Buck Boy

I was just curious to how far everyone shoots with their recurve or long bow. I just started hitting pretty well at 15 yards but hope to be doing 20 soon. Do any of you use sights? or do you just practice so much that you know exactly how to aim? thanks


Buck Boy

Wahya

I don't use sights and rarely do I actually think about how far I'm shooting. I look at where I want my arrow to hit, draw and release. Some call it instinctive, some call it impossible and others call it irresponsible.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> It beats me what it is, but it works when I'm on and can keep my levels of concentration up.

Since I get bored easy, when I shoot at a single target, I make up little games. My favorite, I shoot one arrow at a time. I start at 5 paces and shoot at a 4&quot; target, which is usually a 6&quot; pie plate with a one inch rim. If I make the shot, I back up a few paces and repeat. I shoot one arrow and retrieve and keep backing up till I miss. When I miss, I start all over again at 5 paces. Right now the only place I can do this is at the range and I don't get there that often anymore, so the majority of my shooting is while roving.

When roving (stump shooting), my shots vary from point blank to 100+ paces and they will be uphill, downhill, sidehill, through trees, under bushes, at odd angles and so on. My goal while roving is to simulate hunting shots from easy to difficult, so the majority of them are within 30 paces and at objects that are either elevated and representing the larger preys vitals or are close to the ground and are the size of quail, cottontails and squirrels. I don't carry targets in with me, but do shoot at litter people have left behind and then put it in a garbage bag and haul it out with me. Nothing better than roving and getting in some small game hunting to sharpen the eye and shooting skills for big game hunting.

LBR

Depends on the situation--when hunting, I don't think I would shoot over 20-25 yds at a whitetail, less than that at a rabbit or squirrel. On 3-D, it just depends on how sadistic the person setting up the course is--lol. I have had 80 yd shots before, but normally 35-40 is a long shot for 3-D. When practicing, most shots are 15-25 yds. I don't use sights, but on the really long shots I do gap shoot. With enough practice, you won't need sights, and might actually find them to be a hinderance (I do). Don't step off your shots, just pick a spot and shoot. This will get you ready for hunting and 3-D.

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

IrishLad32

Right now I'm between 15-20 yds. I don't &quot;gap&quot; shoot, and don't shoot &quot;instinctively&quot;, I don't really know what it's called. I just draw, anchor, and point the entire arrow shaft at the target. This requires knowing how your arrows fly, but it works for me, and isn't even that hard. Most quality bows shoot arrows straight, if you have a correct arrow combination, so it isn't hard to learn the arrow's flight characteristics. So after I poin the entire shaft, not just the front of the arrow or the point, I make sure it's a clean release and try to keep my bow arm from deflecting the arrow. I've found that when I point the shaft at the target face, usually a 4&quot; dot, and concentrate on the center, my percentage goes up. It's something I've learned from these boards-aim small, miss small. I use to try gap shooting, but had inconsistent results. I found out that just because the point is where you want it to be, doesn't mean the shaft is inline the way it needs to be. That's why I started getting the arrow inline with my eye and &quot;gauging&quot; it's flight toward the target. So I guess it'd be a mix between gap and instinctive shooting. Quien sabe? But I do know that it's working for me and it feels good when I'm &quot;on my game.&quot; Lol, no pun intended. So hopefully you've found your method and get the same joy I get from good grouping.


God bless,
Brandan

JRW

The vast majority of my practice is in the backyard, which means groups at 20 yards or less. When I get to the archery club I'll practice from treestands on animal targets out to 40 or so, or on paper out to 90 meters.

No sights, BTW.

JRW

seymour

30-40 yards usually. Beyond that elevation becomes a tad tricky.

Whatever's wrong ain't the bow and whatever's right is the archer.

Gar-Shooter

25 yards

Just Say No to Crossbows!

Bill Curlis

Longest shot was 34 yards. The closest was 4 yards.

CaptJack

most kills have been 15-20yds.
I practice to 40yds. I have 2 tree stands set up for practice and move my targets around for different shots and distances.

CaptJack
Be a better Hunter - Get a better Shot

Edited by - CaptJack on 10/12/2002 19:05:12

COB

I can shoot a long long long way with my recurve! Now if you ask me haw far can I shoot at some thing and hit it, well that is a whole different questuion. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>