Disclaimer: For all those ready to keyboard shame for advocating unethical long range shooting. That’s not what this blog is about! This article is about practicing at distances that are much greater than you would ever take in a hunting scenario so you’re as proficient as possible when the time comes for the right shot hunting. Every single hunter has to determine what that distance is for themselves.
As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, when I first started shooting archery my goal was to be able to send an arrow accurately to the big yellow 10 ring at a whopping 40yds! Don’t get me wrong, we all have to start somewhere at the range. However, once we achieve that goal, just like in life, we need to set another slightly more challenging goal. I’ve also missed my fair share of deer inside of 40yds. One last year at a mere 12yds from the ground. I still don’t know what I did wrong, other than I was shooting in an awkward position I’d never “practiced” before.
All that said I find it incredibly beneficial and satisfying to shoot at long range during the off season. While 40yds use to be the max distance I would routinely shoot; my most fired upon target today sits at 65yds. I make it a point to mix it up and push it out to 80yds, 100yds and recently even 124yds. What I find this does for me is it forces me to concentrate on my form and mechanics. Shooting at 40yds and closer with a properly tuned and forgiving bow may not show you when you’re making a mistake. Take it to 100yds or farther and even the slights torque, tight grip, sight picture, dropped arm, etc will be crystal clear.
Try this routine and see how it works for you. Take your max comfortable distance you shoot today and extend that by 20yds. Get your groups to a tolerable diameter be realistic! Can you keep them all on a 12” pie pan? Then extend another 20yds. Shoot until you have that consistent tolerable group. Then move back to your original max comfortable distance you started with and see how your old max feels to you now!
