Practicing at different distances

[bones]

I started bow hunting 7 months ago and practicing at 15 and 20 yards with 20 yards being the longest. I was told that I should practice out to 40 yards even though I would never shoot a deer at that distance. Yesterday afternoon I moved out to 30 yards and got my sight adjusted and practiced. At first my shots were pretty spread out but after a short time they began to group tighter and tighter. After shooting 30 yards I moved up to 20 yards and shot a few arrows and was amazed the target seemed as big as a wash tub and I hit next to the center each time. Do you think I should also move out to 40 yards and practice?

bones

[nubo]

Bone's !

Your on the right track with your practicing ,just keep shooting and every once and a while extend your range ,once you get comfortable with 30yrds move out to 40yrds and then when you feel comfortable with 40yrds then move on to fiftey,you can alway's advance in range by 5 yrds instead of 10yrds at a time ,which ever you feel most comfortable with .
It's definetly good to have long range practice ,it will help you shoot better at shorter range's and give's you an idea at what range's you shoot most comfortable with.

nubo

[BGfisher]

Depending on just how well you start grouping at 40 yards it doesn't hurt to move to 50 and 60 yards---later. When you can consistently group within the "archers minute of angle" it may be time to move back. Only you will know when that time is. Just remember to shoot FORM no matter what distance.

[bones]

BGfisher

Explain to me what "archers minute of angle" is?

Bones

[Techy]

I do the same thing. After shooting at 100 yards 70 yards seems like cake[8D]

[Bulzeye]

Kudos to you, Bones.
Not all hunters are as realistic about maximum shooting distance as you are.
I think it's a wise choice to start out where you KNOW you can make the shot.

The further out you go, the more can go wrong, the more unseen twigs can be in the way, the more wind will affect the arrow, and the more time your intended target has to react to the sound of your release.

Practicing at longer ranges will give you 2 things:
-improved ability to hit things at longer ranges (as you have found), and
-improved confidence when shooting at short distances (as you have also found)

It's a mind game. You're less likely to suffer a bad shot due to target panic or buck fever if you know your shot is well within your 'easy' zone. It's more fun to get close before shooting anyway.


**I think I've heard of "Archer's Minute of Angle" to mean a 1 inch group for every 10 yards to the target.
So, at 20 yards, you should be able to shoot 2 inches, at 30 yds, 3", and so forth.
Keep in mind that you should measure that group with broadheads, and remember that practice at the range is different than taking a shot in the woods. Your field groups will never equal your target groups.

[Bob H in NH]

Shoot from as far away as you can!! Distance will show inconsistencies you would never notice at shorter ranges. Little things like hand position and pressure, to big things like punching the trigger and peeking show up big time the further back you go.

The added benefit of shooting at 40+ is that 15-20 seems like childs play after that!

--Bob