I'm sold on how unethical 92yd shot is with a bow. But hey, who am I to judge. You practice and you got em. Nice work.

 

Thank you. I figured I was gonna get some unethical stuff. I shoot everyday and am fortunate to have a lot of space to practice at home. In fact I'd be out shooting right now if I wasn't stuck inside with a sick kid. Since you hail from PA I have a story for you about long shots and practicing at long distance. I made a horrible shot on a buck in PA out of a treestand. My first time ever hunting out of one. We gave him 5 hours and went looking. No blood at all. He jumped up out of pile of briars and took off. He stopped at 87 yds and gave me quartering away shot. I put one just behind his back ribs and it angled up through. To my surprise he didn't flinch and stayed put. So I did it again. He dropped within a few seconds of the last arrow. I was darn happy I was confident at long ranges. Granted he was wounded and there is a big difference taking a shot at a buck already hit vs a shot at an unwounded animal. The shot I made on the mule deer was exactly what I practice at home on the McKenzie mulie. No bushes in between (I ran out of cover) and a completely broadside unspooked deer who was concerned with his doe's. So was it unethical? That's up to each individual to decide based on their own abilities. If the deer had been quartering one way or the other or the slightest bit alarmed, no way would I have shot. For me it came down to knowing the exact distance on level ground, no wind and knowing that I practice relentlessly. I should however practice more from a treestand. That was a totally different experience.

 

you know you can buy the shock collars for the original rage broadheads and other heads that was not produced with the shock collar? Just an FYI

 

Good job on the mule deer. I, also really like the Hypo's.

 

I total agree with you on the practice and confidence in your archery abilities. But being from PA...I've seen a lot of bucks jump strings at 15yds.....at 80 that could be a severe wound. Thats why I dont like 70-80-90 yd shots on whitetails or muleys. I understand you practice but IMO its to far. Wind, Weather, Form....the animal moving...there are just so many varibles at that distance. But kuddos, with much practice you got them both.

 

one factor in 20 vs 80+ yards. chances are a quiet bow is heard at 20 yards, but at 80 yards, the noise is too low for the deer to hear.

Then its all in the hands of the shooter.

Common sense goes along way in hunting.

I dont have any problems with people taking those shots if they practice on a regular basis at distances.

Personally my limit would be 50 yards. but i know some who shoot as good as i do at almost twice that range. when wind and terrain is right.

Congrats on a nice kill. !

 

one factor in 20 vs 80+ yards. chances are a quiet bow is heard at 20 yards, but at 80 yards, the noise is too low for the deer to hear.

There is no bow that is so quite that a deer cant hear it at 80 yards unless its super windy.

 

Deer typically react less at longer ranges, due to the fact that the shot is quiter. And they may not even hear it at all. This can be true at distances as close as 50 yards. At longer distances arrow flight noise is more of a factor than the sound of the bow, vise versa at closer ranges. This is NOT from personal experience but I have read about it from guys that do have experience. I shoot 40 yards or less 90% of my kills are 30 or less and I usually get no noticeable reaction unless a deer is on edge. Even then I've had lots of instances the they still didnt react. I've also had one are two that were dead calm at 25-30 yards and spun like a top as soon as I shot. Deer reaction to the shot is usually a crap shoot in my experience

 

Rage hypos worked great for me.
This was the ENTRY hole

 

That is one stud of buck with one heck of a hole in it! Congrats.

 

This tread isn't about if you people think a 70+ yd shot is ethical or not. The title and his intention of the thread is the review of the Rage Hypodermic broadheads, yet y'all managed to completely derail the thread on what you think is or isn't right about his hunting practice. :angry7:

 

Thanks for the review and congrats on the great shot!

 

I sold my chisel tips which i liked alot to get some hypo's. Im really itching to see what they will do in person. Congrats on the muley!!

 

Congrats on the harvest, I still have one of my rage chisels that. Has two kills on its belt and just picked up some hypos and can't wait to use them! I've had awesome performance with rage two blades and untill otherwise I will still use them. I really like the head on the hypos and look like they do some good penetration and that's why I got some. I also have a pack of unopened rage titianiums for backups . Rage makes a god BH IMHO

 

I'm thinking of trying the hypos this year myself for deer. Not sure I want to shoot a mechanical for elk.

 

Thanks for the review. I'm waiting for them to come out with the 125s they should be coming out anyday

 

Great shooting.

I actually have some hypos that I borrowed from a friend last season, never got the opportunity to use them. One thing I noticed is the blade angle at full deployment, the angle is pretty steep. Anyone have concerns of blades breaking or bending when penetrating an animal? Just an observation.

I might give these a shot next season.

 

80+ yards are not unusual shots for a lot of big muley hunters, not something I personally would be comfortable with but I hunt with guys who regularly take them at those ranges without a problem.

 

Just for clarification, the standard application of minute of angle (MOA) is 1" at 100yds. Maybe there is a bow hunting equivalent that I am not aware of?

As far as ethics are concerned, people are shooting deer at 1000yds with rifles, Bows are shooting better than ever, athletes are better, cars are faster more efficient....Would I ever take a 100 yd shot? No, but after shooting four days a week for a year straight I can absolutely see how someone who has been shooting for many years at that pace would be comfortable doing so.

Everyone who doubts their potential, challenge yourself! Instead of just shooting 20 yds, shoot 30, then 40, 50, 60. You'll be amazed at just how much better you will become, and how much confidence you'll gain. You have to commit to it, shoot 3 or more times per week. It is fun, too! When I go to the range I usually only shoot 60 yds. Its freakin awesome to see your arrow arc, then hit the spot. And you'll know as soon as the arrow is released if its going to hit the mark or a foot to the left, right, etc.

 

Oh thanks for the clarification, I always thought it was 1" @ 10 , 2" @ 20 , 3" @ 30 as far as groups. so @ 100yds it would be a 10" group. Do you happen to know what this is called. I thought it was MOA, but guess not.

 

1 MOA is actually 1.047 inches at 100 yards. To most people, and as far as bow hunting is concerned, 1 inch is close enough.

Whether you are talking about archery or rifles, 1 MOA is always 1.047 inches at 100 yards. I don't know what that rule on archery is called.