It all depends on the individual situation to me. I killed a bull two years ago at 54 yards in the middle of a rain storm and got a double lung pass through with a 60lb bow shooting light arrows and a 27" draw. I know I can make a 54 yard shot into the kill zone of an elk almost 100% of the time with nothing weird happening. I am not sure I would have taken the same shot on a deer because they are much more jumpy and have a much smaller vital zone.
Last year I drew a pretty much a OIL tag and had an opportunity to kill a 350" + 6 x 7. The bull was screaming and ready for the taking he came in on us fast and we were hunting in the high desert so there was little cover. He came into 61 yards and wouldn't get any closer, he had no idea where i was and stood there bugling at my buddy, the bull was quartered toward me and I chose not to take the shot. I never got another opportunity at that bull and ended up killing a 255" 6 x 6 at 14 yards which my buddy was able to film with his phone. I have replayed that moment over and over in my mind and feel confident that if given the opportunity again that I still would not take the shot, that bull will be bigger next year for the next guy and I would rather watch one walk off than run off with an arrow in its guts.
I fell I could make that shot pretty consistently but I also felt like the margin for error was to high and a wounded bull was pretty likely. I can practice out past 60 yards at my house and am very proficient at that range. I shoot a bow year round and when the snow gets to deep to shoot I go to the local club and shoot a couple times a month.
I also think that most people that I have seen archery hunting should not be making shots like that or anywhere near that range and I was one of those guys a few years ago. It is amazing how many people you see in the woods with mismatched arrows and broad heads in their quivers out hunting. I know people who loose animals every year due to poor shots and buck fever and they are shooting at much closer range.
Last year I drew a pretty much a OIL tag and had an opportunity to kill a 350" + 6 x 7. The bull was screaming and ready for the taking he came in on us fast and we were hunting in the high desert so there was little cover. He came into 61 yards and wouldn't get any closer, he had no idea where i was and stood there bugling at my buddy, the bull was quartered toward me and I chose not to take the shot. I never got another opportunity at that bull and ended up killing a 255" 6 x 6 at 14 yards which my buddy was able to film with his phone. I have replayed that moment over and over in my mind and feel confident that if given the opportunity again that I still would not take the shot, that bull will be bigger next year for the next guy and I would rather watch one walk off than run off with an arrow in its guts.
I fell I could make that shot pretty consistently but I also felt like the margin for error was to high and a wounded bull was pretty likely. I can practice out past 60 yards at my house and am very proficient at that range. I shoot a bow year round and when the snow gets to deep to shoot I go to the local club and shoot a couple times a month.
I also think that most people that I have seen archery hunting should not be making shots like that or anywhere near that range and I was one of those guys a few years ago. It is amazing how many people you see in the woods with mismatched arrows and broad heads in their quivers out hunting. I know people who loose animals every year due to poor shots and buck fever and they are shooting at much closer range.
