I noticed as I have gotten older I have less confidence in shooting freehand, maybe it's my eyes, maybe my strength, not sure really. Maybe I have buck fever creeping back into my life after not having killed a deer in 7 years, I only had 3 days to hunt this year, when I was young I used to hunt 30 plus days a year.

I have made some decent freehand shots, sometimes dropping to one knee, usually they are quick, not much time to think type of shots. My longest freehand shot was probably in the 200 yard range, but I have killed game out to 500 on a rest.

I had a decent buck lined up last week, I was on an old road allowance, and he wasn't going anywhere. He wasn't massive, but he was a mature enough deer that I probably should have taken, considering my years of drought. I won't BS if it comes to moose and elk, the younger, most tender animals are what I love, but with whitetails it's always been about the horns, even if the whole thing goes for sausage, I am good with that.

He was probably 180-200 yards, and every time I rose my rifle I just could not get steady enough to get a shot off. I would come close to pulling the trigger then that little bit of movement would prevent it. I couldn't get to a tree as I was already pinned, he knew I was there, so I stood on that road allowance feeling helpless, but I am not going to shoot unless I am sure I can kill it, I have lost a couple nice deer in my life, I don't enjoy the feeling.

So he wandered off into the bush, his female friend followed, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, it actually surprised me that at this age after killing many big deer, that I would get a touch of buck fever.

My cousin killed a 190 whitetail once from a sitting position, no rest, at 500 yards with a .300 ultra mag. I asked him how he did it, because to me that's an amazing shot, he said he puts the cross hairs above the animal, then slowly brings them down, when he comes to the spot where he thinks he should hold, he pulls the trigger.

So what are everyone's thoughts on reasonable freehand distance?

My offhand limit would be about 100 yards and that's if I can't sit down and rest the rifle on my knee.

I'd say we're all in agreement.

Yup..walleyes brings up a good point..

The longer a person holds and waits the wobblier one will get. Up, place it and pull. - See more at: http://albertasportsman.com/alberta-guns-and-shooting/freehand-shooting-what's-reasonable/msg33922/?topicseen#new

This is why I try my darnest to get a rest....cause I get wobblier as time passes..