Maximum range for moose

[Alaskan XL]

Thoughts on maximum range of shot to be taken when targeting moose with regards to retaining enough energy for proper arrow penetration to vitals? I had an opportunity for a clean shot at 55-60 yards this weekend and let it go based on this concern.

 

[TradBow]

problem with a question like this is its setup specific...along with experience and a host of other factors we may or may not have taken into consideration starting from bh design, weight, flight, foc, blah blah blah...there is no real good answer here.

The right answer is the very one you excercised imho! making a call based on your own person opinion of your own personal set up. There's a fine line between over confident and being good at something! hats off too you for excercising sound judgement!

 

[Fergy]

What he said....

 

[Alaskan XL]

Maximum range for moose

Good points - thanks. It occurred to me while driving home I should have provided some of those details.

Going from feeble memory, I recall my setup is a Hoyt Ultramag set at 55 lbs with 30" draw I believe, shooting Easton XX75 arrows w/ 4 blade stinger broad head at 125 grains, and simple/standard basic vanes.

My comfort level for shot placement in a 3" ring is 40 yards; I believe that I can improve upon this with practice. However, the laws of physics on arrow performance at making a killing shot at a specific range is what prompted my question. Believe me, it was tempting to send one, but the last thing I wanted was to increase the chance for a wounded moose heading down the valley into the weeds and make a mess of things.

All that being said, any other thoughts? What sort of ranges have folks had good success with while moose hunting?

 

[brav01]

problem with a question like this is its setup specific...along with experience and a host of other factors we may or may not have taken into consideration starting from bh design, weight, flight, foc, blah blah blah...there is no real good answer here.

The right answer is the very one you excercised imho! making a call based on your own person opinion of your own personal set up. There's a fine line between over confident and being good at something! hats off too you for excercising sound judgement!

:ditto: ; you best know the limits of yourself and equipment.

 

[Bear]

Good points - thanks. It occurred to me while driving home I should have provided some of those details.

Going from feeble memory, I recall my setup is a Hoyt Ultramag set at 55 lbs with 30" draw I believe, shooting Easton XX75 arrows w/ 4 blade stinger broad head at 125 grains, and simple/standard basic vanes.

My comfort level for shot placement in a 3" ring is 40 yards; I believe that I can improve upon this with practice. However, the laws of physics on arrow performance at making a killing shot at a specific range is what prompted my question. Believe me, it was tempting to send one, but the last thing I wanted was to increase the chance for a wounded moose heading down the valley into the weeds and make a mess of things.

All that being said, any other thoughts? What sort of ranges have folks had good success with while moose hunting?

No offense meant to you but can you really shoot 3 inch groups consistantly and with your hunting setup(broadheads) I mean every shot within 3 inches of center at 40 yards because that is great shooting that most cannot do. I commend you for not taking a shot past your comfort level and I really wish more archers would take that position vs the hail mary shot. MOST archers are not as good as they think or claim in my experience(shot many a pro shoot in the states and ran more then one archery shop on top of guiding archers). Your setup would preform fine stretching that distance a bit but just keep in mind past 40 all things seem to magnify so minor issues become major not too mention animals themselves...meaning are they going to take a step before the arrow gets there..ect

 

[Alaskan XL]

Maximum range for moose

Ack! Fat finger attack - that was supposed to have been 30 yards, not 40.... I'd say on a typical practice session I can manage that maybe 80% of the time. Not a pro shooter by any stretch of the imagination

 

[Bear]

Ack! Fat finger attack - that was supposed to have been 30 yards, not 40.... I'd say on a typical practice session I can manage that maybe 80% of the time. Not a pro shooter by any stretch of the imagination

there is absolutely nothing wrong with stretching out your distance to maximize your comfort level. with limited info and knowing you are shooting 55# at a 30" draw you are probably shooting 2216 or 2314 or 15 something like that which puts your arrow /broadhead around 475+ which is a good arrow weight IMHO for moose hunting.. there are lots of other factors as pointed out by trad bow but you are on the right track with practice.. I would consider if possibly bumping up your bow weight a bit but to much that your arrows become undersplined.

 

[Lowrider]

Never killed a moose with a bow but I have taken a couple hundred deer over the years and if I have learned anything it is that if I can shoot inside a 9" circle at 60 yds in the back yard, my field max range is probably closer to 30 yds. I have made the "perfect" shot at 20 yds only to have the arrow hit an unseen branch at the last minute and miss the deer. I guess I'm just lucky, but it has happened to me many times.

I teach bow hunting with the Hunter Safety programs and did in AK as well back in the 80's and I always make folks shoot at practice in the positions they will use in the field. A standing shot at 30 yds may be easy, but try the same thing from one knee shooting over a pile of brush down hill...ain't the same as standing. If you are going to hunt from a stand, practice from a stand.

BTW, I had a student of mine from several years ago called me yesterday to tell me a story of how he got excited about a shot he was about to take on Saturday (opening day) from a stand. He stepped right off the front of the stand and ended up hanging from his safety harness. He said he completely forgot where he was and was concentrating on the shot at a nice 8 pt so much he completely "zoned out" and he couldn't figure out how he got there...hanging from a strap and his bow on the ground and the deer was gone. Never happened to me but I bet he is not the first one to do that.

Practice the way you hunt and then make sure you realize that the vast majority of us are only about half as good as you think you are when you're in the field.

 

[wiso_67]

Long shot, Get closer by stalking or calling, I had the same set up a few years back he sat there at 55 yards and I couldnt do a thing. I did manage to call another bull in to 15 yards but it was todark to shoot. and then never saw them again lol. All in the FMA all within 1/4 form a road too. definately exciting i shoot 52 lbs 560 grain arrow out of my recurve

 

[t-storm]

3 " group at 40 yds is really good. A mooses vitals are much larger than that and I would guess that you would have easily made the shot. I practice at 70 yds often , 70 lbs. @ 274 fps, 27 in. draw,428 grn arrow,with the target being a deer, that way a moose at 50 or 60 yds would be in my comfort range no problem. As for your bow set-up, I don't know the exact calculations, I may be wrong, but I don't believe I would shoot at a moose that far with 55 lbs. . My advise would be to crank your bow up to 60 if you can, also shoot a small diameter arrow like the easton full mtal jacket, gold tip kinetic, or something along those lines. That could be the difference in one lung or complete pass through at the range you were describing. I also set targets up in the woods to simulate hunting situations. Backyard shooting is good but that will prepare much better.
Hope you get him next time!

 

[Grizzly 2]

Thoughts on maximum range of shot to be taken when targeting moose with regards to retaining enough energy for proper arrow penetration to vitals? I had an opportunity for a clean shot at 55-60 yards this weekend and let it go based on this concern.

I can tell you that my 61-years of bowhunting (yes, 61-yrs !) have taught me one thing: the heavier the arrow, the better will be the penetration. Broadhead selection is almost as important. I will tell you honestly that I have never hit a big game animal and retreived the arrow: ALL of them were complete penetration shots. If that sounds like BS to you, I will alsos tell you that I won the 1st Alaska Archery Tournament - Heavy Tackle Division, with a 70# longbow and 11/32" wood arrows wth a165-grain field head. That head matched my 165-grain Howard Hill broadheads. I'm sure yu can check that out.

 

[stvnshnn]

First I should echo what has already been said: know your limit and then stick to it. But it is vital to know your set up. How heavy are your arrows, how fast does your bow shoot them? What is the kinetic energy produced by that combo? What is your FOC? Practice shooting as long as you can, 60,70,80 yards and then (as it has been stated) realize that backyard practice doesn't translate to in the field accuracy. I feel confident that I could hit moose-sized vitals at 75 yards, but arrow flight is a long time at 75 yards. Too much can happen for me to feel good about letting an arrow go at that range. I have real problem with fellas who go out and buy a bow, sling enough arrows to pass their test and then let arrows fly nonchelant like there are no consequences if they miss the vitals. Know your set up, know how you shoot it, then practice the daylights out of it. Then, shoot some more. I intend on wearing out my Hoyt from shooting it too much.
BTW
Hoyt Vector Turbo @ 67#
Easton FMJ total weight 507 grains
Roughly 15% FOC
Arrow velocity 272fps
KE= 83f/lbs (apparently enough for African big game, just a dream...)

 

[Alaskan XL]

Maximum range for moose

Thanks everyone for the suggestions... Was lucky enough to sneak up within 25 yards on one and sealed the deal with a full pass thru double lung shot... 10 slow steps and then laid down. My feet were anchored in the same spot for a bit over an hour to make triple sure it was down for good.

Felt very blessed that my first archery moose was a quick, clean kill without the panic of a big chase and having to track in the fading light.

Made for a busy evening but full freezer and happy wife

 

[Hekin]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions... Was lucky enough to sneak up within 25 yards on one and sealed the deal with a full pass thru double lung shot... 10 slow steps and then laid down. My feet were anchored in the same spot for a bit over an hour to make triple sure it was down for good.

Felt very blessed that my first archery moose was a quick, clean kill without the panic of a big chase and having to track in the fading light.

Made for a busy evening but full freezer and happy wife

Congrats on the moose!

 

[akchase]

Maximum range for moose

Congrats on the moose

 

[TradBow]

congrats XL! Good things come to those who wait !

 

[IZZY]

congrats XL! Good things come to those who wait !

How long do you wait for? Am currently trying to do a rifle moose hunt, but my buddy is doing an awesome job of convincing me to take up archery...

 

[TradBow]

food for thought.....

the only person who can convince you to do something is you! if it takes someone else to do it, you'll never stick with it. Bowhunting isnt something you can dabble with and expect consistent results. You're better off all in or taking up something else and saving yourself the headaches! JMHO!

 

[IZZY]

food for thought.....

the only person who can convince you to do something is you! if it takes someone else to do it, you'll never stick with it. Bowhunting isnt something you can dabble with and expect consistent results. You're better off all in or taking up something else and saving yourself the headaches! JMHO!

Duly noted TradBow...but how am I supposed to know if I like something unless I try it out ("dabble")...just like how I got into hunting a few years ago (thanks to the same friend that wants to take me bow hunting), I will try it out....lets be honest bow hunters are crazy to want to close the distance between them and wild game before they harvest it when you can make a good ethical shot at twice or three times the range without really batting an eyelash...quite frankly I will like to develop the same level of craziness/passion about this method of taking game...The only thing I can do now is to research it as much as possible, get to know something about it, and when I get home in February continue by actually taking classes and getting my hands on a bow...I know it might take me several years to harvest game, but with good coaching and good practice, sooner or later it will happen...now if I decide later on down the road that it's not for me or that I just prefer to rifle hunt, so be it...but at least I would know that I have tried it out...