bennyJ
Member
Reged: 04/08/07
Posts: 135
Post Bucks: $2.98
Loc: sunrise mn
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What is your comfortable range? How far would you shoot to kill a deer?
Most shots should be within 20 or so yards if you have position yourself in the woods off the trail just right.
I am asking if you are off a field. What is the furthest shot do you think you could comfortable take without any thought.
I can make a 50 yard shot with no problem. I have never taken a deer that far but I have shot a turkey that far with my bow.
I was watching monster bucks and seems like those guys make some pretty far shots. I know it depends on practice/ability/bow you shoot/confidence and a bunch of other factors. Some people can make some long shots.
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robhood23
Member
Reged: 01/02/07
Posts: 171
Post Bucks: $3.96
Loc: Rochester, MN
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25 yards but I do shoot a recurve!
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The man who believes he can and the man who believes he can't are both right!!
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Dartman
Member
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 1062
Post Bucks: $8.60
Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI
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For me it would be 35 to 40 yards max. I usually don't hunt field edges and a shot past 40 yard is rather rare in the hardwoods where I hunt! 
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Dartman (Mike Pearson)
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Chowdski
Member
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 205
Post Bucks: $3.06
Loc: Oakdale, MN
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I'm comfortable out to 50 yards, but I try not to shoot over 40 yards. I'll take a 45-50 yd shot if the conditions are just right, i.e. being able to hold my pin very steady, low wind, deer not alert.
Those conditions are rare though..
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THWACK!
Justin Schneider
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Lip Ripper
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/14/03
Posts: 7839
Post Bucks: $21.28
Loc: Northern Twin Cities, MN
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My comfort range under "Ideal" Conditions is 41-42 yards. Top 3 things that "Ideal" includes is: calm conditions (no or very little wind), good light and relaxed deer.
I can shoot well and very confident out to at least 50 yards. With all that said, the farthest shot I have taken is 25 yards. The longest shot I have taken on a buck is 22 yards.
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Lip Ripper (aka Rob Stenger)
GameHide Pro Staff /
Northland Concrete & Masonry
BfishN Tackle /
Stone Construction Inc
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gutone4me
Member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 365
Post Bucks: $6.30
Loc: sparta wi
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35 thats it
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growing old is mandatory growing up is optional
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Prieser
Member
Reged: 01/08/04
Posts: 589
Post Bucks: $4.40
Loc: Byron, MN
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Quote:
35 thats it
agreed, I have shot my bow out to 40 yards, but for me it gets a little too jumpy on the site pin.
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"The biggest thing to remember is 'Don't Panic'"
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Budaman
Member
Reged: 04/04/07
Posts: 33
Post Bucks: $1.60
Loc: North Metro, MN
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When taking a shot on a deer, I won't go past 25 yards. I'm ok on a target out to about 40, but just wouldn't want to take the chance of a non-fatal shot. My confidence just isn't there on the longer ones.
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jrrendler
Member
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 150
Post Bucks: $1.80
Loc: Mantorville, MN
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When a person says they are confident or comfortable out to 50 yards, are they saying they can shoot a tight 1" group at that range? Or does a person mean that they can plunk one shot within a few inches most of the time at 50 yards but will be way off on some?
Just wondering what others think. I know I am not accurate at that range....not even close.
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big G
Member
Reged: 09/19/03
Posts: 2863
Post Bucks: $14.00
Loc: St. Cloud, MN USA
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I can shoot a 4" group at 50 yards, with no WTF arrows...  Would I shoot at a deer at 50 yards ????? If everything was ideal, yes. No wind, broadside, unalert deer.... the farthest I have shot is 32 yards on doe, she piled up in 40 yards
big G 
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Kooty
Site Guardian - Gold
Reged: 05/17/01
Posts: 5731
Post Bucks: $4.54
Loc: 1 hour 15 mins to the Pond
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To me, accuracy is 3" diameter of a center mass perfect shot. So if you look at the vitals, the perfect spot for me is top of the heart, straight up the back of the front leg. Put a 3 inch circle around that and I'll take my chance tracking and finding that animal won't be an issue.
So that being said, at any distance, I better be able to get 6 out of 6 in there in my opinion. I grew up in windy, treeless SD so we practiced out to 50 all the time. Especially spot/stalk hunts for mule deer in the river breaks. I don't ever recall getting a calm animal, no wind day. So for me at that time 40 yards was the "max" but I was very comfortable with my 50 yard pin. I believe to accomplish this,
1. tons of practice
2. finely tuned bow/arrow/broadhead combination
3. environmental conditions
I believe each individual must decide this before he/she goes into the field also.
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I was born in the 70's, grew up in 80's, made my mistakes in 90's now I'm just trying to make up for lost time.
John
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Chowdski
Member
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 205
Post Bucks: $3.06
Loc: Oakdale, MN
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Quote:
When a person says they are confident or comfortable out to 50 yards, are they saying they can shoot a tight 1" group at that range? Or does a person mean that they can plunk one shot within a few inches most of the time at 50 yards but will be way off on some?
To me, 3-4" groups on a consistent basis is what I consider being confident enough to make a shot. Right now, I am fortunate enough to make this type of shot at 50 yds, but I have the luxury of shooting my bow every day. Even than, I would still refrain from taking a shot over 40-42 yds under almost all circumstances.
Put some shaking, wind, and spooky deer into the picture and I think that max shot goes down to 25yds.
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Lip Ripper
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/14/03
Posts: 7839
Post Bucks: $21.28
Loc: Northern Twin Cities, MN
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Good Points Chowdski and Koots!
I guess if I have wind it does not bother me too much, because I practice in those conditions also, but it does knock down my confident range a little (35-40 yards depending on wind speed)). What mostly knocks down my comfort range is an Alert animal. Also my above conditions are mainly for tree stand or blind hunting Whitetails. Spot and Stalk, Mule Deer, or Elk might be a lil' different story.
Also note to the guys that don't practice long shots, you should. It is amazing how after shooting @ 50 yards, 25 yards seems like 10.
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Lip Ripper (aka Rob Stenger)
GameHide Pro Staff /
Northland Concrete & Masonry
BfishN Tackle /
Stone Construction Inc
Edited by Lip Ripper (10/08/08 02:40 PM)
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muskyman
Member
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 505
Post Bucks: $3.46
Loc: Arkansaw, Wisconsin
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I think it is all about ones confidence level. If you shoot alot at a said range, you build your confidence level to that range. If you draw on a deer at say 40 yards and you think to yourself, "I hope I can put her right where it counts", then you probably shouldn't shoot. I like others shoot all the way out to 50 yards on a regular basis and am very confident on my abilities at that range but anything over 30-35 I will only shoot if I have time to verify the distance with my rangefinder.
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I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." - Michael Jordan
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Riveratt
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Reged: 05/17/01
Posts: 604
Post Bucks: $4.18
Loc: Central Wisconsin US-of-A
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Fifty yards? Are you guys serious? You do know how far fifty yards is right? I look at the yard lines at the local football games and picture, even 35 yards, and always wonder if guys honestly know how far 50 yards is with a bow. Truth is I'm not even sure my old 36MX Darton can throw an arrow that far! These new fangled bows and carbon arrows must really be something.
Truth of it is I always figured if I can't get a deer within 20-25 yards I don't deserve it with a bow. Thankfully, I guess, we don't have huge bucks to tempt me beyond that range. If bullwinkle himself strolled into sight and stood broad side at 40 yards from me he'd most likely sleep sound that night. I'm sure I'd be better equipped to run him down than to shoot him at that distance. I've never shot my bow past 35 yards. 25 yards and under I can rip fletchings and break knocks off arrows by stacking them so tight in the target. Good enough for me with what I use.
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Most of my life has been spent fishing.The rest of it I just wasted.
If I'm not fishing, hunting, or ATVing, you can bet I'm wishing I was!
Control your kids, not my guns!
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big G
Member
Reged: 09/19/03
Posts: 2863
Post Bucks: $14.00
Loc: St. Cloud, MN USA
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Good point Musky Whenever I sit down in a new set, I will range objects all around me. I build a picture in my head where my limits are and what ranges they are at. I can say, I have never ranged a 50 yard perimeter, when I sit down, I hunt mostly in the woods. Where I used to live, I would hunt over an alfalfa field quite often, I literally got a can of white spray paint and marked off 20 yards, 30 yards and 40 yards, in an arc in front of my set. This was before I even heard of a range finder
big G 
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big G
Member
Reged: 09/19/03
Posts: 2863
Post Bucks: $14.00
Loc: St. Cloud, MN USA
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Riverrat, with my old bow, I wouldn't think of over 30 yards... with my Hoyt, I have no problem setting my Block out at 50 and drilling 4" circle. I know it is 50, because I used my rangefinder to establish my distances. It is a long ways for sure, but with practice and muscle memory, with time, it's like shooting at 20 yards. I shoot for a good month, before I even attempt to check my longrange pins
big G
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gutone4me
Member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 365
Post Bucks: $6.30
Loc: sparta wi
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Also note to the guys that don't practice long shots, you should. It is amazing how after shooting @ 50 yards, 25 yards seems like 10.
agreed i practice mostly at 40 yards makes 20 seem like a layup 
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growing old is mandatory growing up is optional
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Steve White
Member
Reged: 09/27/08
Posts: 102
Post Bucks: $2.04
Loc: St Germain, WI
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Practice is what it takes to make any shot. The right practice is even more important!! See a lot of people who shoot alot miss often. Shooting from an elvated position is differnt than flat ground. Putting out a target at 20yds standing there and expect to shoot a deer or anything from 30ft in the air could be costly.
I have elevated stands all around my yard. I practice taking shots out to 80yds from 15-30ft in the air. Also take some of them on the ground. very confident I can make a killing shot at those ranges normally.
Right now is not normal though for me. Pulled the bow out 2 weeks ago and the limbs had delaminated. Going back to an old back up gloden eagle bow I have tossed a bunch of arrow in the bush. With the old gear 50yds would be max now.
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Steve White
715-892-0032
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todd carnes
Member
Reged: 07/15/05
Posts: 438
Post Bucks: $3.08
Loc: Milan IL
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I rarely hunt field edges but I wouldnt shoot over 30 yards, I just feel like to much can go wrong any further out no matter how good you shoot.
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