Post by: reagansquad on June 11, 2012, 02:45:04 PM
Post by: Special T on June 11, 2012, 02:50:05 PM
Post by: Broken Arrow on June 11, 2012, 02:57:22 PM
Post by: h20hunter on June 11, 2012, 03:07:27 PM
The range is different than the hunt. Guys shoot long range with their bows all the time at the range. However, when they they hunt some impose a 30 yard, 40 yard, whatever restriction. They know that with excitement, higher heart rate....it changes things.
Post by: Special T on June 11, 2012, 03:11:22 PM
Post by: jackmaster on June 11, 2012, 03:18:42 PM
Post by: sirfunkeybut on June 11, 2012, 03:33:20 PM
Post by: Gringo31 on June 11, 2012, 03:38:33 PM
Post by: Button Nubbs on June 11, 2012, 03:40:28 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on June 11, 2012, 04:42:36 PM
Post by: buckfvr on June 11, 2012, 05:10:20 PM
Post by: adamR on June 11, 2012, 05:11:22 PM
That being said, on my glendale buck I have the broadside vitals target showing, if i can't consistantly put my arrows in the heart every time I won't shoot from that range. So I guess you would say I have to be able to shoot about a 4 inch group from 60 yards before I'm ready to hunt from 60 yards.
Post by: bloodhound on June 11, 2012, 05:12:35 PM
Post by: AKBowman on June 11, 2012, 05:44:38 PM
here is a funny story, who knows the guy might even be a member on here, i knew this guy that could put a dozen arrows in a playing card out to 60 yds, one of the best bow shooters i have ever seen, but this poor fella couldnt even hit an elk at 20yds, and that aint nooo B.S. so i guess my advice would be what ever your comfortable with and your emotion during the shot is everything, if you cant control the addrenaline then it doesnt matter how well you shoot at the range.. good luck to ya
Well said, too many guys out there put too much emphasis on how tight their groups are. To me a tight group doesn't mean much when everything relies on 1 arrow. I worry about the first shot when I go to the range and the first shot of the group b/c that is what really matters when hunting.
Post by: reagansquad on June 11, 2012, 05:53:14 PM
I think groups of anywhere from 4 to 6 animals at those distances are all good enough to hunt. Sorry, with all the joking going on today about where to hunt etc, really on the fence if this is a real question. If so, you really need to practice and would advise you probably dont try bow hunting for the games sake, until you understand a bit more about your own skill set and dont try to establish your your own moral code based on what others may or may not group. :twocents:
Trying to learn to hunt. Can't just randomly know the answers without asking. :tup:
Post by: Rainier10 on June 11, 2012, 06:33:10 PM
Post by: MIKEXRAY on June 11, 2012, 07:05:25 PM
Post by: pips4bucks on June 11, 2012, 08:05:52 PM
The goal should be to get as close as possible, not how far away can I shoot this animal. :twocents:
That said, I find it kind of irritating that arrow manufacturers make "hunting" arrows that have much lower straightness tolerances than target arrows. That's basically saying you don't have to be as accurate for your hunting arrows. Personally, I want my set up to be as accurate as possible, not just "good enough" out of respect for the animals we hunt. :twocents:
Oh yeah, a good practice is to jog between targets on your favorite archery range. That'll get your heart rate up and partially simulate a hunting situation. It'll really show you what your true range could be.
Post by: lokidog on June 11, 2012, 08:57:38 PM
Post by: reagansquad on June 12, 2012, 11:10:54 AM
Post by: Special T on June 12, 2012, 11:32:17 AM
Not a complete list but a good start. Find a club and shoot with some people. Form, muscle memory and yardage estimation... those are the 3 things to make a great hunter... I shoot pretty good left to right just need to work on my yardage estimation... I think 3D shooting is as close to real hunting as you can get, especially with out a range finder. :twocents:
Post by: oneezreiter on June 12, 2012, 11:38:55 AM
11 out of 12 in a playing card at 200 yards. if you cant do that you shouldnt be hunting with a bow. :tup: ,im sure with that info out now there will be fewer people during the season for me to run into. by the way, i can do it blind folded!
Blind folded is easy, try it one handed. Then you know your a man.
Post by: runamuk on June 12, 2012, 11:52:49 AM
11 out of 12 in a playing card at 200 yards. if you cant do that you shouldnt be hunting with a bow. :tup: ,im sure with that info out now there will be fewer people during the season for me to run into. by the way, i can do it blind folded!
Blind folded is easy, try it one handed. Then you know your a man.
no guys when you can do this then you are ready ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4Mff7FhNc&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4Mff7FhNc&feature=related)
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 12, 2012, 12:05:37 PM
Post by: oneezreiter on June 12, 2012, 12:06:31 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 12, 2012, 12:07:28 PM
[/quote]
no guys when you can do this then you are ready ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4Mff7FhNc&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4Mff7FhNc&feature=related)
[/quote]
I would love to do that Run, and I am ready - but she won't even return my calls.
Post by: PolarBear on June 12, 2012, 12:14:53 PM
Post by: buckfvr on June 12, 2012, 12:41:54 PM
Thanks guys. I'm practicing as much as I can and getting better every week. I think I'll be fine out to 40 yards this year. Maybe I can get more work next off season and push it out. Really really don't want to cripple some poor animal. :dunno:
Knowing what an animal can and will do at 35 to 45 yards while the arrow is in the air, I look for much closer shots. From a tree stand, 20 and under is where its at.....exciting, nerve racking, amazing. I realize most guys still hunt or spot and stalk, but at that point....Id be working on my stealth skills to get as close as possible......I practice almost daily to 50 and 60 yards.....I still want 20.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 12, 2012, 01:00:05 PM
I don't understand guys who feel that being able to hit a paper plate at 30-40-50 yards is "good enough". For God's sake, that is around 8-9" groups. If you can't cut that down to a third, you need to switch to rifle. On that note, I know guys who feel that hitting that same paper plate (8-9" groups) at 200 yds is "good enough". Come on folks, do some freakin' practice!:yeah: polarbear you are starting to scare me... we are agreeing on numerous things lately... :chuckle:
Post by: Huntboy on June 12, 2012, 01:10:39 PM
Shooting a target at a flat range will tell you nothing about how far to shoot while hunting. :twocents::yeah:
Post by: Special T on June 12, 2012, 04:15:03 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 12, 2012, 05:20:20 PM
I know on Western Extreme that he shoots 90 yards and never misses ( :chuckle:, yeah right). For my own personal ethics standard, regardless of my confidence on an 80 yard range (which is pretty tight), I won't ever take more than a 45 yard shot.
Post by: Special T on June 12, 2012, 07:40:12 PM
Post by: reagansquad on June 13, 2012, 12:18:17 AM
This sounds like an odd question - good enough? It sounds a bit like, "how little can I do to get by." I like the responses that reccomend a lot of 3-d shoots. I think someone should practice out to 60 or 70 yards and be able to kill zone consistently and then they'll feel incredibly confident for a 40 or 45 yard shot.
I know on Western Extreme that he shoots 90 yards and never misses ( :chuckle:, yeah right). For my own personal ethics standard, regardless of my confidence on an 80 yard range (which is pretty tight), I won't ever take more than a 45 yard shot.
I asked because it's my first hunting season w/ a bow and I want to make sure I don't do something stupid out of ignorance. :dunno:
Post by: PolarBear on June 13, 2012, 12:42:18 AM
Actually, you would be surprised on how much we do agree on, it is the stupid stuff that doesn't matter get's in the way. :chuckle:I don't understand guys who feel that being able to hit a paper plate at 30-40-50 yards is "good enough". For God's sake, that is around 8-9" groups. If you can't cut that down to a third, you need to switch to rifle. On that note, I know guys who feel that hitting that same paper plate (8-9" groups) at 200 yds is "good enough". Come on folks, do some freakin' practice!:yeah: polarbear you are starting to scare me... we are agreeing on numerous things lately... :chuckle:
Post by: RadSav on June 13, 2012, 03:21:04 AM
The best bowhunter I know is Anthony "Del" DelMastro. http://www.osegsportsmens.com/html/del_delmastro.html
Del has hunted all over the world and seems to always come home with something that blows your mind it's so huge. A few years ago he quietly confided in me that he had taken a long shot to tag a big mule deer. "I drew back about three times and just couldn't get myself to take the shot", he said. "It was so far out of my comfort zone I was sweating and shaking. I finally said to myself, 'Del if you are ever going to kill this buck you had better shoot him right now!' So scared as heck I drew and put one right through his heart. Man! I don't think I have ever been that nervous about a shot in my whole life." If I remember correctly the shot was 42 yards.
Point is you don't have to be a world class shooter if you are great at getting close! In Del's case he is both! Which does make bowhunting a whole lot easier.
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 13, 2012, 06:13:22 AM
This sounds like an odd question - good enough? It sounds a bit like, "how little can I do to get by." I like the responses that reccomend a lot of 3-d shoots. I think someone should practice out to 60 or 70 yards and be able to kill zone consistently and then they'll feel incredibly confident for a 40 or 45 yard shot.
I know on Western Extreme that he shoots 90 yards and never misses ( :chuckle:, yeah right). For my own personal ethics standard, regardless of my confidence on an 80 yard range (which is pretty tight), I won't ever take more than a 45 yard shot.
I asked because it's my first hunting season w/ a bow and I want to make sure I don't do something stupid out of ignorance. :dunno:
Well, it was a great question to ask and always sparks a lively conversation. It's so cool you chose a bow. You're going to be addicted if you aren't already
Post by: reagansquad on June 14, 2012, 07:46:58 PM
Post by: Special T on June 14, 2012, 10:58:45 PM