Judging Distance - I Need to Improve Fast

[archp625]

How is everyone judging distance without a rangefinder? I'm talking 10-25 yards shooting 3D.

 

[nevadabugle]

Practice. Go on hikes with one. Guess stuff, range stuff. Rinse, repeat.

 

[archp625]

Practice. Go on hikes with one. Guess stuff, range stuff. Rinse, repeat.

I was afraid this is what I was going to get. I was hoping for an easy button or trick, but knew in the back of my mind practice judging then range was the answer. Appreciate it.

 

[nevadabugle]

I was afraid this is what I was going to get. I was hoping for an easy button or trick, but knew in the back of my mind practice judging then range was the answer. Appreciate it.

If there is a trick I would love to hear it too.

Ill tell you this tip. I estimate yardage in three ways.

1. Estimate the total yardage.
2. Pick the middle point and double the yardage.
3. Estimate how much farther or closer than 20 the target is.

If then kinda of average the answer to all three and im usually in the ball park.

 

[nevadabugle]

For example. I would do the following. Its quiker than it sounds.

1. 30
2. 14x2= 28
3. 20 +6 = 26

Id shoot it for 28. Hope that makes sense.

 

[nevadabugle]

Another example.

1. 16
2. 6x2=12
3. 20-5=15

Shoot it for 14 or so.

 

[archp625]

For example. I would do the following. Its quiker than it sounds.

1. 30
2. 14x2= 28
3. 20 +6 = 26

Id shoot it for 28. Hope that makes sense.

Yes it does. I have a 3D shoot at the end of the month that I want to do well on. I have 4 weeks to get my mind around this. Rangefinders made me weak

 

[LostArra]

At 10-25 yards I concentrate on the ground to the target, not the target. Target species and surrounding background and elevation can trick your eyes.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Yes it does. I have a 3D shoot at the end of the month that I want to do well on. I have 4 weeks to get my mind around this. Rangefinders made me weak

Practice is the way... go for a walk in the woods if possible and range stuff AFTER you guess. I like to look towards the target in 10 yard increments if I'm unsure of the range. Also helps if you learn which other shooters have similar flight times to your bow. It doesn't make a difference on short shots, but the flight time of a competitor may be a useful piece of information on the back half of the course.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

What is your current draw weight? Increased speed helps greatly with this. Not if you are gap shooting idk, but if you are instinctive it will def help to jump into a 60 plus pound bow range. Trajectory at 10-25 yards is very similar and shouldn't matter much unless you are shooting really heavy arrows with a slow bow.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

One other thought, for what it's worth... 10-25 yards is usually only a 6-7" window from a reasonably fast trad bow if you execute your shots cleanly. A very quick bow will be 4-5". Distance gets in your head more than in the aim. Lots of guys drop their bow arm or collapse on shots that are past their "comfort" zone. In reality, a strong shot would keep them in 8 ring even if they shoot for 18 yards at a 25 yard target.

 

[archp625]

One other thought, for what it's worth... 10-25 yards is usually only a 6-7" window from a reasonably fast trad bow if you execute your shots cleanly. A very quick bow will be 4-5". Distance gets in your head more than in the aim. Lots of guys drop their bow arm or collapse on shots that are past their "comfort" zone. In reality, a strong shot would keep them in 8 ring even if they shoot for 18 yards at a 25 yard target.

My bow is a 46 lb. widow at my draw length. I shoot a 461 grain arrow at 179 feet per second. Now you have me thinking on the window.

I have a 20 yard point on. From 10-15 I aim about 6" low. 17 3" low. 20 yards point on. 22 about 3" high and 25 5" high.

 

[Tilzbow]

Practice in a variety of terrain and foliage. 25 yards in open country looks different than 25 yards in the woods or 25 yards across a ravine.

 

[roosiebull]

I was afraid this is what I was going to get. I was hoping for an easy button or trick, but knew in the back of my mind practice judging then range was the answer. Appreciate it.

Easy button doesn’t seem to exist in traditional archery in any way, that’s the attraction

 

[riversidejeep]

Don't overthink things, Do you use a rangefinder when throwing a baseball to a buddy with a mitt ? Practice is what gets you what you want.

 

[Tilzbow]

I was afraid this is what I was going to get. I was hoping for an easy button or trick, but knew in the back of my mind practice judging then range was the answer. Appreciate it.

The best way to learn to judge range was to attend as many 3D shoots as possible. Being forced to rely on your skills and ability to judge range with the potential of missing shots really helped a person get better. Now it seems every shoot allows range finders and that along with the fact nearly everyone carries one when hunting is resulting in range estimating skills to be a lost art. What I do at shoots now is walk to the target stake, estimate the range, then double check myself with the range finder.

There will be times in the field when an animal doesn’t give you the time to range it so good on you for trying to improve your skills!

 

[archp625]

The best way to learn to judge range was to attend as many 3D shoots as possible. Being forced to rely on your skills and ability to judge range with the potential of missing shots really helped a person get better. Now it seems every shoot allows range finders and that along with the fact nearly everyone carries one when hunting is resulting in range estimating skills to be a lost art. What I do at shoots now is walk to the target stake, estimate the range, then double check myself with the range finder.

There will be times in the field when an animal doesn’t give you the time to range it so good on you for trying to improve your skills!

I shoot a ton of 3D shoots. This is a great idea. I will admit since my first Bushnell Yardage Pro 400, I lost it all.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Don't overthink things, Do you use a rangefinder when throwing a baseball to a buddy with a mitt ? Practice is what gets you what you want.

I think the whole “throwing a baseball” analogy is extremely overrated. The best paid pitchers in MLB miss their spot at least 40% of the time, and that’s at a known distance.

 

[Breddoch]

Two things that I have found helpful:

Guess the distance then range. Instant feedback will get you better quick.

Practice 5 yard increments. Do your best to learn how far 5 yards is and stack them to your target.

 

[Beendare]

I think the best is to guess a range at the 3d course, shoot the shot, then range it afterward. this helps calibrate my mind.

I do this in the woods when I'm hunting too- pick something, guess the range then range it. Do this enough and you can get pretty darn good.

3d course I use a few strategies;

Judge the animal by its size [I've seen them plenty] and by what I can see scoring rings, etc
Judge it in increments I know pretty good. I use 20y increments but some guys use 10y.
I Split the distance only on very long shots

I'm pre shooting our 3d course today that we setup yesterday, The Briones Archers in the SF Bay Area, Big game Open is Sat and Sun, rolling start from 8am to noon both days. Come on out if you are nearby, it's a pretty nice course mostly in the shade. Our range capt. Thomas is the best- some of his handiwork.