I like 15-18 yds at this distance in most cases for me this is a slam dunk.also correct angle.when they are close my confidance level goes up I will not shoot out of my comfort range to do so would be selfish.this is a game of gettin close.you have to be honest about your ability when taking the life of an animal.

Here's the actual yards of my bowkills taken from my notes.  When you average them out you can see it's about 17 yds. but when I first started it was shoot...period.  The later years it all came down to comfort and confidence.
35 - 1969
75
6
8
45
6
27
3
25
15
15
9
20
14
14
35
12
12
14
25
19
14
16
23
4
9
14
12
12
10
18
9
11
20
10
4
13
15
17
28 - 2011
average 17 yds.

right now about 10 yards. by mid summer 20 yards.

Depends on my Testosterone level

All on the animals behavior. Although i'm accurate out to 40 yards, I'd never shoot at that distance. (Not that no one should, this is my own choice...not looking for trouble here) Too great a chance the animal will move after the arrow is released. I love those 12 to 20 yard setups, which is easy to set up for around here. Plenty of cover.
But even at 20...a very alert deer who is really skittish....I'm not taking a 20 yard shot at it.  Unless I'm really hungry.  

QuoteOriginally posted by snag:
I'd say in anyone of the western states.

Yeah, that's funny. They say you have to be prepared to stretch your arrows on mule deer, but I've killed some and never had to shoot more than 20 yards. I'd take a 25 yard shot if everything was perfect but I've never seen that kind of perfect yet. I practice every day out to 45 (and it's not pretty but it makes me laugh), and I'll shoot at a grouse or quail to 30 (maybe) figuring its either a kill or miss. And just to throw in I've missed every elk I've ever shot at and two of them were so close I had to violate the laws of trigonometry in order to miss.

17.3 yards.

They say elk will do that to a man Paddy.

I guess its something less than 7 yds, thats how  far the shot I missed last year elk hunting was.

10 to 15 yards is my comfortable range

about 18 yards

A suggestion based on some very good firearms training I recieved thoughout my career - do a couple brisk laps around the house, set of pushups, etc. anything to get the heart racing. This will simulate andrenaline dump and then target shoot. Our effective range under calm conditions is often quite different than under the knee knocking influence of adrenaline. Good practice & good hunting! Todd

150-250 yards no problem.  :rolleyes:  18 to 20 maybe. Try to get them as close as posible.

i'm a living god up to 6 yards

       

I used to try to get as close as possible to every deer I stalked..Then..as the years went by..I got more and more accurate at longer ranges..better at stalking..and found..my sweet spot at 30-35 yards..I've killed them further...much further..but much prefer them closer in some...I want to get close..and have killed several at 20 yards and under..but..my best range is still 30-35 yards..The deer aren't as wary..the sounds aren't as loud..since they can't hear my heart trying to jump out of my chest...

Mac

15-20 yards, average shot under 10 yards.

20 or under. Prefer 15 or less.

I have a rule of inside 20 yards for comfortzone but train regulary out to 60 yards for follow up shots if I need it. But inside 20 I fell comfortable.

20 yards or under.