yards, or they don't get enough practice in. Shooting paper is alot different than shooting at an animal at that range. Seriously though telling the average bow hunter to shoot at an Elk 80 yards away is not too bright. If you are an EXPERIENCED archer, and practice with your equiptment so that you know it like the back of your hand, then YES 80 can be achieved. Just because there are rifles that can drop Elk at 1200 yards, doesn't mean that I have the skill to shoot at 1200 yards or make it an ethical shot. No one said you couldn't shoot Elk at 80 yards, but I will say most archers will make a poor shot at that range if hit the Elk at all and that's simply the truth.

[swashington2128]

Thanks to everyone for their input. A lot of great insight and advice and I appreciate it. I have doubled down on the practice and in two short week will be in Utah to try and get my first Mule Deer and I hope to have some pictures to show I was paying attention to all your inputs.

Fine tuning and extra practice only thing left to do.