Determining shot range

[joe skipp]

I religiously practice out to 40 yds on a daily basis. Roving and stumpshooting at any target at unknown distances will sharpen your skills on how to judge distances.

In my backyard I'll pick anything out on the lawn..a leaf, sunspot, worn out patch of grass, a root etc...how far? Don't know...don't care. I shoot my hunting bows with the arrows I'll be bow hunting with. So I know exactly where to aim and if I miss...my split vision method allows me to make my adjustments.

You need to learn how to judge distances, it takes time and practice. Then knowing your bowhunting setup when shooting at those distances whether it's close or far. If you can become fairly proficient at longer distances (not saying your going to shoot that far at deer), that concentration should carry over to those shots that are within your "Effective Shooting Range".

[joe skipp]

I religiously practice out to 40 yds on a daily basis. Roving and stumpshooting at any target at unknown distances will sharpen your skills on how to judge distances.

In my backyard I'll pick anything out on the lawn..a leaf, sunspot, worn out patch of grass, a root etc...how far? Don't know...don't care. I shoot my hunting bows with the arrows I'll be bow hunting with. So I know exactly where to aim and if I miss...my split vision method allows me to make my adjustments.

You need to learn how to judge distances, it takes time and practice. Then knowing your bowhunting setup when shooting at those distances whether it's close or far. If you can become fairly proficient at longer distances (not saying your going to shoot that far at deer), that concentration should carry over to those shots that are within your "Effective Shooting Range".

[TraditionalGuy]

Some good points, Joe. Whenever I start struggling with accuracy, I take a few steps back and keep going until I start shooting well again. Being able to shoot further away really helps with the near shot.

A technique my father taught me after missing quite a few dear is to take a look at something else briefly before firing at the deer. A good example is to look at the base of a tree. Your mind knows what a tree is supposed to look like, whereas deer can be of all sizes. This technique especially helps with uphill and downhill shots. There just something about a fixed object that puts everything into perspective.

[Bowwild]

I returned to curves in 2010. That year I felt very confident to 20 yards -- killed at 21 and 16 yards that year.

Same confidence in 2011... one at 8 yards. In 2012 I didn't feel as confident at 20 so I restricted my shots to 15 and under...2 at 8 yards.

This year I practiced all summer out to 40 yards to extend my effective range to 30 yards. It worked. (I had a much bigger animal in mind but that hunt was cancelled 5 days ago.) However, I have no intention of shooting at white-tail deer past 25 yards. This morning I killed a doe at 15 yards.

Confident for me means 5-6 arrow groups that are 6" or less. I will accept one flier (outside this group)per 2 ends.

Now that I'm hunting with curves all my stand set-ups provide shots inside of 15 yards.  Of course not all shot decisions are based soley upon distance. But, I won't shoot at a distance while hunting that hasn't been proven in practice.

[Rob W.]

I read on here once the proper way to determine your max yardage is to place a kill zone size target on the grill of your wifes vehicle. Then back up until you feel uncomfortable.   :D

[Sam McMichael]

I try to stay inside of 25 yards. Usually I pace distance off to various landmarks around my stand. I used to set a green stake at 20 yards, a yellow one at 25 yards, and a red one at thirty yards. I did this on all sides of my stand and used this method for a long time, not just as a distance marker but also as a reminder to THINK about the shot before making it.

[Pat B.]

I like Joe Skips answer and my shooting mimics his.

[longbow fanatic 1]

For me, I practice out to 30 yards and shoot 3-D's when I can. My max. hunting yardage is 20 yards this year. When I began hunting traditional, my max yardage was 10 yards.

[Aggie1993]

Hogs, as far as my bow will shoot      

Deer, 12-20yds, no closer and no further. I mark my range from each stand.

[Slickhead]

15 strides (my strides) is the limit

I try for 12
My stand is set up about 10 from the trail
So it should be a good shot.

For ground hunting I pace off a circle and make markers. This way I know if they are inside the circle Im good.

All the shots Ive missed Ive broken this rule, this year I not drawing till they are in the zone.

[Douglas Martin]

Thanks guys a lot of good answers I appreciate the input. Congrats on your kill this morning bowwild.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

To me 20 yards paced off and 20 yards guessed are totally different.  I always feel like animals are farther than they actually are.  That usually puts game less than 20 yards when I shoot.

[xtrema312]

I practice out a lot farther with a lot of shots around 35-40.  Some days I shoot better at 30 than 20.  Hunting is not practice. A lot more can go wrong hunting.  I like to keep it close with trad bows.  For me most years about 20 max, and I like closer to 15 if not a little less. I guess I just like to keep bow hunting shots as close as possible.  90% of my kills with wheels were 25 and under because that was what I felt was the max ideal range for the lest to go wrong with me and what I was shooting at.  Much of the time I could shoot a tennis ball 90% of the time at 60 yd, but that was not hunting conditions.

[Iowabowhunter]

Trick I learned from Mark Baker-quit shooting groups. You (mostly) get one shot at an animal anyways, why practice shooting differently than you would in a hunting situation. 3D range I'm comfortable @ 22-25 yards. Haven't taken a shot @ an animal with my triad gear yet.

[Friend]

Your most proficient hunters will know their standard effective range and strive to hunt w/I that range. There may be wide significant variation in the effective ranges of proficient hunters.

An individual’s own effective range may constantly be altered as circumstances and shooting opportunities unfold. Recognition and acknowledgment will go far in obtaining a successful harvest.