Contributors to this thread:
Would you take a 100 yard shot at elk, I just got back from and elk hunt and it seemed common for hunters to take long shoots. Just wondering since I shoot a recurve and 30 yards is long for me.
Those are the people I try to avoid.
F#*k no! I Bowhunt to get close to animals. 100 yard shots are for rifle hunters in my opinion.
I will shoot long range just for fun and practice but would never shoot at an elk that far. Elk are pretty easy to get close to in my opinion
There is no way! There is so much that can happen from the time that you release the arrow until it hits the animal.
Not with a bow unless I wounded it at 25 first
No most elk are taken at less than half that distance. Like Ermine stated pretty easy to sneak up on elk.
60 max, my longest was 53 yards, all the rest were under 25
Saturday morning I killed a hog at about a hundred yards. After examining the carcass, I saw that I had hit the hog in the ear, out the back of the ear, and in front of the shoulder. Now, I was amazed at this because when I squeezed the trigger, the hog was broadside to me. It managed to turn face-on as I was completeing the trigger squeeze.
I was shooting an AK 47, so in answer to your question, NO !
Considering I had 2 different bulls at 100 yards and one at 80 yards. I didn't even draw my bow. So the answer is no. I would have shot a cow this year. I had one at 50 but I questioned the shot so I didn't take it.
In the right cituation I would shoot 60 yards. I just didn't have the right situation.
Never. I passed up a shot at 50-60 yards on a big bull. That's within my sons shooting ability,(50-60yards) but its not a range I can consistently master under field conditions.
IMO, I think shot distance is up to the individual shooter. I practice to 80 yards but would not take a first shot at an animal at that distance. I will shoot to 60 but I have blown more than a few elk trying to get closer. I prefer 20-30 yard shots. The longest shot I have ever taken at an elk was 56 yards. It went down with 50 yards. All that being said, after you hit an elk, if you can get another shot into it I will always try. One of my friends hit a bull really good at 35 yards in Wyoming. The bull ran to 90 and stopped broadside. It stood there for about a minute and we could see the hit. My friend took the 90 yard 2nd shot and put another good hit on the bull. It went down with 10 yards. Would probably have gone down anyway but I think a follow up shot is always a good idea if you can get it. Again its up to the hunter. To be clear I would not take a shot over 60 at an elk unless it had already been hit.
modern compound bow makes hunters think because they can do it on the target range they can do it in the field
1 out of 1000 can, maybe 1 in 5000 but 75% think they can even though they can't
know your limitations - a lesson hard to find in archery anymore
Obviously the ones who take the long shots forgot what archery is about, how close can you get to kill a game animal. They have weapons for those long distance shots called a rifle. Then again, maybe they don't have the skills needed to get close.
Opening morning I had a big bull feeding in front of me at 65 yards for 45 minutes. Wide open country but raining and a cross wind. He never knew I was there. I never drew my bow.
400 Elk, you took the words out of my mouth.
DJ
Maybe that explains this find. My friend found this on a skeleton and a spike.
+1 Bou'bound . To me it's all about the thrill of getting close. At 100 yards you won't even know if you hit him good or where you hit him. I practice out to 60 yards a lot for a second shot. Get them in close and hit them good and no second shot is needed. I have a 7mm mag for 100 yard shots.
The worst part to me is a lot of guys that take those shots do so on big bulls because "that was the only shot they had". Those same big bulls are not only tougher than a coffin nail and will go forever on less than perfect hits, but they also beat very long odds to become mature bulls. They have earned respect. The guys taking those long shots don't deserve any respect.
400 Elk, I respectfully disagree that shot distance is up to the individual shooter. You may be the best shot on the planet, but you have zero control over what the animal will do in the time it takes an arrow to arrive. One step by an elk turns a perfect shot into a disasterous one.
I have so much respect for guys that consistently kill with traditional gear at close range. To me they represent the true meaning of bowhunting. This high tech, long range trend has got to stop. I have way more respect for a rifle hunter taking a 100 yards shot and connecting than a "bowhunter" doing the same thing. At least the rifle hunter is recognizing the limitations of his weapon.
no 1 to much energy lost in arrow at that range 2 wind can change, 3 I cant see that far without a scope.
HEEELLLLLL NO. I would take a 55-60 yard shot though
+1Andyj . As hunters we should have utmost respect for the game we chase, they deserve that. Getting close is way more fun and rewarding.
This is what you have when you get company 's pushing the high speed bows . Oh I can shoot 50 yards with one pin! Wow I'm good so know I want to put 2 pins so I can shoot 100 yards!
This is what you have when you get company 's pushing the high speed bows . Oh I can shoot 50 yards with one pin! Wow I'm good so know I want to put 2 pins so I can shoot 100 yards!
No way...100 yards = not enough kinetic energy for a ethical clean kill.
No! 60 is my limit with perfect conditions and range finder .
I would shoot at an elk at 100 yards, if offered a good shot, with my 270. I suspect with a compound I would be limited to 50 yards, and with my stick bow it would be under 30 yards. I don't need to kill anything badly enough to take irresponsible idiot shots...and I would put 100 yard shots with any bow in that category. I've already made enough stupid mistakes.
100 yards with a bow is not hunting, that is shooting.
Absolutely not. 99 is my self imposed limit and no one should shoot beyond that! ; )
I've never shot beyond 40 at an animal. I will say, for the guys that are spot on at long range, that I don't see any more risk on an unaware elk at long range than on a spooky aware whitetail at 20-30. I would bet that on a percentage basis there are far more bad hits made at close range on whitetail than elk at long range. I'm not talking about bad shots just deer moving at the shot. If you argue absolutely not on elk at 80, for those guys that shoot better than me, it would be pretty easy to say absolutely not on 20+ with a spooky whitetail. Just my opinion. I don't care how far any of you shoot as long as you are using your best judgement.
So...just how many of these guys that are taking 100 yard shots made a good hit and cleanly killed the elk??? If you want to shoot animals at 100 yards buy a rifle! Taking 100 yard shots with a bow is completely disrespecting the animal you are hunting.
too bad nobody told fed bear back in the day.......
100 yards a wee bitch of s stretch for a bow shot on elk or for anything else for that matter.
Warning: the following comment is indeed intended to insult and disparage you if applicable -----> If you take a 100 yard shot at a living breathing animal - you are a JACKWAGON
Q: How many of you would you take a 100yd shot at a woodchuck or something considered to be a pest? I know I would not, if I could get closer. But how about if you could not get closer?
If the carbon ain't flying.....the elk ain't dying!
100 yards is past my range.
"Q: How many of you would you take a 100yd shot at a woodchuck or something considered to be a pest? I know I would not, if I could get closer. But how about if you could not get closer?"
I'd be scared of loosing arrows. Last year I sat out to shoot a praire dog. Every time I went into my stand I'd stop at the praire dog town to try it. After loosing 4 arrows with shots under 30 I quit. Those little bastards can duck the string at 8 steps.lol Do you think if one would have ducked but not fast enough as I would have shot his head that people would have said it was an ill advised shot. Some animals can move at the shot at 8 steps or 100. If I thought I could hit a praire dog at 100 I might try it, once.
I have a buddy that guides for deer and hogs. He has had a number of excellent shooters- guys that in camp can drill an 8" pie plate at 120 yds 4 out of 5 times- that good. Some are sponsored pros from various bow companies- not your avg bow hacks.
Stats; out of about 15 of these pro shooter type guysand all having had multiple long shot "opportunities" [I use that term loosely!] at distances from 80- 120yds they had zero success...and many bad outcomes.
Hard to argue with real world disappointment
I just returned from NM and was completely surprised by the long shots people were taking. I had one guy tell me "if he'd have been 10 yards closer I would have had him" I asked how far out the bull was and he said "105 yards but I practice out to 85 so I know I would have had him at 95". Another guy I talked to had wounded 2 elk with shots over 70 yards. 50 yards was my self imposed limit on a relaxed elk with perfect conditions (calm winds, not too steep of an angle) and I passed up a few shots at 70 trying to get closer. But, I ended up with tag soup.
That said, if I'm going to preach responsible shots, I have to admit I messed up on a 14 yard shot at a cow on the 2nd to last day. I'm not exactly sure what happened but the arrow bounced right off of her shoulder bone with no penetration and she ran off with the rest of the herd, unharmed.
Srsly?
No.
I passed on a 60 yard shot the other day. I don't care how good of an archer you are. Nobody should try to take a 100 yard shot on any game animal. End of story.
Shots like that are for desperate people who feel the need to prove they are a man by never coming home with an unpunched tag. And when they do they NEVER tell the story of the wounded one that got away.
About 1000 variables at that distance so even if you can shoot that far you SHOULDN'T!
Unless you use that arrowhead with the exploding bullet tip. Then it's ok I guess. Doh!