Instinctive ranging

[LuckyDog]

Not all hunting situations allow the time to pull up your rangefinder, put it down, and then get your shot off. I've found about the best practice to become instinctive at range estimating for my archery hunting. Find some public or private land that was logged far enough back to leave the stumps decomposing some. Take a hike with your bow and when you see a soft stump guess the range and take a shot, after that follow up with an actual rangefinder to see how close you were. Doesn't take long to decrease your error! I am very consitent +/- 2 yards out beyond 60 yards, much farther than I would ever shoot at game. A fun game with a buddy is to guess the yardage, wait until you both have your range, share the numbers and then take your shots, take the real range after that, closest estimate gets a point, and closest shot gets a point. Great practice and great fun, good luck as you all get ready, September is almost here!

[jechicdr]

If you have a flat shooting bow, you might be able to get away with ranges of distances.  My bow between 6 and 35 yards using my 30 yard pin will only be off at most by 3.5 inches.  3.5 inches up and down is definitely within a pie plate.  If it's an deer or elk, put the 30 yard pin a half of the way up the chest, it will hit at most 3.5 inches above or 3.5 inches below depending on the actual distance.  Some people will actually set up pins in such a way as to cover the pie plate and next pin to cover the next range.  Closest pin would cover say 6-35 yards.  Set next pin to cover 35-44 (my 40 yard pin 3.75 inches up or down) yards but any farther and there are gaps so you might have a "48 yard" pin (45-51), and a "55 yard" pin (52-57) to close the gaps.  I don't go that far though. If I have the actual distance, it's much easier for me to remember how high or low my 40/50/60/70/80 yard pins hit at interval distances.  I would like to try an put the arrow in the pump, so I also like to know how many inches high or low my shot will be say at 66 yard using my 70 yard pin.  But I do like knowing that my 30 and 40 yard pins could cover 6-45 yards.  Beyond 45 yards, I am definitely using my rangefinder or trying to get closer for the shot.

[carpsniperg2]

The first few years I bow hunted I didn't use a range finder. I shot a lot more back then and really guessed close to the ranges. I always use one now when I can. My bow shoots very flat. If its under 40y my first pin will kill it. My pins to 70y are very close together, it has given me a lot more margine of error on guessing. All my elk have been guess the yard type shots. I have never got to range one. Most of my other critters I have got to use range finders. Just something about elk and range finders don't mix for me LOL.

[Todd_ID]

I killed way more stuff before rangefinders, and I think it has to do with taking too much time to execute a shot.  3D shoots are by far the best practice for getting good at ranges.  Once you get good at that game, a rangefinder can become almost obsolete.  Still working on it myself.....

[blackhorn]

The best tip I ever had for judging distances (and probably the most obvious) is to judge in halves.  Most of us are pretty confident in figuring short distances, so if you can figure out half the distance to the target than you can figure the rest. for example if half the distance to my target is 20 yards (a distance we should have pretty well figured out) than my target is at 40yards. Easy Cheesy!  With practice you can get pretty good.

[boneaddict]

Spot on Luckydog.    I NEVER use a rangefinder, and I do own one (won it in a contest).   

Blackhorn, thats a nifty trick I hadn't thought of.  I probably won't use it as it would mess with my instinct, but for someone starting out, I could sure see that working.

[bloodhound]

yahh ive always done it by ten yard increments. i just look at objects between me and the animal and figure ten yards to that, from that to this is another ten, and from this to the animal is another ten making 30 kinda thing

[LuckyDog]

Interesting to hear other techniques, for you guys with those really fast bows I am envious of how flat they can shoot so far out! I have an antique slowpoke compound myself and also shoot traditional. Something about limiting technology and getting the job done gets me fired up. To each his own and best of luck to you all, shoot the hair you aim for!

[sirfunkeybut]

I'm a ten yrd estimater as well. Me and my buds make it a contest who can guess yardages closest. Although one buddy was guessing 60 at my 40. Quick check of the range finder we were at 41 yrds. Plus I've been lucky never to shoot a deer out past 30. With every other  one being at 5-10 yrds

[coachcw]

My hunting bow the top pin is set to 37 yards , that way I can shoot one pin to 40. It allows me to aim at the spot rather than worrying so much about the yardage. one thing I do while in the woods is keep guessing distances then checking with my range finder . I know when looking across small ravines or up or down hill it can be deceiving . If in doubt I will always take a few yards of my guess , I rather miss a animal low than stick it above the lungs in the no zone !

[MIKEXRAY]

I do the same thing Blackhorn. I hunt the east side and if I try to estimate 50 yard shots I am aleways off.  I am really good at estimating 20 yards and I just walk my way out to the animal in 20 yard increments.  Works a lot better for me. Still like to know the exact range though when possible, ( obviously ) .  I do range when on stand to trees before the animals show up . Mike

[Snapshot]

I agree with LuckyDog that stump-shooting (a.k.a. roving) is the best practice there is for archery hunting.

[Special T]

Another non shooting way of estimation is to clip a string to yout belt and tie a flag at 20yrds and then every 10yrds or so.... walk through different terrain and look back. you might be surprised how easi it is to come close with the new fast bows... 

[hillbilli]

OK so heres a trick i figured out by looking at mil-dots in a rifle scope.. when you are practicing put up an object (or spray paint marks on a target) that represents an 18" top to bottom deer torso (or elk size if you want). now bring your bow up at 20 yards.. see how your sight pins look against it-good chance all you sight pins will be on the silhouette.. move to 40.. how many sight pins top to bottom? do this, and do it regularly... do 3d, or guessing the measuring and stepping off yardages to practice.. but just before you sling an arrow at that deer glance at your sight pins and their size compared to the target and sanity check your yardage guess before you siling one... try it and see.. its made a huge difference for me..