How far is too far in archery?

[D-Rock425]

I shot a deer a few years back at 74 yards.

[danderson]

The facts are that not everyone has the same skills, I have heard of elk taken at over 100 yards, I dont think there is an archer alive that would recomend taking shots like that, for me I shoot good out to 60 yards but my comfort zone is 30 yards, I want to hear the impact of my arrow, I want the shot to be a good clean one that respects the animals life, after all.. Im gonna eat its flesh, become part of me, a good clean shot will make this happen.

[Angus]

40 yards is as far as I've shot deer and am comfortable shooting them, probably go as far as 50 for elk if the right shot presented itself.

[MAVsled]

good conditions; flat ground, little to no wind, broadside only, 60 yards max for my ability (& vision, I'm gettin older).
18' up in the tree, severe downhill or uphill: 40 yards due to angle.
and I practice during the off season from a treestand and severe downhill shots, yardages; Past 25 yards, you'd be surprised how angles, shooting form & body positioning affect the shot more compared to level ground.

For me, equipment these days makes a difference.
Now: SBXT 70lb-30"draw, Armortech HD 5 pin, Carbon Express Maxima & 125gr slick trik, no peep but Anchor Sight-alignment instead. Best thing I ever did, going away from peep to the Anchor sight.
Back in the early 80's; jennings star compound, 35 yard max. only used 3 steel pins back then; 10-20-30yards sighted.
Bear recurve: 25 yard max...even today.

headed out for AZ coues deer over the holidays   
Limit my shot distance to 30 yards out of the Rhino blind.

[passing-thru]

I agree that skill and confedence play biggest part in shooting distance. I have luxury of livening where I can shoot everyday. The hill behind house had everything from bag target to tennis balls scattered among trees and rocks. I have no measured distances. Usually let my daughter or residence tell me where to shot from. (We make game out of it. She thinks its funny when dads arrows explode ) ) I shoot comfortably and accurately out to 90 or 100 yrds. That being said. I am comfortible on live deer out to 50 and elk to 60. To many factors come into place after that. Being able to stand on level ground knowing that the hay bail out there 100 yds exactly isn't gonna suddenly take step forward or turn to walk away in no way makes a shot like that on live animal ethical  I let one of nice blacktails I've seen walk away at 74 yrds this year. Could I have made shot? I think so. Am I 100%positive mo

[throttlejocky20]

ANIMAL 60 yards
TARGET 100+ yards

[JLS]

The target doesn't care.  Fling away.

Live animal, whatever range I can make a clean kill shot.  Varies with the amount of wind, how much I've been practicing, the animal's alertness, and so on.

If I'm really on my game, 45-55 yards is good.  However, I passed on a doe during late archery at 45 yards broadside because I haven't had time to shoot diligently.

To each their own.  If you find yourself crippling and losing animals with any sort of regularity, you are probably shooting too far.

[jaymark6655]

Compound bow with carbon arrows.  (think the equipment has a huge impact on this topic)  My last pin is at 50 yards.  I can hit a B-3 target every time at about 60 to 70 yards, but every shot in the field is different.  I guess I would always take any shot under 40 as long as the animal isn't looking at me.  I don't have enough room to try shooting farther than 70 yards on my range.

[luckyman]

I've taken deer at 60 & 65 yard's in the past But I practiced a lot and felt I could make it count.

 My eyes site over the last 10 years has degraded to the point 40 yard's seems pushing it so I limit myself to 25 or  maybe 35 max.

On  other animals that would be a little bit tough to kill  I would keep it as short as possible.
Every yard increases the room for error.

[Odell]

For me it's 50 yards. I might take a shot out to 60 on an elk in perfect conditions but I haven't been faced with the actual situation yet. It's all talk until you see a big buck 5 yards past your range.

I did pass a nice 4pt last year at 53. Couldn't get closer and let him walk. Felt good about it but later when you replay the situation I start to wonder what if...

[DoubleJ]

This topic never ends well.  I'll keep my  to myself.

 

[PolarBear]

I thought the whole point of archery hunting was to get as close as you can.  If you want to take long shots, use a rifle. 

[jaymark6655]

I thought the whole point of archery hunting was to get as close as you can.  If you want to take long shots, use a rifle. 

Can't argue with that, but if all the closer I can get is 40 yards than I am taking the shot.  Besides anything under a 100 is short.  Heck when it comes to rifle anything under 200 yards is short.

[buckfvr]

I set up for 20yds or a bit less as cover dictates when in a tree.  Other than that, it depends on the animal......how hyper alert or sensative it is.  SO, that being said, and adding in unpredictable nature of wild things,  and past experience with those wild things, if it cant happen with one fixed pin,  I wont force the shot.  Next season, my site will be down to one pin.   

[Kowsrule30]

With my bow.... And practice I've done with it..... If I actually hunted with it..... I'd say anything farther out then 7 yards is completely safe!!!!