How many of us regularly shoot at long distance for practice?

[Taudisio]

I regularly shoot out to 110 yards, because any farther and my fletching will hit my sight housing. After shooting at 80+ yards, shooting a golf ball sized target at 20 yards is pretty mundane. Below is a 90 and 20 yard target. Keeping them all on a deer sized target at 90 is a challenge for me. Past that, it’s my large bag target or I’m digging for arrows in the grass.

 

[Skerhunter]

99% of my practice is at 50-70 yards because thats how my permanent range is set up. Closer to season we usually set up 3d targets and shoot longer distance in the pasture.

I also practice with broadheads year round. That seems to help me the most with my form.

 

[nooch]

always practice farther than you intend to shoot at an animal

 

[HuntHarder]

Some of you are really good with a bow. Practice is the key to being a good and consistent archer. nice work dudes.

 

[hibernation]

As the saying goes - aim small, miss small.

I've always been told this but never really found it helpful, I'm curious if other people do. Past a certain distance I can't aim at a patch of fur or even see minor details on a deer anyway, I frame it in reference to the whole animal.

Need to shoot where you are comfortable watching your float, that can really have as much of more to do with what you are shooting at than how far tho.

This lines up with my experience more. I can shoot the center of a large target well, but if I'm trying to shoot a small spot at the same distance and my pin mostly covers it... I just end up fighting with my pin and punching the trigger.

I'm a decent shot but definitely not winning any tournaments, do better archers do things differently?

 

[Billy Goat]

I've always been told this but never really found it helpful, I'm curious if other people do. Past a certain distance I can't aim at a patch of fur or even see minor details on a deer anyway, I frame it in reference to the whole animal.

This lines up with my experience more. I can shoot the center of a large target well, but if I'm trying to shoot a small spot at the same distance and my pin mostly covers it... I just end up fighting with my pin and punching the trigger.

I'm a decent shot but definitely not winning any tournaments, do better archers do things differently?

Having a very small aiming point, especially one that's a different color can be a target picture nightmare.


There's a few professionals that can hold a bow incredibly still, with a laser attached to their bow, it's just stupid. Most, their pin bounces back and forth. Some shoot a fast float, some a slow float from a heavy, heavy setup. The heavy setup can lead to anticipation. Everyone is wired differently, some can handle it, some can't. Tim Gillingham is one who usually can handle it, there's others as well, but he's the loudest voice on the command shot.


For me, I like having a smaller area to aim, but if I can see exactly what I want to hit, I want it bigger than my pin, stuff disappears behind my pun and it sends that monkey in my brain crazy. I usually shoot a fairly small pin, the large pin/dot that covers the whole 10, or larger areas hasn't worked well for me. I know guys who shoot very well with giant dots. It's finding what works for you.