Max Yards

[halflife65]

This is a funny argument - it happens 5 or 6 times a year and, in essence, it's the same every time.

It starts out well enough, with some people stating how far they are comfortable shooting and everthing is fine, seems like fairly standard distances, people are saying "it's personal preference and how comfortable you are with your abilities" but then...

"I think that anything over 30 yards is unethical!  I think that the modern compounds are for *censored*es that don't know how to hunt!"

"I shoot 75 yards - if you're going to hunt the west you need to learn how to shoot!  I practice over 18 hours each day!"

Some rifle hunter always chimes in: "I find over 500 animals each year that were wounded by archers and died later.  That's the problem with archery and it gives hunting a bad name!"

A bunch of people get mad and tell each other that they don't know how to hunt, are unethical and have no right to be out in the woods.

Somebody finally shows up and says "As hunters, we all need to remain as one!  We'll all lose our rights if we're divided between groups!"

Some more name calling and finally an admin locks it.  Every time.   (And I'm a bowhunter, by the way.)

First of all I call BS on the 500 animals each year you find. Second, I'm a *censored* compound bow hunter according to you. Do you know why I use a compound bow? I started 24 years ago, hunting w/a bear re curve, then I went to a JD Berry 70 lb longbow. I was good, and harvested some nice animals. BUT, every so often I would get a bad hit at less then 30 yds. I felt sick about wounding animals. My shot placement wasn't as good as I would like it to be, so I went to a compound bow w/sights, to get a good clean kill. But, according to you I should have stayed w/my longbow and wound an animal every now and then or quite and not bow hunt at all.   

I'll say this ONCE and then drop it:  You've missed the entire point.  I, too am a *censored* that uses a compound bow, I shoot somewhere between the 30 and 75 yards I stated, NOBODY finds 500 animals - probably rarely do they find one but it seems like someone starts claiming that they find a bunch of wounded ones with arrows sticking out of them - that's the point.

My point in making those statements is that everyone often becomes super judgemental, has some kind of story about someone that they saw or heard of doing something dumb and then say that there way is the right way - and everyone else doesn't know what they're doing. 

My whole point is that "it starts out well enough" when everyone just states what yardage they are comfortable shooting at and that's it.  It ends badly when things start to go the direction of the Howard Hill argument that was starting.

I thought that the sarcasm in those statements was obvious.  Hey Suess, calm down.

[PA BEN]

 

[woodswalker]

Machias has some good points...

[Ray]

At 20 yards it's almost a sure kill as long as the critter doesn't see me. Won't shoot past 30.

[nockbuster]

30 yards is what i like to have

[BowForElk]

I watched a guy range a doe at 96 yards and stick it dead on. it was 96 from A to B but she was down a very steep slope at the bottom. But he claimed for have shot for diamond. I would call bs but the previous statement I believed him.

[dreamingbig]

This is always a controversial topic.  I practice out to 60 - 70 yards at the range and limit myself to 40 in the woods.  I  haven't had to shoot past 30 yards yet on an elk yet.  Practice long on the range and get close in the field.

[Recurve-Elk]

I think shots taken in practice, and shots on animals are two totally different scenarios.  Just because I can shoot a solid group with my compound at 70 yards doesn't mean I will shoot at an animal at 70.  I wounded an elk once, and would never like to see myself do that again. (that was 50 yards)  That said, my max yardage with a compound is 40, and with a recurve right now, is roughly 20.  Maybe less and I am not ashamed to say that in slightest.  I would really like to see my recurve groups get tighter before I shoot at an animal at say 25-30.

But this is just me.  I know a guy who shot a doe through the heart at 80 yards.  Only the individual knows weather they can make the shot or not.

On a side note, that same guy was trying to convince me to use my compound this year.  He gave me a lecture about how my chances are going to be much smaller if I use my recurve, because of my limited range.  To be honest, I was slightly offended when he said this.... I bought the recurve knowing the limitations that came with it.  I also bought it with the intention of using it to hunt.  I wouldn't have dropped 500$ if I wasn't going to use it.    Needless to say, this made me want to hunt with it even more.  Sorry had to vent.  

Mrmorton, I didn't argue with him about it at all.  My response was just "ya you are right my yardage is limited but I am fine with that."  And I totally agree with you, there shouldn't be any arguing between what kind of bow you use.  I am totally cool with any bow.  

[mrmorton]

why are trad hunters and compound hunters never getting along? i just starting compound hunting 3 years ago and i dont see a difference in the hunting styles. its like people who ride a kawasaki ninja sport bike will never mesh up with a harley rider. whats the freakin difference? im sorry, those of you who are arguing are dumb and ignorant. 

[ELKBURGER]

I've only hunted with a compound. I think bowhunting elk with a compound is tough enough. My hat goes off to you traditional guys! I hope I will feel confident enough someday to try traditional gear. In the meantime, I will continue to challenge myself to get within 30 to 40 yards, undetected, and make a clean kill.

[coachcw]

The topic is max yards your comfotable with , not how far the other guy shoots . at times my max is 30 yards on a calm animal and still wind I'm ok out to 80 yards marked . as long as i'm shooting good left to right I'm ok with longish shots. I think almost everyone thats hunted long enough has made a poor shot on an animal I know i have . I think there's much more than distance to a shot . I lost a bull I shot at 3 feet in the neck I should have used my 60 pin insted of my 20 pin . In that case I guess it was past my max yardage most of the long shots i've missed have fell short or over the top ending in a clean miss. If a guy practices and shots  good gear there's no reason to limit a shot to 20 yards.

[hoyt5199]

50yds for me, unless he is a big bull and only have one chance but then I feel comfortable reaching out a little further

[bonneylakebowman]

i practice constantly at 80 90 and 100 yards but i wont shoot over 60 in the woods  and where i have been hunting i will be lucky if i can get a shot out to 30

[jl58]

50yds for me, unless he is a big bull and only have one chance but then I feel comfortable reaching out a little further

How does the size of his antlers increase your effective range?

[Snapshot]

20 yards is good. But I believe in getting closer...

The silver lining to threads like this is that someone will read it and rethink their views on taking risky shots.