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Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
#5230413
08/01/14 07:18 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,886
Bowhunt Only
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,886 |
What do you consider your effective range for bow hunting whitetail deer? Notice I didn't ask what you think the effective range should be, just what your effective range IS! Just because you can't shoot a whitetail at 50 yards doesn't mean someone else can't. Of course, the bigger the animal the longer the range because of a bigger kill zone, but let's stick to whitetails.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5230436
08/01/14 07:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
I would like every shot within 30 but just because that is a chip shot.
Deer gives me the right shot at 50-60yrds shame on um
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5230495
08/01/14 07:54 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053 |
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5230603
08/01/14 09:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 866
redseal
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 866 |
I like that forty range I could take one at 50 but everything would have to be right though. Great poll question.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5230639
08/01/14 09:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,460
bjankowski
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,460 |
Well this year I'm parking my training wheels bow so I'd say 30yds in perfect conditions. With my compounds I'll take a 50 yard shot all day long.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: bjankowski]
#5230644
08/01/14 09:38 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Well this year I'm parking my training wheels bow so I'd say 30yds in perfect conditions. With my compounds I'll take a 50 yard shot all day long. training wheels
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Navasot]
#5231283
08/02/14 11:44 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,460
bjankowski
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,460 |
Well this year I'm parking my training wheels bow so I'd say 30yds in perfect conditions. With my compounds I'll take a 50 yard shot all day long. training wheels Heck yes, I feel like I'm riding a freaking unicycle shooting trad. There isn't much a challenge with compounds anymore for me. I've pretty much accomplished all I wanted to with compounds. I even put the bow I shot pro with on Ebay fully rigged, even threw in the side quiver and arrows. To me these day a successful hunt is completely different today than it was 45 or 50 years ago. Some of the best hunts I've ever had these day I didn't even fling an arrow, back in the day my motto was "If it's brown it's down!"
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: bjankowski]
#5231505
08/02/14 03:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Well this year I'm parking my training wheels bow so I'd say 30yds in perfect conditions. With my compounds I'll take a 50 yard shot all day long. training wheels Heck yes, I feel like I'm riding a freaking unicycle shooting trad. There isn't much a challenge with compounds anymore for me. I've pretty much accomplished all I wanted to with compounds. I even put the bow I shot pro with on Ebay fully rigged, even threw in the side quiver and arrows. To me these day a successful hunt is completely different today than it was 45 or 50 years ago. Some of the best hunts I've ever had these day I didn't even fling an arrow, back in the day my motto was "If it's brown it's down!" I shot my buddys traditional bow the other day just for funzzies and it didn't go over so well... first shot went over the backstop and into a pond... just handed him the bow and $5 and said im done.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5231629
08/02/14 05:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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I'm gonna get into recurve shooting, I enjoy the simplicity of it
I simply have too many irons in the fire right now, just bought a fly rod and am gonna master that before I move on to anything else
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5231667
08/02/14 06:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,857
cmc
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,857 |
Not sure you ever master a fly rod or a recurve.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: cmc]
#5232009
08/02/14 11:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
sqiggy
Veteran Tracker
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My longest kill shot is 32 yds, but that wasn't a deer. Been bow hunting since 85 and that 32 yd shot happened last year. That has been my longest shot ever at a live target. All my deer shots on average are about 16 to 17 yds. Never had a shot at a deer more than 22 yds. Guess you can say I like them short and sweet!!!
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: sqiggy]
#5232023
08/02/14 11:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,061
ChrisB
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,061 |
I try to keep my shots to 30 yards. Much farther than that and you have a chance they will move before the arrow gets there. I have shot pigs at 50 and a turkey at 60 though.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5232130
08/03/14 01:48 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,224
Grizz
THF Celebrity
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My preferred range is 30 and under, but if the circumstances are right I could go to 40. Most of the time the circumstances aren't right.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5232208
08/03/14 02:40 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,682
cmorsch
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,682 |
I like to keep my shots under 40 yards but that is not always possible. I limit my range to 70 yards currently as that is as far as I can shoot and still keep my groups as tight as I want.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: cmc]
#5232668
08/03/14 03:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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Not sure you ever master a fly rod or a recurve. probably not. I figure i'll be close enough when they ask me to star as Brad Pitts character in the remake of "A river runs though it"
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5232669
08/03/14 03:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225
Nolan Outdoors
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225 |
For me it is not a question of hitting what I am shooting at, it is a question of hitting a moving target. A whitetail, more often than not, starts moving as soon as you release the arrow. An arrow released from a bow that shoots 300 fps (which most do not) will take half a second or more to reach a target at 30 yards.
My bow shoots 260 fps. Last year I shot a whitetail doe at 32 yard from a groundblind. She was standing, facing to my left giving me a clear left side shot. Her head was down feeding. At no time did I see her indicate she was the least bit skittish or nervous.
I held low in the vitals, anticipating a typical drop upon release. I released the arrow and she turned 180 degrees and my arrow entered her right side just in front of the hind quarter. Luckily I hit a main artery and the Grim Reaper did its job, she ran less than 40 yards and expired.
I know there are thousands of guys shooting whitetail every year at 30-40-50 yards and beyond, but...
Oklahoma NWTF State Board Field Staff Black Eagle Arrows Grim Reaper Broadheads Owner of Hang 'em High Game Calls www.nolanoutdoors.com
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Nolan Outdoors]
#5232676
08/03/14 03:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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For me it is not a question of hitting what I am shooting at, it is a question of hitting a moving target. A whitetail, more often than not, starts moving as soon as you release the arrow. An arrow released from a bow that shoots 300 fps (which most do not) will take half a second or more to reach a target at 30 yards.
My bow shoots 260 fps. Last year I shot a whitetail doe at 32 yard from a groundblind. She was standing, facing to my left giving me a clear left side shot. Her head was down feeding. At no time did I see her indicate she was the least bit skittish or nervous.
I held low in the vitals, anticipating a typical drop upon release. I released the arrow and she turned 180 degrees and my arrow entered her right side just in front of the hind quarter. Luckily I hit a main artery and the Grim Reaper did its job, she ran less than 40 yards and expired.
I know there are thousands of guys shooting whitetail every year at 30-40-50 yards and beyond, but...
I can't see how a deer has time to spin completely around at that range. my bow is shooting right at 290 fps...not a screamer but its a quick bow. Everything I have shot with it, including my longest shot of 42 yards, has never known what hit it. I'm not saying it can't happen, but I don't see they would have the time with a bow that's moving even at 260 fps
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5232761
08/03/14 04:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225
Nolan Outdoors
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225 |
I can't see how a deer has time to spin completely around at that range.
my bow is shooting right at 290 fps...not a screamer but its a quick bow. Everything I have shot with it, including my longest shot of 42 yards, has never known what hit it.
I'm not saying it can't happen, but I don't see they would have the time with a bow that's moving even at 260 fps I understand your thinking TxTrophy. At the end of the day it matters not what we understand, or what we think is logical. I set in that blind for half an hour trying to understand how I could have seen the lighted nock as she ran from my left to right, jump the feeder pin fence and running away from me and still seeing the nock on her right side. Mature deer are amazing fast and move in unpredictable directions. This is why I do not think, for most hunters, a shot much longer than 30-35 is a shot that should be attempted. All the Quigley long range archers, carry on.
Oklahoma NWTF State Board Field Staff Black Eagle Arrows Grim Reaper Broadheads Owner of Hang 'em High Game Calls www.nolanoutdoors.com
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5232966
08/03/14 07:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,518
NewJeep
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,518 |
I have the same concept for bow hunting as I do rifle hunting. Only shoot at a animal at half the distance you practice at. I shoot my bow everyday at 60yds and 90% of the time I am well under 6" groups (5 shots). I always try to keep my shots at the 30-35yd mark on Whitetails.
Live to hunt, forced to work!
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Nolan Outdoors]
#5233516
08/04/14 01:08 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,053 |
I can't see how a deer has time to spin completely around at that range.
my bow is shooting right at 290 fps...not a screamer but its a quick bow. Everything I have shot with it, including my longest shot of 42 yards, has never known what hit it.
I'm not saying it can't happen, but I don't see they would have the time with a bow that's moving even at 260 fps I understand your thinking TxTrophy. At the end of the day it matters not what we understand, or what we think is logical. I set in that blind for half an hour trying to understand how I could have seen the lighted nock as she ran from my left to right, jump the feeder pin fence and running away from me and still seeing the nock on her right side. Mature deer are amazing fast and move in unpredictable directions. This is why I do not think, for most hunters, a shot much longer than 30-35 is a shot that should be attempted. All the Quigley long range archers, carry on. I agree....once you get past 30 yards on deer sized game things can get iffy really quick I like 20-25 yards...not too close but not too far either.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5233667
08/04/14 02:43 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
sqiggy
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,326 |
I can't see how a deer has time to spin completely around at that range.
Happens all the time. Happened to me once at 24 yds. Shot a monster buck at 13 yds. Had to mouth grunt at him to stop him in my shooting lane. I put my 15 yd pin at his belly line since he was now on full alert. Hit him right under the back strap and got one lung. In just 13 yds, he dropped about 16 inches. If I hadn't aimed low, real low, I would have shot completely over him.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5233896
08/04/14 11:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225
Nolan Outdoors
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 225 |
How long does it take for an arrow to get from the bow (at 300 FPS off the string)to a target at 50 yards?
If my math is correct and IF the arrow could maintain 300 fps throughout its flight, which it can't, it would take 1/2 a second. I suspect it would be not be far south of one full second to hit at 50 yards.
When you think in these terms it seems reasonable for a critter the size and quickness of a whitetail could move enough to cause a clean miss at best or at worst, a poorly place arrow.
Like I said before, it is not a matter of being able to hit a target at 40 or 50 yards and beyond, it is a matter of hitting the kill zone on a moving target, when you don't know which way it will move until after you release the string.
Aim low my friends, aim low.
Oklahoma NWTF State Board Field Staff Black Eagle Arrows Grim Reaper Broadheads Owner of Hang 'em High Game Calls www.nolanoutdoors.com
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5233973
08/04/14 01:11 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,460
bjankowski
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,460 |
All I can say is the only thing predictable about deer is they are unpredictable. I've shot deer fifty yards away that didn't have a clue I shot until they felt the arrow and I've had a deer spin like Nolan said at 30 yards and hit her between the front legs. I had two bucks at my feeder at 25 yards and tagged one and the other didn't even budge. In fact I tried several times to get him to leave so I could start tracking the other one, and I had to climb down off the ladder stand and wave my arms. During the rut they get even more scatter brained and the odds of scoring a bigger buck is more likely if your patient. Rutting deer can travel 10 plus miles a day looking to pass those genes.
I'm looking forward to this coming season with great anticipation since I'm going exclusively traditional. I'm flinging several hundred arrows daily to 35 yards, I do that every day anyway. Where I hunt I don't anticipate a shot over 25 yards with my setup. Good luck everyone and just your head and don't take that shot unless your 100% confident in your shot, remember bow hunters already get a bad rap. Let's all be ready to post some great pictures, I can't wait! Good luck all and safety first!
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5234335
08/04/14 04:29 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,006
JThoele
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,006 |
Using a single pin sight on my bowtech I enjoy target practicing at long ranges of up to and well beyond 100 yards. I wouldn't take a hunting shot at this range, but long range confidence makes a 30-40 yard shot much more capable. I shot my buck last season at 48 yards. I aimed low vitals, shot from a box blind while he had no clue I was there and his disposition was calm and relaxed, and nonetheless he ducked at the shot and the arrow impacted his spine. He dropped instantly, and I immediately grabbed another arrow and put it thru the vitals. Shortest tracking job to date; however, it could have resulted very bad in a wounded and unrecovered deer. Luckily I learned a lesson without being served the consequences. I have my pop up blinds <30 yards from feeders or high traffic trails this season.
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Re: Effective Range for Bow Hunting?
[Re: Bowhunt Only]
#5234434
08/04/14 05:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,973
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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I zero my sights at 30 yards. I hit only slightly high at 20 yards. I have pins for 30, 40 and 50, and a mark on my 50 yard pin for 60 yards. I practice at 30 yards as my main starting distance. I then work out to 40 and 50 yards, with some 60 yard shots. I practice at all those distances. I shot my cow elk at exactly 50 yards a few years ago. I knew my holds and there was no wind. If you practice at only 20 and 30 yards, then a 50 or 60 yard shot would be foolish. If you practice at those distances, and have the right conditions, then your normal practice distances should be fine. My hunting partner practices out to 80 yards. That's further than I plan to shoot. So, each distance is up to the shooter's ability.
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