Hunting distance

[Stealth Man]

Good wisdom in these threads.  Thank you!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Most of the deer and other critters over my 30 years of bow hunting have been shot at under 15 yards . I killed a moose at 6 steps. If i had been shooting a mechanical arrow flinger none of those kills would stand out, as they would have all been dead at 30 , 40 or 50 yards. We who choose to make our kills the most difficult we can, get rewarded with experiences others will never get to enjoy. much less understand. I am no longer impressed with big bucks or other trophy animals when I hear they are killed at distances the animals could not have known the shooter was there. When you kill them at ten paces or less, now that man was hunting!

[MnFn]

Like a lot of the replies, I like the challenge of getting closer, not shooting further.

I am sure the compound shooters can shoot further than me. But they miss too; I missed a couple of deer when I tried those contraptions - you probably don't hear so much about that. And, on the long range shots what happens if the animal makes an unexpected move? I know bad things can happen with any shot, with any kind of bow - but I think it gets magnified when shooting longer distances.

Also I kind of like the idea that if my string breaks I can replace it in about 2 minutes vs a trip to the tech shop.
 I hope you stick with traditional, but keep in mind it is supposed to be fun, so good luck with your decision.

[varmint101]

I guess you could say I've been frustrated a time or two at shots I 'swear I coulda made' with my compound when I had my trad bow in hand.  In reality it was just in my head.  Hopefully you'll get over that soon.

Like others have said, it's not about what others do, but what YOU do.  If you aren't happy then maybe you just aren't ready yet.

I've been bowhunting going on 7 seasons now.  Not a long time, but long enough.  Of all the deer I have killed with trad bow AND compound only two were over 23yds and both those were 52 and 55yds.  I guess what I'm saying is pay attention to your setup.  It doesn't always work out, but generally you should be able to get critters closer than 40yds(or half that really) throughout a season.

[jhg]

Long shots are just insecurity.

 This fall I watched a 6x6 bull elk for 20 minutes that was broadside, but beyond my comfort zone for a clean kill. While trading hunting stories later with some friends who hunt with compounds one of them said "either one of us (pointing to his buddy) would have been able to take that bull..."

As if animals won't jump the string on compounds too.

It was really a revelation to me. I had never dissed compounds and was pretty surprised that in that one statement one-upmanship become part of our relationship, because I hunt trad and they hunt compound and someone has a problem with that difference.

Let me say this: letting what others "would have done" get under your skin will ruin the sport (any sport) for you. As mentioned by others enjoy the sport for yourself, on your terms. Don't measure its worth against equipment made for those who wouldn't dare give up pin sights, releases and super fast arrow flight in attempting to take game, or against shots that are really too far to be ethical, even if they sometimes are successful.

It is a remarkable thing that you hunt with equipment that even with carbon arrows requires you to become one with it and intuitive. It requires you to get closer to remain ethical.

Long shots are for gamblers, not good hunters. A lot can happen between the time an arrow is released and when it makes its target. The target only needs to step forward 12 inches and the shot is marginal or crippling.

There is no shame in being ethical.

Joshua

[GingivitisKahn]

Just because someone can bust nocks all day long at 50 yards with a compound doesn't make that a sensible distance to shoot at animals.  Turns out - animals move.

I watched some "hunting" show this morning where a guy wounds a ram around 300 yards with his rifle and then finally kills it around 700 yards.  Ok - that ain't hunting.  It's shooting (perhaps decent shooting) but it does not require the same skill set we need to employ to get within 10-20 yards of an animal.

Shooting is fun but hunting is a bigger challenge, in my opinion.  Get close and take your shots.

[Sam McMichael]

I never let the distance the  compound shooters are proficient at bother me. I like the challenge of getting close versus the efficiency at longer range. I am good to go at about 20 yards. Sure, I get busted more often than not, but that's just the way I like to play the game. But I have no crticism for the guys who like the longer distance of the compound - just as long as they stay within their accurate distance.

[gobbler10ga]

missed 3 so far this yr and passed on a 30 yd shot but it beats huntin with a compound .If i really wanted one I would take a gun

[GMMAT]

Our very own Orion said to me earlier this year (when I was contemplating making the switch....and had similar "fears")....

"When the 'how' becomes more important than the 'how big' or 'how many'.....you'll make the switch".

Best advice I ever got regarding hunting.  It's ALL about the 'how', for me.

Good luck.

[Mike Gibbs]

I can put four consecutive arrows into a baseball size group at 30 yards, but I don't shoot at deer beyond 20 yards. Backyards and deerwoods are two entirely different places to use as a standard for your capability.

[Celtic Dragon]

Originally posted by robtattoo:


If you constantly compare what you can do to what others can do, you'll only ever be dissappointed. What other folks can do isn't important. Do whatever you want to do [/QB]

Thats well put. 1 thing I have found ffrom trad, I have gone started walking more quitely through the woods. Maybe its a switch thats been flicked becuase I know I dont have the range of my compound.

I'd rather be a better stalker than a long range record holder.

PS: Robtattoo, just noticed you location, did you make it out there permanantly??

[ron w]

I like to be 12-20 yards, when I did hunt with a compound I liked 12-20 yards!!! Regardless of type of bow its all about being close. To much of the "Gotta get one" logic now days.

[ka]

Started off with trad. went to compound and could consistently hit 50cent piece at 50yds. Setting in tree stand one day with my release aid on etc. and said this is too much. Sold compound got a Longbow, started making my own wood arrows etc. and have never looked back. For me it all about the quality of the hunt and then the kill!!! to each his own.

[longbowben]

[Bonebuster]

Hunt for the joy of it.

A modern compound bow with all the accessories can out do most anyone with a stick bow as far as long range accuracy. Animals move, and targets don`t. Because of this, for hunting, an arrow has limited range. Regardless of what launches it.

When you get within 20 yards or so of almost any game animal, you become much easier to detect.
They can sometimes FEEL your presence.

Hunting is great. Frustration should be the furthest thing from your mind. There are so many good feelings to get from it, that you are missing out if you are feeling frustrated.

[reddogge]

I can shoot one farther with a compound than a recurve.
I can shoot one farther with a flintlock rifle than a compound.
I can shoot one farther with an inline and scope than my flintlock.
I can shoot one farther with a Winchester Model 1894 and iron sights than my inline/scope.
I can shoot one farther with my .30-06 and peep sights than my inline/scope.
I can shoot one farther with my .270 Winchester model 70 and Leupold scope than my .30-06/peep sights.
I can shoot one farther with my 7mm Mag and 40X scope than my .270 Winchester/Leupold.
I can shoot one farther.....you get the point.

[Timberking]

This is exactly why I went back to traditional archery! I wanted the feel of "hunting" I never killed a deer stalking,I did kill one on the ground last year with my wheelie bow and again at like 10-12 yards out of my double bull. Could have/should have been with my recurve. I changed alot this year,went back to the recurve. Started going in on foot no 4-wheeler,it just plain "feels better" to me. I guess you have to shoot traditional bows like us just to understand it. I've got a hunting trip planned for the first week of November on the ground rattling,bleating for deer and just plain still hunting,posting for em too. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!      

[GUYZER]

T

[twitchstick]

It is a matter of getting up close and personal with the game that drives me. You have to deside what drives you. To hunt or to kill. Now I have killed animals with guns,compounds, recurves and long bows. I have killed deer, elk and antelope with compounds out to yards I don't care to mention(when I was young and dumb), elk out to 500 yards with a gun. And none really get me excited. This last year I shoot my frist trad kill in years,It made me so excited that I had sit down so I did't fall out a tree stand. My friend Roger holds the 90 meter world record with a bow and has shoot on the USA mens field team. He is jealous of me because he can't seen to kill with trad gear. I think Roger is on his fourth year hunting with a recurve.

[Brian Krebs]

35 yards and under; the more under- the better.