Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Maximum bow range?

Back in the day, the rule of thumb was a 40 yard shot with a compound bow while deer hunting. These days with the newest speed bows around 335fps, can you extend that range? What say you? Thanks...

Gary, with flatter trajectory, it is easier to hit targets beyond 40 yards, for sure. But in a hunting situation, the longer shots give an animal more time to react to the sound of the string. I shoot an RPM 360, but still don't shoot much beyond 35-40 yards. Just my opinion.

Archery is a close range intimate event if you're a hunter. With that in mind there is no difference today then at any time in the past. Getting close is the thrill and the skill

If you're a shooter, then longer ranges seem to be the trend. However Physics is still the same. Shooting 330fps means you're shooting sub 400 grain arrows. These light arrows shed speed faster so the end result is less noticeable where power is concerned the further away your target is. Heavy arrows retain their speed longer.

Heavy arrows are quieter to shoot, easier on the bow, penetrate by a huge margin better. They do not shoot 330fps, more likely in the 250-280 range.

Having had plenty of hunters with both kinds of equipment in Africa hunting with me. I have seen the absolute failure of high velocity arrows at 50 yards many times!

I have also seen the brilliant performance of heavy 450-500 plus grain arrows at 30 yards. There must be a happy medium, I suppose? Something in the area of 275-300 fps with 400-450 grain arrows?

In fairness, if you can shoot 70plus pounds easily at 30" draw then you can shoot 450-500 grain arrows pushing 300fps. Just not a lot of guys capable of this day in day out.

Draw length is a key factor in overall power. A 26" draw typical of many of my lady hunters is not going to have the same power that a 30" draw will. I had a fella with a 26.5" draw. He was about 5'5" tall. But his bow was 80lbs! Those short stiff arrows were like crossbow bolts from that bow!

No change for me, just less pins, and flatter shots.

15 yards is what I came up with due to deer movement many many years ago.

Fact is these minor improvements don't do anything for my max range.

Its still 15 and will remain that way. I"m 200% at that range and closer. Beyond that they can and will move and i"m simply not willing to risk that.

This is our deer. Your deer may vary. Or elk or moose etc...

Mule deer I"d heard would not move years ago... which is why my single 40 yard shot was successful I guess. Deer even seemed to watch the arrow come in. Our deer here, would step off to the side at the shot, watch the arrow go through were they used to be and then snort at you.

The majority of my shots have been < 20 yds. I can comfortably shoot a bit further, but usually decide to get 'em in closer, more likely under 10 yds. Fabulous sport when you ground hunt.

Also, my Browning compound is over 15 yrs old if I reckon. A dinosaur by many's standards 'cept mine. Works just dandy for me.

-Ken

40 yds is my max unless that sucker is HUGE and he is totally relaxed and oblivious to my presence. And he has to be broadside

Rost, I've had a mule deer buck wheel at the shot, and i missed him clean at 45 yards. Granted it wasn't a very fast bow. I've even had javelinas sidstep arrows.

Never understood this logic... He's huge so I take an iffy shot I wouldn't normally take
My thinking is a Huge animal deserves as much if not more discretion than anther deer

Check out these A-holes. 120 yards.

Because I practice at those longer distances regularly. I can make the shot. I just choose not to most of the time.

Pretty sound logic there. I've noticed the same thing, seems a deer on full alert isn't fast enough to 'jump the string' if he's 15 yards or closer to me.

I can shoot accurately to 35 yards no problem, but in the field there's simply to many things that can go wrong at that range and I don't like to shoot over 25 yards at a relaxed deer, still do prefer them 15 yards or under if possible.



Laffin here, I feel the same way. I shoot a Jennings Carbonmaster Extreme and a PSE Baby G Force, both 2000/2001? models and frankly, I wouldn't trade either one of them for any brand new bow of any brand/model.

I think 40 yards on whitetail is a long shot (perhaps too long). A lot can go wrong with (Minnesota) whitetails.
For some reason western (Idaho) deer seem more curious and less flighty.Therefore they do not seem to "jump the string as much" Plus the foliage is hardly as dense. Elk seem dull and have a hard time jumping the string. I think out west your maximum range depends on your ability to group your weapon....out to perhaps 70 yards(not me, I like 50). But Minnesota whitetails are too skittish to attempt such long shots.IMO

I think whitetails start to look real small at 30 yds.

Was about to post the same sentiments. I can't stand the thought of someone risking what they normally would not, just due to antler size.

The largest bucks I've not shot at were due to instances where I was not 110% sure...

Glad I"m not the only one with that sentiment.

Anyone can hit on a target. If you don't shoot game at XX distance all the time, you should not, at least IMO, do it just because its huge. I"d be afraid to take a shot on a huge deer, if it wasn't the same shot I take on game all the time...

BTW if you want to talk about how accurate one is on target... in the day I could hit a clay target size target, at 80-100 yards probably 95% of the time.

Of course I worked in an archery shop, shot every last day of the year unless sick, and shot a LOT..

I NEVER would think of taking a shot at game at that distance...

Ok, off my soapbox.

And btw its cool for anyone to do what they want, as long as legal... just doesnt' sit well with me.

Witnessed an 87 and followed up on a 110 yard shot. The 87 I tracked for 300 yards and 4 hrs. Lost blood, found the bull 5 days later rotted and eaten by a bear and wolfs 1.1 miles away as the crow flies. The 110 found blood and at 40 yards nada. Searched for 5 hrs and told the hunter good luck.
Long range archery is BS, I can hit a target at 80, so what it doesn't move. 110 yards flight time somewhere around a second and a half. I can move more that ten yards in that time frame. Passed on shots at 70,80,90 and about 100 this year. Biggest bull in my life, so goes the game. Maybe next time.

I also think you need to think about how loud your bow is. I almost think the "jump" from the string is more exaggerated close to a loud noise.

Well for me it is 30 yards. I got an old Hoyt bow (circa 2002) and I only hunt mountain goats. My bow is super heavy but I like it because the newer bows may be light but hey are harder to shoot accurately.