How Far of Shots Should I Expect?

A common question when coming out west is, “how far of shots can I expect?”

When I started pronghorn hunting, I searched high and low for information about the distance I should be prepared to shoot at a speed goat with my bow.

I was chasing a new animal in a new terrain type and had no idea what to expect.

I saw a lot of commentary saying, “be prepared past 60 yards” and “a 50 yard shot is really close…” etc. etc.

Then I went afield with the notion to let it rip as soon as I got sub-70 yards. This decision set a goal that was easy to reach, but was unrelated to my abilities. After missing three different pronghorn at 60+ yards (luckily clean misses each time) I finally took a speed goat that year at 29 yards.

I learned a good lesson that year, and one that I hope resonates no matter if you’re an archer or rifle hunter - you set up the shot you’re prepared for, not the other way around.

Me with my first pronghorn buck shot quartering-to at 29 yards.

While it is good to know further than 250 yards is a common shot for rifle hunters, or that 40 yards is a common shot distance on this or that with a bow, I now set up hunts for shots I can execute, not shots others have executed before me.

Now, I set up shots within my abilities before the stalk. I use my escouting on OnX Maps to set ‘em up before I ever put boots on the ground and now only look for those chip shots in the heat of the moment, too.

You can do the same. You’re a good hunter and you got this. 👍