Effective range.

[bingsbaits]

Hello all new to the forum.. I am from PA and we are about to approve the crossbow for full inclusion in our archery season here..A question for you long time crossbow users..How far is too far to shoot.. I know with my bow it's only 35 yrds. But I have been reading in some of the forums of 50-60 yrd shots..Is this the norm??

[CritterGitter]

The longest shot I have ever taken at a deer with a crossbow was 40 yards and I missed low. The newer models today may produce enough speed to affectively kill a deer out to 50 yards, but you still have "jumping the string", "wind", "twigs" and any number of elements in the natural world that affect all archery hunting. If I had a brand new state of the art crossbow today, I would not shoot more than 40 yards in the woods and not more than 50 in an open field. However, I don't think 50 yard shots are the norm for most sportsmen who use a crossbow.

[ddecamp]

I personally have been using a Horton HD 175 crossbow and took a deer with it late last week at 40 yards. I got really good penetration and hit the deer right where I was aiming. However I did take a shot earlier in the season at 55 yards and did not get enough penetration to make it lethal, but that is also because it was a shoulder shot, I feel that if it was 4 inches back further it would have been lethal.

[ddecamp]

I personally have been using a Horton HD 175 crossbow and took a deer with it late last week at 40 yards. I got really good penetration and hit the deer right where I was aiming. However I did take a shot earlier in the season at 55 yards and did not get enough penetration to make it lethal, but that is also because it was a shoulder shot, I feel that if it was 4 inches back further it would have been lethal. But both shots were right where I was aiming. I had to take what was given to me on the 55 yard shot.

[ohiobuckmaster]

Hello all new to the forum.. I am from PA and we are about to approve the crossbow for full inclusion in our archery season here..A question for you long time crossbow users..How far is too far to shoot.. I know with my bow it's only 35 yrds. But I have been reading in some of the forums of 50-60 yrd shots..Is this the norm??

Welcome to the forum and congradulations on the new laws in your state, 1 by 1 the states are waking up to the fact that crossbow hunter numbers are raising fast and the economic impact that we make cant be ignored any longer. As far as the shot distance, what I do with my crossbow (Horton HD150 ) is well before the season I sight in using a 3D deer target. The foam on the taget in much denser then the body of a deer, so I figure if a bolt can penatrate the 3D target at a given range, then it should have no problem doingthe same to a deer at that range. My optimum range that I feel comfortable at is 35 yards.I have shoot at the target at much greater ranges, but with less consistancy. The 3D targets can be bought almost any sporting goods store (I got mine at Dick's) for under $100 dollars and you can purchace a new vitals when you wear yours out for $15.

[HuntNWOHIO]

I hunted with a crossbow for a couple years before i went to a compound, i could target shoot out to 50 or 60 but would not take a deer past 40 yards. That is not saying that 50 and 60 yard kills aren't possible with all of the advancements in crossbow technology, but that was just my personal opinion with the bow that I was shooting.

So I would say depends on the bow, fps, wind, cover of the area you are hunting, probablity of deer jumping the string, etc.

Lots of practice out in the yard will soon let you know where your comfort zone. I always say if i can't put 3 consecutive arrows in a 10 inch circle then it is not a yardage that I will take a shot at.

[hatteraspk]

I think by effective range we mean retrieving our game - it is very important to get the arrow or bolt pass through the deer we are hunting - the reason being is you want a good blood trail if by chance you don't make that perfect shot to the lung area and the deer drops within sight - having said that - and having hunted with a crossbow for the last 15 years and taken over 50 whitetail I would not take a shot past 25 yards - I am sure everyone can stick a target at 40-50 yards , but that's not the same as recovery of our game. [/SIZE]

[gunrac]

My x-bow shoot's 3" ta 4" pattern at 50yd. I wouldn't shoot more then 25 to 30yd. at a deer. Anything beyond that there is a pretty good chance he'll jump the string.

["J"]

:yeahthat:

[epe]

25-30 yards also. Just not worth making a bad shot.

[oobuck]

My personal limit is 30 yards, but I like em at 15 yards.:mischeif: 150lb Legend.

[lennyzrx]

20 yards and less for me. If you can't get 30 yards and under on a whitetail you really need to get better at scouting and your set up's.