Max range would you say is far enough?

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ihunt
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Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by ihunt »

Haven't been posting much been taking care of my elderly parents.

The property I’ve been hunting on the last few years with some success (deer) 2/3 years , the owner had made some changes adding new corn field etc. So I find myself having to shoot further. Years previously shooting my deers between 25 to 30 yards, this year I'm having to shoot further with my XBow micro 335 with bolts made my Boo zombie slayers with 100 gr G5 BH total weight 404.5 gr.
So my question is at what max range would you shoot a deer with the equipment I'm using? I'm asking ethical killing range would you shoot?

Thanks good luck this hunting season to all :thumbup:
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xcaliber
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by xcaliber »

I like them close, but relaxed to me is more important. Some people shoot out to 100 yards accurately, and I shoot to 50 yards accurately off hand. I hunt to 40 yards, but I hunt mostly woods. All that said it is a matter of what you’re comfortable doing, and if you’re hunting with a rest, etc. You have to decide for yourself what you think is your limit. I think the equipment will work to pretty good distance. Look at some charts that shows speed loss at various ranges and that might help.
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gerald strine
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by gerald strine »

My opinion under 30 is best 40 would be my max under perfect conditions with an unaware deer , relaxed, not looking at me.
Other people are untitled to their opinion and their hunting topography can be vastly different than my woodland hunting in Michigan, you are bound to get a range of answers.
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janesy
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by janesy »

I agree on the 40 would be my ethical max. But if the biggest buck walked out at 50 I'd be hard pressed to pass up.

What distances do you have to shoot now?
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by Riflemanz »

40 with shooting sticks.
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IronNoggin
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by IronNoggin »

I must take The Fifth on this one... :lol:

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ihunt
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by ihunt »

janesy wrote:
Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:34 pm
I agree on the 40 would be my ethical max. But if the biggest buck walked out at 50 I'd be hard pressed to pass up.

What distances do you have to shoot now?
Between 40 and 50 yds.
I know sitting down holding my mirco with elbow on my knee I can accurately group my bolts to within an 1” to 1.5” at 40yds. I've target practice at 50 but not sure of the killing effect if it's powerful enough to do the job?

Thanks for the replies.
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by 8ptbuk »

50 yds at relaxed deer
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ihunt
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by ihunt »

So it looks like 50 is do-able, I'll practice some more and try to keep it to under 40 when hunting.
Thanks Can't wait for the season to start :eusa-dance:
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by papa bear1 »

gerald strine wrote:
Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:10 pm
My opinion under 30 is best 40 would be my max under perfect conditions with an unaware deer , relaxed, not looking at me.
Other people are untitled to their opinion and their hunting topography can be vastly different than my woodland hunting in Michigan, you are bound to get a range of answers.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by Carnivorous »

20 yards is my preferred and most often archery range! :)
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dithian
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by dithian »

The ethics, in my opinion, have far less to do with how accurately you can shoot and more to do with deer reaction time. At 30 yards, a deer can react significantly to the sound of the bow and the tell-tale pffffffffft of the approaching arrow. Even more so the further out you go—regardless of whether you have the skill to clip the eyebrows off a fruit fly at 50 yards with one eye tied behind your back, you can't stop a deer from trying to dodge an arrow if it hears it coming from 40 yards away. If you start taking shots beyond 30 yards, you need to be acutely aware of the deer's body language and other environmental factors. Always aim at the lower third of the vitals. Do the deer you hunt have a lot of hunting pressure on them? If so, they're already primed to respond. It's also critical to tune your broadheads. The effects of misalignment are going to be pronounced the further out you go. The deer I hunt are especially squirrelly, so I pass up on 40 yard shots all the time. Nothing will cure you of overconfidence quicker than tracking a gut-shot deer for 9 hours.

I would love to hear from the folks who regularly hunt beyond 40 yards how they do it. Clearly there is a skill to it beyond marksmanship, and I think it would be illuminating to understand what other factors are at play for them.

I would recommend watching this video on reaction time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWXWUBWSszk
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Ferguson Outfitters
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by Ferguson Outfitters »

I sure won’t tell you a max yardage as I most always take the shot, I don’t lecture on ethics either because I couldn’t care less. What I have found is regardless of crossbow speed there is a typical distance where DEER react to sound and can move from the point of aim. THAT DISTANCE IS ABOUT THE SAME WHETHER ITS 280 fps or 420 fps. I usually go through the lungs for a passthrough and they drop within 40 yards without being too excited by pain.

Goodluck
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by Bcxbow »

My opinion is that each individual person is the only one that can determine this for themselves. No one else knows your ability’s, experience with or knowledge of your weapon and the game you are hunting. Practice, practice, practice and study the reactions/behavior of the animals in the field that you will be hunting then make your own decision.
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janesy
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Re: Max range would you say is far enough?

Post by janesy »

dithian wrote:
Sun Sep 15, 2019 3:38 pm
The ethics, in my opinion, have far less to do with how accurately you can shoot and more to do with deer reaction time. At 30 yards, a deer can react significantly to the sound of the bow and the tell-tale pffffffffft of the approaching arrow. Even more so the further out you go—regardless of whether you have the skill to clip the eyebrows off a fruit fly at 50 yards with one eye tied behind your back, you can't stop a deer from trying to dodge an arrow if it hears it coming from 40 yards away. If you start taking shots beyond 30 yards, you need to be acutely aware of the deer's body language and other environmental factors. Always aim at the lower third of the vitals. Do the deer you hunt have a lot of hunting pressure on them? If so, they're already primed to respond. It's also critical to tune your broadheads. The effects of misalignment are going to be pronounced the further out you go. The deer I hunt are especially squirrelly, so I pass up on 40 yard shots all the time. Nothing will cure you of overconfidence quicker than tracking a gut-shot deer for 9 hours.
That is the ethics...no?
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