It's a long shot ...... or is it?

[WapitiTalk1]

We ran this one a few years back 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 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 very 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. 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?

[Lark Bunting]

Assuming my shoulder is all good and i'm pulling 71# like i was a few weeks ago...

A, 60 yards

B, 40 yards

[timberland]

A: 60 yds. No problem. Shot a red fox at 56 yds last year. (He didn't know I was there, either)
B: 30yds. I wouldn't hesitate , 40 I would wait a minute or two to see if he relaxes, or if a better situation materializes.

[stringunner]

A. 50
B. ??? Depends

[GWH]

A: 60 yards
B: 45 yards

[Swede]

A. 45 yards
B. 35 yards

[fm]

A. 60
B. 30

[Triplebhunters]

A 40
B 40

[8upbowhunter]

A. 60
B. 40

[BMF11]

A) 60 yds.
B) 30 yds.....I say that now using common sense, hopefully would stick to it if put into the situation!

[Csrbowhunter]

Compound a. 80 any more than that might not get go penetration
B. 40

Recurve. A.35
B.25

[ctdad]

A. 80ish yards
B. 35 yards

[JJ Overkill]

A) 60-70
B) 45 tops

[Elkonthebrain]

A)70
B)40

[jmez]

60 yards
40 yards

[goblue]

A. 60
B. 40

[Toby]

A. 50

B. 25

[JGH]

55

30

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

A: 35 yards (I hunt traditional)
B:20 yards (had a cow duck out on me at 30 last year in this same scenario...they are pretty fast)

[TetonStorm]

I'm Super comfortable in the mountains out to 50 in scenario A with the terrain and situation.
Scenario B is a little more involved with regard to the nervousness. 30 yrds becomes a long way out for me when the beast is skittish. Shot angles are tougher because they don't last as long, any movement from me is inflated and my nerves are on edge because I know he could flee in an instant. With that being said I like to keep those type of shots to under 30 yrds.

[weaver]

60
30

[elkmtngear]

Instinctive compound w/ fingers:

A. 50
B. 30

[Indian Summer]

In scenario B he may be alert and suspicious.... but he has walked into my ambush lane so A & B aren't really any different. If I have the shot I have the shot. BUT... I'm never a long bomb guy to begin with. Flat ground helps too.

45 & 45

[Bowhunter]

60 and 40

[ishy]

60, but I have never shot over 53 at game...passed several looking for a closer shot though/
40

[rowdycwby1]

A.70
B.50

[Mikeha33]

A. 70 yds.
B. 40 yds.

I practice a lot at 70, not knowing if I'd ever actually take a shot at that distance, but I feel comfortable doing so. I also shoot at 80, but that's just to make 70 feel shorter

[Fridaythe13th]

Nothing in the way, 60 yards on both. but I am a rookie. 70 is what I'm working on for 2014. I have be told and it make sense if you practice out to 70yds one well get better at 60yds.

[NirvanaFan]

I've never hunted elk, but where I currently hunt whitetails, shots are usually pretty close. 35 yards or less. I've taken nervous whitetails at that range, so, I'd probably say
A - 55 yards
B - 35 yards

[Lefty]

I feel good to 65 when Im shooting well. I will say Ive have passed on a number of clear shoots on big bulls under 65 yards

As far as a nervous shot. It has to bee the moment. There may be times a 10 yards shot is a bad idea

[ctdad]

Lefty, what would make ten yards bad? I assume you are referring to a bad shot angle, like facing away or quartering to. Curious?

[AMann]

Longbow
A. 35
B. 20

[G Posik]

Recurve
A 45
B 20

Longbow
A 35
B 20

Glenn

[patdel]

A. 50 yards.
B. 35 yards.

[Kevrod3]

A. 60

B. 40

[elkoholic]

A. 60-70
B. 30

[critterstalker]

80ish/40ish for me.

[wapitibowman]

1. 60

2. 40

[Broken arrow]

Recurve
A. 40
B. 20

[Trophyhill]

the closer they are the more comfortable I am. 40 yards and in I'm in my zone. haven't had a shot opportunity at a nervous animal yet although I've had my share of sudden encounters where the animals got nervous real quick.

[Indian Summer]

How about this question: Reverse the situation. Bull is perfectly calm. But he's gigantic and you are shaking like a leaf thinking he has to hear your heart beating and hoping Murphy's law isn't about to prove true at any second? Now what's your comfortable range?

[ElkNut1]

Heck Joe, I get nervous & have that adrenalin rush on any elk coming my way, I've been known to shake a time or two as well. (grin) When that stops happening I'll probably take up knitting! (big grin)

I like 20yd shots but will take a poke out to 60 as well. Like others all depends on the situation & nervousness of the elk. I will say of the elk I've taken 50 yds is the longest to date & that was a year ago. It's great for us bowhunters to be prepared for a 2nd shot if your elk has already absorbed one arrow. That's where practicing those deep 80 yarders can pay off, we've needed back up shots before, it's rare but it does happen.

ElkNut1

[N5J]

A. 55

B. 45

Little story. One morning we did a series of cow call and bugles but nothing happened...quiet. After waiting 45 minutes to and hour thinking of leaving, I noticed a cow walking silently our way. When she got to 60 yards she just stopped looking for some sign of the other elk. She was on full alert knowing something wasn't right. I went to slowly raise my bow when she caught my movement so I froze because she was staring right at me...she had me pegged. My buddy was sitting 25 yards to my right seen I was busted so he took the shot. I don't know if she seen or heard the arrow BUT she dropped a good 15 inches and lunged forward a good 20 all in one movement. My buddy was aiming right behind the front leg and the arrow hit her behind the liver in the ponch when she lunged to get out of there. We waited a good 4 hours before started to track her because I could tell the hit was far back. We found the arrow first and it had blood that was dark red but also had stomach matter on it. We waited another hour before we started to track her. We followed blood for 6 hours till the blood trail finally stopped in some really thinks and tangled willows...found her. Unbelievable how much she dropped and lunged so after that experience we limit our shots on alert animals.

N5J

James

[bowhunter99]

A. 60

B. 30

[dreamhunter]

55-60
30-40

[Huntrgathr]

A:63 yds

B : On a very nervous animal, distance is less a factor for me. My plan is to let him calm down. I might be the odd man out here but my working hypothesis is that a nervous animal may be less likely to jump the string if he's further away. I've heard several more experienced hunters substantiate this one...I made the analogy on another thread about a human in the same situation. If you're on edge, ( maybe thinking someone is about to kill you ) and you hear a sudden noise just 30 feet away, you're very likely to jump wildly whereas if you here that same noise 180 feet away you might just turn your head...

[Csrbowhunter]

Compound a. 80 any more than that might not get go penetration
B. 40

Recurve. A.35
B.25

I need to revise my answer after shooting this weekend! Lol a. 60 yards anything over that and I'm not real consistent. I don't want to wound a elk .

[JJ Overkill]

A) 60-70
B) 45 tops

I shot my omen (hunting rig) at a range this weekend with an elk at 50yds flat. I drilled it every single time in the <. im feeling very confident with this set up and my target rig as a back up. is it hunting season yet. im going nuts and driving my wife crazy. the more 3D shoots I go to the more confidence im getting in my bows and itching more for season to begain

[elkaholic]

A. 60

B 40

I passed on several bulls last year in the 50 yard range because of nasty winds as I didn't feel confident in my aim with the wind.

[otcWill]

The more things I shoot with my bow, the more I understand that there is no set yardarge to go by really. Other than I've never even imagined taking anything longer than 70 at an animal, I've got no set of rules. The opp. will always dictate the shot you "choose" to take. I've passed on pretty easy 45 yarders only to get a 40, now 30 and so on. For me, its more a question of" is this gonna be the best shot I get" and "is it something I'd make all day". If the answers are "yes" then I'm shooting. Of course, in either situation, I'd have to be there to tell ya

[one_elk]

A. 40
B. depends.....but probably not over 20

[JES_Wisc]

A) 60
B) 40