Now that is a long shot or is it?

[WapitiTalk1]

Ive ran this one before and it sparked some good discussion.. Let's run it again

The question I ask is simply this.... After your bow is dialed in and you're shooting well, very well, hunting season well, what is your comfortable range for shooting an initial arrow at:

A. A stationary elk that has no idea you're even in his state. He's feeding or drinking, completely motionless, and the wind/thermals are minimal (and every so slightly blowing in your favor), what do you feel your maximum effective and deadly range is for scenario A?

B. A nervous elk who has came in to your calls, or, perhaps is walking by your ambush point on a trail. He's alert and is suspicious of something that is not quite right. The wind/thermals are swirling a bit and the beast may bust at any time. What do you feel your maximum effective and deadly range is for scenario B?

There is no significant brush, branches, grass, rain, hail, locust swarms, etc., in the path of your arrow for both scenarios and the terrain is relatively level out to say, 100 yards for both situation A and B. And please, no ethical this or that comments. Just want to see what my fellow wapiti hunters have established as "their" personal limits for loosing an initial arrow. I know some of you don't like to set personal limits and will let the situation dictate but be honest, I think we all have our distance comfort limits... What are yours for scenario A and B?

[RanchoSueno]

70yds for situation A. I have to hold my pin high but I am confident out to 70. Anything more is kind of a hail mary and that's only in the perfect scenario where I feel golden. Scenario B would be 40yds

[Swede]

For years I have limited myself to a 40-yard maximum with my bow. I have had many elk broadside and still at 60-70 yards and let them go. Depending on the situation I will shorten the distance, but elk are always on the alert and ready to bolt. I just want them looking away when I make any movement.

[Lefty]

So much depends,,,
When I started archery elk hunting, My shoulder was bad, my legs were bad, I set up my blind for a maximum shot at 23 ( or was it 27 ) yards.
I was relying on my lack of ability to draw my bow,, and my historic shooting ability as a youngster, I use to shot traditional recurve at 33 yards,,, no pins,, all in a 6 inch paper plate.
I wasnt capable of shooting much,, so thus the self imposed distance limit.
My shoulder was fixed,, I started shooting further with a at that time new Mathews Swithcback I was shooting consistent less than 5 inches at 60 yards. I wasn't going to shoot beyound 65

Of all my misses it was elevation that was my faults. Not windage

Another series of health issues,, I decided 35 was my range,, Again self imposed restriction,
I lost my shooting confidence for a couple years


A,
A new bow and arrows last season, a bunch of shooting, and constant connection with my snow goose hunting partner who chases big whitetail bucks I practiced to 55 yards and would take shots to 60.
Maybe 70 this year?

[Lefty]

B: there is no absolute answer.
Ive allowed for strong winds,, windage was about 7 inches at 24 -26 yards
I had an elk spin at 8 yards, arrow bounced off the shoulder blade..

All of my grand misses were relitivley close where I shot over the back at 20- 35 yards, sage brush is one of my neminesses

[Old school]

For me it’s:

50 yards for A
30 yards for B

[Swede]

Welcome back to the forum Old School. I hope all is well with you and yours.

[Old school]

Thanks Swede. Been a lot going on…..

Vince still around here somewhere?

[WapitiTalk1]

I just sent Vince a “checking in” email to see how he’s doing. I know I miss him on our forum.

[Swede]

As I understand it Vince has sold his mules and retired from hunting. He has a difficult time typing too so he does not post here much.

[RanchoSueno]

I see him on social media from time to time. He is definitely the pack mule guru