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Whether a person is an "average" shooter or not, should NOT preclude them from sharpening their skills. And part of sharpening your skills can be obtained by shooting long distances. When a person may see initially how large their groups may be at long distances, then they may be more motivated to improve tuning, form, ability.

I never said that someone should just fire away all willy-nilly at any distances. Confidence is very relevant, and I never said that it replaces knowledge or skill. WHERE does confidence come from in the first place?!? Obtaining SKILL and KNOWLEDGE!!

Instead of: "geez... is that 22yds or 26yds? I dunnoo...., I'm nervous, apprehensive...", you may have: "Yes- that's 24 yds because I KNOW it." Instead of: " oooh man, that buck is right at 27yds- that's a long shot for me, that's the edge of where I practice....", you may have: "27yds? no problem, I KNOW I can shoot great groups with my equipment at 50yds, so this shot will NOT a be problem".

It's sad to me to see people that 'seperate' target shooting and hunting shooting into two speperate worlds. In both cases you still are shooting a bow, have your shooting form, have a target in your sight, etc.... It is just with hunting that you have defined distance limits at the shot you're going to take out of respect for the animal. When I say shooting great groups at 60yds (field target) makes a 25yd shot (deer's vital zone) that much easier- I am NOT talking about either target shooting or hunting conditions. I'm talking about ARCHERY. Just because you will not take a shot past 30yds in the woods does not mean you shouldn't practice past 30yds on the range.

I agree that for hunting purposes that one should be as precise as possible and stay within the capability limits of you and your gear. I never implied anything to the contrary. I have always recommended and adhered to a 30yd max hunting range. So in your line of thinking, does that mean I should never bother to shoot any other distance past 30yds? Never bother to fine tune a bow past that distance? That any long range tuning won't help in my 0-30yd window?


Edited by - Black Frog on 11/06/2002 14:08:35