Closest shot on a harvested animal?

[duckmen1]

3 steps from a coyote with a muzzleloader. He spooked a 5x5 whitetail away as soon as I was getting ready to shoot the buck. Out of frustration he took the lead pill when he came closer and about stepped on me. The cloud of smoke covered the coyote from the shot. 
Seems coyotes are attracted to me during muzzleloader seasons. Shot another yote at 10 steps. Another one at 20 yards, and several others over the years.
Big difference in distance then the bobcat I shot with a 270 at 458 yards.

[duckmen1]

Closest bear was shot at 6 steps. 270 150 gr fusions. Put it down fast in a frontal shot.

Closest elk was 38 yards with a bow.

Closest deer roughly 15 yards muzzy.

[jeffro]

First deer I ever harvested, riding my mountain bike into “the spot”
Damn near ran into it at sunrise as it jumped into the road in front of me
.44 mag from my Raging Bull to the neck, maybe 10’, I was back to the truck by 8am

[highside74]

8 yards Blacktail archery buck spot and stock and 13 yards Blacktail buck from a ground blind.

15 yards 1st bull elk

15 yards bull moose

[fowl smacker]

Don't know "exact" distance, but I shot a cow elk that I had to actually step back from with my bow drawn so she wouldn't walk into it.  I was behind about a 7ft tall fir tree.  I'm guessing when I released my arrow it was about 6" from her.

[luvmystang67]

This is fun.

Closest elk was last years bull at 5 yards with the bow.

Closest deer... surely 10 yards or less on the islands, but it happened so many times I can't think of a specific instance.

Average bow shot is probably 20 yards, average rifle shot is probably 80.

[duckmen1]

I think most can agree close is way more fun and exciting then long distance shots. Makes for a funner experience. Long shots when neccessary but feels more like shooting at the range. I am more impressed with those that get close and make a hunt truely a personal experience.

[Alchase]

Had a wild boar charge me in Texas, I dove to the side and touched off 12  ga buckshot on hogs shoulder at range of about 6 to 12 inches.  Dead hog landed right at my boot.

I had a huge wild boar step onto the trail I was on and turn towards me at about 10 feet. I suck at estimating the size of wild pigs, but through my scope, he was a friggin monster. He had some scary cutters.
It happened so fast, all I saw was his ears go up and I put a 300 Win Mag 180 gr, between his eyes. I had my pistol out before I even thought to grab it.
At least my instincts worked well, this time.

This pig does not count though, I did not harvest it.

I count count the times when I was young, that I had my scope cranked up so I would not miss the long shots, only to have a shooter buck show up danger close, throw up the rifle, and all I see is fur. Can't tell what part of the body I am looking at. By the time I dial down, he is gone. 

[h20hunter]

5.....6 feet? Just a slick headed mules but she was close enough to see her eyelashes.  Right in the chest, arrow punched her heart, she went 8 hops per the blood and fell over. Bear.....maybe 15 yards, 270 150 gr Barnes.  Dead bear.

[PolarBear]

Blacktail buck at 12”-18” with my bow. He walked right up to the tree that I was standing behind in an absolute torrential downpour. My arrow went completely through him and only my fletchings were sticking out of the ground. My last 2 rifle blacktails were at less than 20 feet. They were both at a dead run at me and I had to yell at one to get it to stop for a shot. Last year’s wouldn’t stop so I hit him full frontal. He basically dropped at my feet. Calling at the end of October can really get em stupid. 🤣 Killed a raghorn bull at 16 feet with my bow in heavy jack firs. I like up close and personal  hunting. 🤣

[NOCK NOCK]

As an archery guy, have shot several critters at under 10 feet.

BUT, here is the funny part. Years ago I missed a spike elk at 5 feet.  I shoot compound and at that point, had never practiced at point blank. 2 spikes come up a trail i was sitting on, they had zero clue i was there, and they were going to walk right thru me. I had no idea where to aim, and ended up sending 1 right under his chest...........boy the woods/trail come alive after that.....fur and curse words were a flying. 

[bigmacc]

I think it was around 1961 or 2. Dad and I were walking up a ridge, we had sat at a spot and waited for it to start lightning up because it was an area that deer bedded in during migrations. We set out, dad telling me “when we get up here a hundred yards or so I’m going to let you get in front, we might jump something “, we walked maybe 50 yards and jumped “the butterball”, dad was in front of me, he swung a 300 weatherby off his shoulder and dropped the buck in one movement. The rifle never was shouldered, it was fired from the hip. Blew an exit hole that was pretty unbelievable😆. Buck down, was bedded behind a deadfall, jumped up in front of us and dropped. Maybe a 20 foot shot, scared the crap out of both of us!😆. It had horns! A nice big 2 by 2 (26” spread “) 230 lbs but had the shortest body I’ve ever seen, from head to butt, hence the name “ butterball”👍

Another inch or two in any direction and he would have been a circle 😆😆

[NRA4LIFE]

Somewhere around 13-14 feet.  Only reason for the guess is my deer stand was 12 feet off the ground and he walked directly under me.  My muzzle was 13-14 feet I figure.

[7mmfan]

The closest I've killed was about 15 yards. 2x3 mule deer near Winthrop when I was about 15. Also killed a blacktail at a similar distance justa year or two later.

Ones I didn't kill though were way closer. Had a doe and 2 fawns walk by at arms reach. Had a 6pt bull elk walk up and stand literally with his chin over the top of my head as I sat on a rock next to a tree eating lunch one time. Of course, spike only season. That was pretty amazing.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Shot an elk frontal im guessing around 5 feet, i remember thinking " i better shoot so my arrow has some momentum".  crazy thing was he swapped ends and took one step before falling over, I had to get out of his way to avoid getting hit.