Thew bow club has an NFAA course so I screw around practicing out to 70 yards. It sure makes stuff look close up at 20 and 30.

Never have made a shot on an animal over 28 yards.

70 YARDS?!?!? [] Tell me you're kidding! How can you see a clear bullseye target at that range?

Butch

thanks guys, i tell you what this site is really going to help me out!

I practice out to 50 yards, just for fun. I practice to 40 yards for hunting but have a actual 30 max for hunting. About the guys shooting 70 and 80 yards, I've seen guys keeping all arrow in a 12" group at those distances. Pretty amazing to me!

Good Luck!

I have a routine where a I shoot 6 arrows at 20, then at 30, then 40 then 50, then 40 then 30, then 20. I am very comfortable at 40 yards, given the perfect shot opportunity exists, and through my daily routine know that my sights and form remain true which is a tremendous confidence builder. I do however, make frequent trips to the proshop for re-fletching.....

Many archers make the mistake of whacking away at a target that is the same distance as their comfort level. THAT'S WHY IT'S YOUR COMFORT LEVEL!! You never push yourselves.

Find, or build yourself, a range that will allow you to shoot safely out to 70 yards. Yes, I said 70 YARDS. (100 would be better) Start working your way out to that distance. It may take months, but I GUARANTEE that your shooting will improve so much that you will be amazed. I once shot 28 days straight and never got closer than the 40 yard line. On the 29th day I shot my first 20 yard 300 game in my life. My previous best score was a 289. You can shoot 300s at 20 yards and be a crappy distance archer. I have two friends that were examples of this until recently. I could kill them at 50 yards, but not at 20. It's all mental. I wasn't scared of 50, they were. Once they became comfortable their short range game improved and so did their long range shooting. Now I'm getting beat again.

Once you are out to 70 yards and shooting "archers M.O.A." (1" groups per 10 yards) start changing things up. Shoot off of one knee, shoot off of both knees, shoot while leaning around cover, shoot from your blind, shoot from your treestand, shoot...shoot...shoot. Make it tough. Now do all of this out to 70 yards. YOU CAN DO IT. If I can do it, anyone can.

Now, add some surprise one shot practice to your training regiment. If you are going out to mow the lawn. Grab your bow and fire ONE arrow at your target from your knees. Do it just like you hunt. Do this as much as you can. It will build your confidence and train you to make the first shot COUNT. Do this out to 70 yards too.

Now, do all the above with broadheads. Buy 6 of your favorite broadheads and use them as target heads. Don't screw with the dull practice heads. Train yourself to respect the sharp ones and you're less likely to get hurt in the field. Shoot those heads out to 70 yards...don't be afraid.

By pushing yourself to greater distances you will do a couple things. First, you will fine tune the archer. If you have a form flaw at 20 yards you can only imagine what it will look like at 50 and 70.

Second, it will force you to fine tune your bow. That little arrow waggle that you allow at 20 yards?? imagine what happens at 50 and 70. Fine tune those broadheads. A group that is off from your field points at 20 will really show up at 50.

Push your limits and your bows limits and both will become a fine tuned killing machine. Be timid at 20 and you will always be timid at 20. Imagine what a SLAM DUNK SHOT that 18 yard deer will be after you've been squinting at tennis balls from 70 all summer.

I don't advocate shooting deer from beyond anyone's confort distance. Practicing WELL BEYOND that distance will only make you MORE comfortable at your "ethical" limit.

Do it for the best reason of all.... FUN Shooting at big distances is fun. Forget the cost of arrows and broadheads, just build a bigger backstop

While hunting I'll usually set things up so 25-30 yards is about the furthest point to shoot.

But when I practice, my backyard only allows me about 25 yards to practice. So when I do 3D shoots I'll shoot at some to the longer distances just to practice the long shots.

For some reason I seem to be able to focus better shooting at 3D targets then bullseyes at equal distances.

If you can find 3D shoots in your area I highly recommend them. They'll build alot of confidence and help out with judging distances in the field. Check out www.bowsite.com and enter your state and check on the 3D shoots button.

I won't attempt any shot past 30 yards at live game. It awes me when I read about those long shots but in my experience there is just too many chances for a wounding shot or total miss. I have very good vision with the help of my specs but those tiny twigs at beyond 30 yards are OUT THERE. I'm just too conservative to take those chances. Besides, I more fully appreciate those times when I can draw them in real close, not realizing there is an armed hunter ready to end life. Just my opinion. I commend those folks that feel confident at longer ranges, I guess it just boils down to comfort level.

I practice in my back yard out to 70 yards, with and without my range finder on my 4 different 3-d targets. I have yet to take a shot at an animal past 30 yards, but out here in the open plains of eastern Colo., playing spot and stalk on antelope, I would feel comfortable taking a 50 yard shot if and when the perfect situation arises!

Butch, 80 yards is distance that is required for NFAA. After you do it a few times you get a feel for it. One thing for sure it will show a flaw in your form.

There can be 28 targets one after the other, or you can have a 14 target The course is set up like a golf course, its alot of fun. The guy that owns the local bow shop is a national champ. He stacks them at 80. What's wierd is waiting for the arrow to hit at long distances.