Increasing distance.

[Junction hunter]

Was shooting in the barn all winter. Only had a 12 yard shot and was within 2 inchs with great  groups. Now that I'm outside and shooting at longer distances the arrow are all low. Need to retrain the brain for longer shots. Any tips?

[McDave]

Typically, in hunting, every shot will be at a different, unpredictable distance.  To reprogram your brain, never shoot any two shots from the same place, for a while.  Shoot one shot and then pick a different target, or move to a different place if you're going to shoot at the same target.  It's fun to shoot groups, but you need to get away from that for a while.

[Junction hunter]

Should I go out to 30 yards then work my way in, or start at 17 and work my way out?

[McDave]

Both....either....neither.  Don't give your brain a chance to latch on to any distance or any sequence of distances (near to far or far to near) for a while.  I'm not saying you have to do this forever, just until your brain breaks a lock on one particular distance.

[Junction hunter]

Thanks McDave, will try all kinds of distances. Didn't realize how quickly your brain gets use to one distance. Winter is only 4 months long (well maybe 5). Wish I had a bigger barn.  

[bubinga]

Some of the best advice on this subject I ever got was from Rick Welch.  He told me that after I pull to close my eyes and throw the the arrow then shoot the next shot wherever it lands.  Throw hard sometimes, soft sometimes, high sometimes and low sometimes.  Accomplishes the same thing as the good advice above.

[Junction hunter]

I've been doing that (and stump shooting) during the spring/summer and it does help a lot. Wonder if I should change my winter routine so I don't get 12 yards ingrained in the brain. Tried stump shooting a couple times this winter but lost some arrows in the snow. Shot at a couple rabbits and squirrels and lost those arrows also.    
Do you think moving up to 7 - 8 yards flights and move back to 12 and then back to 8 for each round?
Maybe just do blank bail and work on forum?
Take the winter off?

[Joshua Lee]

Just a thought,, I've never shot flu flu arrows but maybe they would drop some from 12 yards and give the illusion of being at a greater distance. Surely someone out there knows if this would help.

[Bill Turner]

Good advice for sure but don't make the mistake of not practicing closer shots as well. I like to practice from under ten yards, as much as 30 plus yards, both sitting and standing.

[MikeP in WV]

Invest in some blunt tips like these   http://www.3riversarchery.com/product.asp?i=4367X  and you can use them in your front yard.  I toss out a couple tennis balls or plastic wiffle golf balls at unknown yardages (10-50) and shoot at them in the front yard.  The arrows won't skip much and you can't hardly lose one.
Mike

[Junction hunter]

Thanks guys. I have some blunts so going to try all the above. Got 10 days till turkey season so hope to get the distances down. Tough to get then in under 15 years. But it can be done:)

[reddogge]

Just a thought,, I've never shot flu flu arrows but maybe they would drop some from 12 yards and give the illusion of being at a greater distance. Surely someone out there knows if this would help.
 

At 12 yards flu flus fly like a normal arrow.  The problem after shooting flu flus over time is even at a longer range when they do drop more the eyes see the distance, tell the brain the elevation and would make me overshoot everything with a regular arrow....guaranteed.  The best way to shoot longer distances is just to shoot them.

[Joshua Lee]

Thanks redogge

[longbowguy]

This is a common problem in instinctive aiming. It is easy at fairly short ranges, say 15 to 20 yards, for most archers. As you extend the range you can hold it together for a while but at some distance it seems to fall apart.

I think a different skill is needed for longer shots.

So what I teach is to move back even farther to your point-on distance. That is where if you put the arrow point in your vision right on target center, you will make a good hit.

This is a great distance to practice your form on, as aiming is simple. For many of us this is from 35 to 45 yards, give or take, depending upon your tackle and where you anchor on your face.

Practice there and when you get the hang of it, start shortening your range. I find working down to the distance that gives you trouble may work better than working down to it.

For me the tought distance was 30 yards. So for a year I did my warm-ups at 30, and at the end of the session I took some final shots at 30. I finally got the hang of it and now am better at 30 than most guys. - lbg

[KSdan]

I like Kidwell's thoughts on trajectory training.  The brain feedback and visualization really works.  I use bright fur tracers and bright fletching to program my brain.  I have been able to get back to 40+ yds and do pretty well on good days.   30-35 is beginning to be more routine.