Long Range Shot With a Selfbow

[Carl Galvin]

I was wondering wha you all feel is your longest shot you feel comfortable with for hunting deer with a longbow.

[osage outlaw]

I have set a personal limit at 15 yards. 

[Pat B]

Maybe 20 yards but I prefer 12 to 15 yards.

[Carl Galvin]

 And the close range game, and having to do good scouting to get that close, is what it's all about. Much more exciting than taking a deer ar 100 yards with a rifle.

[mullet]

15-16 yards. We did an experiment one day at the club I shoot with. Everyone got to shoot at the 3-D targets from where they felt comfortable. Then the spot was measured with a range finder. Most with selfbows were in the 15-20 yd range and Glass bows averaged around 20 yds.

[StickMark]

flat terrain, 15 yards, if I am honest
steep uphill, steep downhill, 20-22 yards.

[TimBo]

About 15 yards for me too.  I would like to improve to the point that I can put the arrow right where I want it at 30 yards (I can dream!), but I doubt that I will ever feel right about taking a shot at a deer from more than 20. 

[BowEd]

I like 5 to 10 yards myself.Not only the scouting of movement getting honed but ambush placements/stalking tactics/scent and wind too.More so on the same level with the animal improving other hunting skills besides relying on technology to make up the difference.

[bjrogg]

I'm like Ed. About 9 yards is my sweet spot. I'd be pretty comfortable at 15 but a lot depends on the the animal. It gets hard to draw on a animal when they are that close to. I'd rather shoot 12 yards at one that just walked past me and is looking somewhere else Than a five yard broadside with deer on high alert. I'm still very much learning this type of hunting yet but I really love it and find it extremely rewarding.
Bjrogg

[bradsmith2010]

10  or 15

[sleek]

My only bow kill was at 17 yards, but it was textbook perfect set up. Her head was down in the grass, wind was perfect, and she was quartered away, almost broad side.

Id like them no further than 15, but in a perect situation, 20 yards wouldnt be a stretch.

[Tracker0721]

My old Howatt with glass- 40 yards. Selfbow maybe 20-25. I practice at that range but the goal is always to creep or place a last second ambush in to 10 or so. I like practicing out further because I wanna take a bear on foot. And 5-10 yards from a bear sounds too intense haha

[Will Tell]

I shoot a lot of 3D and am pretty good from 15 to 20 yards. I like to shoot 80% kill shots, seems the distance varies but I can tell when I can make a good shot.  Deer hunting I'd probally take a 20 yard shot if it was a perfect set up.

[Hawkdancer]

Tracker,
Methinks even 15 yes is a bit narrow for bear - they bite back!  I would want a second arrow in hand, AND my .44 magnum with the hammer loop off!  On the other hand, I follow the Apache line of thought and feel the bear is a cousin (that I don't want to hug)!  I don't hunt them on purpose, but will respond to a threat, if necessary.  I think with a self bow, 15 yards max, if I can hit the "grapefruit" size spot every time.  Sorry, I got a bit off topic here!
Hawkdancer

[sleek]

Hawk, im with you in the bear. I dont csre that oeople hunt them, but i could never. I was watching a hinying show on break at work. There was a bear hangin out with his buddy. He was getting a good deep back scratch on a tree, darn near laying the tree over, and right when he finished, he had an arrow in his heart. I felt horrible for that bear. So sad.  I hunt, but to me a bear has too much personality. Of course, no matter what, i am never excited over the kill. Im always saddened. Its a very solemn moment for me. 

I guess i too should appologize for being off topic.
So, yeah, uhhh 15 yards. Really, people miss at 5 yards sometimes. You cant be perfect, just do your best to minimize your risk at any distance.