I tend to hunt in the 20’ range but have been known to climb 30’+ if the tree will accommodate. For bow shots, it makes for a very steep angle and often times a single lung hit meaning I wait longer for the deer to die if any portion of it is questionable. As for distance, my preference is that 20 yard shot. It just seems perfect. I’ve shot deer on the ground as far as 72 yards but that was back when I got to shoot a lot, was practicing out to 100 yards and before target panic really took hold. I’ve fought target panic horribly bad for the past 7 years or so. Throw in a back surgery and torn rotator, I’ve relied on a x-bow for the past few years primarily. I was practicing with a recurve while using the x-bow which actually led to less “panic” but did nothing for my form with compounds. This year, I’ve gone back to a vertical bow and will be limiting shots to 30 yards. So long as I can get things under control, I plan to hunt the early part of the year with the compound but switch to the recurve later on. Most of my hunting this year will be on an urban managed hunt and the deer don’t care what you smell like, if you move, etc. It’s the perfect place to try the traditional stuff so long as things are perfect. Don’t need one running back into the local park or into the neighboring lab to expire. Good luck to all this year.

I set up for 20 to 25 yard shots but I practice a lot at 50 and 60 yards. I feel comfortable shooting under optimum situations out to 40.

Down here there are some sets that 15 feet is too high due to leaf canopy, but these southern whitetails are too wild to hunt any lower.

In north Missouri river bottoms 30 feet works well with no leaves on the trees, but those midwest deer are not near as spooky as southern deer.

Down here if one deer blows all deer around run without hesitation. In the midwest, one deer blows and the others just stand there. I learned quickly why all the bowhunting shows are filmed out there and not here in these thick piney woods and swamps.