This is a question for cross bow hunters. What distance do you feel confident with for a clean kill? And what kind of cross bow are you hunting with?
Thanks.

I almost never shoot over 20 yards, even though the bow is capable of shots to 40yards or farther. Double lung shots are my agenda and deer never make it farther than a 50 yard death run. I shoot a Ten Point Turbo GT with lighted scope. I 've had it 4 years and and shot 4 bucks and one doe with the same bolt. I love the lighted knocks for being able to recover your bolt.

Excaliber Matrix 330, and 30 yards is my max, and only if the deer is comatose. Under 30 is ideal. With this bow I can group bolts at 60+ yards, but speed is the problem. A bolt leaves a deer a lot of time to take a step and move at longer distances, and it just isn't worth it to me to have a bad shot.

While I shoot a vertical bow most of the time, when the weather cools (and clothing increases) I opt for a crossbow these days. My weapon of choice is a Ten Point because of it's compact size (about 8" axle to axle) and draw assist (I think it's called "AccuDraw").

While I practice out to 80 yards with it, I think for me the effective range is likely 40 but I wouldn't hesitate at 50 if the shot was right on a relaxed deer.

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Pass it on.
Mark

I have a Ten Point that shoots 400 fps and has a nice trigger and groups almost like a rifle out to 35 yards and its accurate much further but those bolts drop FAST. Some company makes a special, sophisticated scope mount that can be calibrated to your velocity and bolt weight and when its adjusted properly and dialed in to the proper range its very accurate out to 150 yards. A lot of guys are currently shooting them at long distance and taking coyotes and predators at long range but a deer I would always want to kill cleanly and shoot at much closer range.

I have a Ten Point Ultralight Shadow - 180lb draw weight - about 325fps with my carbon arrows using a 125 gr NAP Spitfire mechanical expandable broadhead. I have no issues shooting to 50 yards as long as the deer is relaxed. Of course I prefer 30 or less, but I killed an 8 pointer 2 years ago right at 50. I am shooting from a large comfortable ladder stand with a shooting rail, so it like shooting off a bench rest. The deer was shot on a known trail and the shooting lane had been trimmed since we new there was a good chance a shot opportunity would present itself on this trail. The 10 point scope has 10 yard increment pins at 20,30,40 and 50. A large Ohio buck at 50 yards presents a sizeable target. I shoot the omni bright lighted nocked arrows and they are moving.

I am not concerned about the speed. At even 300 fps the arrow covers 50 yards in .5 seconds.