Help judging distance....
 

During bow season, I have all my " possible shooting lanes" mapped out and can make all the shots with my top pin....this weekend there is a 3D shoot, and the targets range from 20 to 50 yards. I shot the coarse today (my first time shooting 3D) and I was off on almost every target.I wanted to know if there' s something that would help me judge distance...I found that the terrain and type of target really effected my judements..I shot an arrow at each target, used my rangefinder to check the distance , and shot another arrow.....I usually shot better on the second arrow...their going to move the targets before the shoot, so I will probably shoot as bad or worse.....anyway, thanks for any advice.

RE: Help judging distance....
 

I am not sure about that because i am still having problems with that as well, especially at 50 yards so far. I know even know for a fact if its 50 yards or not but i' ll read the responses as well so i can get help on it as well.

RE: Help judging distance....
 

Practice, practice, practice! I know the same exact feeling your experiencing. I always considered myself a good shot in my back yard. For hunting situations I too always knew my lane distances, and often even placed a small ribbon at my max yards. My first 3d course I was terrible. What a wake up call!! I know enjoy it so much, and have increased my shooting ability 10 fold. Here' s what I did for 3d practice. 1st I bought a 3d target. Next I made up some cards with variety of distances on each. From 10 to 50. I' d mix them up, and either myself or kid would pull a card. Walk out in front to the target where I thought that distance was, and shoot it. I' d do this at least every other day for 20 to 30 shots, and score myself. Once I felt I could pick out distances decent. I had my kid place any ol' target for shooting, anyplace in yard without looking. He' d say ok dad. I' d turn around judge it, and shoot. To continue this on none shooting days. While taking a simple walk in the woods. I' d pick out a tree, stump, critter, whatever. Guess the distance. After a month of practice I was alot better, and even better today. I never once used a range finder, as I felt I' d become to reliant on that, but thats just my thoughts. I hope this helps, or gives you some ideas of my own.

RE: Help judging distance....
 

Though I have taken more than my share of animals, I never shot a 3-d very well until I learned to stop second guessing myself. Once I learned this I started outshooting my partners. Now, I shoot only one arrow, then use my rangefinder. I do not shoot a second arrow.

This year I peaked too soon and started sliding back. So I started shooting every two or three days instead of every day and I only shoot four arrows at each of three differing yardages. After these changes, my accuracy is back.

I hope these tips help.

RE: Help judging distance....
 

Umm you might be a redneck if,

I like to walk through the woods with my bow and shoot old rotten stumps. Just walk along and when you see one shoot it. A friend of mine told me about this. The first time I tried it I was sure I' d roast my arrow, but it dosen' t as long as you only shoot the rotten ones, their pretty easy to pick out. This helps you to judge distance, plus you can scout as you go.

RE: Help judging distance....
 

Just practise judging your distance. Like what BuckAlley said. All I do is pick an object guess it' s distance and then measure it. Shoot it if you can, but I even work on my distances when I' m walking the dogs or at uni. I know that 1 of my steps is not quite 3 feet, therefore bout 11 steps is 10 metres and 22 steps is 20 metres and so on. But you have to practise alot and keep up the practice as well even in the off season. I used to get my distances pretty easily but I stopped practising and have slipped back a bit[:' (].

Good luck in your shooing 3d, I haven' t shot a 3d yet but I' m looking forward to my first one.

Stalkin Steve

RE: Help judging distance....
 

Something I like to do when shooting 3D' s is if you have 20,30,40,50 yard pins, stand exactly 20 yards from your average deer 3d target hold your bow arm out as if you were to shoot and see how many of your pins are " on" the deer between the top of its back and the belly of the target. At 20 yards probably ALL of your pins fit between the top of the back and the belly. Now back up to 30 yards, you' ll probably notice your 20 yard pin is at the top of the back and your 40 yard pin is near the belly and the 50 is below the target...

Do this at all ranges and make a mental note or even write down how many pins are on your average 3d target at known distances. This is not a substitute for practice judging distances but it can help confirm your guess or may bring to your attention when you have greatly misjudged the distance saving you an arrow.

A real good 3D shooter once gave me this very good advice (he' s a Hoyt pro shooter) when in doubt, use your 30 yard pin!

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RE: Help judging distance....
 

I' ve been shooting competitive 3D for about 10 years. Here are a couple tips that I use. You can judge distances several different ways and I use about 5 ways. Each way is used to reinforce the others.

Look at the target and immediately come up with a figure......this comes easier with experience because you tend to learn what the target looks like a various distances.

Everyone knows what 20 yards looks like because everyone practices it. Pick out 20 yards to your target....it may be a tree, rock, tuff of grass, stick or whatever...then decide how much farther the target is from that 20 yard mark....okay, that' s 20 yards, and the target isn' t another 20 yards, maybe 15, okay 35 yards, now move to the next step.

Break down the distance is 10 yard increments. This also helps reinforce the 20 yard judgement above. How many ten yard increments is it to the target. Okay, that' s 10, that' s 10 more and that is 10 more and another 3, okay 33 yards.

Now pick out half way to the target....what is half way.......that tree, okay then double it to the target. Okay, half way isn' t 20 yards, more like 17, okay 34 yards.

Pick out 20 yards from the target......If I were standing at the target looking back to the stake....okay that' s 20 yards from the target, now how far am I to that from the stake. Okay, that' s 20 yards from the target and I' m about 13 yards from the mark...okay 33 yards.

In each instance, the next double checks the previous and you' d shoot the target for 33-34 yards, easily putting you in the 12 ring with a good steady shot. Remember, shoot for a mark, not the whole target...aim for a hole, a nock, dark spot, sunlight or whatever which is located in the 10 ring......it' s easier to hit the center of a golf ball than it is the center of a basketball.

These are just some of the ways to check and recheck your distances without rangefinders. Every shoot gives you enough time to reevaluate. Good luck.