Whats everyones average shot distance at whitetail ? I see people showing their groups, but how far ? I can shoot out to about 20, little iffy after that. I am thinking 20-25 yds should be more than good
My average would be fifteen yards, maybe a little less.
Average shots for me have been 12-16 yards. In harvesting over 100 whitetails my longest shot has been 35 yards. Closest was straight down at the base of my tree while the buck was sniffing my ladder step. If you can keep them all in the boiler room at 20-25 you'll do just fine.
Average shots for me have been 12-16 yards. In harvesting over 100 whitetails my longest shot has been 35 yards. Closest was straight down at the base of my tree while the buck was sniffing my ladder step. If you can keep them all in the boiler room at 20-25 you'll do just fine.
I haven't actually shot a whitetail yet since last year was my first season with trad gear. But I set up for about 12 yards, and 15 is my max. But I'm working every day on increasing it. I'd like to be comfortable at 20, but I'll still set up for around 12-15. I've killed an aoudad and a fallow doe so far, one at 16 and one at around 12-14.
That was what I was thinking, But I second guess myself thinking about 20 yds or more, Then I get very discouraged with my shooting at those distances
Well, I keep notes in my average as of right now for Whitetail is 11 yards. I won't take a shot over 30ish yards but I also don't think in terms of yardage anymore, that's a compound thing. I think in terms of confidence or lack there of. If I'm confident of a clean kill I'll take a shot if not I won't.
All that being said when I average my shots on mature Whitetial bucks (3.5 or older) the average jumps to 18 yards. Pressured mature bucks don't mess around and stuff tends to happen when they get close in a bad way. Until this year all of my mature bucks have been harvested at distances between 22-32 yards. My average has been dropping which tells me I'm learning a lot about mature bucks. They are just a different animal.
It's also lower because I've been hunting unpressured deer more. I'd tell you which state it is but people would get all their pants in a wad
QuoteOriginally posted by valleysniper:
That was what I was thinking, But I second guess myself thinking about 20 yds or more, Then I get very discouraged with my shooting at those distances
I think we all do! Keep practicing
Well let's see, 2016 buck was about 24 yards, doe was about 6, I guess 15. See how that 4th grade math worked for me. Sister Ramona would be so proud.
My farthest is 27 yards. Closest is 4-5 yards. Over 30+ years my average is 11 yards
19 average. I really lose confidence when shots get around the thirty yard line. I think it has more to do with my vision at that range not being as sharp or detailed.
Just keep it close and keep hunting. I haven't shot at a deer over maybe 20 yards away in years most are closer to 10-12. Closest was 5 paces away, from the ground ( no blind).
Average shot on whitetais has been just under 14 yards.
Recurves: Just worked out my average - 14 yards.
Different Bow: Don't remember them all but longest 33 yards shortest, like above, under the tree.
A survey was done of PY records several years ago.
"Traditional" average = 14 yards
Compound average = 17 yards
Years ago in Maine they determined 17 yards was an average shot on deer.
with trad for me is about 10-12 yards
I bet 85% of the deer I have shot AND KILLED have been within 14yards.
Almost all have been between 10-20 yards....so I'll say 15 yards.
My average is about 13yds. I set up for that distance and most of my shots are right around that distance. I have taken shots out to 25yds, and passed shots at 10yds, all depending on circumstances and "feel".
Bisch
My average shot on a white tail is around 15 yards. I like shots between 10 to 20 yard. I could shoot to 25 or 30 but try to avoid it if possible.
i have harvested 40 with Recurves and they average about 12-15 yds. There is one exception, several years ago I had 3 does walk by about 35-40 yds away in very tall weeds on a creek bank. I had been shooting almost every day that summer. I focused on the head of a big doe and released. I thought it would be a clean kill or miss. The shot was spot on and the kill was quick. Although, I have watched that autumn orange shaft fly in my memory over and over again. I would not attempt attempt that shot today!
My average, is 12 yards.
:scared: :banghead:
:knothead: :banghead:
inside of 20.
Thanks everybody, think my original thinking was on the right track
I set my stands for shots 20yds and in, my average shot is 9yds as of now.
Average has always been 10-15 yards ground, no blind.
Deno
Mine is 18 yards over say last 50 deer
My average about 12 yards, my farthest on a whitetail was 28 yards, (a follow up shot),. I practice daily anywhere from 10-30 yards.
I'd say 15 yards since that is how I have my stands set for hunting.
Most have been 20 or less. I have shot few deer, so I don't have a wide spread of shot scenarios to consider.
Most of my deer have been shot around 10 yards with my longest being 25 or so. I like the close ones.
12-15yds average for 21 whitetails.
I like them under 16 yards and over 14 yards.
Last years white tails were 12, 11,17,and10 in that order. Don't really keep track but that 17 yarder was a long shot for me.
20, 18, 10, 10. Avg 14.5.
My misses avg about 8 yrds.
Out of well over 40 deer, the closest two were 18 yards and about 9 feet uphill, both shot sitting on the same downed tree and walking on the same trail.
Within 10 yard avg. I like to be close to them, cuts errors down. Biggest deer 27 yds and second biggest 20 yds. But most under 10. This fall a doe at 3.
QuoteOriginally posted by TooManyHobbies:
20, 18, 10, 10. Avg 14.5.
My misses avg about 8 yrds.
Dang I haven't tallied my misses but I'd wager that the average is less than my kills LMAO Seems those easy ones always get you. The last 3 misses on deer were at 22, 6, and 2 yards :help:
I hunt my own property and have spent a great deal of time considering stand placement. I know travel routes well so I am able to set up "ambush stands". These are stands that are in dense cover that are on trails that the deer seem relaxed while moving through.Consequently, my shots are very close. My longest shot has been 14yds. Most are 10 or less. One was 4yds. These are treestands by the way. Also, my stands are not high. 12ft.
12 yards on a whitetail seems perfect to me. Most of my shots are in the 15-18 range.
I've kept stats and my average is 15yards. I purposely set up for 15yards.
my shot distance is self imposed based on how I feel about the shot....over the years my shots have been from 7 yards to maybe 15/17 yds but most in the 10-12 yd range.
If you second guess yourself about the distances...dont shoot. If you are frustrated with not being able to hit repeatedly at 25-30 yds...then dont....stay under 20 yds. As my eyes got worse and I hated wearing glasses...I went from extremely confident at 25+ to not so much. Now I try to get as close as I can....and I dont take shots I am not very confident...and that is usually 15 yds or less.
I do agree 15 seems to be where I am most confident. Closer and the animal I think can hear or sense something is up, farther than 20yds I think a lot can happen by the time the arrow gets there
13 yards.
David
Average is 10-12yds on all deer including mature bucks. 35+ yrs of bow hunting and only ever shot one time at big game over 20yds even hunting many years out west.
Tracy
I've killed a setting rabbit he was about 18, and deer that was 18ish, and a running rabbit that was 10-12.... that's the extent of my trad kills. So I'd say my average is falling around 16yards. That's what I practice and try to set my stands up for 14-16 yards. I'm gonna try another year of all trad for the up coming deer season... I hope to increase my numbers and decrease the distance. I'm confident at 16 but I want to harvest one close! Under 10 yards would be great!
about10 to 20 yards at most things i shoot
My average is about the same as most other replies. My average is about 10 yards, whitetail deer as the prey and me hunting from a treestand.
I think I am right in line with most here. I am very confident at 15 yards and could stretch that to 20.
I know I have passed on a bull elk at about 33 yards (too far) quartering away.
I used a range finder afterwards, just to check.