What is your max yardage for hunting?

30coupe · September 29, 2011, 12:06:00 AM

I'm good to 25 yards. After that the arrows start to drop too much, and the critters do some dumb things...like move. The longest shot at game so far is 22 yards. From a tree stand I like 15-20 yards the best. Closer is too much angle. Further is...see above.

Kituwa · September 29, 2011, 12:12:00 AM

On a deer i know i can hit at 30 yards but anything over 20 and there is way too much chance he will string jump so i like shots more like 15 to 20 at most.Now rabbits,,ill take a shot at 100 if he will stand still,lol.I wont hit him at 100 but i miss most at 10 yards so oh well.

rdoggsilva · September 29, 2011, 01:29:00 AM

20 yards or less, mainly less.

GRINCH · September 29, 2011, 01:42:00 AM

I'm comfortable at 20 yards but prefer 15.

BradLantz · September 29, 2011, 03:54:00 AM

when the shot feels right, take it

the other day, I was in a groove, hit a softball at 39 steps dead center

there is no set yardage IMO in traditional archery. If you can make the shot, take it. that might be passing a 10 yard shot and later taking a 25 yard shot you know?

that said, I like 15 yards and closer

Thebear_78 · September 29, 2011, 04:08:00 AM

It all depends on how the shot feels. have passed on closer shots and taken and connected on shots out to 25 yards.

Friend · September 29, 2011, 04:44:00 AM

Acknowledging, knowing your effective hunting range and sticking to it is a common trait shared by many affluent hunter.

Understanding and immediately recognizing that effective hunting ranges may vary significantly from situation to situation is imperative.

Loose the arrow when confidence is soundly excellent for the quarry we seek deserves nothing less.

Hoyt · September 29, 2011, 06:07:00 AM

It all depends on how big the target looks (deer). I never think in terms of how many yds. when I'm shooting. I have however stepped off the distances that I practice from in the yd. just for curiosity.

With those stepped off distances in mind, I'm confident from 30yds in...that's on target in the yd. 99.9% of my shots at deer are inside 15yds. with 20yds being a long shot.

SteveB · September 29, 2011, 06:14:00 AM

Lots must use a range finder or are far better then me to tell the difference between 17 and 19 yds in hunting conditions.

straitera · September 29, 2011, 06:34:00 AM

All trad animals I've killed inside 30 yards & likely 25. Can't remember exactly. I may walk it off or not. Like a few above, I can't tell exact 17 yds from 19 yards or 25 from 27 & don't practice yardages.

Javi · September 29, 2011, 06:56:00 AM

I know when I can make the shot and when I cannot, I've never measured the distance nor have I ever cared to when shooting instinctively..

That's for folks who use sights of one kind or another..

jamesh76 · September 29, 2011, 07:08:00 AM

It depends for me.

On the ground I would be good at 20yards.

But if I am in a stand it seems that I need to stay in the 15-17 yard range.

Bobby Urban · September 29, 2011, 07:41:00 AM

Like many here I do not actually have a limit or even known distance that I keep inside of. I stand hunt either on the ground or in a tree and all my stands are set up to keep them close so most of my shots are inside of 17yrds or so. Then there is the random hunt where that deer is creeping through and stops with a little hole offering their vitals and everything just feels right and the arrow is on its way, zipping through the cage. I paced one off at 41trds once after getting down and looking back at how far I shot. If I had known the distance before the shot I probably would not have even pulled the string back. Just part of hunting for me I guess.

All my practice is wandering and random shots at stumps, leaves, etc... I take long shots when stumping and equate it to shooting pool in a hall with 8' tables and then going into a bar and shooting on a 6'er - the holes look like buckets. If I am consistant to 40-45+ stumping the whitetail at 15yrds looks like a moose.

Same thing goes with shot angle and other factors like brush and branches. Sometimes it just feels right, other times I pass - no matter what the range or distance. It certainly is a personal thing as hunting is pretty much a one on one activity.

KodiakMag · September 29, 2011, 07:42:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Javi:
I know when I can make the shot and when I cannot, I've never measured the distance nor have I ever cared to when shooting instinctively..

That's for folks who use sights of one kind or another..

I'm in this group. It's all about feel. The range finder is built in. But,I can tell about what 20 yds is and that is what I usually end up shooting. The further ones just aren't as comfortable.

Johnny A. · September 29, 2011, 08:17:00 AM

15 is my max.

Easykeeper · September 29, 2011, 08:23:00 AM

Twenty yards in perfect conditions. Less than that most of the time since rarely are things perfect.

toby · September 29, 2011, 08:37:00 AM

15-17 yards

September 29, 2011, 08:39:00 AM

Most comfortable with about 15 but if all is perfect I will go at 20.

riverrat 2 · September 29, 2011, 09:06:00 AM

Twenty-yards max.

Can Hahaka · September 29, 2011, 09:15:00 AM

Like sweeny3 - I shoot when I think the shot is right. Opening day I passed two shots at 18 yards due to overhanging brush - I also passed on a deer right under the stand as I thought the angle wrong. I'll know when the shot is best for me and best for the animal.