Whats your average archery shot on mountain mule deer?

Average shot on Mountain mule deer with archery equipment

  • 20 yards

    Votes: 2 5.3%
  • 30 yards

    Votes: 6 15.8%
  • 40 yards

    Votes: 16 42.1%
  • 50 yards

    Votes: 10 26.3%
  • 60 + yards

    Votes: 4 10.5%

  • Total voters
    38

Jason277

WKR
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
607
Location
issaquah wa
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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