Just wondering.how many of you would pledge to take shots a big game at 20 yards or less. Yes ...I know many can kill a animal at much greater distances. But the ones that kill at very short ranges all the time have learned a very limited skill. I think we all would be a better hunter and would understand the great outdoors we love more. Sometimes simple is better with less mistakes. Whats Your thoughts ?????
the personal pledge should be to know yer ethical limits, whatever they are, and adhere to 'em.
I'm always looking to take shots that are 20 yards or under. My favorite shots at game are between 14-17 yards. If over 20 yards, I let them walk.
Quotethe personal pledge should be to know yer ethical limits, whatever they are, and adhere to 'em.
Hear. Hear.
It's not even a slippery slope we head down, when we attempt to project our own limitations as the "moral std.".
I agree with Rob...
What makes 20yds. the magical distance?? I think that would probably cover 75% of all animals killed with trad equipment. If you really want to limit yourself, why not set "your" limit to under 10yds???
My simple "pledge" is to just keep taking "good shots", and have no regrets...
I agree with Rob. I personally limit my self to 20 yard shots, but what if I become a lot better shot? What if I'm hunting a moose, caribou, elk, buffalo, eland etc. Yes, I would stretch my shot limitation out slightly if I was pursuing very large animals. Note to all animals in my sights: Please position yourself at 17 yards, broadside, facing down or in the opposite direction. Thanks animals.
I don't think it can be put any better than Rob said it.
Rob is right. Take a shot only if you KNOW you can make it. It doesn't matter if it is 20 yards or 2 feet. If you are not certain you can make it then pass. JMO
BOB
My personal choice is to get the close broadside shot or I don't take it. For me it it's definitly under 20 but it is my personal choice based on ability, cirimstance, and experience. When I was shooting at the top of my form, I could certainly push that limit, so I would just say to know ones limit, try to get close, have fun, remember how fast they can move, and remember you have to track it after you shoot it.
Even with a compound I was just too worried about Murphy's law to take a shot that wasn't comfortable.
Never. I don't think about yardage, only whether my "gut" tells me I can make the shot. I've killed whitetail deer up to 35 yards and elk up to 55 yards, but I would never recommend those yardages to anyone else. I didn't know how far the shots were when I took them, but I knew I could hit the target. It was just what worked for me in a particular time and place. Of course I prefer the short shots, but things don't always work out that way. I practice at longer ranges a lot, and I know my limits under various circumstances.
Yardage matters very little to me. I look at that only after I have taken the shot on an animal in most cases. I shoot if the shot is good and i am confident I can make a good shot. Most are under 20 yards. I am not sure why 20 is the magic number all the time though. It would appear that most of the people that have commented on this thread would agree.
Good to hear from you all...thanks. The point I was trying to make was not really the distance but the effort and time and skill to get a animal close enought to feel his breath. (not really that close..lol..waaaaaaaa!) I have taken many animals at 5 to six yards on the ground. For you that have too.... You know the thrill..and also how hard it was to get that close. It took much time and a bit of luck for it to happen. I once slapped a doe on the butt as she walked by. I was behind a huge boulder on a well used trail. the wind was right. It was a trill to see the look on that does face as she bolted. She stopped about 25 yards away and looked back...then walked away. It was a fun day ...Jeff
The "magic" number is whatever number that is at the comfortable limit of the particular shooter. My personal "magic" number is right at about 20-25 yds for a clean kill shot, some folks who shoot heavier bows regularly might be uber-confident at 30-35 yds. Its all a personal limitation.
Personal ethics are the true goal. We don't need wounded animals out there dieing a slow death due to a crummy gut shot, or worse, a shot in the ham.
I really don't see any point in making a pledge to limit shots to 20 and under. That is a bit elitist IMO.
The longest shot I have ever taken on large game was a doe at 34 yards. The shortest was a buck at 3 yards. I have turned many deer down in between those ranges just because it didn't feel right.
I do agree with GSPrimiative that the closer the critter the the more exciting it gets. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
I agree with Rob...
My simple "pledge" is to just keep taking "good shots", and have no regrets...
I will pledge up with this one.
Spectre, off the subject but a ham shot is better than a gut shot. I've seen several ham shots take deer down as quickly as chest shots. Big blood vessels back there, and in a magazine article years ago I read Fred Bear's comment that he liked hindquarter shots on a deer facing away.
I don't put numbers to a distance when shooting at a live animal-it just has to be right or I wait for a better opportunity.
The fun is the chase anyway, and that takes far more thought and planning.
QuoteOriginally posted by Don Stokes:
Spectre, off the subject but a ham shot is better than a gut shot. I've seen several ham shots take deer down as quickly as chest shots. Big blood vessels back there, and in a magazine article years ago I read Fred Bear's comment that he liked hindquarter shots on a deer facing away.
Well, I stand corrected. I'll still go for the boiler room. :p
No thanks, I am a hunter not a yardage estimator.
I have had many many animals at less than than 10 yds and I have touched an elk on the nose with my hand. If I feel comfortable with a shot I'll take it. Granted that doesn't put me much beyond "your" limit. Much more goes into an ethical shot than just the distance.
For me, a ground hunter, I find it more difficult to shoot a deer under ten yards than between 20 and 30 yards. When deer are that close they can be alerted very easily to me. I have more confidence when the deer is not hot wired into my position and I can get off a more predictable shot as a result. I had a group of six deer this past season within 15 feet of me, no shot possible. One of the six was a fawn that ate my apple core that was only three feet from me. I take pride in the fact that I did not spook them, but still there was no shot as they were all leaving.
I hold the line at 20 right now, I am improving and will probably extend that to 25 this coming season. I agree with Rob. Keep it to where you know you can make the shot.
Nothing better than to hear a deer snoring before you shot it. :archer:
pavan, similar thing happened to me. Six does got too close to me while I hunkered down behind my turkey camo fabric blind, and I had no shot. Wind was just right from them to me, and their deer smell was mucho strong, so they just feed all around in front of me. As a ground hunter a couple of things are working: no tree stand angles to figure, bend at waist, etc. so I can shoot like I practice all off season ... advantage me. But, I am at whitetail eye-level so any movement is advantage deer. No pre-set number of feet, but on the ground I will take a shot at a deer at greater range than I will while in my ladder stand. I will not push a shot beyond what my gut and conscience are telling me. I guess I believe all the variables (open shot or through brush, good light vs. almost dark, feeding deer or "wired" deer, etc.) that go into a shot should determine whether you take it or not, rather than a pre-determined range limit.
:thumbsup:
Absolutely not. First, I don't hunt from trees or portables. I'm on the move almost all the time and quite frankly don't often know the yardage. I've shot animals from so close that the arrow was in the animal before it left the bow to about 35 yards. Note, I said about since I don't really know how far it was.
Pavan has it right about short shots being tougher. This year I shot two caribou. One over 30 thru the ribs. One at about 4 yards that I hit in the hips when it exploded just as I was releasing.
Sorry I am regulated enough in life. I will take any shot I think I can make, but I won't take a shot if it's questionable either.
We are getting way to regulated PERIOD.
JB
I would not take that pledge. To each his own. It can be said I have a differing pledge.
QuoteOriginally posted by kadbow:
Much more goes into an ethical shot than just the distance.
:thumbsup:
What Rob said.
I once shot a black bear on the ground at 10 FEET! Not sure I'd want to do that again even if I had the chance :scared: :biglaugh:
"Here we have a weapon of beauty and romance. He who shoots with a bow , puts his life's energy into it. The force behind the flying shaft must be placed there by the archer. He must approach within striking distance. And when he speeds his low whispering shaft and strikes his game ,he has won by strength of arm and nerve. It is a noble sport".
Saxton Pope
I've taken shots to 80 yards: COYOTES
I just can't help myself and don't think therapy would make any difference.
I dont believe in a pledge. Actions speak louder than words. I dont care if a guy were to tell me he didnt take bad shots. I care that a guy doesnt take bad shots. Yardage isnt the only aspect of a bad shot. There are plenty of bad shots inside 20 yards.
I shot my first deer at 45 yards with 41#@28. It went less than 25 yards. I was 16 shooting target archery at 90 meters, so heck it looked close to me. Now under 20 and 10 is even better.
I will take any shot that i am 100% sure i can get an arrow through the vitals. There is no number on this.
With that said i think from reading your post 3 times that your are saying that if we limit our selfs to 20 that in the process we will learn to become better hunters to be able get with in that distance. I understand that but i think that with our choice of weapon we have already done that.
I have always kept within my bounds.
under 20,not a chance,,I still live in the free world.
I have always used what Dirty Harry said when it comes to shooting at critters; "a man has to know his limitations" To me a profound word of advice! :archer:
Most of us live by "we are only respondable for our own action" AND WHAT IT BRINGS. Most take only good shots at fair ranges. What I was thinking was...and from doing it that we become a better hunter at the closer shots. We learn different things. I'm right but after thinking.. wrong too. You can say the same on "VERY" long shots too. It would take great practice and skill to do that right as well. My point is learn all you can to become the best hunter. Theres many and more rewards too !!!! ...Jeff P.S. and yes we are "FREE" Thank God !!! :)
No sir, won't do it. If that's what YOU need to do then by all means. It mostly works out under 20yds anyway, but not always.
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
What makes 20yds. the magical distance??
I honestly don't know, but I always get a little skeptical when things like hunting ethics and skill are hitched to an arbitrary measurement of shot distance (not saying that's what's happening here).
I know a guy who for years has claimed the moral high ground because he kills all his deer within 10 yards (and wounds a lot too, but that fact only rarely creeps out). He's fond of saying that 15 yards is, to him, "a terribly impersonal distance." I'll admit that I was impressed for a while, until I shot a few 3D courses with him. Then it became apparent that the only reason he doesn't shoot past ten yards is because he can't hit the broad side of a barn at fifteen.
If a person can kill deer all day long at 30 yards, but restricts himself to 15 or so because he feels that it's a greater challenge, then God bless; a pat on the back and I'm with you. But if the reason someone only takes short shots is because they can't hit anything beyond spitball range, well, I've never seen any reason to take pride in not being able to shoot well.