Tennessee’s Chris Reed Wins the History Channel’s Top Shot Competition
Day 3: How the History Channel’s Top Shot Winner Chris Reed Made an 86-Yard Shot to Take a Buck
Editor’s Note: Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Reed of Franklin, Tennessee, recently won the History Channel’s Top Shot competition, beating out some of the best competition shooters and taking home the $100,000 prize. A realtor by day, Reed’s a tough competitive shooter, winning countless state and national championships in both archery and long rifle.
 Question: Chris, yesterday you mentioned that you made an 86-yard shot on a white-tailed buck. Tell us how you made that shot.
Reed: I was hunting in Carroll County, Mississippi, standing on top of a ridge overlooking a cutover. The deer came through a bottom and was standing on a hill across the ditch from me, broadside to me. He didn’t have a clue I was there.  There was no wind blowing, and I knew I was far enough away from the deer that he wouldn’t be able to hear the bow fire. As a hunter, you gain an advantage by deer not being able to hear your bow going off. When a deer’s between 30 and 40 yards, sometimes he can hear the bow fire. But when the deer’s further out than 60 yards, it has no idea that the arrow’s even coming.
Question: How did you aim for that shot?
Reed: Just like I’d aim at a 3-D target. I had an adjustable sight on my bow that would go out to 100 yards. I also had a rangefinder, so I knew the exact distance I was from the buck. I set my sight, made sure I had proper form when I drew the bow back, and because there was no blowing wind, I didn’t have to worry about wind drift. I squeezed the mechanical-release trigger, and the arrow flew and hit exactly where I wanted it to hit, just like it would if I’d been shooting a 3-D target.
 Question: Do you hunt with an adjustable sight like 3-D archers use?
Reed: I’m always changing-up my equipment. I switch equipment like I change clothes. I like to experiment, and I’m an endless tinkerer. I love archery, because I can tweak my equipment. I’m always trying different sights for various types of hunting and shooting to improve my equipment’s shooting capabilities. At times, I do hunt with a 3-D set-up, especially if I’m hunting in an area where I may have to take a longer shot. If I’m turkey hunting with my bow, I’ll shoot fixed-pin sights.  When I take my 3-D archery bow deer hunting, I don’t use the long stabilizer that I use in 3-D competitions. I’ve learned to shoot my 3-D archery bow with a hunting stabilizer, instead of the long tournament stabilizer. With my 3-D bow and adjustable sight, if I’m comfortable with it, I’ll make a 60- or a 70-yard shot. I don’t go out intending to make a shot at that distance, but if I have to, I’ve practiced enough to know that I can make that shot. I won’t take any shot, however, that’s outside my comfort zone. If there’s a question in my mind of whether I can make the shot, I don’t take the shot.
Question: At what range do you practice?
Reed: Typically I practice shooting my bow from 5 to 100 yards. Wind is the only variable that determines whether I’ll take a 100-yard shot. If you’re taking a 100-yard shot, any type of wind is a major variable. I can take an animal at 100 yards, but it will be difficult to take a shot at that same animal at 100 yards with a wind.
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