Just wondering what the furthest distance is you would shoot at an elk with a traditional bow...for me it would be 25 yards and (hopefully)less...

I've killed elk from 7 paces to 35 yards with a "all natural" longbow.

Mike

My limit for all living stuff is about 20 yards.

My goal is 20 yards and under.  If everything is "just right" might stretch it a bit - last year killed a cow at 25.  Everything just worked out to where I was comfortable with that at the moment.  The next 25 yard encounter might be different though.

20 yards is my self imposed limit except Ground squirrels. Them squirrels are just too fun to pass up at longer distances even if it's only to see them jump!

I would go to 25 yards for sure.

Elk are big critters, with big(ger) kill zones and the temptation to stretch your range on them can be high.  Thankfully I've never lost an elk, but I've been on a few track jobs that didn't end well and the ringing similarity in all cases was a "marginal" hit.  

Personally, and bear in mind I've only shot a few, I try to keep my shots low, in the bottom third of the animal.  This shrinks the kill zone for me a bit to where what I'm aiming for is the same size as a deer's kill zone.

If you are really sure your going to put the arrow where you need it, fire away.  If your not certain, hold off.

I don't mean to sound flip, but I don't really consider distance "in the moment". I get as close as I can and if I look at the shot and think to myself "dead elk", well then that's a shot I take. I guess that's just my philosophy with any hunting situation - I don't put a distance on it, I just know if I can make the shot or not. That's not to say that I make every shot I take, but I certainly don't say to myself "Uh oh. That's 26 yards and I prefer shots @ 20." I'm fairly conservative in my decision making so I pass up alot more shots than I take.

My experience, though, is that you rarely have time to assess a situation for distance and put a number to it, then debate internally over the number. So I practice to make the shot (whatever the shot is) and then I know when it's time. Does that make any sense?

I train for a 40 yard max shot.  But that would have to feel just right.

20 yards and under, but if I feel reeeeally comfortable for a 20-25 yards shot, I might take it

Killed my first trad animal this year with a 25 yard shot and he took a step before the arrow got there. LONG traking before recovery.

For me target "training" is WAY different than shooting at deer or elk...I might (or not) hit a target in the center at 40 yards , but it's not moving, even at close distances under 25 yards , I've had deer and elk dodge a shot..the margin for error is Greatly increased by the distance...what you think "might" be a good shot could become a nightmare...

I practice 45 yds and down.  I feel very comfortable taking that shot at that distance, considering most things in my favor.   We always want for a closer shot, but we also usually don't get what we want. The size of the animal is a big factor, too.

I practice far and hunt close. I have taken elk out to 35 yards. I would much rather have them inside 25 though.

my closest was 5yds...i'll shoot out to 35 with the confidence i will hit where i'm lookin.thats broadside or slightly quartered away.anything else i pass on.

Pretty much what Bowfiend said.

Taking my skill/comfort level and the bows & arrow set ups I shoot, and the fact that the kill zone on an elk is much larger than a deer sized critter, I would allow myself to take the shot out to 25 yards, given an unobstructed path & stationary broadside elk...

I don't have any doubt I could 10 ring an elk sized critter at 35 yards, but I would be less confident in the penetration I would get...

Depend from the circustances,sometime 15 ydrs are too long others 40ys could be good.I practice long and try to shot as close as possible.This was one of the reasons I gave up with the Wheels,shooting too far.

Tho I don't hunt elk, I think Bowfiend has it. If it feels right, take it. If not, let it go. No matter how close or far it is. It's kind of trusting your feelings.

I only confident out to a little over 20 yards. I'm right-handed and left-eye dominant, so I have to keep my shots to that range or less.  I've also passed up shots at much closer range just because "it just wasn't the right shot".