posted
I was just wondering what everyone's ideas are about this. I have been shooting for about 6 years and am frustrated. shooting at a paper plate in my back yard how far should I be from the plate and how many arrows should I be able to put in the plate before I could consider being good enough to harvest an animal. I hope that make sense.
Posts: 64 | From: Brigham Utah | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
Keeping your arrows in a paper plate has been a rule of thumb for many years. I just don't take a shot unless I'm pretty darned sure I can kill the animal. There are so many variables in hunting that your hunting distance may not be the same as your paper plate distance. Closer is always better for me.
-------------------- Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.- Ben Franklin Posts: 2390 | From: New Albany, MS | Registered: Jul 2008
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"Bowhunting is seeing how close you can get and never miss your mark". The above statement needs to be determined by you. I practice by shooting at a 4" square piece of corrugated box and practice from 5-20yds. As far as I'm concerned the closer the better! Posts: 940 | From: Kingsport,Tn | Registered: Aug 2009
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I like 15 yards or less ,I feel very good at that distance. As for a 6 inch paper plate I will hit it 9 out of 10 times at 13 yards.
Posts: 158 | From: Larwill, IN | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
Take a judo point and walk around the yard or field shooting at anything that pops up in your range. If you can hit within a couple inches of the object you should be good.
-------------------- PBS Reg member 1973 Maryland Bowhunters Society Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland Heart of Maryland Bowhunters NRA Posts: 3371 | From: Finksburg, MD | Registered: Aug 2008
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I went out and bought a Rinehart Rhinoblock target which has two deer vitals sides. I judge my effective range by how far away I can consistently hit the vitals. It is right around 15 metres. DDave
-------------------- I remember fondly the days when I had a master eye. These days all I have is a couple of slaves.
Once you commit to a small spot the size of the rest of the target matters not one bit.
Good service ought not to appear exceptional. Posts: 1094 | From: Mirror, Alberta, Canada | Registered: May 2009
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posted
I think it also has a lot to do with how far away from the target you practice. I try and put about 25-30 arrows in the target every day at 20 yds. and so I can hit consistently at that range, but shoot like every arrow is the only arrow shot I have at that monster buck. I practice on a bag target but prefer a 3d deer as it is more realistic.
-------------------- [*]Leon Stewart 3pc. 64" R/D 51# @ 27" [*]Gordy Morey 2pc. 68" R/D 55# @ 28" [*]Hoyt Pro Medalist, 70" 42# @ 28" (1963) [*]Bear Tamerlane 66" 30# @ 28" (1966)- for my better half [*]Bear Kodiak 60" 47# @ 28"(1965) Posts: 1787 | From: Soviet state of N.J. | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
Here is my take on accuracy... or more correctly hunting accuracy after having lost two animals in my life, one with my bow, one with my muzzleloader , and having the good fortune to have been able to track to conclusion several others.
I'm not a big killer by any means, but I've come recently to resort to a particular methodology that has not lost me an animal in now probably 10 years. Rule #1... Pass up shots that are not 100% (and no shot is 100%... but you know what I mean...). This I've done and therefore I've had many more animals in front of me than I've loosed the string on.
Rule #2. Feel good about the shot. I can't quantify this for you, it's subjective... but again, I think you all know what I mean.
Rule #3. Practice, practice, practice, and like real estate, location, location, location.
I practice into basically coffee cans with blunts, from 5 yards to 22 yards (my shooting range currently till I can clear more bushes out...) and I rove incessently while I'm hunting.
Effective range is something I personally think is something you feel comfortable with. Pie plates are great, easy to see but can also give you a false sense of accomplishment. Regardless of what you use, 100% should be the goal in my opinion.
posted
Try starting at almost point blank range (5yds). Make a small dot on your target and focus/concentrate only on that spot not the whole plate or vitals. Work at that until everything else (drawing, anchoring, release) is not even a thought anymore. Then start moving back in yardage and focus only on the spot.
I use the term yardage as that should be a consideration when making a shot but picking a spot, seeing the shot and knowing/feeling I can make that shot is all it should be. I never know the yardage when practicing or shooting game. Just my limitations of what I see and feel. But once I started seeing inconsistencies with hitting my mark I knew that point was past my limitations. For me that would be about anything past 30 yards. Hope this dosen't confuse.
Always good to have a friend there that can watch you shot and also give little recommendations on form etc.
Target panic may be another cause if you feel you are not consistent.
The stump shooting as mentioned if you can and picking out a single leaf, stick etc. is the best practice (for me) that I know.
Best to you, hang in there it will come together for you.
Posts: 381 | From: Virginia | Registered: Nov 2010
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If you use your plate as you stated, I would suggest that you move to a spot of unknown distance. The distance can be anywhere from 10 ft to 25 yds your goal is to use your feel for the shot. Take only one shot as you move around. Try this and see how close you come to the spot you pick. This is a better test than standing in the same spot and shooting the same target. You will surprise yourself. I use cotton balls in a bale sometimes and come very close to hitting most of the time. I am working on form some but I shoot well when I feel the shot.
posted
I've found that a paper plate is too big an aiming target also, if I have the whole plate the group fills it up.... The cotton ball idea is great and I'm going to play with that. Now I find that stump shooting with a tennis ball and judo/hex points can tighten up your focus pretty quick at different yardage. I usually just shoot a max of three arrows at a time at the ball and usuall hit at least two with a touch. Gives me the confedence out to 20 yds easy.
-------------------- Bowhunting is "KILL and EAT" not "Catch and Release".....Semper Fi! Posts: 1188 | From: Zville OH | Registered: Feb 2008
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Another good gauge is a one-gallon milk bottle and blunts or field points. If you can hit that milk jug every time you're in an area the size of a deer's vitals and that will tell you your distance limit.
Throw the jug and shoot, or shoot once and move to another location. Don't just stand at one distance and lob multiple arrows (that's target shooting, not hunting practice). You also have to learn to pick a spot on a larger object.
If you put a little dirt or water in the jug you can throw it further . . . until it leaks out the holes.
-------------------- Charlie P. ~~ _/)~~ A.B.C.C.
Bear Kodiak & Kodiak Hunter, Dick Palmer Hunter (L/B), Ben Pearson Hunter, Wing Presentation II & 3 Red Wing Hunters (LH & 2 RH), Browning Explorer & Cobra II, Martin/Howatt Dream Catcher (wood arrows for all) Posts: 2817 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: May 2003
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posted
thanks for all the advice. now I have lots of things to try to get better. and practice practice practice! thanks for the renewed confidence you guys have given me. its easy to get frustrated when you talk to the guys that shoot bows with wheels on them how they shoot 50 to 60 yards or more. but then I have to remember why I choose traditional gear. because I love the crap out of this stuff! thanks again for all the help
Posts: 64 | From: Brigham Utah | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
Just remember- those guys shooting 50 or 60 yards are missing, or worse, wounding a lot of animals. Too much can happen in the time it takes even the fastest arrow to go that far.
Learning that I shouldn't take a shot over 25 yards with a compound is one of the things that brought me back to traditional.
-------------------- Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.- Ben Franklin Posts: 2390 | From: New Albany, MS | Registered: Jul 2008
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