I practice at 20 yards in the back yard and I shoot fine. I shoot tourneys and the max they put the targets out for traditional is 25 yards and I do great at the tourneys and usually come home with hardware. But, when it comes to the woods and a live animal my max yardage is 15. How about you guys?
17-18 yards max for me.
Depends on what I'm hunting. The larger the target the further I'll shoot.
"Yeah, I can make that shot", or "Nope, I don't think I wanna try that" are my hunting ranges. Typically, that translates into "pretty darn close". I don't even know at what yardage I practice. I do know that I shoot from as close as a step or two to half a 25 acre square plot of land away (just for fun).
QuoteOriginally posted by flippnsticks:
17-18 yards max for me.
I am actually good to go at 17 yards also...but it is something about that magic number of 20 yards with me...
I say 20 , but have passed a lot of em closer than that! I favor about 16-17....
15 yards or less or I don't shoot.
20 or less
I killed a bison at 25 yards and although the shot was good, I didn't like it. Much more comfortable 20 or less.
no matter how good your skills are, you cant control what an animal will do after you release the string. Spook, sneeze,step, scratch, etc. which could turn a normally good shot into a wound. The closer I am, the less chance for error.
I know a lot of guys aren't concerned about this, but I am and thats how I'll stay. I'm happy with it.
I don't know I shoot instinctive I just look at what I want to shoot, I do not think about yardage.
I practice out to 30 but would put my current limit at 20 and under.
20 or less is what I work for.
I like it under 17.
15 and under
Stumping in the mountains will have ya tuned up for 20 yards on almost anything...
20 to 25 yards.
Carrying a tape measure in my backpack is a must with me.
I've always tape measured the distance after I've arrowed an animal. During the last 8 years, the farthest shot I've taken has been 17 yards and the closest has been 12 yards.
if i hunt with mine this season im limiting myself to 15 yds. i have to see what my stand situation is first.
I killed my Sitka buck at about 35 yards. That is surely about as far as I would shoot an animal. Everything was perfect and the green light went off.
Also took a doe at 30 yards and a javelina at about 4 feet.
I wish I was a good enough hunter to consistently get within 45 feet of western animals on my stalks but thus far that doesn't happen often.
I don't measure but it is likely 15 yds maybe 20 on occasion. I hunt on the ground either spot and stalk or ambush.
I'm good to 25 yards. After that the arrows start to drop too much, and the critters do some dumb things...like move. The longest shot at game so far is 22 yards. From a tree stand I like 15-20 yards the best. Closer is too much angle. Further is...see above.
On a deer i know i can hit at 30 yards but anything over 20 and there is way too much chance he will string jump so i like shots more like 15 to 20 at most.Now rabbits,,ill take a shot at 100 if he will stand still,lol.I wont hit him at 100 but i miss most at 10 yards so oh well.
20 yards or less, mainly less.
I'm comfortable at 20 yards but prefer 15.
when the shot feels right, take it
the other day, I was in a groove, hit a softball at 39 steps dead center
there is no set yardage IMO in traditional archery. If you can make the shot, take it. that might be passing a 10 yard shot and later taking a 25 yard shot you know?
that said, I like 15 yards and closer
It all depends on how the shot feels. have passed on closer shots and taken and connected on shots out to 25 yards.
Acknowledging, knowing your effective hunting range and sticking to it is a common trait shared by many affluent hunter.
Understanding and immediately recognizing that effective hunting ranges may vary significantly from situation to situation is imperative.
Loose the arrow when confidence is soundly excellent for the quarry we seek deserves nothing less.
It all depends on how big the target looks (deer). I never think in terms of how many yds. when I'm shooting. I have however stepped off the distances that I practice from in the yd. just for curiosity.
With those stepped off distances in mind, I'm confident from 30yds in...that's on target in the yd. 99.9% of my shots at deer are inside 15yds. with 20yds being a long shot.
Lots must use a range finder or are far better then me to tell the difference between 17 and 19 yds in hunting conditions.
All trad animals I've killed inside 30 yards & likely 25. Can't remember exactly. I may walk it off or not. Like a few above, I can't tell exact 17 yds from 19 yards or 25 from 27 & don't practice yardages.
I know when I can make the shot and when I cannot, I've never measured the distance nor have I ever cared to when shooting instinctively..
That's for folks who use sights of one kind or another..
It depends for me.
On the ground I would be good at 20yards.
But if I am in a stand it seems that I need to stay in the 15-17 yard range.
Like many here I do not actually have a limit or even known distance that I keep inside of. I stand hunt either on the ground or in a tree and all my stands are set up to keep them close so most of my shots are inside of 17yrds or so. Then there is the random hunt where that deer is creeping through and stops with a little hole offering their vitals and everything just feels right and the arrow is on its way, zipping through the cage. I paced one off at 41trds once after getting down and looking back at how far I shot. If I had known the distance before the shot I probably would not have even pulled the string back. Just part of hunting for me I guess.
All my practice is wandering and random shots at stumps, leaves, etc... I take long shots when stumping and equate it to shooting pool in a hall with 8' tables and then going into a bar and shooting on a 6'er - the holes look like buckets. If I am consistant to 40-45+ stumping the whitetail at 15yrds looks like a moose.
Same thing goes with shot angle and other factors like brush and branches. Sometimes it just feels right, other times I pass - no matter what the range or distance. It certainly is a personal thing as hunting is pretty much a one on one activity.
QuoteOriginally posted by Javi:
I know when I can make the shot and when I cannot, I've never measured the distance nor have I ever cared to when shooting instinctively..
That's for folks who use sights of one kind or another..
I'm in this group. It's all about feel. The range finder is built in. But,I can tell about what 20 yds is and that is what I usually end up shooting. The further ones just aren't as comfortable.
15 is my max.
Twenty yards in perfect conditions. Less than that most of the time since rarely are things perfect.
15-17 yards
Most comfortable with about 15 but if all is perfect I will go at 20.
Twenty-yards max.
Like sweeny3 - I shoot when I think the shot is right. Opening day I passed two shots at 18 yards due to overhanging brush - I also passed on a deer right under the stand as I thought the angle wrong. I'll know when the shot is best for me and best for the animal.
17 to 18 yards max. Prefer 12 to 15 yds. :archer2:
I set up most of my stands in thick areas where shots aren't going to be presented over 20 yards at the maximum (often less). I do so because those are the areas where I will see deer. On occasion I have had deer at 20+ and waited for something closer. My happy place is from about 12-18 yards. Unlike some, I can look at an object from point blank to 30 yards and know (within a few feet) exactly how far it is. That's not a super human gift, it's just practice and as the military says "situational awareness".
For me shooting at a live critter is different than a target. Targets aren't jumpy and bows aren't nearly as quiet as we might have supposed once we are in the dead silence of nature. Of course, my bowhunting is pretty much exclusively for highly pressured south-eastern whitetails, so YMMV.
Just a note: My not caring about what the yardage is has nothing to do with an ability to judge that yardage.. I was good enough at it to compete on the national level as a professional in compound... But since I have rejected the gadgets and mechanical assistance of the compound and returned to the archery of my youth I do not have to judge, I just know when I can make the shot or when I cannot.. One of the more liberating aspects of shooting without sights.. :D
usually 20 or less now last year in ohio a buck came through trotting and stopped, i never even thought i picked out a spot drew, anchored, and released, the arrow was beautiful, arched right under his chest, when all was said and done the buck was at 31 yards :eek:
20 max and 15 ideal
If it feels right its a go, just seems that the farther out they are the less it feels right, i have taken hogs out to 35 but those are few and far between as i enjoy getting close and have passed on shots i know i could have made just to get closer just to get busted but getting close is the fun part to me, the majorty of my shots are 20 and under.
It also depends on my confidence a the time. When pratice is not going as well as it should my shots seem to get shorter. When this is the case i notice that a shot i would have take 4 months ago i pass on now and when pratice gets back to normal and confidence is back up then that shot i passed on is now a go.
Quote sweeney3: "Yeah, I can make that shot", or "Nope, I don't think I wanna try that" are my hunting ranges.
Quote Kennym: "....have passed a lot of em closer than that!...."
God bless,Mudd
the closer the better, I average 17-20. Last year shot a doe on the ground as she was quartered away from me, complete pass through. stepped it off 33 yards, I was shocked, still like them close.
I see a lot of guys concerned with the maximum distance they can shoot at game. A lot of guys forget to practice the short shots. Go get 5 yards from your target or less and see how you do. You may be surprised at how badly it turns out to be.
As far as my maximum distance, I know it when I see it and it changes with each situation.
I'm not usually aware of the yardage of my shots until I "step" them off. It is then that I realize my comfort and confidence zone is always less than 15yds. and usually is around 12.
I practice daily and probably my average stum shot is somewhere around 30-40 yds. with many longer ones thrown into the mix and an occasional short one. When I do shoot under 20 yds. it's like I'm shooting at an elephants side! I learned to practice long from the late Paul Schafer who did the same and even wrote an article about it years ago.
All that being said over 45yrs. of bowhunting and keeping records my average kill shot with a bow has been 17yds. and that includes 3 kills beyond 40 yds. and two beyond 70 yds. (In the old days you shot first and worried later.) So keep them close and well within your comfort zone.
I like 20-25 yds., but practice to 60 yds.
I practice trad out to 20 yards, but would prefer hunting shots in the range 10-17. I've never set up blinds, etc. for shots much under 10 yards, regardless of gear, and don't feel inclined to go that way now that I've come back around to trad.
For me I don't shoot at whitetails further than 15 yards. They can just move so fast that I feel shooting at them any further out could lead to lots of wounded animals.
20 yards is max for me. Haven't had the opportunity to shoot at many animals, but that;s the distance I can get consistent groups at. I shoot much better at 15 than at 20, though. I think I would pass on a shot at 20 yards if I was sure the deer would come into 15.
I practice hard out to 40 yards. I will shoot at game out to 40 yards. I understand and respect knowing your limits and staying inside those limits, but if your "ability" is strictly inside 20 yards both in the yard and in the woods, then you are really shortchanging yourself and need to learn some effective aiming method that will allow you to take advantage of your bow's potential on out beyond 20 yards.JMO/no disrespect intended! :-)
I'm comfortable out to 25. Practice out to 60 or more. Average shot, however, is 10 to 15 yards.
Deer to 25 yards and elk to 40. I hit consistently at those ranges. I always go by if I feel I can make the shot. Some
Days it is 40 on elk, others would be 20.
Absolutely no further than a "slam dunk" shot.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bob Palmer:
I'm comfortable out to 25. Practice out to 60 or more. Average shot, however, is 10 to 15 yards.
x2
I like 10-18 yards, don't get that very often!
I'll sling an arrow 50+ yards at a squirrel or rabbit but deer and hogs I won't shoot much past 20, am not good enough.
20 yards or less for me.
Quote from Blake.... ""I don't know I shoot instinctive I just look at what I want to shoot, I do not think about yardage.""
I practice at different ranges but you will have to ask how far after the shot and I'll pace it off for ya :)
My brain probably keeps me inside 20/25 yards or so?
I practice from 22yds. in but my favorite is closer the better. I usually hunt from natural ground blinds in thick stuff, so about 15 yds. max.
Depends on my confidence level. Last summer I worked extremely hard ,was shooting well and I would have shot out to 25-30yrd without much hesitation if everything else was right.
This summer I have shot very little so I will be looking for closer shots. Whether the animal is alert or relaxed, high wind,cold weather, clothing lots of variables affect the shot decision besides simply how far.
It all depends on the circumstances for me. Rain, wind, where a deer is looking, how tense the deer is, etc., all factor in. I've passed shots at 10 yards when a deer was staring me down, and shot a few over 30 yds. My closest was 6 yards.
My longest was probably 45 or so. It was in the mountains and I was making my way up a ravine with a good sized creek flowing down it. I about 30 yards up one side of the ravine, and a nice buck came sneaking down the opposite side. I was standing behind a big oak and peeked around until I could see his shoulder. I zipped an arrow right through both lungs. He took a big leap and just stood there. He started wobbling a fell not 5 yards from where I shot him.
The conditions were perfect for that shot. He was perfectly calm. The wind was in my favor. The creek gave a lot of "cover noise". I really didn't think about how far it was until I went to get him.
Like many others, most of my hunting practice is stump shooting. I could care less what the distance is, and rarely pace one off. All I care is that I hit within a feather's length of my intended spot.
QuoteOriginally posted by markd:
I practice hard out to 40 yards. I will shoot at game out to 40 yards. I understand and respect knowing your limits and staying inside those limits, but if your "ability" is strictly inside 20 yards both in the yard and in the woods, then you are really shortchanging yourself and need to learn some effective aiming method that will allow you to take advantage of your bow's potential on out beyond 20 yards.JMO/no disrespect intended! :-)
Not necessarily the case! Just because some(like me!) limit themselves to a certain yardage for hunting shots doesn't mean we cant shoot accurately beyond that. I used to shoot FITA at 90 meters. I wouldnt take a shot at a deer at that distance.
My accuracy does not limit my max range, actions and reactions of game animals do. As distance increases, so does the potential of an otherwise accurate shot going bad due to animal movement.
I better say this too...., I dont think ANYONE should limit themselves just because I think I should. Its my decision, all mine and not to be pushed on anyone else. IMHO
All depends, I never shoot unless it feels right, it may be 5 yards it may be 45 yards. Depends on whether the greenlight comes on. To me it is all about confidence in that particular shot. Shawn
I have killed deer at 42 yds. While I prefer 25 or under I may shoot to 35-40 if all is just right...
I like to keep them 20 yards and under.
Turkey - 15 yards
Deer - 20 yards
Elephants - 25 yards (LOL)
If the green light comes on i launch no second thoughts.
I practices out to 15 meters but will only take a shot at a animal bigger then a rabbit at 8m or under. So almost half of what i practice at.
I practice out to about 35 at home. I know my ranges because I am limited to where I can shoot. I find I shoot best at about 17 or 18 and under. Something about 20 yd. that makes it the hardest distance to shoot. I think it is my old eyes and maybe max gap or something. I don't consciously gap but I know at 25 and out the arrow is real obvious in my line of site, and I shoot sometimes a lot better at 25-30 yd than 20 yd. This year my ACS is really shooting well and 20 has become a comfortable range. I will be looking for shots 10-15 on critters.
I agree with others about taking the shots that just feel right on animals. Our brains can think faster than we can perceive and you have to trust the green light. There are days when I am stumping and see something I just know I can hit and do no matter the range. Other times I just can't get a comfort level for the shot and often it is not a good shot.
Saw this carved with stick people on stone in a cave once:
"Og no shoot moose if moose breath not in face"
Og is da' man.
I am very confident to 20 yards, but have taken longer shots (and connected) when everything felt good.
This is why I like to mix stump shooting in with my known range shooting. It helps me better when I am hunting.
I have to try and figure something out for tree-stand practice as I might be in one for our late season...hmm
i'll take 50 if i'm feeling good,i shoot 70plus poundage with heavyweight arrows so consistansy,energy,and accuracy is there.california is different than the east,although there is some brush hunting,but that is my limmit.
I have shot a few deer slightly past 20 and took my best buck with a bow ever at about 22 . I have took most at 15 and thats where I plan and want them to be .
No limits at all . If I can hit what I am shooting at I take the shot. Conditions matter a lot more than yardage. A fast bow and a lot of practice makes a lot of difference. I see no reason to set any arbitrary politically correct limit on my individual capability.
If I question my ability to make a clean shot then I don't take it. If I feel confident in my ability to take the shot I do and I have learned after many years of hunting to accept whatever the consequences of that decision is.
I hear a lot about string jumping at further range. My personal observations after 57 years of bowhunting and several hundred kills is exactly the opposite. I have had more animals jump the string at close range than past 20 yards. A lot more in fact. Of course if you limit yourself to taking under 20 yard shots then you could not know that . Grin.
God bless you all, Steve
It varies on the situation for me. If memory serves my longest kill shot was 37 yards and my shortest was 6 yards for big game. I let the arrow go when the brain says to. My best shots are when I have no conscience thought of what I am doing. I shoot out to 50 yards and beyond practicing and have hit gophers at ranges over 60. My experience on string jumping has been similar to Steves.
15yds