furthest ethical shot

[quadrafire]

I said 30 yds, but that is based off of my equipment.  I use recurve, and 30 is long.  My preferred is 10-15.  With all the advances in bows, someone else may have equipment that can get out there a bit---and still be ethical.  There are many reasons why people use a bow....mine:  I have a multiseason tag and will use use that friggin bow because it adds a month and a half to my season.  Some people like shooting long distances.  I say if they have the right equipment to still kill cleanly and consistently, why not?  One problem I see, is people trying to lump all equipment together, and assume that some 10 yr old compound can do the things the space age new releases are doing.  To me, that is kind of similar to thinking that just because a .30-378 can kill deer at 500 yds...then a .30-30 must be able to too.

That is a good post.

[sneakyjake]

Good point.  Maybe people should specify the shooting conditions they are using with their range estimates.  Perfect bow, finely tuned, hits the bulls eye at 60 every time, broad heads that fly just like field points, deer that stand still like a target, and chance to pull your range finder out -every time-.  I guess we are talking apples and oranges here.  I was assuming I was hunting.

[Machias]

Honestly I think it's a matter of time and experience.  When I was younger I felt very confident in my shooting and that was with the older bows, Bear Polar LTD (6 wheel compound!), Martin Lynx, Darton Lightening.  I took chances.  But after wounding a couple of deer and feeling like I was gut shot I realized I had to do everything humanly possible to not wound another animal.  Are folks going to take long range or even short range risky shots, yes.  What I hope is that when it does happen to you, and it will no matter how careful you are, that if it makes you sick to your stomach when you wound one, then you'll be fine.  You'll learn from that and try harder.  But if your the type that flings arrows and draws blood and thinks it's cool and keeps on flinging arrows, your the type I hope gives up archery hunting.  For the sake of the animals and for the sake of the sport I love so much.

[jackelope]

Yeah, maybe nothing positive will come out of this thread, but I don't see anything negative either. I think it's a fun discussion to have every once in a while.

It is an interesting experiment.

[OlympicElkJunkie]

Great post Machias 

[bucklucky]

I know exactly what you are saying Machias. The cow I had shot at 12 yards was just a bad mechanical error on my part, made me sick. I passed up shots on bulls at 40 yards for quite a while because I just didnt have that cinfidance any more. Losing an animal is a sick feeling. Ended up finding her and she had amade a big lop and died just up out of site from a road I had walked 10 times looking for her 

[pianoman9701]

Great post Machias 

He must be older than dirt because he sure is a smart man with a lot of valuable experience for all. You're right, ElkJunkie, great post. 

[rebal69972]

theres alot to be said on this thread but age, experience, set up, time at the range, and conditions make a big difference. like has been said when i was younger i would take alot longer shot then i will now, and its not only weather or not your shooting at deer or elk but what kinda deer your shooting at i hunted whitetail till last year and i could comfrortable shoot 60 or 70 yards but i took a 60 yard shot last year at a b/t and the damn thing jumped it that wont happen again 3 days latter i passed on a 55 yard shot at en elk just wasn't confortable with the shot and Ive been bow hunting for 19 years the last 8 years with the same bow

[Matt]

My buddy shot his bull last year at 105 yards at a 20 degree up hill.  He is one of the top archers in the country and I told him that was a crazy shot to take.  He agreed but he had the confidence in his ability and his equipment.  So it can be done.  The biggest thing is that we do owe it to the animal to keep it real.

I didn't vote because every situation is different.  I have no max distance.  I do try to get as close as possible.  If the animal walks oh well.

[RadSav]

My buddy shot his bull last year at 105 yards at a 20 degree up hill.  He is one of the top archers in the country and I told him that was a crazy shot to take.  He agreed but he had the confidence in his ability and his equipment.  So it can be done.  The biggest thing is that we do owe it to the animal to keep it real.

I didn't vote because every situation is different.  I have no max distance.  I do try to get as close as possible.  If the animal walks oh well.

Your buddy needs to learn the 40 yard rule of telling stories.  Every animal I have ever shot with a bow is "around 40 yards".  Some were closer, some were further and even some much further, but I try to always tell my story as around 40 yards.  It makes others much more comfortable and is better for the sport.

[rtspring]

105 yards??

Not saying it can't be done but in my book "IT SHOULD NEVER BE DONE"

[billythekidrock]

My buddy shot his bull last year at 105 yards at a 20 degree up hill.  He is one of the top archers in the country and I told him that was a crazy shot to take.  He agreed but he had the confidence in his ability and his equipment.  So it can be done.  The biggest thing is that we do owe it to the animal to keep it real.

I could care less if he is "one of the top archers"... that it too far. One step and that bull is hit in the guts, two steps and it's hit in the ham.
Not ethical in my book.

[quadrafire]

The title of this is the "furthest ethical shot". Hmmmm 105 yrds. I think I might quit reading this topic because I may say some things I shouldn't. Pretty soon it will merge with the other topic going on here "how far does a bow shoot"
This is just getting crazy

[Whitenuckles]

 I can keep my arrows in a 12" paper plate at 100. But hunting is a different story for me! 60 is about my limit!

[Machias]

This will be the last thing I post on this topic.  Guys for just a second stand back and think about what your saying.  You guys that are advocating these long range shots are making the case for the rifle hunters and the muzzle loaders when they ask "Why do archers need longer seasons?"  "Why do they need to hunt in Sept?"  "Why do they need a longer late season?"  "Heck if they can routinely shoot 70, 80, 90, 105 yards, then there is NO reason they should be allowed in the woods any longer then us, and they should not get to hunt during the rut."  Your making the case against longer seasons.  Your going against the very reasons most states extend bow seasons.