I had a fascinating conversation with Andy Pedersen, a retired engineer and hard-core bowhunter who for more than 20 years was deeply involved with a deer management program on the Naval facility where he worked and hunted (and still hunts today).
From 1989 to 2006, 161 bowhunters participated in the tightly controlled program on 3,000 acres of great whitetail habitat near the Potomac River. Pedersen’s records show that 104 of them (65%) hit 908 deer and recovered 746 of the animals within 24 hours for a recovery rate of 82 percent (+- 2.5%). From 2007-2012, hunters stuck another 388 deer and found 337 of them. Add the numbers and you get a recovery rate of 83.6% over the 24-year span. The hunters were able to recover 1 deer for every 1.4 shots.
“Those are real-world numbers,” says Pedersen, who blood-trailed many of those deer.
To me, the most telling number is found inside the reams of data. The hunters were advised by Pedersen and others to hunt ethically and show restraint, and they did by keeping their shots at deer close. Shots averaged 17.6 yards for compound hunters (longest successful shot on record was 40 yards and the rest were closer, often much closer). There is no doubt in my mind that this statistic drives the impressive 83 percent recovery rate.
Just 10 years ago, if you wrote a blog about shooting at a buck more than 40 yards away, hunters would scream and call for your head. Today, you routinely read about 50-, 60- and even 70-yard shots, and see it more than you should on TV.
I don’t get that. As this 24-year study reaffirms to me, if you want to find most every incredibly fast, string-jumping whitetail you shoot at, show some restraint and keep your shots close!
Read my entire account of this landmark study in the August 2014 issue of Bowhunting World magazine.
I used to think that guys who took shots over 35 yards were just being careless and weren’t hunting very ethically until I moved out here to the West. It’s a totally different ball game out here and often times there isn’t any way possible to get closer than 50 yards at best. The desert is unforgiving and doesn’t provide much cover if any at all in some areas. When I used to bow hunt back in the Midwest and the South I could easily find a way to get set up within 20 yards of a trail or food source, but out here in the desert we’re not hunting a food source. My local archery store owner told me that the average bow shot in AZ is around 55 yards and I didn’t believe him until I went out and experienced it for myself. Mike have you bow hunted the desert flats in the west?
I have never been a big fan of long shots with a bow. Too many things can happen…..Wind,unseen twigs, deer turns and the angle changes…..just too many things can go bad. I like deer 20 yards and in. To me, that’s what makes archery hunting so special….it’s up close and personal! Don’t get me wrong, you should practice long shots in case you need to make a follow-up shot, but close is better!
Good reminder to keep it close! I’ll still practice those longer shots (40 and 50), but won’t take them unless the “perfect situation” presents itself. 30 yards and in is where it’s at!!!