Archery - How far do you shoot?

44fordy

44fordy

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Last year I decided to take up bow hunting again. I sold my old Bear Whitetail 2 and picked up an 03 PSE Primos STL.

Just wondering what you archers shoot for distance to prep for your season.

Right now, I'm getting a 4-5" group at 30yards. (Sometimes smaller)

I shoot fingers. (Might go to release one day, but I doubt it...I love finger shooting.)

Anyway.....what's your practice range? What do you like to be proficient at before you venture afield?
 
on a completly calm deer, no more than 35 yrds...those bastards are small and fast

on a moose..broadside 60 yrds...but if he wants to come in closer, then by all means, make my day!!!!

I have shot small targets at 75 yrds all day.. the trick is to know your range after that its just a matter of picking the right pin.. in my case, 20, 30 ,40, 50, 60
 
During spring and early summer, I like to play around with different ranges. I'll shoot between 10-100 yds just for fun (nice to have a acrage) in wind, rain and heat. Closer to hunting season, I'll practice at 20-50, always outside in all types of conditions. With deer, I wouldn't take a shot at over 40 yds, but it's good to practice at 50 yds (just in case). I like to know what my bow can and can't do in any condition (rain, wind, 40 yds or 51 yds).
 
Good on you 44 Fordy...in 2002 October, I took a whitetail using a similar setup. I had a PSE Impact with Muzzys. We practiced at foam targets against hay bails starting at 20, 30 then 40 yards. Then we went to a 3D target after gaining some proficiency....Then we went to our treestand cleared shooting lanes and marked out with trailmarking red tape, 20 and 40 yards with one tape pos'n at 50 yards and one close at 15 yards. The far tapes were for referance only, so we did not need a rangefinder.
We also practice shot from the treestand too, really important point.

I did get a deer out of that stand, she thankfully stopped right between the 20 and 30 yard tape. I did use a mech relaese as I have a crossfire eye condition, right handed bow, shot right handed with my left eye.
Yeah I know weird, but do-able with a long long release.
This took a week of dedicated waiting and silently watching before success.

Next time I plan on using a Browning Fury 2 recurve no sites,with wooden arrows and Zwickey Eskimo 2 blades and a cat's paw quiver.
Some day I will make a self bow with a qualified instructor.

Bye the way do your self a BIG favor and purchase real cheap author Byron Fergus's book "Become The Arrow."
Excellent reading, for new archerers, as good as Fred Bear, maybe even better.
Too much crap from me!

Good luck to you....
 
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Funny I am just stepping down to a recurve....;)
At least we can keep our quivers...
Pharoh, do not be too harsh on yourself, I know alot of target archers who should never be allowed to pull the pin up to any game animal.
Besides the distances you mention are normal bowhunting ranges for that equipment....
 
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Last time I bowhunted I had a nice buck "duck" under my arrow at 40yds.


Since that day I haven't had too much time for archery season. There's something about starting hunting in late August (archery) and ending in mid December (rifle) that doesn't sit well with the wife. I've since had to pare down the # of season's I hunt. Oh well.
 
Just like a rifle I consider grapefruit sized groups(with consistency) to be my indicator to max distance./range. Also just like a gun I practice at further ranges then i'll ever use in the field as it makes me better at shots within' my realistic ability. If dead calm I can really push my compound but 40 and under on deer sized game & that is where I play when hunting with the string and sticks. I have been archery shooting and hunting for 20 plus years so I think your doing purdy darn good holding a 4-5" group under real conditions. Even if you can bring that down and get more range, I'd plan for the chip shots as it is much different shooting at game then paper as we all know. I like to try and put myself in situations where I will have 30 or under yards shots, as at this range shaft slapping breads confidence! I figure as long as I can draw I will put it where it needs to be for an effective/effecient harvest.
 
Somehwhere around 20 yards with my long bows and recurves.
I never measure, haven't shot at a measured distance in years - I find I start gap shooting otherwise.
One arrow at each distance.
never shoot two at the same disttance.
Of course, you can't do this with compounds, youd' wreck an arrow each time you shot at a stump or whatever.
Byron Ferguson's book is good, but I always recommend G. Fred Asbell's book on instinctive shooting for those wanting to get into stick bows.
IMHO Ferguson may be a better shooter, but there are very few archers that are as good a hunter as Fred Bear was- but that is just my opinion....

Cat
 
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Depends who you are and how much you shoot. I bet a guy (who can really shoot) that he couldn't hit my arrow that was stuck in a target 96yds away on the range finder. One shot later I had a wrecked arrow and a stupid look on my face. It all worked out though, I told all the guys at the sports store about his shot and he was so proud he gave me a half dozen new darts.
 
traditional gear practice?

8 inch pie plates out to 50 yards with my traditional gear, sometimes more when im on a roll for $hit$ and giggles


hunting with trad gear?


elk/moose 20-25 yards

deer/coyotes/wildboar 30-35

gophers 1 - to as far as i can see and feel lucky
 
No sorry, he was all tricked out with the latest and the greatest. My point is that you have to determine you own outside range limits with practice, practice, and practice. One guys max. range won't have any bearing on the next guys.
 
I would try to get a release just for hunting, it will really tighten your groups, its like a timmney for your bow, I shoot with or without and both have merrits, but tight groups mean longer range shots will be easier to stay in the kill zone. Try the old concho style releases they are very natural in drawing motions.
 
The biggest improvements in my shooting was when I went from fingers to a release.
I practise 20 to 50 yards. I once noticed that my groups at 40 & 50 yards were pretty good but my 20's were opening up. I asked a friend of mine ,who does a lot of instructing, for some help and he pointed out that I was aiming at the target, not the center of the target. (Aim small,miss small) Things tightened up again.
 
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