Make the shot vs. Yardage

[gregk]

I can pretty much just look and tell if its within my shooting distance.

[Al Natural]

Never think about the yardage.  Just know I can either make the shot or not.  After the shot I check the distance.  Shot a doe at twenty-two yards this year.  This was the farthest shot I've ever taken at a deer in 30 years of archery hunting. The last 18 have been traditional.
Al

[crookedwoody]

under 20 is focus and shoot.after that i try to judge to figure how much higher to focus to allow for drop.havent had to shoot at animal with higher focus point yet.just wait til they are closer..chris

[tradtusker]

depends on the situation for me
depends on a lot of things
sometime yes sometimes no

i have three yardages Close, Far .. to far    :D

[vtmtnman]

I only use my range finder for setting up bow targets for the wheel buds or rifle sighting in.No more yardage guessing for me.I know what's outside my comfort zone and what's inside.

One of the many benefits of trad archery.Tossing the yardage shackles.

I will measure the shot afterwards just to relay the whole story to buddies who are wheel shooters.

[missagain]

there is something in your brain ,that just tells you ,i really dont do yards.i just pull anchor and release.

[joe skipp]

My practice sessions include long range shooting out to 40 yds. When stumpshooting, we also fling some arrows 50 and beyond at targets(stumps or logs).

This type of practice has taught me to look at my target, make a quick evaluation of the distance and then make my shot. Twenty five yards and under I don't even think about yardage. Beyond that, I make my guesstimate, aim accordingly and drop the string.

[widow sax]

look at the shot and if it looks good take it dont care about the yards one of the best parts of trad shooting and hunting. Widow

[George Metz]

If i tried to estimate distance would get it wrong anyway...too much thinking always screws up my shot...pick a spot, focus, let it happen.

[joe ashton]

My personal process is  "can I make that shot or not."   NOT 'how far is it?'.  I've passed on a 15 yard shot this year (it just did not look doable) and successfully took a couple of 25 yard shots.  "Can I make this shot or not?"
Joe

[ChuckC]

If on stand, I try to estimate distances to certain posts,  like  that tree is 25 yards,  I can shoot to there.  This way if that animal is within my "area" I know I can do it.  I do not try to estimate yardage to the animal or other target aftertaht, just point and shoot.
ChuckC

[D.T.]

The light is either green or red......any more thought than that things seem to go the wrong way!

[glass76]

If I feel comfortable with the shot I will take it. I don't think about how many yards it might be, just have confidence in my tools and preparation.

[Bruce Martin]

It has to do with confidence at reasonable hunting distances. Certainly I would not feel comfortable at 40 yards but I do practice at that and further ranges and find it helps confidence immensely at shorter actual distances. That said, when a critter comes along that I want to shoot, yardage is never considered. My pea brain could not hold that information when I really need to concentrate on the spot I want to hit and if the animal is walking, quartering, etc. When it is time to shoot, you got to take the shot that you can make. Love it when they are close though!