just wondering who consistently shoots deer at under 5-10 yds?

Probably 10 yards on average year in year out.I don't usually take the shot over 20 yards and 5 is too close /too steep.

Most I take are less than 10 yards. Pappy

I've been lucky enough to accomplish that. My average shot 11 yards.

Not me.

If i can get that close hell yea!

I shot my first deer at 7yrds with a 12ga,,: ) I dont think the 2 1/4oz slug even slowed down He jumped 10' in the air landed 10' away and that was that I was 16

Twice at 4 yards. Most under 17. Had an opportunity at 2 feet but couldn't release in time!

The closest was when I was hunting from tree stands. It walked right under the stand I shot it from about twelve feet. Longest was around 35...my first deer and likely more luck than good management. Average, best I can figure is likely around 15'ish yards. I like them close.

Ironic question, given the origin of the phrase...

Shot a big one at a full charge last year after getting out of blind he was running a doe and wasn't coming past blind close enough. I know I had to get out to hope to get a shot. And that I did probably 5 yards or under maybe it was close he nearly gouged me.

I got them close in blind under 10 yards in Pa. usually lately. Same in NJ.

When I was younger shot them longer now has to be close can't see that far. LOL

I like those 8-12 yard shots! My average is probably 10-12yds

Agreed GF since "point blank" would likely be more in the 30yd. range, or more.

My first buck was 8 feet from the ground and pure luck. I had no clue how to hunt deer. the rest have been 10 or 12 yards out to 44.

Point blank would be the range at which you can aim at the dead center of a specific sized target and still hit within the perimeter of the target regardless of the distance.

So, if we decide the vital area of the target is nine inches, point blank will be the distance at which you can aim dead center of the nine inches and still place the arrow within the nine inch circle.

It would be different for each bow and it's arrows. For firearms and a nine inch circle, PBR nights anywhere from 150 to 300 yards depending upon the cartridge etc. PBR is calculated without considering the skill of the shooter or the inate accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the weapon.

It's also based on the distance starting immediately at the front of the shooter or weapon and extends out to the point at which the projectile would fall below the circle defining the PBR.

Hard to figure for an instinctive shooter since it revolves around a specific sighting system. Easy to figure for a Bowhunter shooting sights.

The OP was using a common usage of the term usually related to a very near target that can't be missed which those reading his topic clearly understood, but I doubt if any of us are shooting a rig that has a 30 yard PBR on deer.

10 yards and closer. Puts the hunt back in hunting IMHO.

Its obvious what he meant."Pointe du Blanc" refers to distance where arrow tip is point on the "white" spot in the field target.

last year I got a deer after a long dry spell, I think 8 yards,, I like it close, as stated ,, I would shoot further when I was young, but like to put the odds in my favor, so prefer 10ish,,,

I think everybody knew what he meant.....however, point blank is point blank regardless. And no, I don't get a lot of shots from inside 15 or so yards.

And regardless of whether one shoots instinctive, gap, or POA, there's still a point blank range.

Whether you say patridge or partridge its still a grouse.

If I can I set up for close, Most shot from a tree are 20', from ground it varies, 10-20'. they jump the string from my recurves at 45'.

Not consistently, but I've shot some while stillhunting less than several yards away, and as close as <3. If I had my druthers, I'd kill them all that close, from the ground of course... pouncin' distance... it's primal, where you REALLY have to be on your game, like a cat within pouncing distance of its prey, watching, waiting for that precise instant. Eye to eye at 3 yards, in their head, with a stick and string? It just doesn't get any better.

My average shot would fall between 8 and 10 yards, with an occasinal 12 yarder. All from tree stands 8 to 10 feet high.

"Whether you say patridge or partridge its still a grouse."

Hmmmm, I think one would be a front sight and the other a front sight. ;)

The other a ruffed grouse. Or, could be a Hungarian.

I wish. :D But I have my share of kills at under 10 yards, and several under 5. In fact, my "best" (by measurement standards) buck walked under my feet and I had to let him get far enough away before I shot him. LOL.

Last year, I shot one at 7 and one at 18. I like em' close!

My closest shots have been 1 yard, and two at five yards. My first deer was at five yards and I screwed it up and hit her in the hind quarter,forgot about picking a spot. Got lucky and hit the artery, she only ran fifty yards. I try and set my stands up so that my shots are all close.

I like them real close, and practice straight down shots from my picnic table.

I watched this buck approach me for over forty-five minutes. He followed my path to the tree, then sniffed the base of my tree, before stepping to my left, at maybe one yard from the tree on the uphill side. Draw,aim,release, what a thrill.

I pray to the high Heavens that the Lord will bless me with a point blank shot. While I have had a few I could never say that I consistently get point blank shots. I certainly stay in my effective range. I truly enjoy being patient in the stalk and allowing the animal to work it's way in closer and closer.

You haven't experienced humility until you've missed point blank.I missed from the ground at a couple yards once! Never found that arrow.

That's funny Mike. I missed one of the biggest bucks I ever saw at about seven yards out near Ballinger,Texas. Wife was with me....still haven't entirely lived that one down. :)

Apparently I'm well versed in humility…Missed a full curl Dall sheep at 10 feet. Nothing but hair! That will make you want to throw a bow off a cliff!

Killed a deer at about 3 yards quite a few years ago. Stopped on the other side the tree I was leaning against. Killed several others under 10. Most are in the 12-15 yard range.

"Apparently I'm well versed in humility…Missed a full curl Dall sheep at 10 feet. Nothing but hair! That will make you want to throw a bow off a cliff!"

I threw up in my mouth a little just reading that . Ugh !

The very first deer I ever loosed an arrow at was a perfect five Yard setup. Deer was standing in front of a tree. The arrow stuck so high up the tree that I couldn't reach it.

"Shortest" shot I ever took was at a young raccoon that was so close under my stand that I had to lean out with my thighs against the top rail of my climber and cant my bow 90 degrees so that the limbs wouldn't smack the stand on their stroke... My bowstring barely cleared it.

What the string DIDN'T quite clear was the placket over the fly in my pants. Just about saw stars on THAT one!

My favorite thing is hunting Elk on the ground and getting so close you can hear the snot bubbles pop, but I'm of a mind to take the first shot that I feel certain about, rather than waiting for a "better" opportunity that might never materialize... More than once, I've waited for an animal to take ONE MORE STEP out from behind a tree or bush or something, only to have the animal take a sharp turn and walk straight away from me, keeping the obstruction precisely between us until it was well out of range....

And I do think there is something to be said for not allowing the animal to get close enough for it to come un-glued at the sound of the bowstring, yet still far enough for it to have time to duck and turn a good shot bad. Used to know a guy who was wounding a couple dozen deer/year with a crossbow at 15-20 yards.... He did a lot better once he started holding out for 10 yards and under.

Couple close, most around 15 yds.

Recently I ran a poll on bowsite to see the average range of deer shot.

The results were very similar with the exception being the western shooters.

I've taken enough at 5-10 yards to know I'd prefer not to. it's harder to hit your spot at 5 than at 20, and penetration is often poor

Most pigs I shoot on the ground are under 10 yards. I have missed at 5 yards. Shot under the pig and the arrow slapped its belly and made it squeal. Got on film. Most deer are 15 yards and under. I hate it when they walk right under you.

I've shot five or six off the ground within 10 yards, two with a rifle.

Like FDP SAID, point blank is 20-30 yards. 5 to 10 yard shots are very difficult elevated. I shot a 140" 9 point under my stand at 0 yards, could have jumped on him, but one of my most difficult shots.

I guess I should have more clear. The "point blank" reference was meant at "close distance". Or 5-10 yds Thanks

Here's another thing about point blank shots too. You have to really be careful and on your toes because we can get hurt. This deer could have really hurt me the one above last season he turned at the last moment when he saw me draw on him and I didn't get charged. He had his mind on the doe not me until he saw me move when he was running the doe by me.

Another time I had a Bull Caribou charge me he was hurt and laying down from an arrow I had in him. I got around in front of him and he stood up and I drew and shot and bounced an arrow off his horns. He charged right at me and I moved to the side and shot him in his heart as he went by me. He jumped into lake and tried to swim and he was dead. He then drifted back into us got hung up on rocks his horns. That was eye opening and caused me to bear down he was like 5 ft from me. When we rolled him over after drifting back in and snagging his horns with a rope that had a rock tied on we found the first arrow broken off up his pecker that went into his stomach. That wasn't the shot I intended it was about 40 yards broadside when I first shot at him as he turned to his left and the arrow went between his legs seeing him jump. He then went down hill and laid down and I needed to get back on him to finish him off. Never expected those things to happen but dealt with them as it unfolded. Got the animal that just missed the book he's a nice one.

Understood perfectly what you meant by "point blank" Sir, regardless of what the actual definition might be. Some find it necessary to highlight other's factual mistakes rather than commenting on the intent of the OP's topic.

Most of my deer have been taken at ten yards and under. There was a survey taken in Mississippi a few years back and the average distance that whitetails were taken by all archery hunters - that's compounds, crossbows, and REAL bows combined - was 12 yards...

Like them close as well. My average is between 12 and 18 yrds.

"Understood perfectly what you meant by "point blank" Sir, regardless of what the actual definition might be. Some find it necessary to highlight other's factual mistakes rather than commenting on the intent of the OP's topic."

Yeah, so did I, but then, those who would suggest that a bow will effectively shoot point blank to 30 yards on deer is missing both points. :)

With all due respect for tree stand hunters getting deer close to the tree your in isn't the same as getting point blank shots from the ground. If you get a chance to get eye to eye with a buck it's a moment you won't ever forget. My first buck was shot at 5 yards with a Hill longbow from the ground and it was intense. The. Last buck I killed was about 10 yards.

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