Post by: swashington2128 on May 22, 2015, 05:03:50 PM
I shoot a 450 gr arrow with a 29.5" draw at 70lbs. I can definately get an arrow there but will it be enough. Right now while I can hit the target pretty much every shot at 80 I feel comfortable out to 60yds.
Looking forward to the responses.
Post by: 92xj on May 22, 2015, 05:05:14 PM
Post by: hughjorgan on May 22, 2015, 05:18:56 PM
Post by: LeviD1 on May 22, 2015, 05:20:58 PM
Post by: swashington2128 on May 22, 2015, 05:23:49 PM
I think I will try to crony but dont see the point of doing it at 80 yards. Just like a gun the muzzle velocity should be all the info you need.
Am I wrong on that?
Post by: RadSav on May 22, 2015, 05:30:15 PM
Ethical and plausible are two completely different things. IMO an eighty yard shot with a bow like yours has a better chance of killing -vs- wounding than does the average hunting rifle at 800 yards. Does that mean it is ethical? :dunno: I'll stay away from voicing an opinion on that.
Post by: hughjorgan on May 22, 2015, 05:40:34 PM
Post by: go4steelhd on May 22, 2015, 06:23:40 PM
Post by: Skillet on May 22, 2015, 06:24:38 PM
You have plenty of energy to kill an elk at 80 yards with your setup. Probably enough energy to kill one at 150 yards. Effectiveness of a broadhead doesn't change much with velocity unless it is very dull. Not nearly as big of terminal difference as there is with a bullet at long range.
I'll stand "informed" on that point. My old Hoyt pushing 2117 XX75 sewer pipes (31" draw) topped with 125 old-skool Savora's had a very different penetration depth on my targets from 30 yards to 50 yards. Of course, I only practiced with my grouse broad heads... the blades were probably sharper on the back than the front. The trajectory on that combo also made me feel like I was "lobbing" arrows at anything over 40 yards...
Carry on.
Post by: stevemiller on May 22, 2015, 07:31:11 PM
Post by: kentrek on May 22, 2015, 07:44:00 PM
Beings that you've never shot an elk I'd highly recommend going and buying the entire born and raised move collection....take pad and pen and keep track of the shot distances and weather the shooter felt sick or excited..pay attention to the 40-50 yard mark
I hate feeling sick after the shot...other guys may not mind it as much..were all different...every situation is different...
Good luck !
Post by: Nice Racks on May 22, 2015, 09:09:39 PM
Post by: Johnb317 on May 22, 2015, 09:16:58 PM
Post by: swashington2128 on May 22, 2015, 09:23:26 PM
Thanks again for the comments.
Post by: coachcw on May 22, 2015, 09:33:56 PM
Post by: Fullabull on May 23, 2015, 12:11:51 AM
Post by: Bean Counter on May 23, 2015, 01:05:45 AM
Post by: MIKEXRAY on May 23, 2015, 06:22:47 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 23, 2015, 07:18:55 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on May 23, 2015, 09:05:07 AM
Post by: LeviD1 on May 23, 2015, 10:16:58 AM
Post by: swashington2128 on May 23, 2015, 11:06:48 AM
I have been mostly on the range 3-4 times a week building up my archery muscles again. Ready to hit the trail. The range I go to has a good trail with about 20 targets on it. Hitting that soon to make things more realistic.
I know about the branches getting in the way. First two shots at a whitetail near Colville a few years ago both were blocked by branches I never saw. Both shots right around 40 yards. Those branches are better than the Secret Service protecting the president. Dive in from nowhere and takes the shot away.
Great thing about trying a new method, always more to learn.
Post by: Crunchy on May 23, 2015, 12:16:56 PM
Post by: Expedition Scout on May 23, 2015, 01:05:39 PM
Post by: Odell on May 23, 2015, 01:19:49 PM
I enjoy shooting at the 80 yard target with the elk on it but it doesn't move, thank goodness. When I see how long it takes my arrow to reach that 80 yard target and I know it's to far. I shoot 70# at 29" draw, 475 gran fmj arrow.
Agreed. I run into people all the time who say they can hit a paper plate every time at 80-100 yards. That would be really handy if we were hunting paper plates.
Post by: Johnb317 on May 23, 2015, 02:49:59 PM
Ethical questions aside
Isn't the whole idea to get as close as possible to the elk?
Last Elk I got was at 5 yards....better bragging rights I think than if I got one at 70-80 yards, and a lot more exciting.
My first elk came within 3 feet of me, but no shot until 35 yards. what a rush!
Question to all....would you release the arrow if the rules were 'you stick it you're tagged out whether or not you find the animal?
Post by: branches on May 23, 2015, 09:39:37 PM
Post by: notsosneaky on May 25, 2015, 09:19:00 PM
80 is too far
It has nothing to do with practice, it has to do with the increased chance of a lost or wounded animal. The shooter isn't the only variable here. I'm not saying you can't kill an elk at 80 yards, only that you shouldn't try. And yes if you stick an animal you should punch your tag. But hey I'm an opinionated prick:)
Post by: SGTDuffman on May 26, 2015, 05:15:24 AM
Personally I'd be shooting a heavier arrow, but that would be true at any distance, especially so at longer ranges though.
I shot a deer last year at 68yds up hill. Complete pass through both lungs. I spent more time looking for the arrow that was buried into the ground to the fletches, than the deer that piled up after 30 yds. I took that shot because there was nothing in between me and the deer, we were both in the wide open, and because I've practiced shots like that and farther than that for years. I knew I'd hit 'em if I shot, and I was right. About 4" above the heart. That being said, if I thought there was any way I could of gotten closer, I would have. I also had no concerns about my arrow having enough oomph when it got there.
Post by: Jayfire83 on May 26, 2015, 07:51:14 AM
You determine your ethics not anyone else.
Post by: CP on May 26, 2015, 08:15:46 AM
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 26, 2015, 10:00:17 AM
All shots have a certain risk factor of becoming less then ideal.... figured out what risk is acceptable for you
Beings that you've never shot an elk I'd highly recommend going and buying the entire born and raised move collection....take pad and pen and keep track of the shot distances and weather the shooter felt sick or excited..pay attention to the 40-50 yard mark
I hate feeling sick after the shot...other guys may not mind it as much..were all different...every situation is different...
Good luck !
LOL, yes just forgot the scene where they kill a bull at 83 yrds in a reprod cut..... : )
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 26, 2015, 10:05:31 AM
Post by: CoryTDF on May 26, 2015, 10:22:54 AM
So, my buddy who argues against longer shots always brings up the “unknown” factors. Wind, string jump, animal movement, ext. can all turn a good shot into a bad one. I whole heartedly agree with this statement. I also don’t think it’s a good excuse to discredit longer shots. My bull was 8 yards and just as I shot he buckled his leg covering his vital and defecting my arrow into his liver. So this can happen at any range and is just an assumed risk when taking a shot at any distance. My opinion is shoot as far as you are %100 confident you can make a good shot. Good luck out there.
Post by: kentrek on May 26, 2015, 10:23:25 AM
All shots have a certain risk factor of becoming less then ideal.... figured out what risk is acceptable for you
Beings that you've never shot an elk I'd highly recommend going and buying the entire born and raised move collection....take pad and pen and keep track of the shot distances and weather the shooter felt sick or excited..pay attention to the 40-50 yard mark
I hate feeling sick after the shot...other guys may not mind it as much..were all different...every situation is different...
Good luck !
LOL, yes just forgot the scene where they kill a bull at 83 yrds in a reprod cut..... : )
Is that the one that was hit dead in the shoulder ?? and the shooter looks rite at the camera and says "I don't know"
Or the one in the new film that they found the next morning ??
Don't get me wrong I love these guys videos and love the fact they tell it like it is...I have zero problems with there shooting And what they do...i just thought it would help a newer hunter figure out how comfortable he will be shooting longer distances since it's not the arrow performance that will be the limiting factor
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 26, 2015, 02:02:16 PM
Post by: kentrek on May 26, 2015, 02:23:39 PM
no its the one where they smoke him and find him after dark about 60 yrds from where it was shot.
Dead in the shoulder isn't exactly "smoked" in my opinion but that's up to the op to distinguish on his own and exactly what I think he can learn by watching the videos
Those dudes kill alot of elk !
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 26, 2015, 02:36:32 PM
Post by: kentrek on May 26, 2015, 02:47:16 PM
if you'd like to aim for the shoulder at 80 yards be my guest
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 26, 2015, 02:49:47 PM
Post by: kentrek on May 26, 2015, 03:04:30 PM
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 26, 2015, 03:11:02 PM
Dead is dead as long it dies ! :chuckle: the only elk I ever lost was due to a shoulder hit that only got to one lung....the elk did die but by the time we found it (next day) the early September heat had done it's duty
I lost/found my 5x5 bull from 3 years ago 2 days after... it was a 1 lung shot... those are awful on elk... but your deal was not from a shoulder shot, it was from a bad shoulder shot... you get both lungs.... they go down pretty fast no matter if you hit the shoulder or not. I aim 3-5 in behnd it on broadside shots, but to say that hitting the shoulder is bad IMO isnt a true thing. With the bows of today and sharp heads.... you can center punch a shoulder and be just fine... I also prefer to hit behind it.. that bull of mine btw was a quartering too shot at 17 yrds.
Post by: throttlejocky20 on May 26, 2015, 03:43:41 PM
People can argue ethics until the end of time. You know what your comfortable range is and you shouldn't push the limits. You owe the animal you are trying to harvest that much respect. There is enough that can go wrong with archery there is no need to push the limits.
Post by: bowtechian on May 26, 2015, 06:28:39 PM
Post by: scotsman on May 26, 2015, 08:24:29 PM
My daddy taught me tht the measure of a good Hunter wasn't how far away you could kill 'em, it was how close you can kill 'em. If in doubt, learn how to stalk closer.
Post by: RadSav on May 26, 2015, 09:02:50 PM
Post by: Seabass on May 27, 2015, 11:43:14 AM
Post by: Odell on May 27, 2015, 06:19:10 PM
You determine your ethics not anyone else.
Yes and no. Ethics are highly influenced by your community and culture and variable according to those contexts.
Imagine what people would do if there were no other people around.
Post by: jay.sharkbait on May 27, 2015, 06:22:28 PM
You determine your ethics not anyone else.
Yes and no. Ethics are highly influenced by your community and culture and variable according to those contexts.
Imagine what people would do if there were no other people around.
Why should the "community" judge others based on their skillsets?
Post by: Odell on May 27, 2015, 06:23:45 PM
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 27, 2015, 07:56:20 PM
I don't think that's what's happening but communities do you shape ethics, we are doing it right now in this thread
No one is around 99% of the time when I shoot my elk/deer every year.. that has no bearing on what shot I will or will not take.
Post by: Odell on May 27, 2015, 08:13:27 PM
I don't think that's what's happening but communities do you shape ethics, we are doing it right now in this thread
No one is around 99% of the time when I shoot my elk/deer every year.. that has no bearing on what shot I will or will not take.
I'm the same way I don't mean just if no one was around the time I mean people left on their own with no accountability whatsoever. Living in communities provides social pressure to do the right thing, and that's A good thing
Post by: mountainman on May 27, 2015, 09:55:07 PM
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 28, 2015, 01:15:02 PM
Bowhunting is/should be, a close range sport. When i take my bow to the feild, it is for the challenge. Getting in close, not seeing how far i can shoot. I desire the memory of the hunt more then a head on the wall...just my opinion...
the only issue with your assumption is that you assume all longer shots required less hunting, I have killed bucks from 70 yrds that I stalked from over 600 in open country.... 70 in that terrain and situation was as tough to get too as 15 on elk or deer in certain terrains/cover... not all things are equal. My elk at 94.. I literally ran out of cover... so as much as I like 15-50 yrds.... I prefer meat in my freezer so I took a shot I kn ow I can make and I did.... I feel no more like a hunter when I shoot something under 10 yrds then when I do at 60+. :twocents:
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 28, 2015, 01:24:32 PM
Bowhunting is/should be, a close range sport. When i take my bow to the feild, it is for the challenge. Getting in close, not seeing how far i can shoot. I desire the memory of the hunt more then a head on the wall...just my opinion...
the only issue with your assumption is that you assume all longer shots required less hunting, I have killed bucks from 70 yrds that I stalked from over 600 in open country.... 70 in that terrain and situation was as tough to get too as 15 on elk or deer in certain terrains/cover... not all things are equal. My elk at 94.. I literally ran out of cover... so as much as I like 15-50 yrds.... I prefer meat in my freezer so I took a shot I kn ow I can make and I did.... I feel no more like a hunter when I shoot something under 10 yrds then when I do at 60+. :twocents:
Yup. I shot a buck at 50 yards that was more of a challenge than a bull at 8 ft. The bull was dumb luck but it was within spitting distance.
Post by: mountainman on May 28, 2015, 04:43:36 PM
dont get me wrong. I agree, to a point. But I see a trend, here in type, and in the field, of some who actually promote the "long range" shot on game. The ones who can consistently paper plate it at long range (100+) shooting. Too many variables, formost being time of flight.. no matter how you slice it, it is always a low percentge shot.Bowhunting is/should be, a close range sport. When i take my bow to the feild, it is for the challenge. Getting in close, not seeing how far i can shoot. I desire the memory of the hunt more then a head on the wall...just my opinion...
the only issue with your assumption is that you assume all longer shots required less hunting, I have killed bucks from 70 yrds that I stalked from over 600 in open country.... 70 in that terrain and situation was as tough to get too as 15 on elk or deer in certain terrains/cover... not all things are equal. My elk at 94.. I literally ran out of cover... so as much as I like 15-50 yrds.... I prefer meat in my freezer so I took a shot I kn ow I can make and I did.... I feel no more like a hunter when I shoot something under 10 yrds then when I do at 60+. :twocents:
Yup. I shot a buck at 50 yards that was more of a challenge than a bull at 8 ft. The bull was dumb luck but it was within spitting distance.
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on May 28, 2015, 04:49:48 PM
Post by: Odell on May 28, 2015, 06:02:03 PM
dont get me wrong. I agree, to a point. But I see a trend, here in type, and in the field, of some who actually promote the "long range" shot on game. The ones who can consistently paper plate it at long range (100+) shooting. Too many variables, formost being time of flight.. no matter how you slice it, it is always a low percentge shot.Bowhunting is/should be, a close range sport. When i take my bow to the feild, it is for the challenge. Getting in close, not seeing how far i can shoot. I desire the memory of the hunt more then a head on the wall...just my opinion...
the only issue with your assumption is that you assume all longer shots required less hunting, I have killed bucks from 70 yrds that I stalked from over 600 in open country.... 70 in that terrain and situation was as tough to get too as 15 on elk or deer in certain terrains/cover... not all things are equal. My elk at 94.. I literally ran out of cover... so as much as I like 15-50 yrds.... I prefer meat in my freezer so I took a shot I kn ow I can make and I did.... I feel no more like a hunter when I shoot something under 10 yrds then when I do at 60+. :twocents:
Yup. I shot a buck at 50 yards that was more of a challenge than a bull at 8 ft. The bull was dumb luck but it was within spitting distance.
Agreed. Ultimately we are weighing probabilities with the decision of life and death in the balance. Bad shots can happen at 8 yards and 80 yards but the probability for something going wrong increases with every yard. I know some on here have great skill with a bow. But no matter how good your skills are, physics take over and you are losing velocity rapidly. I have yet to meet someone with the skill of knowing with certainty if that animal is going to take a step.
Post by: mountainman on May 28, 2015, 09:21:42 PM
dont get me wrong. I agree, to a point. But I see a trend, here in type, and in the field, of some who actually promote the "long range" shot on game. The ones who can consistently paper plate it at long range (100+) shooting. Too many variables, formost being time of flight.. no matter how you slice it, it is always a low percentge shot.Bowhunting is/should be, a close range sport. When i take my bow to the feild, it is for the challenge. Getting in close, not seeing how far i can shoot. I desire the memory of the hunt more then a head on the wall...just my opinion...well said..
the only issue with your assumption is that you assume all longer shots required less hunting, I have killed bucks from 70 yrds that I stalked from over 600 in open country.... 70 in that terrain and situation was as tough to get too as 15 on elk or deer in certain terrains/cover... not all things are equal. My elk at 94.. I literally ran out of cover... so as much as I like 15-50 yrds.... I prefer meat in my freezer so I took a shot I kn ow I can make and I did.... I feel no more like a hunter when I shoot something under 10 yrds then when I do at 60+. :twocents:
Yup. I shot a buck at 50 yards that was more of a challenge than a bull at 8 ft. The bull was dumb luck but it was within spitting distance.
Agreed. Ultimately we are weighing probabilities with the decision of life and death in the balance. Bad shots can happen at 8 yards and 80 yards but the probability for something going wrong increases with every yard. I know some on here have great skill with a bow. But no matter how good your skills are, physics take over and you are losing velocity rapidly. I have yet to meet someone with the skill of knowing with certainty if that animal is going to take a step.
Post by: Vo2max on May 29, 2015, 07:33:33 AM
:)
Post by: mountainman on May 29, 2015, 05:51:16 PM
My site tape says I can shoot out to 120yds!mine goes to 220! ;)
:)
Post by: Mxracer532 on May 29, 2015, 07:01:10 PM
Post by: issaquarcher on May 29, 2015, 07:12:11 PM
Post by: Jimmybelltown on May 29, 2015, 07:41:40 PM
Post by: mountainman on June 01, 2015, 10:52:36 AM
Seems to me a lot of the comments are focused on the ability of the shooter and capability of bow to put down an elk effectively at that range. The biggest issue in my experience is a lot can happen in the time you release and the time your arrow arrives. One step forward by your intended target and you'll piss off your buddies tracking a blood trail for miles. Elk hunting is all about patience. Be sneaky and close the gap.exactly..on a good day its pie plates at 200 yards, with the arrows buried deep in the target butt. It also takes 2-3 seconds for the arrow to arrive, plenty of time for the animal to move..
Post by: swashington2128 on June 01, 2015, 01:44:13 PM
Being a preparation crazy guy I now shoot hundreds of arrows a week to prepare for this coming season. My question is:
Just because I can shoot an arrow accurately at 60 -70 yards, is it wise or ethical to do so. Will a well place arrow kill the animal quickly from that range as compared to a typical 10-20 yard shot from a tree stand. Having never killed an animal with a bow I don't want my "range" skill to become an arrogance which could let me take a shot that I should not take.
So based on that, I am getting pretty good out to 80 yards but was thinking on limiting myself to 60 yards. Is this a wise range to stop at or am I being too conservative.
I appreciate the input from everyone and I respect your skills and experience needed to achieve those skills. Just wanting to learn from those more experienced than me.
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on June 01, 2015, 02:28:17 PM
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on June 01, 2015, 02:31:22 PM
Seems to me a lot of the comments are focused on the ability of the shooter and capability of bow to put down an elk effectively at that range. The biggest issue in my experience is a lot can happen in the time you release and the time your arrow arrives. One step forward by your intended target and you'll piss off your buddies tracking a blood trail for miles. Elk hunting is all about patience. Be sneaky and close the gap.
so where do we draw the line on this? I agree it COULD happen... I hit a bear back a bit at 7 yrds in idaho... it took a step as the shot went off.. is 7 yrds now to far? that bear also was on his way to a bait... moving frequently... I have no idea how many deer/elk you have watched feed.. but IME they will stand in one spot for quite sometime.... if the animal is acting that way... and you are confident in the distance and shot.. I personally have no issue with a longer shot... anything COULD happen... but you play the law of averages... if its been very still for 2 min feeding.. odds are it will be for another 3 sec.
Post by: Jellymon on June 01, 2015, 02:44:10 PM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on June 01, 2015, 02:47:48 PM
Post by: BABackcountryBwhntr on June 01, 2015, 03:11:09 PM
I wouldn't worry too much about about the people practicing and then shooting game at 70-80yds, we should be more worried about the insane amount of guys that don't practice at all, bring out thier "tuned" setup 2 days before the season, throw on an expandable broadhead, then shoot at ANY yardage.
Exactly
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on June 01, 2015, 09:22:06 PM
Lots of great discussion on this and I appreciate it. When I first posted the topic it was not meant to cause debate but to give a new bow hunter some perspective. When I became a hunter I realized that I was going to take the life of an animal. I take no pleasure in the act of killing and don't want to be cruel. I love the chase, challenge, and general participation in nature as part of the food chain. I asked the question because as a gun hunter for years I limited myself to 200yards max because that is where I felt after hundreds of practice rounds, I could be reliably and accurate take the animal down with the minimal amount of torment to the animal and the most ethical kill possible.
Being a preparation crazy guy I now shoot hundreds of arrows a week to prepare for this coming season. My question is:
Just because I can shoot an arrow accurately at 60 -70 yards, is it wise or ethical to do so. Will a well place arrow kill the animal quickly from that range as compared to a typical 10-20 yard shot from a tree stand. Having never killed an animal with a bow I don't want my "range" skill to become an arrogance which could let me take a shot that I should not take.
So based on that, I am getting pretty good out to 80 yards but was thinking on limiting myself to 60 yards. Is this a wise range to stop at or am I being too conservative.
I appreciate the input from everyone and I respect your skills and experience needed to achieve those skills. Just wanting to learn from those more experienced than me.
I certainly believe that your arrow will kill cleanly at 60 yards and WAY beyond. And it sounds like you have the right mindset in regards to practice. But based on your comment about limiting shots to less than 200 yards with a rifle after hundreds of practice shots. I am going to assume you are very conservative in your shot selection. Not a bad thing :tup:
First just to clear the air and you probably already know this so pardon me if Im stating the blatantly obvious BUT... An arrow does not kill the way a bullet does by shocking or breaking down massive amounts of tissue and bone. It kills by cutting a path through extremely blood rich organs causing rapid and irreversible hemmorage and/or pneumothorax. If placed correctly an arrow kills in seconds and more to the point does not need alot of energy to do so. Excess energy( momentum, whatever you want to call it ) Is largley an insurance policy. Allowing the arrow to more often result in a complete pass through with hopefully a better blood trail. OR better penetration on quartered away shots, or shots that end up contacting bone.
This brings us back to shot selection.... It does not matter if the arrow came from 6 feet or 60 yards a well placed arrow will kill in the same fashion and just as humanely. What does play a major role is animal behavior at time of shot, body angle and shooter ability. Not on the range but at live animals. Reading those things at bow ranges IMHO takes experience. It has been my pleasure to be with or part of many kills besides my own. And some of the most exciting are first time archery hunters. BUT... I cannot count the number of times I have been told "he was perfectly broadside" only to find out it was actually a quartered to shot. I am convinced on at least two of them had the shot not been close ( under 40 ) it would have resulted in a lost bull. And this gets compounded at extended range.
Post by: RadSav on June 01, 2015, 11:23:24 PM
So based on that, I am getting pretty good out to 80 yards but was thinking on limiting myself to 60 yards. Is this a wise range to stop at or am I being too conservative.
That will put your percentages of success very high. And fits perfectly into the 5 pin profile. Unlike a bullet the broadhead is going to kill the same regardless of range. But a bowhunters chance of success drops dramatically after reaching that 50 yard mark. That is close to the 300 yard threshold with a rifle. Do rifle hunters kill animals effectively past 300 yards? Sure they do. But they wound and miss a lot more beyond that point too.
It is probably a bit different now since I've taken a few more animals at distanced beyond 50 yards lately. But about ten years ago I tried to tally up as many archery kills with distance totals as I could remember. Worked out that my average bow kill was 37.3 yards. Calculated at total distance divided by number of animals. If I knew the distances before shooting sights I'd say that total would likely be 5 or more yards less. I'd bet it is still under 40 yards now. And that is considering a couple last day stretches. Point is that if you tell yourself to get closer you usually do.
If 60 is your comfort zone make every stalk with the pre-plan of getting to 40. If you run out of cover at 55...take the shot. It's still in your zone. If you have a pre-plan of getting to 60 then that is where 90% of your shots are going to be. And it shouldn't need to be that far majority of the time. My success rate is almost 100% over the past 25 years when I take shots inside 30 yards. So that is usually my goal when I step foot in the woods. 35 to 40 is my worst, but I still like that better than 50-60 even if the percentages might show otherwise.
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 02, 2015, 08:55:15 AM
I shot a coyote at 67 yards last fall on 1 September. Right behind the shoulder. Maybe it's the way the target/deer fills the sight when the range is 30-40
Post by: swashington2128 on June 02, 2015, 09:56:37 AM
Still have a couple months of practice and get ready. Wish time would go by a little faster. I am more nervous about this trip than I was when I went to boot camp 30 years ago. Cannot wait for archery season.
Post by: npaull on June 06, 2015, 10:27:01 AM
I therefore believe that ANY bow shot (follow-up shots not withstanding) over about 50 yards is firmly unethical. Even 50 is pushing it. Deer can jump the string impressively even at 20 yards. Out past 50ish, you just have no control over where that arrow is hitting. One of the bow hunting magazines actually ran the numbers on this not too long ago. It's just not about you or your gear at that point, it's about the animal, and you have to think of it in those terms.
It's a close range game. If you want to take long shots, get a muzzle loader.
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 06, 2015, 10:36:42 AM
A responsible person should definitely realize how much an animal can move but there is always a risk that the animal will jump the string or twitch and it doesn't matter if it's 22 yards or 62.
There are many scenarios in which I would take a shot over 50 yards. Imagine an elk 60 yards away feeding next to a rushing stream. He has his head down and is broadside, he isn't going to hear the string hardly and if he does it will be at 180 ft away that he won't drop like they do when they hear a "SLAP!" from much closer.
You say 50 yards...some would say 30. Many do say 30, especially back East. Some people on here have made 60+ yard shots on big game that were successful kills and recoveries. Every year we see these lost elk and deer from "perfect shots" that were 20-30-40-50-60 yards away. The range never seems to be the factor.
Post by: eastfork on June 17, 2015, 06:28:33 PM
Post by: Smoke on June 25, 2015, 10:42:13 AM
Post by: Duckslayer89 on August 04, 2015, 01:58:29 AM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on August 04, 2015, 09:28:49 AM
Post by: tgomez on August 06, 2015, 12:44:17 PM
Post by: Duckslayer89 on August 06, 2015, 08:32:26 PM
Post by: tgomez on August 07, 2015, 08:07:10 AM
Post by: swashington2128 on August 07, 2015, 10:57:35 AM
Fine tuning and extra practice only thing left to do.