Long range bow hunting
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I shot a buck and a doe each at 38 yards for my personal longest.
Idaho_Elk_Huntr
Well-Known Member
70 would be my max on an elk and 50 on a whitetail
elk 66 yards
whitetail 45
bear 30
elk 66 yards
whitetail 45
bear 30
Buffalobob
Well-Known Member
Running or still?
bigboyhunter
Member
60 yards on blacktail buck is my longest and my limit when I practice enough!
linksmechanic
Well-Known Member
I would think it would be opposite shorter on elk longer on deer. Elk are way harder to kill than deer.
elkhuntinguru
Member
listen I dont believe what someone else can do with a bow has any berring on what an individual should attemt to do if you want to become a proficient bow hunter practice every day keep your bow and equipment in tip top shape make sure when you practice you do so in all positions and try to duplicate as many shot angles as you possibly can then and only then can you begin to determine your maximum effective range I wouldnt consider attempting a shot at any range that I couldnt hold a minimum 6" group with 6 arrows there are hunters that dont think about ethics and will send animals off looking like pin cushions only to die a slow painful death I practice and shoot marked yardage out to 120yrds but would never attempt to shoot an animal at that distance because I respect the game I hunt hope this helps you out. remember practice makes perfect but limits are needed for all.
15 feet is my longest bow kill. She was sniffing the bottom of the tree I was sitting in. The arrow penetrated just to the left of her spine, yeah about 1.5" left of where I was aiming(still not bad for a bare recurve and cedar arrows).
Mike Alford
Mike Alford
Last edited:
I have to side with elkhuntinguru. I think that bowhunting is totally different than rifle hunting. I think that being able to hit a 6" group with ALL 5-6 arrows is a good determiner of what your maximum distance should be. However, I think it should be in a hunting type situation (not stading flat footed in your back yard in your jeans and tennis shoes next to your 50yd marker, with no wind at noon on saturday) If you can't do this kind of accuracy in hunting clothes, from kneeling/treestand positions while your cold and nervous, you shouldn't attempt the shot.
I know I put a lot of time in my rifle hunting preperation, and KNOW that when I pull the trigger, that the target/animal at the other end of the scope is going to die! I don't think this kind of confidence is possible with a bow.
Some things to consider:
1. Our arrows flight time is MUCH longer than a rifle bullets path. Thus animals have a cance to move postions before the arrow gets there.
2. The sound of the bow is heard well before the arrow gets to the animal which gives them a cance to "jump the string"
3. Wind drift can be quite significant with arrows. It is also difficult to calculate how much drift we will get (lots of practice is the only way).
4. An archers "effective" kill zone is much smaller than a rifle unters. No head, neck, high/front shoulder, no broken leg/hip bones to slow the animal enough for a second shot..... you get the idea. There is no room for error!
I know people that have killed animals at long range with a bow, but these same people have wounded more than their fair share (even if they don't tell others, I bet it is happening).
Now a little background about me so that people reading this know that I do actually know what I am talking about, and not just blowing smoke. I am a registered NFAA Professional. I have been shootin competitively and hunting for 19 years. I have won many 3d and target tournaments at the local, state, and the national level. I travel across the country shooting with the BEST archers in the world, and know what is capable with bow and arrow. I have also worked in the archery industry for years, and see what all types bowhunters are actually capable of when "the chips are down". I have killed 6 elk and 15 deer with archery equipment. Yes I have wounded animals, but that was when I was new and learning. Now, with a strong sense of ethics and hard work, since 1997 I have not wounded/lost a single animal, I missed one mule deer doe in 1999 at 32 yards when my arrow hit a branch I did not see. Everything else that I sent an arrow at has died.
Here are my personal limits and why. Keep in mind that anything over 35 yards MUST be rangefound befre shooting, or I won't take the shot. 2 yards means a LOT with a bow, no matter how fast you are shooting. (I shoot a heavy carbon arrow at 290fps with a good fixed blade broadhead)
Elk: 55 yards max - This in ideal conditions only. They rarely jump the string, and have a large kill zone.
Mule deer: 50 yards - Again ideal conditions only (which is rare in mule deer country) They also don't jump the string very often.
White-tail deer: 35 yards MAX - They are just way to jumpy and hyper and usually move somewhat before the arrow gets there!
Sorry for the long post guys, but I do feel that archery and rifle hunting are different, and long shots at 80+ yards and stuff like that have no place in bowhunting. I think most peolpe that bowhunt enjoy the callenge of getting up close and personal with our prey. So always try and get closer!
aroshtr
I know I put a lot of time in my rifle hunting preperation, and KNOW that when I pull the trigger, that the target/animal at the other end of the scope is going to die! I don't think this kind of confidence is possible with a bow.
Some things to consider:
1. Our arrows flight time is MUCH longer than a rifle bullets path. Thus animals have a cance to move postions before the arrow gets there.
2. The sound of the bow is heard well before the arrow gets to the animal which gives them a cance to "jump the string"
3. Wind drift can be quite significant with arrows. It is also difficult to calculate how much drift we will get (lots of practice is the only way).
4. An archers "effective" kill zone is much smaller than a rifle unters. No head, neck, high/front shoulder, no broken leg/hip bones to slow the animal enough for a second shot..... you get the idea. There is no room for error!
I know people that have killed animals at long range with a bow, but these same people have wounded more than their fair share (even if they don't tell others, I bet it is happening).
Now a little background about me so that people reading this know that I do actually know what I am talking about, and not just blowing smoke. I am a registered NFAA Professional. I have been shootin competitively and hunting for 19 years. I have won many 3d and target tournaments at the local, state, and the national level. I travel across the country shooting with the BEST archers in the world, and know what is capable with bow and arrow. I have also worked in the archery industry for years, and see what all types bowhunters are actually capable of when "the chips are down". I have killed 6 elk and 15 deer with archery equipment. Yes I have wounded animals, but that was when I was new and learning. Now, with a strong sense of ethics and hard work, since 1997 I have not wounded/lost a single animal, I missed one mule deer doe in 1999 at 32 yards when my arrow hit a branch I did not see. Everything else that I sent an arrow at has died.
Here are my personal limits and why. Keep in mind that anything over 35 yards MUST be rangefound befre shooting, or I won't take the shot. 2 yards means a LOT with a bow, no matter how fast you are shooting. (I shoot a heavy carbon arrow at 290fps with a good fixed blade broadhead)
Elk: 55 yards max - This in ideal conditions only. They rarely jump the string, and have a large kill zone.
Mule deer: 50 yards - Again ideal conditions only (which is rare in mule deer country) They also don't jump the string very often.
White-tail deer: 35 yards MAX - They are just way to jumpy and hyper and usually move somewhat before the arrow gets there!
Sorry for the long post guys, but I do feel that archery and rifle hunting are different, and long shots at 80+ yards and stuff like that have no place in bowhunting. I think most peolpe that bowhunt enjoy the callenge of getting up close and personal with our prey. So always try and get closer!
aroshtr
mabell
Member
long range bow shots
my longest shot was a cow elk at 50 yds. whitetail at 42
my longest shot was a cow elk at 50 yds. whitetail at 42
AJ Peacock
Well-Known Member
Excellent post Aroshtr.
Longest 42yds on a Javelina (heart shot).
AJ
Longest 42yds on a Javelina (heart shot).
AJ
Buffalobob
Well-Known Member
Is today Sunday?
