Your Longest Archery Big Game Kill

Longest Big Game Kill With Bow

  • Under 20 yards

    Votes: 22 4.3%
  • 21 to 40 yards

    Votes: 132 26.1%
  • 41 to 60 yards

    Votes: 171 33.8%
  • 61 to 80 yards

    Votes: 111 21.9%
  • 81 to 100 yards

    Votes: 40 7.9%
  • Over 100 yards

    Votes: 30 5.9%

  • Total voters
    506
While I like to practice at long range (subjective to the shooter of course), I've never taken an animal outside of 20 yards. Granted I only hunt whitetails here in Indiana and have only shot a few deer with a bow, every shot has been closer. When I first started bow hunting, I practiced to 20 and 30 yards and kept my shots to 15 or less. As I developed, I started pushing the envelope further. I now practice at 60-70 yards and feel very confident in my skills to shoot a deer out to 35-40 yards. I just don't get out enough to be able to continue to push things further right now.
 
Antelope, last year, bowtech invasion, easton nfused arrow, rage 100gr chisel tip broad head, 104yards
 
I killed a 5 point bull elk the year before with the same bow and arrow set up at 73 yards, he was 38deg down hill. I aimed for him with my 60 yard pin dead on and put one right in the boiler room. He went about the same before going down as the antelope
 
Antelope buck at 96 yards with my Mathews switchback. He went about 15 yards and fell over.
 
75 yards western sierra high country mule deer, 6 point buck w/ bowtech assassin w/ react pro 7 2 seasons ago. Most nervous 2 seconds of my life after that arrow got sent.
 
I've always tried to be ready for anything while bow hunting range wise. I am completely comfortable shooting game to about 65 yards if the conditions are perfect and I can range it. However, the furthest a deer has presented a shot to me is 24 yards. I had two deer once while stalking through the woods at 47 and 52 yards and feeding on some acorns but right as I drew they decided dinner was over and that was my only opportunity to get a lane. I do feel lucky to have a public 3D Course where I live and treat every outing there as a hunting scenario. I generally treat the post as a "there's a (animal species)" and then will shoot from there and a few more from spots I would have stalked to. On the closer targets, I always guess the range, shoot, range it, shoot. I have broken some arrows but keeps me ready.
 
How about closest? I was really confused how to line up a shot at ground level with a deer 5 yards away from me. I've never practiced under 15 yards but began after this event.

My shot went about 8 inches high. Deer was facing straight on so instead of a chest shot (I know not supposed to with bow, but figured this close the broadhead could punch through anything) it was a neck shot and the rage broadhead nearly decapitated the dang thing
 
First elk...spike...snuck in on him and the herd..put an arrow into his lungs at about 40 yards....they ran up the hill...I squealed a little at them and he turned around to look back...buried another into his throat as he was facing me....80 yards....but this was before lazers...
and it was a really old Browning wheeled bow....killed several critters with that bow..started buying new bows and killed only a couple animals....go figure....just because you can shoot..doesn't mean the game will be there....biggest bull was about 45 yards....
Also killed a spike bull at maybe 6 feet...head of a trail...buried the arrow entirely into him...and shot a Blacktail doe at about the same 6 feet...whistled the doe to me...apparently she thought all the noise was worthy of "checking out".....
 
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