average guys 2cents on distance shootin

[rogers]

Iv never posted a whole lot on here since so many here are much wiser than I, but lately I have been reading alot of posts regarding accuracy and shooting beyond 20 yards and decieded to share my 2 cents worth.  Keep in mind that I am just an average guy and by no means an expert.

I see alot about guys that say they can shoot great out to 20 yards but start struggling at 25 and beyond.  I'll strech out to 40 or 50 on game here at home but I practice those shots everyday.  My OPINION

[rogers]

Sorry guys hit the wrong button! lol.  My opinion on why some guys have trouble with this is simply because they dont challenge themselve to shoot that far.  They may shoot this far for a shot or two but it is not what the focus on the whole practice is around.  I think the reason that this 20 yard max came about is because most bows generally shoot close to flat trajectories out to 20.  You get use to that sight picture and when you step out to 40 you may focus all your attention on that spot but your bow arm sets up that same sight picture you have at 20 and you shot low.  This is because you have not shot back there enough for your brain to relize that its gonna have to do some work and move your bow arm up to compensate for the distance.  Iv always heard that it takes 1000 reps to burn something into your brain!  I stump shoot everyday and make it a point to rarly shoot closer than 30 and shoot alot around 60 yards even though I may not hit anything.    Trust me your gonna see all your form flaws shooting long shots and its gonna improve your close up shooting dramatically.  
Your personal yardage max is your personal max 20 is fine, but why not take the time and challenge your self on those long shots, it can only make you better.  Spend some time with long shots and 20 will start looking close enough to reach out and touch, it almost makes it look to easy.  Dont get frustrated if you cant hit anything at first just challengin your brain and when you finally wake it up you'll be amazed at what your capible of.  
This is just my opinion and by no means am I saying my way is better than anyone elses, i hope it makes sense lol.  Im curious to see what others opinions are on this after all one sword sharpens another.
Thanks, Caleb

[s_mcflurry]

As far as target practice, I agree.  I warm up close but then jump to about 30, 40, and sometimes 50 yards.  It really forces you to get that form right or be forced to look for arrows.

As far as taking game at a maximum of 20 or 25 yards, it's not a matter of trusting your form, I think people are taking into account random stuff...branches in the way, gusts of wind, or the animal moving...and maximizing the situation in your favor.

[Flingblade]

I think that is good advice rogers and exactly what I need to do.  In my yard I can shoot to about 25 and need to get out and shoot at longer ranges to become familiar with the trajectory of my arrow at different distances.

[njloco]

I agree, I just got back from a shoot in South Jersey/ I started shooting at the a round target at 15 yds. to warm up. then I went to the 25 yd. target and hit short ( I practice at 20 yds. in my back yard all the time ) The good news is I only hit short two or three times and then started to hammer the target. I then went to the 30 yd. ram and shot short twice and then started to hammer that target. So I think your on to something as far as the practicing at longer yardage.

Ken

[ncsaknech1ydh]

I've spent this summer shooting out to 50 yards, mixing up my shots, never paying attention to what yardage I'm at, shooting only one arrow at a time, just concentrate on the site picture and take the shot, and your right, my shots from 25 on in, (25 yards is the max I used to shoot by the way), have gotten much better. I doubt if I'll take any shots on Big Game much over 25 yards, but I for sure from this point on will always practice out to 50 yards and beyond as I improve. My worry about shooting at live game beyond 25 yards is having them jump from the sound of the shot, something that happened to me years ago quite often in my compound days when I was taking farther shots. It seems to me anyway, that 25 yards is about the magic spot as far as the arrow getting there before the critter hears the shot, and it does not seem to matter to much what poundage or speed my arrow is traveling at as far as the animal hearing the shot goes. Shooting farther has greatly enhanced my enjoyment of practice also.

[cbCrow]

I will sometimes go to the range and shoot at 25-40 yds to see how well I do but most of my practice is done between 8-22yds. That I feel is a reasonable distance to hunt so thats where I practice.

[mater]

A friend and I hunted the same woods. He hit a twig and got a bad shot, hit in the neck. The deer ran to my side of the woods and stoped. He was about 50 yards away. At that point is when I wished I had practiced long shots. I wouldnt shoot at that distance unless it was a wounded animal, and you never know.  Mark

[BobCo 1965]

To me, targets and game are two entirely different things. At targets, I'll shoot to 90 meters. On game 20 yards is good. Targets usually do not move, but what happens if game decides to take a step at 40 yards after the point of no return on release.

What I like more about hunting is challenging myself to get as close to wild game as possible.One of my fondest memories was the look on my sons face as a button buck walked within three yards of our ground setup.

What I am saying is IMO, is that being able to shoot accurately at a target at 60 yards does not justify shooting at game at the same distance.

But then again, I am not necessarily hunting as a means of sustaining my families life. I'm sure that I may think differently if I were to walk in another mans shoes.

[recurvecody]

that really gives me some thinking  to do, thanks for the good insight roger!

[S.C. Hunter]

If you never shoot past 20 yds and I hear this all the time. How can so many say that 25 yds is their max? If you never shoot at 30,40 and 50 yds you can never expect to shoot beyond that distance where you feel comfortable. I would suggest if you feel comfortable at 20 yds next time you shoot, only shoot at 22 yds to 25 yds. Do this for a session or two depending on the number of quality arrows you send down range you will surprise yourself with your improvement. I will shoot a 150-200+ arrows in a session, I focus on form first in my warm up and then shoot the shots that I am uncomfortable with, and will then make sure I am maintaining good form again to ingrain the feeling of a good shot. This will grow confidence and increase your comfort level at distances once thought to be impossible. Remember move 2 yds at a time if needed you don't need to move 10 yds at a time.

[joe skipp]

I constantly practice out to 40 yds. Started this method after my first year of chasing Mule deer around the Wyoming Prarie. Those 40 yd open shots are sometimes all you have.

My normal practice is out to 25 yds from standing to kneeling. I always finish up shooting distance. I find my concentration is much better and I'm bearing down more on the spot I want to hit. This is especially helpful when stump shooting in the woods at various targets.

90% of my ground blind locations allow me to shoot out to 40 yds and if I practice on a daily basis, I see no reason not to take the shot, if the animal presents the right "target", broadside or slightly quartering.

[Mitch-In-NJ]

I have been shooting from long distances recently, too.  I wouldn't shoot at an animal at these distances, but it's fun and does make those 20 yard shots seem much less daunting.