My Best Shot On A Deer

This is from several years ago, pre trad bow. I was in a creek bottom at Amherst WMA, it was a cold/wet December day. I was in the stand before the sun rose. It was raining/spitting snow quite a lot. Around 1 pm, a pair of button bucks walk up the creek bottom. It was a deep creek bottom, somewhat sheltering us from the high winds that day.

These two decide to bed down about 30 yds from me. They stay there for over 2 hours. I'm about to turn into a block of ice, & decided to take a shot. My shot, at the bedded buck was just under him. They get up & trot farther up toward the mouth of the "hollar". The back buck stopped in some brush, looking around. I had the smallest hole in the brush to shoot thru. I let it go, & was sure I missed him.

I was done & was going to head home. I went to go get my arrow, & couldn't see it. I the saw a drop of blood. This guy was 50 yds farther up, with an arrow sticking in him. It was a perfect quartering away shot. That shot was 45 yds thru thick brush, instinctive, my best shot I've ever made on an animal. That was #1 of 5 my first year shooting instinctive.

It was a hellacious drag to get that deer to the truck. Thru a creek, over/under blown down trees. In all It took me a couple hours to get to the road with him. That was some "sweet meat!"

Nice shot. My best to date is 35 yards.

I think a 45 yard shot is a great shot but went you add instinctive and brush I think it's remarkable.
My best was a 45 yard shot.

My best with trad bow is 35 yards, 50 yards with wheels.. I only take 20 yards or less now... Because My main goal is get them close.

This is a good thread how far we shoot is a question we all must ask our self and answer for our self. I've heard guys preach never shoot over 20yds no matter what I don't agree with that you know your skill and you should decide if the shot is one you cam make. With that said I've never killed a deer over 20yds I like em close I shoot my compound well out to 30yds but with my longbow 20 is the max and 15 is much better.

Tom