quick question for ya
 

Just some quick opinions from you guys. I'm fairly new to archery and this will be my second season hunting. My question is how many of you feel comfortable taking shots beyond 25 yards. I was out shooting today and once I hit the 25 yard mark all my confidence went away as far as shooting at a deer beyond that range, I've decided I will not take any shoots at deer beyond that range this up coming season. Any advise or comments would be appreciated.

RE: quick question for ya
 

Shoot within your comfort zone.:)

RE: quick question for ya
 

Yes, if you aren't confident, don't shoot. What the next guy does has no bearing on what you should do. The most a person can ask for is to be true to themselves and know thier limits.

RE: quick question for ya
 

I'll just add to whats already been said. Keep practiceing!! If you practice at longer rangers it will make those 25 yard shots seem like slam dunks. It will seem like your right on top of the target.

RE: quick question for ya
 

Everyone is giving the best advice. Shoot only at ranges you feel comfortable at. No mater who the archer is, the odds drop as the range gets longer. I'll bet that the majority of the shots taken on deer are 20 yards or less for most people.

RE: quick question for ya
 

While I would be comfortable with a 35 yard shot I have never had to take it. I always set up for the best case scenario and generally if there is a 35 yard shot there will be a 20 yard shot. But, I the only way I would take that shot is in the perfect conditions...

Tim

RE: quick question for ya
 

I agree on practicing out farther. Practice out to 40 or 50 yards. That helped me a lot but that doesn't mean shoot a deer that far. It will help your confidence a bunch.

RE: quick question for ya
 

The closer the better for me.. But I do feel comfortable taking a 40 yard shot. I practice all kinds of shots...

RE: quick question for ya
 

ONLY SHOOT WHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE. AS YOU GAIN EXPERIENCE, PRACTICE MORE OUT AT LONGER DISTANCES...THAT WILL MAKE THE 20-30 YARD SHOTS SEEM EASY. I AM TO THE POINT NOW WHERE i ALWAYS SHOOT MY 50 AND 60 YARD PINS WHEN i BEGIN A PRACTICE SESSION...THAT MAKES THE 30 YARD SHOT SEEM LIKE CAKE. I ONLY EVER SHOT TWO DEER OVER 40 YARDS.

RE: quick question for ya
 

Practice.. Practice.. Practice..
I agree with everybody here, until you gain your confidence just shoot what yourcomfortable with.
The more you practice those long 40 to 50 yard shots your confidence will increase.
I wouldn't risk a long shot at a deer unless I knew that my shot would be a sure thing and it would be a quick kill.

RE: quick question for ya
 

Always enjoy chalenging yourself in practice with your targets. When hunting always shoot to kill.

RE: quick question for ya
 

If you are new to archery hunting you will be amazed at the amount your confidence will grow the more you practice with your bow. If you do not try to rush things you will eventually becaome comfortable at ranges beyond 25 yards but you have to pick up your bow more than once a wek and you should start shooting as early in the year as possible.
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

RE: quick question for ya
 

I won't shoot beyond 30 yards, just my personnel choice. Prefer it to be 25 yards or less!

RE: quick question for ya
 

I am not going to post my personal max yardage because a lot of people may disagree with taking shots that far. I can tell you that I exercise a ton of self discipline when choosing shots on deer. I am not going to take just any shot at my personal max yardage either, it has to be an unalarmed deer, head down, known yardage with a lot of time for me to get perfect footing, etc. If anything is less than perfect in the situation like footing, balance, time to use rangefinder, rushed shot, etc........I won't shoot past 25-30 yards. I may and have taken a poke at them much further than that though under perfect circumstances.

RE: quick question for ya
 

Grasshopper, you must first learn to walk before you can fly. Really, it doesn't happen all at once. Shoot within your comfort zone. My first year bowhunting was 35 years ago. I had a brand new Damon Howitt recurve and practiced every day for about 6 months. After all that I decided my zone was 15 yards. I killed a deer that first season the last 10 minutes of the season at 7 yards while straddling a log in a natural ground blind. Years have passed and the equipment has changed. I now consider 20 and under a slam dunk guarantee. 30 no problem. 40 I'll take it. It didn't happen the first year. It took the first deer, and the next and the next and 80 something later it's all different from the first days with that Damon Howitt. I cherish that first deer more than all the rest. Know your limitations and plan accordingly. OH... it's suppose to be fun. Have some.

RE: quick question for ya
 

I agree with everything said so far. I'll echo the part about practicing well beyond your comfort range. Practice at 50, 60 and possibly even further and see how much your confidence goes up at 25 to 30 yards. They'll seem like slam dunks. Still, don't take anything more than a high percentage shot well with-in your comfort range. Practicing at 50 and beyond doesn't mean to shoot at a living animal at that range. Too much can go wrong at that distance.