Effective range?

[SpikeMaster]

Right now under 20. Working to extend that this year.

[robtattoo]

Not a clue. As soon as I start to think about yardage my shooting goes to hell. As a good friend of mine often says; "Give me 5 minutes to think about it & I can screw up just about any shot!"

It's either close enough or too far. That's about the best I can tell you.

[Bill Carlsen]

Every time I see a thread like this I think of Paul Schaefer. He used to practice at distances of 60+ yards just so that when he got a closer shot it was easier to make. I find that for myself if I am having shooting problems I get out to about 70 yards (my point blank range) and shoot quite a bit at that distance. It tends to clear up my shooting form problems. To shoot well at that distance your form and your equipment need to be hitting all the "sweet spots" and you also need to be very consistent.

Most of the time in a hunting situation I don't even think about yardage....if the shot looks like I can make it the string gets dropped as long as I feel confident about myself and the disposition of the animal I am shooting at.

[Big Bird]

I'm good out to 30 but for deer 20 to 25 yrds.

[SteveB]

How do those shooting instinctively with a 20yd max (for example) know its not 22 , 24 or whatever?

there are so many variables in that, diferent day different situation, and the amount of cover, could be 15 yds. in one spot and 25 yds in another,  but generaly around 20 or less..

[bridog]

Under 20 - 15 is better...  Slow heavy arrow, moving animal, nerves of real life, longer yardage could end up bad...  Practice longer ranges because I have nothing to lose (er.. except the arrow), and it's good practice.

[Ssamac]

I try to practice at different ranges maybe up to 50'. Arter that it's just for fun. If I can group pretty well at 40 yards, say, I'm going to shoot better at 20. Hunting however, I don't really "measure" but if the animal is close enough that I can shoot point on or lower and it's a good clear shot on the flat or uphill, I will take it. that would be about 25-30 yds. Once I have to think raising the point over for distance, I will let down and either try to get closer or wait and see if the animal comes closer. Downhill for me for some reason is a much harder shot, so I 1. try to setup so I don't have a downhill shot (unless in a stand) or 2 Only shoot real close downhill. Maybe 10-15 yards. Anyone else find the downhill harder to shoot?

sam

[Predator Man]

25 on deer and 30 on elk, moose or bigger game.  I dont really think my arrows have much gas left after that.

[oxnam]

Orion, that is an interesting challenge with the steel target.  That would really make guys re-check their confidence and claims of accuracy.  Steel targets are fun because it ups the pressure and you have to pick a spot you are looking at steel.

I always carry a rangefinder.  I have shot enough to know that I can be dead wrong on the perceived distance.  And being a partial gap shooter, this makes longer range shooting much more effective when the first arrow is the only arrow that counts.

[Jerry Wald]

Stump shooting really helps you get better at different distances....I like to practice alot at around 20 yards so I knwo that one well.

then I just roam around and let my form and brain take over.

I find that the longer distance really help you hone in on the shorter ones.

The more you practice the better you will get adn I would bet your comfortable range would increase too. You need to trust your equipment and yourself.

JB

[Bonebuster]

As I`ve gotten older, my shooting has progressed, and I can honestly say I shoot better than I ever have.

EVERY arrow, EVERY time, is inside twenty yards.

I have killed at twenty seven paces with a traditional bow. Somehow, I KNEW I could do it.
I have passed shots AT twenty yards at other times, because it just didn`t "feel" right.

There is no replacement for experience.

My experience is, the closer the better.

I have NEVER regretted passing on a "possible" shot opportunity.

Be brave my fellow bowhunters. "Effective Range", is something we must learn, just as we must learn many other things in this adventure we call bowhunting.

If you put enough into it, the return is immeasurable.

[BigStriper]

I feel comfortable around 20 yards,I have been shooting Traditional archery the past 2 Seasons and have taken 4 shots and killed 3 Deer and Grazed a deer with the other shot,so i will shoot out to 20 for now,

Kurt

[stykbow67]

To answer SteveB , Those of us that shoot "instinctive" don't know the exact yardage we just know when to loose the string, that's the beauty of the style.When I practice I never shoot two arrows from the same spot and I seldom shoot past what I would I would consider hunting distances.

[BFinegan]

I practice at all ranges. I've been able to stack them like cordwood out to 33 yards but all shots on game have been under 20.

[Arkansaslongbow]

It's not how far I can shoot, it's how close I can get to my prey before I shoot is what matters to me the most; I am working as hard on my woodsmanship as I am my shooting; I love "playing" around on a 3-d course and when I practice with friends BUT when it comes to killing deer and turkey the playing around is left at home;

Eveyone has their limits and I am no different; I will be honest, I have passed on deer at 15 yards because the shot just didn't feel right and I have killed deer at 24 big steps because evrything DID feel right; to each his own but I like those "meat" shots under 18 yards and I WORK very hard to get that close;

My advice to all is to work as hard on your skill in the woods as one does shooting; and when you can get within 20 yards or less on deer and turkey on a CONSISTENT basis then your decision to shoot becomes a whole lot easier...........  

[JackP]

I will practice on all different ranges, on the ground and in the air, from 3 yards to 45 yards.  But while hunting I will not take a shot above 15 yards, if it's in between 15-20 yards, it depends on how confident I feel, but most likely I will pass at those shots.

Jack

[lbows]

My effective range is 15 yards but closer is better. I need to practice more.

[George D. Stout]

Somewhere between 3 yards and 72 yards.  8^).

I let my experience figure it out in the woods. It's a matter of training, practice, knowledge of your equipment, and a mind/time/space correlation that makes the shot when needed, with little aforethought of how far it is.

[3Feathers]

Twenty is my limit fifteen is better.