posted
This has a lot a whole lot to do with where you live; if you hunt from a ground blind; if you hunt from a treestand if you spot and stalk; and if you practice out to long ranges. In the east and in the west - if I put up a treestand it will be to provide me with a shot under 25 yards- and too: with a ground blind.
If I am spotting and stalking; in open country with lots of distance practice- my range is not known until after I shoot; and pace it off.
I once saw a herd of elk walk by an opening for a clear shot in some brush. I shot over a calf elk; and then under a cow elk in less than a minute- the size differences threw me off as to distance.
Bears- I am up to 17 kills and I have never shot over 20 yards; all but one shot have been at or under 15.
My first deer with a bow - it headed towards me with a bunch of deer; and then it fell behind- in the one day absence of hunting; the farmer had torn down the fence row the deer walked down to get to where I was at. The buck was confused - and so was I- I had no idea the fence was gone either as I walked in - in the dark. So the buck was walking away- and I knew it was out of range; so I shot my rubber blunt way past and over it - to try and turn it around. It stopped and then continued; and I shot again over and past it by 15 yards. It turned and came to me; where I made a fine shot at 16 or so yards.
I tried that again when bowhunting here in Idaho; I had a herd of over 100 deer walk by me at ten yards; followed by a P&Y buck. Then one doe that apparently was in heat - ran back to where they came from- an open hillside. The buck followed. So I shot my rubber blunt over the doe; and she headed my way. Then she turned and headed back towards the hill again. I had been glassing that hill; watching the deer herd walk down it- and had just walked down it a half hour before. I remembered my first deer taken- and tossed a broadhead tipped arrow way past the doe- and it smashed against a rock; and the doe turned and headed my way again. The buck was hot on her - then she turned again and ran over towards the hill; and I took another broadhead out and shot that arrow as far into the air as I could: to get to some rocks on the hill. I really wanted to get a shot at that buck ! Well that arrow went up; waggled in the wind; stopped; and came straight down. It hit that doe right between the shoulders and dropped it right in its tracks. I saw down in disbelief; as the buck walked past me at ten yards. I gps'd the position I was in; and went to where the doe hit the dirt- it was 187 yards.
I am ashamed of that shot- and so proud of the 20 and less yard shots I have made !!!!
Shoot when you feel total confidence.
-------------------- THE VOICES HAVEN'T BOTHERED ME SINCE I STARTED POKING THEM WITH A Q-TIP. Posts: 2556 | From: North Fork , Idaho | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I try to keep all my shots 20 yards and under.....did take a doe one time at 31 steps.....it just felt right and she was meat in the freezer.....I also missed a large pig at 9 steps.....go figure.....
-------------------- NCBA Life Member Compton Member Carolina Traditinal Archers Bowhunter Education Instructor Posts: 973 | From: Vale, NC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
If the shot feels good I take it practice at all yards and angles back to 45. when I set myself up for deer it is for 20 and under and for elk size game 30yrds. When stalking I dont range if I feel it I will take it sometimes close dose not feel good either so I wont take it. Widow
Posts: 495 | From: Newville ,PA | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
Most of the deer I've taken have been 20 yards or under. I did take one at 40 yards. The field was wide open and I had practiced a lot at that distance. The situation was the best you could hope for with no cover. The shot was good and she was meat in the freezer. But that's the last at that distance.
-------------------- No man ever stood so tall as when he stooped to help a child
David Posts: 891 | From: Ohio | Registered: Aug 2009
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quote:Originally posted by Brian Krebs: This has a lot a whole lot to do with where you live; if you hunt from a ground blind; if you hunt from a treestand if you spot and stalk; and if you practice out to long ranges. In the east and in the west - if I put up a treestand it will be to provide me with a shot under 25 yards- and too: with a ground blind.
If I am spotting and stalking; in open country with lots of distance practice- my range is not known until after I shoot; and pace it off.
I once saw a herd of elk walk by an opening for a clear shot in some brush. I shot over a calf elk; and then under a cow elk in less than a minute- the size differences threw me off as to distance.
Bears- I am up to 17 kills and I have never shot over 20 yards; all but one shot have been at or under 15.
My first deer with a bow - it headed towards me with a bunch of deer; and then it fell behind- in the one day absence of hunting; the farmer had torn down the fence row the deer walked down to get to where I was at. The buck was confused - and so was I- I had no idea the fence was gone either as I walked in - in the dark. So the buck was walking away- and I knew it was out of range; so I shot my rubber blunt way past and over it - to try and turn it around. It stopped and then continued; and I shot again over and past it by 15 yards. It turned and came to me; where I made a fine shot at 16 or so yards.
I tried that again when bowhunting here in Idaho; I had a herd of over 100 deer walk by me at ten yards; followed by a P&Y buck. Then one doe that apparently was in heat - ran back to where they came from- an open hillside. The buck followed. So I shot my rubber blunt over the doe; and she headed my way. Then she turned and headed back towards the hill again. I had been glassing that hill; watching the deer herd walk down it- and had just walked down it a half hour before. I remembered my first deer taken- and tossed a broadhead tipped arrow way past the doe- and it smashed against a rock; and the doe turned and headed my way again. The buck was hot on her - then she turned again and ran over towards the hill; and I took another broadhead out and shot that arrow as far into the air as I could: to get to some rocks on the hill. I really wanted to get a shot at that buck ! Well that arrow went up; waggled in the wind; stopped; and came straight down. It hit that doe right between the shoulders and dropped it right in its tracks. I saw down in disbelief; as the buck walked past me at ten yards. I gps'd the position I was in; and went to where the doe hit the dirt- it was 187 yards.
I am ashamed of that shot- and so proud of the 20 and less yard shots I have made !!!!
Shoot when you feel total confidence.
Would have loved to see that. What a shot!
-------------------- 50" Shakespeare Cascade
Proud owner of "Bill" the recurve Posts: 1009 | From: Utah | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
I like to keep my shots 15 to 20 max in the woods.I practice a little further shooting targets but rarely past 30 yds.Stump shooting is a totaly different story.Any thing I can reach ill shoot at!
Posts: 627 | From: newburgh new york | Registered: Oct 2009
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Whatever feels right at the time. Wacked a Rabbit at about 50 once. Drew back and things just felt right so I loosed.
Posts: | Registered: Jul 2008
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SteveB can you consistently hold a pie plate group at 80 yards? If so that is amazing with trad equipment.
Posts: 39 | From: Magnolia, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
I was watching my Fred Bear vidieo's and it said "The archer must get within 50 or 60 Yards to make an effective shot" So I need more practice.
-------------------- Ps 8:3 ¶ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Posts: 369 | From: Ohio | Registered: Dec 2009
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