Whats your average archery shot on mountain mule deer?

[Jason277]

Hello everyone, I recently asked about you average distance regarding mountain rifle hunting and was very surpised by the responses. Im now curious about your mountain archery shots, as I have drawn a multi season tag which allows me to hunt all three seasons in Washington state . Archery , Muzzle Loader and Modern . Thank you in advance Jason

 

[WBT]

Interested to see what the results of this poll are.

 

[Muleyczy]

Poll didn’t have 40-50 as an option, but that’s what I’d say

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

My average was 58.

 

[anonymous22]

Out west man, 50 yards is close.

I’m always looking to get closer but I’ve been doing this awhile, and a lot of times, bucks will be in the center of 26 other eyes in fairly open country in a spot they can see you with the wind coming from the other direction. It’s a lose lose on a lot of stalks.

My “average” has to be like 80y or so to bring a mule deer home every year. My one last year I popped at 110y. Bowtech revolt x 80 lb, black gold dual track, 450gr vap elite, going about 295 fps.

I mean, yeah, I’ve gotten within knife range before, but outside the hunting shows, it rarely happens like that I think, and the older they are, the less stupid mistakes they make.

 

[Taudisio]

I took two buddies up last year and told them to be ready for most shots being 45-60. I think we had one killed a touch closer, the others were in that range. Some opportunities can happen closer, a lot more happen farther.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I’m in the camp of “your mentality dictates the distance”. Pick up a stick bow and you’ll suddenly find yourself daring to try that crazy idea to cut from 60-30 yards. Or 40-20, or… you get the idea

 

[Jason277]

I started archery hunting mountain mule deer/ benchleg blacktail last year. I’ll tell you what that is a challenging endeavor to say the least!

 

[cuerro viejo]

I think it really comes down to, at what range do you hit your comfort zone.

 

[Joshk358]

27.5 yds avg for me. Granted, I've only taken 2 Mulies with archery tackle.

 

[Fogalo]

All my mule deer have been 40+ yards

All my elk have been inside of 30 yards. Elk are easier to sneak in on I guess

 

[Jaden Bales]

Average of 43.5 on 6 examples. I'm right there with @Trumpkin The Dwarf on that take, though.

I feel like if you're hunting terrain and a style where you can set it up, getting sub-30 is no herculean task. But if you see it and send it after them just however you find them, then the long shots get more common.

 

[Brad1974]

I have only hunted mule deer one time, and it wasn't really mountains... it was in hilly high desert Wyoming... but it was "out west". My shot was 30 yards. It was freaking amazing.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

I’ve killed 8 mountain mulies with a bow and average puts me at 49 yards. Some outliers on each end kinda levels it out haha. As others have stated it comes down to what you let yourself be okay with. I used to shoot further and be okay with archery tackle then I do now. Despite being a better archer now than I once was. Be honest with yourself throughout your practice and you’ll know where to put yourself limits wise.

 

[Jason277]

I’ve killed 8 mountain mulies with a bow and average puts me at 49 yards. Some outliers on each end kinda levels it out haha. As others have stated it comes down to what you let yourself be okay with. I used to shoot further and be okay with archery tackle then I do now. Despite being a better archer now than I once was. Be honest with yourself throughout your practice and you’ll know where to put yourself limits wise.

I appreciate the way you explained that .

 

[fulldraw1972]

I have only shot 1 mountain Muley and that was 30 yards. But if you factor in my Plains/Badlands bucks it’s pushing 50 yards.

 

[ianpadron]

Ive been trying to kill one with a longbow the past couple seasons and this poll is not encouraging

 

[Idahohillboy]

Buncha people out here in the 40 yard group imo ya’ll be getting in to close. Might kill more shit if you get better at a bow…

 

[Alpine4x4]

My one and only was 52yds. I set 50 as my max comfort range due to skillset and practice. I double lunged and clipped the top of the heart, deer went 60yds and piled up. This was last season. I am practicing more now, but still have my limit at 50 with my skillset.

 

[freezer003]

All my mule deer have been 40+ yards

All my elk have been inside of 30 yards. Elk are easier to sneak in on I guess

I'm very similar. But I attribute it to, calling in elk vs sneaking up on deer. It's easier to let a bull come into you and hide, than it is trying to sneak across a scree field on a bedded buck LOL