I've shot a lot more deer with a compound & fixed blade heads than I have with a crossbow but they don't seem to go any farther one way or the other as long as you can put it in the right spot. I did hit one through both shoulders (scapula) with a Xbow I doubt my compound would have penetrated that far but I was shooting a heavy broadhead.
I agree that most of the time a deer will be able to duck an arrow out past 40 yards or so, I won't take a shot past 40 yards but that's just me.
