Howard hill taking long shots

[bigb3303]

I have been trying to learn about the legand Howard Hill since I ordered a hill style bow. I watched a few of his movies on YouTube and seems like he takes some crazy long shots at running lions ect . Is this something he did a lot of, or just for entertainment during the movies? His white feathers look awsome on those long shots!

[Charlie Lamb]

By his own admission Hill took a lot of long shots at game. Especially early on in his life. But as he stated in his book "Hunting the Hard Way", he refrained from such irresponsible behavior in later years and encouraged others to do the same.

Long shots were pretty common in the early days of bowhunting in this country and we can only guess what those old timers were thinking back then.

[McDave]

One of the best ways to find out more about Howard Hill is to read his book, Hunting the Hard Way.  It describes his methods as well as some of his hunts. It is quite readable.  His wife was an English teacher, and I suspect helped him edit it.

Howard could do some remarkable things with the bow.  With his accuracy, I'm sure he could easily double the average good shot's effective range on game.  The ethics of the time being what they were, I would imagine he took his share of long shots, and managed to connect on more than a few.

[bigb3303]

I believe I have read the book, but I can't find it anymore. If he writes about taking marlin and sharks with the bow I def read it a few years back but can't be for sure.

[WDELongbow]

I recall Howard absolutely nailing that lioness in the video - looked to be 30-40 yds (estimate). From the looks of the video, he had accuracy enough to take those shots.  Though he stated in his book about how most of his animals were taken at relatively close range, while a smaller percentage taken over 30+ yds or similar.

[far rider]

If you look around, like maybe on that popular online auction sight (can't remember it's name), you may see original copies listed on there right now.

I used to rent the movie reels from Jerry Hill and show them to small groups. On a movie screen those long shots looked longer. There was a couple of quick scenes on the reels that did not make it on the DVD. Tonight I got a bit closer to my big boy buck. He did not quite follow the same course as he did last night. Even with my most accurate yew/bamboo longbow and even though I seemed to be right on the money with 45 yard stump shots on my mile trek to the back corner, I could not get myself to take that 40 yard shot at a live buck. I decided to wait for the sure bet standing still shot under 30 yards, which did not happen tonight. I read where Hill said that the long shots seemed to get longer with the passing of time, but the reality was that the majority of his shots were well under 30 yards.

[Paul/KS]

While reading some of Aldo Leopold's essays and stories that have bow hunting in them you will read of shots taken at longer distances than we feel ethical these days.
At least for our type of bows...

[SCATTERSHOT]

As I recall, Howard Hill shot an elk at 183 yards. Fred Bear shot a bighorn (I think  it was) that he couldn't even see, by arcing sn arrow over a rock outcrop. We can only wonder about such things today...

[Bjorn]

If I'm not mistaken Fred could see part of the sheep but not the goodies. We only hear of their hits and little of their misses. But if one had perfect eyesight, a huge amount of natural talent, commitment, and practiced those shots daily it could be accomplished-humans are amazing.

[Mike Mecredy]

Yep he did it a lot and not just to perform either.
If he was capable, and he was confident, and could look himself in the mirror when things didn't go "quite right", then why not?

[Roger Norris]

Folks had a different mind set regarding wounding animals back then. Our communal ethics have changed (for the better, IMHO).