Whats your furthest shot & kill
General Topic
Shot Distance seems to be the hot topic lately.
So lets hear it. What your longest shot that you made?
Mine?
This past fall. Shot my cow elk on opening day/evening. 60yds. Broadside. No limbs or obstacles. That arrow went thru her like butter.
Was that too far for the 'shot distance police'? lol!
Well all I hunt is whitetail in mostly timber. So shots are limited to say the least. Furthest shot was 31yds and had a pass through.
Shot released or shot killed?
My longest released was a 55 yard shot on a running turkey that was made out of incredible frustration after about the 10th busted stalk of the day. Missed right at his feet.
Longest I've ever shot at big game was 42 yards on my 2013 WY elk. Right through the heart.
My closest Bull was 2 steps. I'd like to do better before I'm done.
63 yards on a deer this past November. Had a nice steak for dinner tonight.
First shot, or do follow up shots count?
My longest was an antelope at 88 yards. My second longest was a few years ago. I took what I believed to be a follow up shot on a bull that I had actually missed initially. It was 87 yards. Hit him perfectly and watched him trot up the hill 40 yards and fall over dead. I couldn't believe it when I walked up to him and realized I completely whiffed my first shot. I would not have attempted the second shot if I had known I originally missed. (Once I have wounded an animal I don't believe there is anything unethical about taking a long distance follow up shot.)
I think most would be surprised how many successful western bowsiters routinely take longer distance shots. I practice a lot, feel comfortable farther out, and will not hesitate to take a longer shot when I feel I can make it count. That said, I wouldn't mind if every animal I killed was standing broadside at 20. In correlation to what WapitiBob said, I like nice and close shots. The closer I get to the animal, the better of a hunter I feel. The farther out the better of a shot I feel. Both are different, but proficiency of each necessary to be a well rounded hunter. I routinely get close to critters, but sometimes you run out of room and options.
60 yds. Cotton tail. Complete pass thru, fell within sight.
Terry
50 yards. Sage grouse. Pinned him to the dam. I would have had the trophy mounted but I decided having fresh sage grouse for dinner was better than Chunky Soup.
63 for me. Whitetail. She was in a back field. Stalked till I was even with her on other side of a stone wall. Ranged her right at 63. Head down feeding.
64 yards on a broadside cow elk. Looked like a crime scene.
Bou and muley buck at 35. For my longbow that's waaaay out there. In both cases I was standing and the animal wasn't the least bit alert. Almost like being on the range.
Everything else 30 or less including a bou that I believe the arrow hit before it left the string.
For me 18 yards.....been very fortunate. I think I have a built in Hecs suit.
Just under 40 yards several times with longbow and recurve. Probably 35 with the compound.
66 yds on a 5x6 bull,complete pass thru.recovered after 175 yds. Very tough animal. Used 60 yd pin ( my longest) and steep uphill angle. Best night ever, no bugs, and bulls bugling the whole time and the more noise we made the more they bugled.
50 yard on a deer with the bow. / 1,780 on a deer with the rifle.
I shot an antelope in 2012 at 72 yards. He ran ruffly 30 yards before going down.
It’s not a shot I would brag about. However the whitetail buck I shot in Ne in 08 at 3 yards while I stood by a big cottonwood is a shot I am pretty proud of. Afterwards my dad asked me what pin I used. I told him all of them.
All western hunting for me. In 38 years bowhunting longest big game kill was about 25 yards. Missed a muley and elk at 45 -50 yards when I shot a compound around 1990.
I shot a jackrabbit mid jump at 45 yards once with my recurve. Pure luck as he jumped in front of the arrow. I've passed up a lot of longer shots because getting close is more fun.
ohiohunter, You won't believe it but a Remington 700 BDL in 243 cal.
My best friend watched his son shoot a big Coues buck in his bed at 1100 yards with a factory BDL. Deer never moved. I'm not a big gun guy but the early 700 BDL was one of the very best affordable production rifles made at the time.
Two bull elk at right around sixty...I have a target set 60 yds from my back door and do hundreds of single shots through the summer. If they're calm at 60 I feel pretty good....also shot a bull at about 3 steps, ended up with 1 lung because he spooked as I started to squeeze. Intense experience.
35 yards, my 1st and 2nd whitetails. First one I was lucky to hit the femoral, the 2nd one I made a perfect shot.
40. A doe about a month ago. Perfect shot. For the record my max is 50 but shots at whitetails that distance are almost non-existant in the woods.
45 elk and woodland caribou
49 follow-up shot on a grizzly originally fatally hit at 23 but he stopped at 49 and took another hit.
41 yards on a Coues, watched him walk 15 yards and drop.
Does a second shot at a groundhog at 73 paces count with a recurve?
71 Yards- Javelina down hill shot. went 15 yards. (bow with sights) 52 Yards- Mule deer buck. Flat ground no obstructions didn't know I was there (compound bare bow- no sights). went about 30 yards. These were when I was younger and shot a lot more than I do now. I was very comfortable shooting 70 and 80 yards. Now I limit myself to about 50.
Mostly deer species and black bear, exact number unknown but over 165 personal longbow kills, all under about 30 yards, most under 20. One follow up shot deer kill at about 70 yards. No high fences. Helped track hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of bow shot animals of many species.
Lots of rifle stuff and species, out to about 400 yards. Hawken kills, about 35 animals, all under 100 yards.
I guessed him at 70-71 yards. I don't know as I didn't have a rangefinder then. It must have been about 69 as it hit him through the top of the shoulder and spine. :^) Dropped him on the spot. It was a follow up shot on a deer my buddy had wounded, 3 hours earlier at 4 yards. That's the God's honest truth too.
When reading these type threads, I often wonder why men don't prepare for such instances. God Bless men
Furthest, about 35 yards. Best, 3 yards. It was incredible. TMBB
Bow- 31 yds- water buffalo
Rifle- 303 yds- whitetail deer
Whitetail @ 30 yards (I limit it at that range). Antelope @ 54 yards (lots of summer practice from various positions). Just seems to me the antelope that I hunt give me a little more opportunity for a shot vs whitetail. Maybe it's my imagination.
My first deer with a longbow was a nice doe, she was right at 40 yards and slightly quartering away. The arrow passed through, going through a rib on the far side and taking out both lungs and sticking into the dirt 6". I have only missed shots with my compound.
About 60 feet for the farthest. This year, 15 feet on the ground.
Longest shot taken...31
Longest kill shot...31
These rifle shots put me on a whole other train of thought. Good thing this is a bow forum... I must be one of the dick wads that Lou spoke of. Can anyone guess the bullet drop at 1700 yards?
Whitetail at 57 yards. Deer went less than that after the shot.
with a rifle milk jug kill at 1600 or elk at 612. with a bow follow up shot at 103.
38 is the farthest I’ve taken, 38 is the farthest I’ve made. I am willing to shoot to 70, wouldn’t mind increasing that.
I do have to admit, when I was 16, a friend and myself lobbed our quivers at a flock of turkeys maybe 200 yards. Out of our 45Lb Dartons it seemed like the arrows were going higher than they were in distance. Lol, no turkeys were harmed.
66 yards whitetail buck, died within 50 yds
47 yrds Canadian moose 1/4 away got liver and lung ,he went 100 yds down the beach and 80 into the bush...but that's a very very large target.... id be hard pressed to shoot at a deer 1/4 away at that range.....farthest practice I do is 60, my bottom pin mikeC
84 yards on a mule deer buck, complete pass through and dead within 75 yards, never got out of sight.
Closest shot is about 6 feet on a whitetail doe in some cedars.
About 30 years ago killed a jake at 40 yards with the slowest old laminated wood compound I've ever shot. Longest deer kill is 35 yards. I usually don't shoot at them over about 25 yards, depending on the variables at the time.
76 yards on a Mountain Caribou standing broadside looking at us . Complete passthru. Bull traveled 53 yards leaving a 10' wide blood trail in the snow.
Practiced for six+ months out to 70 yards and made a few shots at 80. Knew what my capabilities were at the time.
49 Yards on Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram, 50 Yards on Shiras Moose.
Longest shot may be tomorrow in Arizona- Javelina and Coues Deer
One of my hunting friends here in Town killed a 350" bull elk at 109
51,steps with a longbow, hit her high, spine, the second shot, three feet.
Some great shooting guys.
Now why isnt anyone chastising these shots? Or is that reserved for TV people?
My first bow kill has been my longest - 41 yards broadside on a big fat doe. Closest has been 7 yards with my recurve.
Best shot - frontal on a coyote with my recurve at 35 yards. It’s been quite a few years ago and I was fortunate to have both my young boys with me, sitting on the ground in the midst of a fallen oak. It was an awesome natural ground blind.
—Mitch
169 yards, whitetail doe, open field, heart shot. She was running pretty good, had to lead her by about 30 yards and time my release perfectly. I didn't have a pin for that distance so I used the bottom of my hand grip based on a complex formula I devised. It worked out perfectly.
"Some great shooting guys. Now why isnt anyone chastising these shots? Or is that reserved for TV people?" I don't think anyone would should be chastised for those shots.
CNELK, I know you can shoot, probably better than half the guys on here, and that includes me... In my opinion, there should be no chastising at all, If, and that's a big IF the guy taking the shot is capable of making it every time. I used to practice out to 90 meters religiously every day! In my youth, I probably shot more arrows in a day than a lot of guys do in a year, I was an excellent shot! Now I'm busted up pretty good and my eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I limit myself. everyone needs to know their own limitations and abide by them. It's called self restraint! Terrain and cover are also a key factor as are cross winds and weather. My closest kill was 7 yards on a buck, he went 35 yards and never knew what hit it. Lee can flat out shoot, as can Cam... I am curious if anyone chastising these guys would have the guts to say it to their face???? I BET NOT!
30 yards maybe
most 15-20
but then I've passed a LOT of 40-50-60 yards shot and if I'd taken a bunch of them I'm sure I'd have several long shot kills (and wounds)
Elk- 42 yards with a compound.
Turkey- 40 yard Hail Mary with recurve. Shot through the neck DRT.
Squirrel- 40 yards with recurve. Probably the luckiest shot in the history of bowhunting.
When I had much better vision, 47 yards on a Wyoming antelope. Next would be a hog at 45. Everything else under 30.
All with Recurve, 50 yards on a running Cottontail, 40 yards on a running Jackrabbit have been my best. Closest was 4-5 feet on a Turkey and 6 feet on a WT Buck. Out of 200+ big game animals less than 10 were shot over 20 yards and many much closer.
96 yards on an antelope. Ran about 30 yards and fell over dead in sight.
Brad, I think the shot you made on that cow elk was totally irresponsible and you should relinquish half the meat to me as punishment!
42 yards on a calm, drinking antelope with my longbow. The shot was longer than his death dash. Shot a few rabbits and gophers farther but don't know the exact distance. Closest was a whitetail buck off the ground in a cornfield 2 rows over with my compound. Go figure...
72 steps, Jackrabbit, Uvaldea TX.jeff
Wapitbob: my closest was 7 steps/yards, so my hat's off to you. I'd like hope to have a chance to challenge your distance!
My longest was a Elk at 52 yards. Deer 39 yards. I don't practice past 50 yards.
In the early seventies hunting Wy and ND mule deer bucks at 65, 60 and 70. All with recurve. Shot a lot of NFAA field rounds back then.
65-ish heart shot (bare bow) on a small blacktail buck, back when I was younger and stupider. A lot of "dumb luck" on that shot, I wouldn't attempt it now. Longest shot on elk is 45 yds, but most have been 25 yds it less.
Best of luck, Jeff
55yds at a 5x5 bull about 15 years ago. Went in a 100 yard circle and fell dead in a patch of snow. Perfect for boning him out. Longer pack out then I could do now! It was a pass through shot with my old XI Legend. Aluminum arrow with 125 gr Thunderhead. Good old days. And now I need a Hoyt Carbon RX 1 Ultra to do that I guess! Getting it this month! Shot one at the shop's open house. Something to look forward to on another 30 below morning. Damn!
This is how the REAL "old school" guys used to hunt- From Saxton Pope's book "Hunting with the Bow and Arrow"
"Out of the quiet purple shadow of the forest one evening there stepped the most stately buck I ever saw. His noble crest and carriage were superb. On a grassy hillside, some HUNDRED AND FIFTY YARDS away, he stood broadside on. With a rifle the merest tyro might have bowled him over. In fact, he looked just like the royal stag in the picture.
Two of us were together--a little underbrush shielded us. We drew our bows, loosed the arrows and off they flew. The flight of an arrow is a beautiful thing; it is grace, harmony, and perfect geometry all in one. They flew, and fell short. The deer only looked at them. We nocked again and shot. This time we dropped them just beneath his belly. He jumped forward a few paces and stopped to look at us. Slowly we reached for a third arrow, slowly nocked and drew it, and away it went, whispering in the air. One grazed his withers, the other pierced him through the loose skin of the brisket and flew past.
With an upward leap he soared away in the woods and we sent our blessing with him. His wound would heal readily, a mere scratch. We picked up our arrows and returned to camp to have bacon for supper, perfectly happy."
I've never taken a shot I was not confident in making regardless of distance. Lots of letting down or passing on animals.
With a bow 67 yds but practice up to 70. With a gun 550 with a ruger M77 in 25-06. Shoot woodchucks all the time with this gun at 300+ yds
60yds cottontail recurve,compound 45yrds muledeer.
title 85yards in the book
title 85yards in the book
Here is Pope and Young with an 80+ yard kill from the Book
Young and Compton brought low a fine buck by this means on one of our recent hunts. Seeing a three-pointer a mile distant, we all advanced at a rapid pace. We reached suitable vantage ground just as the buck became aware of our presence. At eighty yards Young shot an arrow and pierced him through the chest."
36 yards, bull elk quartering away. Confident and competent out to 50, but have not to date and not sure I would take it... just me!
Probably about 60 yards on a little 4x4 muley. It was a crappy shot and I shouldn't have taken it. I really wasn't even sure if I hit him or not, but when I was looking for blood I jumped the doe and the little forky he was with, but didn't see him, so I figured I must have hit him. Kept looking around and stumbled right into him. No blood or anything, I got super lucky. I barely grazed the bottom of his belly and that swhacker zipped him open and let his guts fall out. I'm a western hunter, but I really prefer to keep it 40 yards and under. Using the top pin is even better. Last year I killed a little bull elk at 45 yards. Shot him tight behind the shoulder and just a little bit high, but it was a good shot that put him down quick.
I've never paced any shots off but I've shot a few whitetails around 30 yards. Everything else has been closer.
140 yards on a bull elk in Colorado.
-100 :)
60 yards on a mulie.
It's ironic to me. . . . I've killed and missed a few critters between 40 and 60 yards. I've never lost one (knock on wood).
Of the animals I've lost, I think the farthest shot was 27 yards at a relaxed elk over a wallow (armpitted him), and the closest was 9 yards at a pig from a blind (I don't know how I managed to screw that up).
In fact, if I checked my log, which I'm not going to do, I think that besides the elk, all wounding shots would have been less than 20 yards. The worst killing shot I ever made was at 35 yards. So I guess I would say that over 35 yards, all shots have either been good killing shots, or clean misses.
34 yards on a whitetail doe
55 yards,8/10 mph left to right cross wind,,put pin on the back leg crease ,,,right through the pumping station,,,,25 yard recovery.
At least 200 yards. I was in my teens in a golf course and saw a rabbit around 200 yards away. I lined up the sight and raised the bow up in the air feet above the rabbit. I let fly and watched the arrow come down right in the head. The rabbit ran in circles then off to a swamp never to be found. Honestly I just did it for no other reason then to see how close I’d come. Never thought I would make that shot in a million years!
About 25 years ago I shot a buck at 56 yds. Perfect lung shot. Would not shoot that far now
This antelope was my furthest at 90 yards, lost sight of the arrow but double lung pass thru. The bull elk was 80 yards dead center in the body with less penetration and recovered next morning. Both of these were situational making stalks and didn't hesitate but I get much more enjoyment out of sneaking right in and being part of the herd. My shots this fall were 40, 32, 18, 8 and 15 yards. I also love the feeling of being super confident at close range.
I shot a barren ground caribou at 63 yrds this past September. Normally my shots are at deer and turkeys inside of 30.
Deer 33 yards, Elk 37 yards. My ability limits me to 50 yards.
25 yards on a deer, the only one I have stalked on the ground (the other 52 with a bow were from a treestand, with longest shot 20 yards, I like them close)
93 yards on a cow elk - longbow. Guy I was hunting with had hit her in the lower front leg with a compound at 30 yards. Followed her around the mountain, she went low below a big cliff and we went on top. He ranged her at 93 and I told him that at that steep of an angle to hold for much less. He shot and the arrow flew at least an elk high over her back. She turned away to head downhill and I shot - cut through the backstrap and tenderloin just in front of the hip and stuck in her sternum. She was rolling down the mountain after only a few steps.
25 yards on a deer, the only one I have stalked on the ground (the other 52 with a bow were from a treestand, with longest shot 20 yards, I like them close)
Catalina goat in TX at 60 yds. Follow up shot on a buck my dad hit at 55.
Shot a couple of jackrabbits at 45.
Tried to shoot a prairie dog barking at me with only his head showing out of his hole. Had he not ducked the arrow I would have hit him!
"Flew at least an elk high ,over her back" One of the best,purest analogies I've ever heard....something we can ALL understand.....lol
Never did find his arrow...
Since I have already admitted to being a dickwad, I want to hear more about the ballistics of a 243 at 1780 yards.
Jack that's some "next level" shooting for sure! My farthest was 52 yards on a whitetail doe. Complete pass thru. Most shot probably average well under 30.
500 yards. Go big or go home.
"Since I have already admitted to being a dickwad, I want to hear more about the ballistics of a 243 at 1780 yards."
Wrong forum... wrong site
Killed my first bull elk at 80yds. Center punched him he took two steps and collapsed. Had an arrow in a caribou in Greenland and ssnuck to 79yds and shot him through the heart. Prefer to get to 60 or less but there are times and situations when it really pays to be able to shoot farther.
Well I didn't bring it up, so don't play the "rule" card on me when you let the others slide on their rifle and ML comments.
Just quickly skimming, at least 11 rifle/ML references in this thread before mine. You have no right to single me out.
45 yds. That was in 1984. Next furthest was 34 yds. All other deer were under 30. Hate those between 22 and 30. They jump the string to easily. Both of my elk were 32 yds. Practice out to 50 but too many things can go wrong in the time for the arrow to get there. Watched my buddy shoot a Muley doe at 45 yds. He made a great shot but the deer had taken a step before the arrow arrived and he hit it in the hip. Luckily he got the artery and got it. I don’t condemn those that can shoot at longer distance. But I have a guy that thinks he can shoot to 60. While watching him shoot he should not shoot past 30. People should be honest with themselves on their ability. Then let that guide them. Greg
30 yards with a long bow.
Now I'll tell you the only one that actually matters... My closest was 4 yards
Actually lost the biggest bull I ever shot at after sinking an arrow to the fletching at less than 2 steps.
Found him a week later still alive with the fletching still on his side and a bunch of cows. Was able to keep tabs on him till rifle season. Took a rifle hunter in there two weeks later and he shot a little 5x5 on the way up to where that bull lived.
Sure would have liked to get that bull and see what happened.
70 for a bull elk in AZ 60 for antelope in MT
Scott
Where did that extra 8 come from?
-Joe
52 with wheels, on a whitetail after a 3 hour stalk and an hour waiting for him to get out of bed. 5 feet was closest, with recurve from a stand
38 yards...but I shoot a recurve or longbow only and that was too far. 30 yards is my max
I have a feeling that if I shot a compound I would be very confident at 60-70 with proper range finding
68 yards finishing off a wounded deer for a friend. I practice out to and am proficient out to 70 yards. Personally 30 yards in real hunting situations is about the limit of my comfort zone. I set up to kill deer in that 8-15 yard area.
56 yards for a whitetail buck that was hurt. He had been hit by a car and that was with a compound. The next would be right around the same on a nice 8pt. with my recurve. Shawn
For those interested in the 1,780 yard shot with a 243, I'll start by saying it was luck. Although I did this when I was much younger and shooting regular, it was a hail marry shot to say the least. The story goes something like this. Bill and I were deer hunting in Florida when we came upon a group of people stopped on a small rise. They were looking at something through a spotting scope. We ask what they were doing because one guy was shooting at the object. After some time looking, we spotted what looked like three bucks in the edge of a field next to a tree line. After several attempts at shooting at the deer, which did not realize they were being shot at. Bill ask if we could take a shot at them. They said sure. Bill was my spotter when I was in the Air Force and I was active duty at the time. I had shot long distance many times with different caliper's and loads. I was on a shooting team competing against other military branches and countries. Bill and I set up and took a shot. Bill estimated the shot at just over a mile. (1780 is a guess) Bill calculated the shot and I took it, hitting the buck on the first shot and downing it. I remember trying to lead the deer about the length of the deer and putting it in the very bottom of the scope which would probably put it at about 20 feet above the deer. (Again just guessing.) It was about 35 years ago. After the shot, several others started shooting as the deer were running now. If this story is not crazy enough then it gets crazier. When we wen't over to retrieve the buck we found a second blood trail. We trailed that deer until 1:00 P.M. when we finally gave up. (The mystery and story is yours).
62 yards, heart shot on a teddy bear....if memory serves correctly.
Elk- 60 yards Whitetail- 40 yards
Thanks for the details Arrowhead.
Back when I was younger I took long shots.....now, I realize too many variables when that arrow is in the air.
We jumped a bull on OTC at 70 yds? [unranged] and I pulled up and shot all in one motion. There was a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree in front of him....[what are the odds?] and I drilled that tree dead center....but the range was right. The bull took 3 steps away and turned 80yds...... he only went 30 yds and down in sight.
Rifle - 610yds on a coyote & 560yds on an elk
PECO can add two more to the rifle references lol!
cnelk, to be fair, I am only keeping tabs on posts, not all the references in the posts. Strictly for my defense.
Elk 70, moose 70, deer 60 but never again, I wont shoot over 40 on a deer, I find a 30 yard on a deer more difficult than a 70 yard on a elk or moose
My closest is 3 yards on a bull elk. Have shot a half dozen under 10 yards.
PECO, I don't think you're a dickwad. Those guys are all on AT and Monster Muleys. ;-)
Lots of Olympic shooters on here.....
639 yards with a .22LR open sights. One of those young and dumb "think you could hit that?" type situations. No luck involved whatsoever.
As many mentioned, when young you do things you would not do later in life. Long shots fall into this category for me. I thought I learned that lesson but apparently was too tempted with a 75yd shot opportunity on a P&Y antelope about 10 years ago. He started to take a step as my arrow flew and it was not pretty. What should have been a heart-lung ended as a double ham. With much effort I ran him down and finished him but I felt pretty bad about how that played out. Yes, I retrieved the animal after a bad hit, but I asked for all the other not so great things with my decision. You just cannot predict things as well at those distances. Practice all you like but a half step at those ranges and you have a poor hit. That said 40 yrs ago I tagged a grey fox on the run at 65 yds with an early compound. That was purely attributed to shooting instinct and luck. Furthest elk was at 52 yds....dead after 150 ft. Furthest rifle: Coues at 620 yds with a Weatherby Vanguard in 270 Win.
Farthest with a compound, 29 yards. Farthest with a selfbow, 26 yards.
Closest, 3 yards, selfbow, hunkered close to the ground. I'd much rather have them close.
If he isn't blowing smoke. APauls has the best shot I have ever heard of
Back about 1979,80, 81, I shot 22 match rifles competitively. NRA - 4 position scoring. Sitting, kneeling, prone & standing.
You learned how to breathe, and squeeze your shots between heartbeats.
For practice, we would light farmers matches at 50ft lol! It made me a pretty good shot
I work within a mile of the Army Marksmanship Unit, and am from West Virginia that has one more NCAA championships in rifle and has one five in a row and is currently ranked number one, and I did talk to Levi Morgan two years ago does that count! I thought that it may be like sleeping in a Holliday Inn...
I misremembered
I shot a 60+ yards shot at an antelope in 2013 IIRC ......... I hit him far back but was able to get him shortly after.
