Shooting farther

N

nclonghunter

New member
Dec 28, 2012
681
This may be common knowledge, but I just learned it.  I was shooting a NFAA course and some of the targets are out to 80 yards. When shooting the 80 yard target I commented I only have a 50 yard pin. The guy I was with said to hold the 50 yard pin on the dot, then look above where the 30 yard pin is positioned. Then move the 50 yard pin to the same spot the 30 was positioned, giving you an 80 yard reference. I shot it and it worked, hitting 2 inches below the dot...Hmmmm.
I'm certain the farther out you go the greater the gap, so you could practice the longer shots.
 
Good info for those with a 5 pin sight and only able to shoot to 50 or 60 yards.I make it a point to shoot at 80 and 100 yards all summer and 20 to 50 yard shots seem like a gimi by the end of summer.
 
Haven't ventured out to 80 yet but I currently only have a 3 pin sight.  I'll probably be purchasing at least a 5 pin soon.  I find this interesting though.  So put 50 yard pin on target. Look where 30 yard pin would hit then place 50 yard pin where 30 hit... and that was good for 80?  Almost seems like it should have been the 20 yard pin but ... cool anyway.
 
dplumlee12, I went back to the same range today and the target I shot at was actually a 70 yard target. I recalled using the 30 yard pin to get my reference and moving the 50 yard pin up. So, you are correct for the 80 yards, it would be the 20 yard pin to reference from......Thanks for the correction.
 
As Cam Hanes has mentioned in one of his articles it helps to get set up to shoot out to 100 plus yards. It drives you to get better at long distances even if you never plan to take that far of a shot on an animal. If you can master 100 plus yards then 20-60 becomes a chip shot.
 
I have heard of this before, I believe they call it bracketing?  I'm not sure though.  Makes sense the way it is stated.  I have never tried it, but might give it a shot.
 
I will be doing more long rang shooting this year, last year I started shooting at 60 a lot and it made my shorter shots quicker and more accurate just due to more confidence. I will start shooting out to 70 and 80 this year.
 
There is a lot of wind out where i live and i have been shooting everyday at 70 yards and once i get this wind thing figured out i should be dead on when it comes time to smoke a bull.
 
Ok, I know we all love the long shot and it is fun to push our limits with our shooting on a range but how many of us would be willing to push our limits as to how close we could get to an elk before we shoot him such that we wouldn't have to take a shot over 20-25 yards?  My point is that the further the shot the less margin there is for error with factors that the bowhunter can't control, assuming you can control your shooting  ;) <wink>.  One example is if the animal takes a step while the arrow is in the air, another is wind-gust, not to mention the factor of an arching arrow through foliage or shooting lane, etc.
I enjoy shooting long distance to challenge myself as much as the next guy but I also realize my personal responsibility to the game I hunt when considering the decision to shoot or not.  I'm sure that all of us remember that principle but it never hurts to remind ourselves of that.  Consider ourselves reminded.  Now back to the glories of the long shot as it gives us confidence at closer ranges when we hunt!
 
My ideal range on deer is 15-20 and elk is 20-30 yards. I also like to shoot long range to help with my form, focus and release but do not ever want to try a shot on game at long range with a bow.....too many variables to deal with in a hunting situation. I bow hunt to get as close as possible inside the animals " personal space". If I wanted to take them at longer range I would use a gun and I have,  but it is not as rewarding to me. I do not even watch the long range elk hunting shows on TV because it doesn't interest me.
Good Luck
 
All valid points, but shooting long distance is great for picking a single spot, and at greater distance that spot is really small. I wouldn't cut a shot on a bull past 60 and that's only if its a really sweet set up. But I've learned hunting antelope, you better be ready for an 80plus yard shot because on a spot and stalk hunt that's about average. JMO
 
This year is my first year shooting out to 75 and 80yds. It's made me a lot more confident at 40 and 50 yds
 
I shoot daily 60-80yds with a 7 pin sight but I shot my first official archery shoot this weekend and targets ranged from 5ft-93yds my division was adult-male-bow-hunter freestyle, I took 5th out of 68 shooters total was 350+ shooters there is a simple method you just need to practice like for 5ft I would shoot for 110yds I don't have a pin for that but 15ft I use my 80yd pin, for 90yds I placed my 80 looked at my 70 then put my 80 there I was in the money.
 
I can put 10 arrows in a 5 inch circle at 80 yards so I feel confident shooting that far but I would never shoot at an animal that far. 50 is my farthest distance I would shoot but it would have to be ideal conditions or one huge bull. Plus where I hunt it is very brushy and 50 yards doesn't happen that often!

 
I use the method above, but haven't shot past 100 yards because that is the longest target on the range.  It works really well and I can shoot 5 arrows in a pie tin sized area on the target consistently.  My 53 yard shot felt practice and it happened with out thinking.  I am going to work towards farther distances for practice because it makes me correct the errors that will affect my shots at hunting distances. 
 
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