How Far Is Too Far

     Earlier this week, I wrote about the tree stand issue, and since we are on the ethics subject I thought I would throw a question out there that has been buzzing around the internet of late.  How far is too far to take a shot ethically?  Is a 70 yard or 80 yard shot on big game with a compound bow ethical?  For most people I would say this is an unethical shot.  Why not for all hunters,  your ask?

     I think before we can answer that question we must first look at the hunter and his equipment.  There are some guys that have been taking game successfully at long ranges for some time now.  I’m talking about shots over 50 yards and up to 80 yards or more consistently.  Now I realize that most hunters wouldn’t dream of taking shots at that range.  But, these guys have figured out the equipment set up and have the skills needed to consistently and I do mean consistently take big game at these distances.  I have been following the shooting regimen for practicing that these guys use and I personally have increased my effective range by over 50%.  I can now consistently place my shots with a compound bow in the bull at 40 yards.  That doesn’t mean that I would take that shot necessarily though.  But I can testify that these skills do exist and can be obtained with practice.  The sighting and range finding systems that these guys use also contribute to their success.  There is no way you could make a long shot with out them,  it would just be guessing at the range and hoping to hit the target.

     So back to my question, is this an ethical shot for someone who has the equipment and the set of skills to take a shot such as this?  I do have a couple of questions on this myself.  First of all how much energy is the arrow producing when it hits the animal?  They have also figured this out with physics and the use a computer program to figure out what draw length they use along with the bow’s poundage and arrow size and weight.  They know the maximum distance that they can shoot that arrow to produce an effective kill.  My next question is with the amount of time that it takes for the arrow to leave the bow until it hits the animal, doesn’t that give the animal time to move, which might result in a ineffective shot.  This is the one down side of this that I can see happening.  But that can happen with any shot, with a bow or a firearm.  I see it as being equal to taking a 400 yard shot with a rifle out on the open plains at a big game animal.  If you have the tools and the set of skills to make a shot of that caliber then by all means take it.  I’m not saying that I will take that 40 yard shot myself now, but I have increased my effective range by the way that I practice.  If given the right set of circumstances, my confidence in my shooting ability has gone up to effectively place a longer shot now.  If I continue to follow the practice techniques and maximize the capability of my equipment I can continue to increase my effective range.  Wouldn’t it be nice to take an effective shot at a deer standing broadside at 39 yards or so, that you’ve watched for 30 minutes and he just won’t come in those last 15 or so yards?  If you want to know more about how to shoot your compound bow at these distances check out the guys at bowcast.

     I will give all game the chance to come as close as possible before taking a shot, but at what point does that distance become unethical?  Is it different for each hunter, or is it the same for all of us?  Is taking a turkey at 40 yards too far or maybe 50 yards?  I personally wouldn’t take that shot, but there are those guys out there who have the equipment that would allow them to do so.  There are guys out there that take 500 - 600 yard shots at big game on the prairies, I can’t make that shot myself.  I watched a sharp shooter last week on TV shoot a Whitmore Civil War era muzzleloader and hit the target at 800 yards!!  It can be done, but is it ethical?  What do you think, drop me a line on the comment link below to let others know what you think.