The long shot?

[Broken Arrow]

good responces from all...I appreciate folks honesty. Some of us feel comfrotable taking this shot from long distance and some don't...sounds like to me the long shots have had a quick kill. Just to preface again i don't condone going out ant getting a bow and think you can take these shots, however if you practice, practice, practice...its not much different then the guy who shoots the 400 yard rifle shot. Thanks all

[Broken Arrow]

saylean....way to funny...i have never bet on any thing 3:1 yet along 69:2. 

[Broken Arrow]

how ever ..on the 2:1 bet im 100%...another thread off this site for sure

[MIKEXRAY]

I will reiterate what I said at this posts beginning " that its not my place to tell another dude his max range" but I went out side and shot my bow @ 80 yards and it took a hell of a long time for my arrow to get there. Granted my bow isn't the fastest ( 5 yr old Hoyt ) but even the fastest bow out there is going to be awhile for the arrow to reach the target 80-100 yards away. My 80 yard shot has enough time lapse for an animal to take two full steps while calm, even if not spooked and he just decided to step while I shot. We could all practice and hit pie plate all day at 100 yards but it seems like a hell of a lot could go wrong while the arrow is in route. my 

[saylean]

saylean....way to funny...i have never bet on any thing 3:1 yet along 69:2. 

I aim to please.

My longest shot with a bow was about 55 yards and was the only kill i have made so far with a bow (2X3 blacktail). I was sure I would not be able to sneek any further...too much brush. I did hit the deer and when I went to get him, I jumped a 3X4 that was bedded down right where I had hit him from. HOwever, I have only hunted 2 seasons with a bow.

[Broken Arrow]

both of my long shots were taken with a bowtech black Knight...31 inch draw...My hunting rig shot at 338 crono. I now shoot a mathews which is WAY slower (270 if that)...i think my range now is 60 yards max. When i shot the 82...i couldn't even see my arrow it went so fast.

[MIKEXRAY]

Even at 338 fps an 80 yard shot is three quarters of a second.

[Broken Arrow]

This is an excellent point that you make and one that must be taken into consideration with a shot like that......your absolutely right, a lot can happen in that time.

I was thinking a lot of where you grew up and what areas you hunt, tents to come into play regarding shot length. I know for the first 12 years of my bow hunting experience, it was mostly wheat fields, sage and cheat grass. Long shots are/were the norm. Every day I shot, I would begin with 40 yards as this usually your beginning point. The last 6 years/current hunting scenarios are in the West side Jungles. Now I mostly work on 30 and in....i still practice out to 60 but but those shots are few and far between. 4 of the 5 elk our group took last year were any where from 10-18 yards. Had i grown up hunting these areas or even yet a East coast style tree stand hunter, i could definitely see where as someones perspective on long shots may be quite different.

[NoBark]

The only thing I ask of those who shoot any distance is "if you hit it hard but can't find it, eat your tag so there's more next year".

[MountainWalk]

practicing with my recurve, i shoot pretty well out to forty yards. when i shoot at critters i try no further than 30, but i guess the practice gives me a little room for error lest i misjudge range.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I can kill targets reliably to 60.  My self-imposed limit is 40.  My longest shot was 42 yards on a 6x6 bull, too open to range him, I thought he was at 40.  I prefer 20-40 yard shots over those that are less than 20.  The school of hard nocks (pun intended) has taught me to never shoot at any animal that is moving, alert, etc. 

Like others have said, it depends on your abilities.  The experienced archery killers on here know there is a world of difference between how a static target reacts to the shot, and how a deer or elk does.  I've had elk and deer both manage to travel forward as much as 4', or spin nearly 90 degrees, between the time the arrow is launched and arrives.   

[boneaddict]

A-men NoBark.

[MountainWalk]

besides, isnt archery, like all forms of big game hunting, about getting close as possible?

[WDFW-SUX]

55 yards and under an arrow is going to fly 98% of the time.  Over that it gets really dicey.  Even a fast shooting rig takes an eternity for the arrow to arrive at the longer distances even a shot that starts perfect can turn into a nightmare in the blink of an eye.........I suppose if a guy is willing to eat there tag if they dont recover there prey I dont have a problem with longer shots

[rosscrazyelk]

I would prefer to shoot short distances but i do practice at yards greater than 80. I shot my monster at 72 yards ,right thru the heart. I think before you shoot you really have to assess the situation. But to each his own,it is all what you are comfortable with and what you are able to do.