go or no go shooting

[toddster]

For me I typically will not get a shot in the timber over 20 yards.  But at same time I have let animals pass under 15 yards.  Like all of us I believe we develop a sense of "Go or NoGo" shots.  I think this comes with experiance and the sad truth of loosing a few animals, which is part of it.  I have shot a deer at 35 yards, but something in me said take the shot and I got here, and when I finally noticed the distance I was actually shocked.  We all have had the "they are as good as in the freezer, or on the wall" thought, only to find out we missed.  I would rather have total confidence of harvesting the animal, than have that 50/50 of loosing one.  Just my opinion.

[Roadkill]

That guy one of duty experts on here by chance?   The thing about our sport is there are ways to accomodate all, even the know it alls.  YOU know what YOU can do, and live it.  I say congrats and look forward, not back at the also ran

[Friend]

Endeavor to maintain your own confidence and hold steadfast to your own personal ethics.
When it comes down to the moment, the situation only involves you and your quarry. As you have ascertained that the situations is right, then execute the shot as in the past.
Test and stretch your skills on the range. Expanding and improving you skills on the range by ten yards may possibly merely equate to a few yards extension in the field. Knowing, recognizing and acknowledging the ever changing effective hunting range remains key.
Our quarry deserves premium consideration each time we elect to take a shot.

Animated talk will always go on and there are those very few that can consistently connect at longer ranges.  Know and hold true to yourself.

[swampdrummer]

Originally posted by toddster:
 We all have had the "they are as good as in the freezer, or on the wall" thought, only to find out we missed.

THATS where I screw up! I've found myself thinking the same thing before I've even loosed the arrow. Its most likely a miss.
I've calmed down a LOT in the last 4 years of hunting with a stick and string. I'm definately in the go/no go camp. But I've also learned that even the slam dunk shots can be screwed up if your form goes to pot when shooting at game. It only took 2 Rod Jenkins clinics for me to get it through my thick skull that if your form is perfect, the arrow is going where you want it to go. Rod has a Tips and tricks section on his website and one of the things he points out is that we should be running our shots on game, exactly the way we would on the blank bale.

Sorry for the derail.

[joe skipp]

If I have a clear shot, undisturbed deer...I'll shoot 40 yds. I practice daily out to 40 yds. If the shot just doesn't feel right, maybe because of the animals behavior, don't care what distance, I won't shoot.

[bornagainbowhunter]

Looks like most folks are in the same park as I am, go or no-go.  I never even try to guess yardage until after the shot.  When I feel its a go, i won't focus on anything except the hair I want to hit.  Then you get that lovely sound
ffffffff  pfft...  

God Bless,
Nathan

[SKITCH]

Originally posted by ron w:
It's s shame more new folks sometime can't hook up with a veteran Trad hunter to mentor them instead of watching some video that may lead them down the wrong path!

RON,,,,If you were closer to Oklahoma I would take you up on that!!!!        

As it is....I'm trying to figure it all out on my own!!!    :confused:

[Crash]

I'm in the go/no go camp as well.  Have killed several, had 3 does go by me and didn't shoot last year, had a fourth go by at a further distance and killed her with a heart shot.  Didn't feel right on the first ones, did on the last one.  

Skitch, there are several seasoned trad guys here in Oklahoma, any of us would be willing to help.  Where are you located?

[Tradcat]

The Wensel brothers summed it up the best for me... "archery is seeing how far away you can get from your target and still hit it BUT bow hunting is seeing how close you can get to the animal and not miss" ! amen

[sweeney3]

I'm in the go/no-go camp, but would guess that most of my shots are under 20 yards for sure.  And yes, my shots are all as close to sure things as you can get.  That's kind of the idea isn't it???    :confused:    

[Sam McMichael]

go or no go, but mostly, the go efforts seem to be around 15 to 18 yards.

[bornagainbowhunter]

I think the better hunter we get to be, the closer the shots tend to get.  

Most of the time, the deer I see are in the 'go' range.  The is the result of trial and error, scouting and a lot of thought during stand placement.  I might move a stand in one area 2 or 3 times before I get it perfectly dialed in.  If you set up the situation to be in your favor, most of the time, it will be.

This don't come overnight.

God Bless,
Nathan