Recurve,Rookie and Kill Zone

[SirRobin77]

Ok
  Ive been shooting my recurve about 2 weeks now and at 10 yards im averaging a 4-6" groups with the ocasional flyer.Well i figured i would try my hand at 15 yards this morning and my shots were all over the place.It was bad!! Should i stay at 10 yards for now and practice or make the jump to 15 yards and practice from there.I would like to be confident at atleast 20 yds by mid Oct.
  How many people on here have killed a deer inside 15 yards?
Thanks Matt

[Stykbow62]

I have killed a total of 4 deer inside 20 yds. and 2   of those were bucks.

[Don Stokes]

I read somewhere, before compound bows, that the average kill distance was 13 yards. More recently I read that it was 17 yards. I've killed them out to 35 yards or so, but my average is under 10. The closer the better, as long as your feet don't get in the way. Stay within your effective range, and go for it!

[Downeast]

Don't start a new day with a new yardage.  Start at the previous day's yardage and shoot a dozen.  If that works for you, THEN backup.

[WidowEater]

my average for hunting with all weapons is around 25 yds

when i was learning to shoot instinctive i stayed at 10 yds for the first month or so.  I shot so many arrows from that range i had to get a new target, and the target i was using was new when i started.

good to alwaqys work on form too so you can establish good habits

[Brian Krebs]

I would start shooting at 35 yards. You may never shoot it hunting that far; but you can see how the arrows are flying; and that tends to make it fun.

 Shoot without worrying about missing; just have fun -- then start getting serious.

 I practiced at 10 yards ( the length of a hallway in my house) and got real good; then like you I started outside at 15.

 The mental preasure was there; and missing so close was disapointing me. I moved out to a further range; and with less expectation on myself; I started shooting better and better.

 Then those 20 and under shots looked much more doable to me.

 I set a 10 yard standard for myself the first year. You can get that close. You have to commit to stealth and be totally aware.

 That is what I like about traditional bowhunting anyway - so - its worked out well  

[jhansen]

I often start at 5 yards and release one arrow.  Then I take a step or two back and do it again, and so on back to the max of 22 yards that I have available.  I'll vary this by starting off at 22 and working my way forward or any other combination that comes to mind.  What I'm trying to avoid is getting "fixed" on a given range.  If your form is correct and consistent nothing should change as far as windage goes from point-blank on back.  In other words, the left and right are always the same as long as your body is the same for each shot.  The only change is to elevation and this will be pretty minor out to 20 yards.

To me, the real thrill of hunting with a barebow is seeing just how close I can be to a game animal and remain undetected.  I flat will not take a shot beyond 20 yards.  If I'm not feeling good about the situation my max may be a lot closer than that.  From what I hear and read most trad bowhunters feel the same way.  If you don't mind a little advice, forget about range and concentrate on accuracy.  Everything else will come with time and quality practice.

John

[Bill Turner]

I have killed many whitetails and other big game animals at under 20 yards. I've killed some at over twenty but not many. I love the 12 to 15 yard shot. I was taught early on that traditional bowhunting is an up close and personal type of hunting. That is what floats my boat. That's why I hunt with traditional equipment.Master the 15 yard and in shot this year and make sure you get that close before shooting. You'll be glad you did.  

[Chris Lantz]

My father has killed a couple of respectable bucks from less then 10 yards on the ground. I haven’t successfully harvested a deer with a bow (I'm pretty much a rookie like you) but I’ve had quite a few walk by my stand at less then 5 yards, although they were yearling bucks and does for the most part. I believe 17.3 yard average everyone quotes also includes compuound  kills. Even if you go to the woods with a hard limit on shot distance and don’t get a lot of shot opportunities you will learn a lot just by being out there.

[Deff]

I think you will be in pretty  dog-gone good shape to go hunting!  The bottom line in hunting is GET CLOSE ENOUGH and MAKE THE SHOT.  I'd put my money on the guy that knows he has to get close   any day!
Over the years, I have found that most of my flubbed hunting shots were of the close, point blank verity. I prided myself in getting in as close as humanly possible to the game before shooting but hadn't practiced those "gimmee shots" enough.  It is not uncommon to have game practically fall into your lap and those shots can be real tricky if you are use to shooting at 30 yards.

I don't think in yardages but I do pace off steps.  The length of the steps vary according to my mood or energy level -- but-- When practicing, I often start with 3 arrows in a paper plate at ten steps, then twenty, then thirty steps etc. When I fail to put all three arrows into the plate, I return to ten paces and start over. This little game forces me to put in lots of time at the close ranges while at the same time expanding my maximum range.  I often alternate the position I am shooting from at the start of each new round (kneeling, setting, standing, twisted etc). Other days, I just go roving or stump shooting to practice random shots and positions. If I feel like I'm stuck ,  I may move out to 50, 60 yards or more and fire away, sometimes that seems to help  me to get back in the groove for shooting  back at realistic distances.

[Terry Green]

Killed quiet a few inside 10 yards.....

If I were you, I'd skip the 15 yards and learn to shoot at 20.....yeah, you could be ready if you commit to do so IMO.

[longstick]

practice at 20 is what I do and practic like youre going to hunt..I sit on a stool to shoot

[SirRobin77]

Practice practice practice thats me.
Ill be hunting from a ground blind so yeah i need to practice sitting down.Is it common to get deer within 10 yards of you in a ground blind? Im kinda leary of the tree stands at 375 lbs.Lol!
Matt

[Jmatt1957]

If I may. If you are going to practice for hunting forget about the yardage and groups. Shoot the first arrow close then move farther away then close then side to side. Move with each shot. Give this a try for about a week every night and see what happens. Dont cheat even if you make a bad shot still move, no second chances just like in the woods.

[Bill Tell]

I like to practice like this.  I start at 30 yards and shoot my arrow.  Then I walk towards the target and nock my next arrow all at the same time.  As soon as I have the arrow nocked I stop and shoot.  I usually get three arrows off.  Some times I walk really fast and sometimes slow.  Helps with estimating yardage and not thinking the shot so much.  I also vary how I shoot.  Sometimes when I stop I will take a knee and sometimes I will shoot at a goofy angle just whatever I can think of to simulate ducking a limb or the finish of a stalk.  I am always amazed at how my last arrow usually finds it mark.

[Deff]

Hey Matt, I have a son that's a big guy too. When he's decked out in camo from head to toe, he seams to be able to walk right up on game. Looks like a big bush.

I have had deer pass as close as 3 feet away from a blind. Set it up (preferably well ahead of time) 10 yards downwind from an active deer trail.  The beauty of blinds is that you can do much to set up your shot. If setting up for that close of a shot, I would try to position things so that the deer would most likely be quartering away when in the shooting lane. That would make them less likely to jump the string.

[SirRobin77]

Hey thanks guys the moving around every shot helped a lot thanks for the encouragement and advice.
Matt

[buckeye_hunter]

I second the walking around to different yardages and angles.  I also kneel, sit, stand and shoot from both open spots and from behind trees. Next, I want to tie a really long rope (150 ft) to a wagon and have someone pull my target through the trees real slow and stop in various places.  Just to practice making unexpected shots.

It will be hard to find someone willing to pull the rope!    

-Charlie