[Telum Pisces]

This will be my first bow season and I just picked up my first bow about 3 months ago. I have been practicing about 2 times a week. Sometimes more when life allows.

My question is this. I am pretty darn good out to 30 yards. 3"- 4" groups at 30 yards. Push it back to 40 yards (max I can shoot in the back yard) and the groups are about 7"- 8". Is this about average????? Do I need to practice to get a little better???

I have read till I am blue about techniques and things to do to your form and bow to make sure you are doing the best you can. At this point I would feel comfortable shooting a deer out to 35 yards. Past that, my groups get amazingly worse.

Just trying to get a feel for how far the average bow shot is and how far everyone feels comfortable shooting? Just to see where I fall into the mix. Any tips or tricks that you may think may help will be appreciated as well. All of my shots have been from a 15' ladder stand in the back yard.

This was today. 7.5" widest spread.

 

[hsiF deR]

I read an article once that said the average shot was like 17yds. That is true for me also. One thing to remember is that you should always practice. Just cause your dialed in one day doesn't mean you don't need the practice. I shoot out to 60 yds at targets but I will not shoot over 30 yards on a deer. I let a 130" go last year cause he wouldnt offer anything other than a 54 yd shot. Which is a shot that I routinely practice. Just not be I'm willing to make on a living target.

All this being said, you will be fine if you shoot within your limits.

 

[TailRazor]

To be honest your doing really good, the general rule is a 10" pie plate. I don't like shooting over 30 yards unless it's something i just can't pass up.

 

[Linkovich]

This will be my second bow season and I'm in the same boat. 3-4" groups inside of 30yds. past that it starts getting exponentially worse. I think it's just a matter of practice and building up the required muscle memory.

 

[Splittine]

You can't practice to much. They more the better. People say a 10" pie plate is good but 10" can mean the difference in dropping a deer and losing a trophy. 30 yards at a deer is a lot further than 30 yards at a target if that's what you practice at. Keep up the good work, if you're ever up towards Crestview hit me up. We can shoot 100 yards here. Practice at 50-60 and 30 yards seems like a chip shot.

 

[countryjwh]

You can't practice to much. They more the better. People say a 10" pie plate is good but 10" can mean the difference in dropping a deer and losing a trophy. 30 yards at a deer is a lot further than 30 yards at a target if that's what you practice at. Keep up the good work, if you're ever up towards Crestview hit me up. We can shoot 100 yards here. Practice at 50-60 and 30 yards seems like a chip shot.

exactly. practice long and short shots are a chip shot. my 50 yard groups are around a softball most of thte time. once you shoot a little more, they will tighten up. its all about repitition. same anchor point, grip, etc...

 

[Telum Pisces]

Ok, I was just checking. When I was getting 7"-8" spreads, I thought that was too much because that 8 inches is the difference between a good shot and a flat out miss sometimes.

Really liking this bow shooting though. Can't wait til I get that first deer in the back of the truck with a bow.

 

[lobsterman]

It's all in the form, Do the same thing every time and your groups will improve. Lock your anchor point in exactly the same spot each and every time and make sure your bow arm is the same angle every time. If shooting from a raised platform ( tree stand ) bend at the waist instead of dropping bow arm.The addage practice makes perfect is incorrect, if you practice wrong you will never get any better. It is perfect practice makes perfect.

 

[Flatspro]

Practice practice practice! What was said was correct shoot longer distances then 20-30yds feels like a chip shot. I have pins all the way to 60yds. The biggest thing is repetition same anchor point and not punching the release. Hold through the shot and don't squeeze the grip let it rest in your hand. If you squeeze the grip you will have a tendency to push or pull the shot left or right. I hope this helps.

 

[Jason]

Jon, I assume you are using a release. Just make sure you get the same anchor point each time you draw. just a little off 1 way or the other will definitely sling your arrow in different directions! I use to have a mole on the back of my neck that I would anchor my thumb on but then I had it removed so I gotta feel fer the little scar:blink: Most your shots will be well under 30 yards but I practive out to 50-60 even though I'd never take that long of a shot!

 

[countryjwh]

Ok, I was just checking. When I was getting 7"-8" spreads, I thought that was too much because that 8 inches is the difference between a good shot and a flat out miss sometimes.

Really liking this bow shooting though. Can't wait til I get that first deer in the back of the truck with a bow.

another thing, if your are shooting by yourself you get tired fast. its alot better to shoot with someone else. i like to shoot a few, go inside or mess around and then shoot a few more groups. dont get tired because then you will think your sights are off and keep second guessing yourself. before i change a sight, i shoot for days to make sure that is were i am hitting. good luck, ts a blast!

 

[Telum Pisces]

another thing, if your are shooting by yourself you get tired fast. its alot better to shoot with someone else. i like to shoot a few, go inside or mess around and then shoot a few more groups. dont get tired because then you will think your sights are off and keep second guessing yourself. before i change a sight, i shoot for days to make sure that is were i am hitting. good luck, ts a blast!

Yeah, I learned that early on. I spent a good hr shooting one day and noticed my groups getting worse and worse. I have learned to shoot about 6-7 groups of 6 arrows and then take a break or be done for the day. Up and down the ladder stand back and forth to the target wears on ya a bit in the heat especially.

 

[ABailey]

Bring the kids over one weekend and we will get that group a lot better. We can shoot out to 60 yrds. Also remember, every arrow flies different. I don't know who came up with that 8-10" plate rule, but that's a bunch of nonsense. Just takes practice and helps to have someone watching you to point out what's going on.

 

[Telum Pisces]

Jon, I assume you are using a release. Just make sure you get the same anchor point each time you draw. just a little off 1 way or the other will definitely sling your arrow in different directions! I use to have a mole on the back of my neck that I would anchor my thumb on but then I had it removed so I gotta feel fer the little scar:blink: Most your shots will be well under 30 yards but I practive out to 50-60 even though I'd never take that long of a shot!

Yes I am using a release. I have got a good anchor point I believe. The part in between my thumb and pointer finger rests right on my ear lobe and that seems to be the most comfortable spot and something that is easy for me to repeat and remember. It puts the srting right at the corner of my mouth.

 

[brnbser]

you can never practice enough or be too accurate. I started cutting fletching daily about 4 yrs ago and had 4 robin hoods that year all at 40 yrds(not me, that's the year I went to all quality bow and equipment).

I had to go to a large blob I got from Splitine and use all 5 targets I painted with each round.
the wife was constantly on me for ruining arrows and having to buy more or re-fletching.

the last month prior to season, I try to shoot 24-36 arrows at least 5-6 days a week. I practice at 50-60 yards which ends up making a 30-40 a breeze.

I have buddies that will practice all the way out to 70-100 yds and anything less than 50 and they are stacking arrows. One even goes across the street to shoot through the fence at his target.

my point being, once you think your ok, push yourself to be more accurate and shoot farther. Don't think I would ever take a shot at a deer more than 40-45 yds but at that range, I'm extremely confident because I routinely shoot much farther accurately. confidence in you abilities is everything.

 

[Telum Pisces]

Thanks for all the advice. That's what I was looking for with this post. I can shoot 70+ yards flat on the gound at my house. But I am limited to 40 from my ladder stand location on my property. Only one freaking tree on my property. And I was just wanting to practice from a tree as much as possible.

 

[brnbser]

where I use to live had a little postage stamp yard and I had the same problem with only one usable tree to climb so to change it up and find different angles, I use positions all over my roof, the ex-wife (newlyweds at the time) had never been around hunting at all and thought I was a complete nut job

 

[Telum Pisces]

where I use to live had a little postage stamp yard and I had the same problem with only one usable tree to climb so to change it up and find different angles, I use positions all over my roof, the ex-wife (newlyweds at the time) had never been around hunting at all and thought I was a complete nut job

Haha, I have thought about getting on the roof.:thumbup: Luckily I have a wife that almost likes to eat deer more than me.

 

[TheFlounderPounder]

when i practice i only use one arrow.. it will make you take your time during your shot.. its not quanity practice its quality practice

 

[Joraca]

I was good out to 40 yds at one time. The first deer I shot at (and missed) was under my ladder stand. Maybe 8 feet way, straight down on the left, from sitting. Practice that shot, too. The first deer my son shot was at maybe 5 feet, from a sitting position on the ground, shooting through weeds. He couldn't see anything though his peep but weeds and hair. Practice that one, too. Don't forget to practice holding at full draw without breathing for two minutes at a time and after running wind sprints for a few minutes to get your heart rate up first, also.

Joraca