Y2KR1

I just wanted to get everyone elses opinion on bow accuracy, and one's ability to accuratelty place a shot on any target or animal. I have been bowhunting for 2 years, and have never killed a deer. However two weeks ago I shot a nice Rio Grande Turkey at my 30yard marker. After killing the turkey I was congratulated by a few other hunters saying that was a heck of an accomplishment with a bow. When I asked how so? They all replied with the same answer "That's one small target to hit at 30 yards with a bow". Well I don't think so. I think anything shot with a bow is worth mention, but a shot placed at 30 yards on what amounted to a 6" circle is in my book no great feat. What I am trying to say is that if a person can't consistantly hit a 3" to 4" circle at a given distance he shouldn't be hunting with a bow. How ethical is it to put no real limitations on ones self? That turkey is actually larger than the kill zone on my 3D target. If I couldn't hit him then I would have been quite concerned with either my equipment or my abilities. When I shoot at my targets I try to achieve same hole hits. I mean I shoot one arrow, and then try to hit it with the consectutive ones. If I can't I adjust something or if I keep getting a flyer I either fix that arrow or get rid of it. I guess my gripe is with all of the bad hits that get posted. I just wonder what is to blame. I know if it were up to the guys I mentioned earlier the blame would have been on their standards. Raise the bar in my opinion, and give these animals the respect they deserve. If you can't knowingly hit turkey sized game then why even try for a deer that could easily escape wounded, and never be recovered. Just my opinion.

SW Iowa Hunter

I think what the other people were talking about is the kill zone on a turkey is not very big. Sure they are bigger than the kill zone on a deer but if you look at the heart lung area on a turkey it is much smaller.

" Anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad"

BobCo19-65

I would agree with most of your post. However, comparing shooting 3-4 inches at 30 yards at a stationary target is not even close to being the same as shooting at a living, breathing, moving moving animal at 30 yards. Comparing the two IMO is tuff to do. I would agree that your shot was a very good shot and you should pat yourself on the back for it. I wouldn't just brush it off as if it were nothing.

Remy 15

You must go through a ton of arrows shooting at the end of them, How ddo you even see then at 30 yards? Try Shooting a 3 or a 5 spot target. It will save you a lot of money on arrows!

Y2KR1

There is a price to be paid when seeking perfection.

basserman

Y2K, I dislike the amount of bad hits as much as the next guy. But we must face it, it going to happen to nearly everyone some time or another. Your comment on ABILITY is the key. Many, many poor hits are not the fault of the equipment nor are they the fault of a hunter that does not practice. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen high placing tournament archers place bad shots on a deer. I've seen it with the best rifle shots around. In my opinion, the main reason for poor hits is not shooting at a spot on a deer. Call it excitement or whatever many hunters "shoot" at a WHOLE deer or a large portion of a deer.

I have personally witnessed a Marine Sniper miss easy shots on a game animal due to uncontrolable excitement. If we can figure out how to "teach" emotion control to hunters (very difficult)the amount of poorly hit animals would decrease significantly!

CG

Basserman,
I agree wholeheartedly!!! Navy Seal snipers where in for training at a local camp and my Father-in-law (who runs the camp) convinced one to get a doe antelope permit because the guy had never hunted (animals) before. I watched this guy put round after round in a 8&quot; circle w/ his 7 mag at 800 meters. The first antelope he shot at was about 200 yards away and he must have missed by 6 feet. He was so excited he got rattled (and this is a guy with 8 confirmed kills in combat). Of course, the antelope he finally did kill was shot at 726 meters (measured before the shot w/ a laser range finder)right behind the shoulder <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>. The point is, the best of the best among us sometimes succomb to buck fever.

&quot;What we do in this life echos an eternity&quot;

Strut&Rut

It's not about hitting a 2 inch circle at 30 yards. It's about hitting a 2 inch circle on a bird that runs 25mph on the ground and can fly up to 50 mph in the air.

One step on a turkey and your arrow not only missed the vitals, but probably the entire bird. One step on a well placed deer shot and the arrow will still find the paunch or the front shoulder.

Myself and other turkey hunters have missed Toms in the Spring shooting magnum turkey loads at 1000-1500 fps. Your arrow is going approximately 1/5 that speed...

You may seek perfection, but there are way too many intangibles in the woods for perfection to happen without a little luck...

Congrats on the bird.

S&R

BobCo19-65

Rutt and Strutt, just to put that in a little perspective, a deer that is walking at 4 mph can travel about 6 feet in one second. A bow shooting 270 FPS takes about 1/3 second to get 30 yards. So if you are shoting at a walking deer at 30 yards, it can travel about 2 feet before the arrow gets there. Or, if it is really slow at 2 MPH, it can travel about 1 foot before the arrow gets there.

Like everyone is saying, there is so much more that goes into shooting at a living animal then shooting at stationary targets.

I still say you made a great shot!

Edited by - BobCo19-65 on 11/19/2002 13:30:26

Y2KR1

Thanks for your input guys. I do appreciate all that I learn here. Everyone has made some great points. I still have not had the opportunity to shoot my first bow deer, but am anxious to see if all of my practice does indeed pay off. I have been working very hard all year long for the chance, and hope that with a handful of luck to be in the ranks of some of you with a well placed shot, and quickly recovered trophy. With or without antlers, and the closer the better. Again thanks for setting me straight.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>