Rocky Mtn or western states, average shot distance?

[myshootinstinks]

Every deer I've killed has been 25 yds+.  How about other Mtn/western states hunters?

[joe skipp]

Took one mulie at 10yds and the other at 40. Prairie hunting near Glenrock.

[Brian Krebs]

I love 30 yard shots.

[steadman]

Mine average about 20-25 yards. Killed one mulie and an antelope at 7, and my first at 40. Elk shots tend to be a bit on the closer side. Still doesn't mean I can hit them  

[NDTerminator]

I live & hunt in ND.  Out here we hunt prairie and Badlands.  My kill shot averaged on a pile of critters since 1985 is 20.5 yards...

[wingnut]

My last few elk there were 7, 18, 15, and 35 yds.

Mike

[j yenney]

Deer and elk both seem to be at the 15 yard range for me, and I'll take all those shots I
can get.

[Colt]

All of my mulies and pronghorns range between 20-45 yds. I mostly spot and stalk.

[bob@helleknife.com]

Elk...near as I can remember.

12,30,22,33,3,25,10, and a bunch less than 40 (compound days)

I prefer them a bit over 20 yards, they seem to be less keyed up and a bit more relaxed.  AT least I feel more relaxed!

Bob

[Rik]

27-year averages:

Mule deer during the rut in high, open country snow country, average shot 25 to 35 yards. Closest shot, 10 yards.

Bull elk called in (no stands), average shot eight yards. Three closest shots, three yards and two yards.

Bear on the ground, average shot 15 yards. Closest shot, 12 yards.

[razorsharptokill]

Great post! I put in for that N.M. Mule deer hunt in Jan. 09 and was wondering this exact thing.

I've started shooting only 25 and further out to 40. I'm amazed every time I hit the deer vitals at 35-40. I seem to really concentrate on my form and release at longer distances.

I'm still set on getting within 25 if at all possible though.

[NDTerminator]

There's a myth that you have to shoot farther out here.  Make no mistake, there are going to be longer shot opportunities, particularly on the prairies & Badlands of SD, ND, MT, WY, CO, because you can see the critters farther than in the cover of eastern states.

The question you have to ask is are you proficent at the longer shots, and do you really want to take them.

It's been my experience that with some patience, skill, and a touch of luck, you can almost always get shots in the ranges you are comfortable in.  This is particularly true when spotting & stalking bedded mule bucks...

[ScottinPA]

I'm heading to WY for mule deer and antelope.  Rancher says shots are 25 to 40 yds.  I doubt I'd shoot beyond 30yds.
My son and I went stumpin' yesterday and I was trying longer shots.  Like said by Razor, I seem to concentrate harder and release better (for the most part) on the longer shots.  Longest shots were 50-55yds.  Killed more stumps than I wounded or missed.

[Doc Nock]

There ya are, Scott!    

Sounds like them stumps up there don't move much..prolly cause of lighter pressure than down East here...  

Remind me if I ever get up to visit, to bring my own victuals... cause I don't wanna be eating Scott-n-Austin Stump Soup!

Good to hear you're getting to go West, young man, go West! Have fun.

[Jack Skinner]

I have heard the same stuff for years. When I was stationed in Nevada the locals there I would shoot with said you have to be able to shoot at 60yds. This was trad, I couldnt believe it. And some of them were very good at that yardage. I was hunting with selfbow, no way I was going to shoot at that yardage. Who was the only one to score on a mullie that year. Thats right and the shot was about 23yds.

I would say that is about my average 23-25yards over the years.

[myshootinstinks]

Hitting @ 60 yards when you know it's 60 yds with a couple of practice shots is one thing, doing it in a hunting environment is another. I've never killed anything over 30 yds but I shot at a deer that was 45 yds, the arrow hit the ground at his feet. The buck was standing in the bright sun and I was sure he was no more than 25-30 yds away.

[Doug S]

My average shot is about 18 yards. I have killed antelope and a couple Mule deer at up to 40. Of the  20 animals (whitetail, elk, sheep, mule deer, antelope and turkeys) I killed this year I think only 1 was over 30 yards.

[Doug Treat]

My shots on animals I have taken have been 25,30,20,25,30,25,and 40 (coulda swore it was 30 :^) so my average is 27.8.  If you take out that crazy 40 yarder, my average is 25.8.

[myshootinstinks]

Doug,
  Those elk wandering around town at Estes must drive you nuts