I have taken clean shots and made clean kills out to seventy-two yards (Nikon range finder confirmation prior to the shot).
Those that can do. Those that can't argue with those that can, lol.
At the time I took that shot (double lung on a fat young boar) I was competing regularly with my hunting setup out to 65yds in internation field archery tournaments. 72yds wasn't much of a stretch.
Too many folks think that the arrow is slowing down because it's dropping. Actually, it's gravity dragging it earthward. An arrow delivering 60lbs of kinetic energy at 20yds can and nearly does retain energy at about 50lbsKE. I did a lot of KE checks on equipment back in my years working as an archery expert. I would never encourage anyone to hunt outside his comfortable range, but if they practice and are confident; the bow will do the job.
Look at Chuck Adam's Pope and Yound Club records. Few were taken within forty yards, most out around sixty. I wokred with Chuck at Satellite Archery during the developement of some product he was promoting for the company. He practices out to ninety yards.
I too have made some very long kill shot with regular target shooting to 80 to 100 yards with bow you can become confident of your abilities.And this will help you feel easy making a 40 to 50 yard shot totally confident.
still think thats a mighty long bow shot, but if you say so? I know you've killed alot of game so I'll take your word that you can do it. I won't attempt anything close to that. whats the longest bow shot you've made and recovered the deer for curiosity? plus I'm talking more about hog than skinny deer. I'm guessing there alot harder to put down with a bow than a deer. never had a chance at one before with a bow.
On a deer was about 25 yards but given the chance I would have no problem making a clean shot out to 60 yards. I practice almost every day. And like I said before the conditions would have to be perfect for me to let one fly. I've taken a hog at 45 yards but wouldn't bother shooting at a big old boar even at that distance. Just depends on your skills I guess. To many people pick up a bow a few days before season shoot it twice and think they can shoot 100 yards. Thats who shouldn't be taking long shots.
Out west that distance is shot regularly,on elk. I am not going to shoot one that far but its not because my bow wont do it because its outside of my effective range. I do practice out to 60 yards because it makes my 40 yard shots seem like chip shots.
Y'all are quite the elite archers taking game out that far. My longest distance kill was 35yds and 90% of my kills are 15-18yds. I shot mine yesterday at 15-20yds and can group them fairly tight in a 2" diameter bullseye so I'm doing fine. I won't even take a shot over 20 yds anymore.
Even with plenty of practice and bow kills under my belt I will be a little shaky when I pull back on a buck this year. There's nothing like that feeling when you pull back on an animal with a bow at close range and feel like he can hear your heart beating.
