Practicing out to longer distances can improve your close in shooting. You just have to know your hunting limit and stick to it. There are times when you might make a shot that is out of the ordinary but it should just happen without thought.
A few years ago at my club in GA I was headed into a wooded area to put a climber in a favorite tree. When I entered the woods I could see a deer standing under my tree about 50 yards away. I squatted, removed my climber from my back, nocked an arrow and hit a toot on my grunt call. The little buck that was under my tree turned and ran full steam right at me. When he got to about 10 yards he turned hard to my right, all four feet came out from under him and he hit the ground, now only feet away. Then he was up and gone. I caught movement from where he came and saw 5 other deer coming my way but to my left. Without thinking I drew and swung and released...and dead centered a 3" sweet gum tree. The deer were about 15 yards out when I shot.
A running shot isn't a shot I would normally take but instincts set in and the shot was made without conscious thought. Damn sweet gum!
