Who has some tips to help with long range shooting? I realize that people's ideas of long range may differ from person to person but for me anything 40 yards and out is long range. Now I don't plan on shooting at game at that range but shooting at longer ranges makes short range shots seem much easier. How many of you guys shoot long range on a regular basis? Do you guys have any tips that would help a rookie out? Thanks!
Caleb
I wouldn't say I do it on a regular basis, but when I'm in the woods and stump shooting or want to fling an arrow or two on my way back from a hunt I like to stretch my comfort zone and will let a few fly. I shoot instinctive style so I shoot with the same thought process at 70 yards at a stump as I do @ 20 yards. Just like anything a little practice goes a long ways.
The only tip I can think of is to take the shot just as serious as a hunting shot and go through the same motions.
Are you shooting instinctive or another style?
A friend of mine who shoots wheelies was trying to show me up one day in the mountains. We were shooting at a Copenhagen can. Then last shot was from ninety yards according to his ray beams indications. I don't know how but I was the winner. We were both shooting a group about the size of a soccer ball. I had to aim through my bow if you know what that means.
I shoot from 5-50 yds every time i shoot . The long shot are tough because form flaws are amplified. I think its good practice and it makes the closer shots seem easier to me.
I have to say the best way for me is identifying you point on distance and go from the. Draw your bow put the point of your arrow on target shoot go two yards back and repeat until your point is inline with your dominant eye.
Eye arrow point target inline. For my bow its 47 yards. I shoot a tip recurve 55lb. Just have fun, you will spend time looking for arrows. :archer2:
I am similar to trad archer. I find my point on which is now 34 yards. From there I find my relative gaps at each consecutive 5 yards increments. I have trouble shooting through my bow so I find something above and possibly right or left of the target depending on the wind to aim at and use the tip of the arrow. You can really extend your shooting range by going out and practicing the longer shots besides just improving on your form. There is no substitute for practice with a traditional bow. :thumbsup: Good luck and have fun.
Some really good points here and I tend to do the same when stump shooting/ roving. I find the long shots are good at pointing out bad form etc...and makes the ten yard shots a push over.
ak.
My little backyard range has a bag target at 45 yards and another in my woods range is at about 75 yards. I make them a part of the rotation because as stated above the closer ranges "seem" easier(my shooting hasn't totally borne that out...). Also you get to watch the arrow for a bit longer.
Although I wouldn't think of those ranges as a first shot, it would be good to be ready in case a second finisher presented itself.
Gapping and holding over the target makes it a little easier. If you are just casually shooting you can drop your anchor to increase the point on. I drop mine twice and the last is under the chin. I use this one shooting clout. In NFAA field competition you can't change your anchor so I'm working on those gaps and they are serious out to 80 yards with my hunting anchor.
I'm focusing my practice sessions at 35 and 40 yards this season. Just to make the 20 yard shot more solid. After a few sessions it is remarkable (although not surprising) how much more confidence I have in the hunting distance shots.
I often practice at 70-80+ just to watch the arrow fly. Again I am not competive at those ranges but I can get close. You are right it can make the close seem much easier.
My advice is the same for 10 yards as for 60 make the same shot. Hold your form and make the shot right.
At times I will go out to my point on range and let a few arrows fly. Mostly though my max practice distance as about 35 to 40 yards. The problem is that when I move back to 15 to 18 yards, I usually start splitting arrows. :bigsmyl:
You learn long range shooting by doing it. Its for me more fun shooting longer ranges just to watch the arrows fly. One thing to remember is its harder to pick a small spot at long range , but its still as important if not more so as picking a spot at shorter ranges..
I think everyone should practice it if they have room. In my state, you cannot legally cross a property line after a wounded animal. Sometimes being able to connect on a 40 yard shot can stop you from having to break the law.
how does being able to shoot 40 yards keep you from having to cross a property line after a wounded animal and breaking the law???? That is no determination on how far the animal may go after the hit...unless you can spine shoot one every time on demand I dont see your logic.
Plus, you can go onto neighboring property...you just have to get permission first.
Integrity keeps you from breaking the law...not shooting 40 yards.
It's mostly 20 or less for me, but I just can't resist a long shot once in while just to see the arrow fly. Like others said, if your form is off you'll know pretty quick.
When I first started shooting long distances, or if I get a new bow, I find the point on of the particular bow. Once you find that a lot of things fall into place with your distance shooting. Plus, as your brain starts figuring out the trajectory the longer shots will become almost second nature with your setup.
Also, as others have said, the shot does not change no matter the distance.
I do a lot of long range shooting. For fun, practice, and even tuning. This is how I do it:
For long range practice of 60 + yards I use a yellow tennis ball. For closer practice I switch to yellow Ping-Pong balls. When tuning,once I get good arrow flight, I tune broadheads by shooting at a vertical line, normally a dowel rod stuck in the ground at 50 or 60 yards. I shoot wood and if I can hit or come close at that range, I know that's a good arrow.
What does crossing a property line have to do with shooting a target at long range?
QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Skinner:
I think everyone should practice it if they have room. In my state, you cannot legally cross a property line after a wounded animal. Sometimes being able to connect on a 40 yard shot can stop you from having to break the law.
I have to admit, you lost me too on that one!
I think what bill is referring to is knowing how to shoot long range for a follow up shot, ie. you get a second shot at a wounded animal.
QuoteOriginally posted by LocDoc:
For long range practice of 60 + yards I use a yellow tennis ball. For closer practice I switch to yellow Ping-Pong balls.
Damn! I'm impressed!
I don't usually shoot much past 35yards. Thats about point on for my current setup.
I do really liek that it gives me plenty of time to see the arrow flight. Helps with tuning etc.
I love this post. I like to see guys throwing those arrows out there. You know the love of the game. I once was stumping with my son Zach, for the fun of it Zach wanted to keep score. Zachary was about 7 or 8 at the time he was shooting a long bow as long as he was. Anyway as fate would have it Zach was winning all day I just couldn't catch up to him :banghead: :archer2:
Every time when I train I shoot between the 15 and 60 yards. I learned that shooting at long ranges improves my accuracy at shorter distances.
I do so at my archery range where you can practice that in a safe way.
We shoot at balloons, that's more fun. There is no substitute for the sound of a popping balloon shot at 60 yards!
But sometimes I train on 3d animals. Here under you find some pics my pupil made when I demonstrated how to shoot at 60 yards. Unbelievable enough I shot that vulture dead-center in the inner kill with my 1st arra (the vulture is the one with the beak...)! Bow is a 45 lbs Cari-bow Peregrine, a 6-strands SBD string and 10 GPP home-made Sitka Spruce arrows, 9.5% FOC.
Enjoy!
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p525/FlyingDutchman25/Gier1_zpsd212a4b7.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p525/FlyingDutchman25/Gier2_zpsf47c7511.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p525/FlyingDutchman25/Gier3_zps5640dc83.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p525/FlyingDutchman25/gier5_zpsfb96ad3b.jpg)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p525/FlyingDutchman25/Gier4_zps3e5e111a.jpg)
Nice shooting Mr. Dutchman. :notworthy: :notworthy:
I don't shoot past 35yds or so these days, but back when Field Rounds were popular..out to 80yds., I shot regular in 3 states and practiced at the range regular.
I shot Hunter Class..over 40lbs I think it was. No sights, stabilizers, etc. I used the point on system from my point on and would use the tip of my field point as a front sight to aim from point on and past.
Anything under point on I would shoot just as I hunted. Aiming by looking where I wanted to hit and seeing my arrow in peripheral vision adjusting up and down as needed.
Shooting Field Rounds regularly made hunting distances seem really close. Although, I do remember we call the 30yd shot.."The dirty 30". It looked pretty close but could be tricky.
I wonder how the English longbowmen did it back in the day, I bet they took some long shots out of those castles.
Ad, your posts always inspire me though I can only dream of getting that good. Are you shooting instinctive or gap or both? What does your typical group look like at 33 yards? At that distance, I am happy if i can get my arrows within the blue on an 80cm Fita target. Noticed you need to aim quite high on the third image. What distance was that?
Hi Jimmy that was something like 55 to 60 yards, I never measure it exactly. But it was defenitely above the 50, because there is a mark at that distance. I added another pic from me walking towards the target after the shot,maybe that gives a better idea of the distance.
When I shoot like that my style developes itself. When it has been some while, it is more like gap. So I look at the point of my arrow and "put" that on the place I want it to be; a little bit above the target in this case. You see that happen between pic 2 and three indeed! After a few shots I move automatically over to split vision, so 90% focus on the target and maybe 10% on the point of my arrow. This happens naturally. When I train more often and feel secure on long ranges, it moves over to completley instinctive, so I don't see my arrow anymore (but I feel/know where it is) and focus on the target only.
Again, that all happens naturally from my unconscious. I just let it happen and don't think too much about that. I think that's the way it should be.
The aiming looks quite high indeed. I was surprised too when I saw the pics. I am not sure however if this was the position just before the release or I was still searching for the right hight. But keep in mind that it is 55 to 60 yrds (that is FAR!!!) and I am shooting 10 GPP woodies here. I am in the process of moving over to carbons, which will give me 9 GPP or even as low as 8.6.
That definitely look around 55 - 60m. I would lucky to hit the board itself!
Jimmy, when I think it over, it was 60 meters, or 66 yards. The board itself is on 50 meter and the vulture is standing further. But I also can remember now it was on 60 meters. My pupil challenged me to shoot on 60 meters,she won't do that again I think! :) Darned, I was proud on that shot!