Re Rethinking my max range with a bow on live animals. Part2

[olympushunt]

Ok....let's play devils advocate a little. I'm going to do a 180 from 82nds great post. Let's hear some ideas and thoughts on EXTENDING my max range. I realize the original post wasn't necessarily saying there is a need to reduce it but I want to hear some ideas on being able to confidently reach out further. I have seen first hand what doors are opened if a guy can extend his max range just 10 yards, let alone 20 or more. For me, I have in the past been like Swede (apple...tree.... you get it) and 40 was it. I have struggled with just the mental aspect after 40. I tend to hold less still, wander my pins in the general area and rush the shot. It is odd because I don't do that at 30! I hold dead on and squeeeeeeze it off. When I should be doing that even MORE so at 40+. It just seems like a flippin mile after 40 and I have less focus instead of more focus! But if my bow is up to the task at 50 or even 60....wow....I've passed a number of chances where if I was better I would have had many more opportunities. So I am going to make a goal to get past my mental hurdle of 40. I have been working on it for a few years and do feel under the right situation I will be lethal out further. Things I have been doing: Practicing out to extreme long distances....70, 80, 90, 100. A monsterous effort at follow through with shots. Waiting until the arrow smacks before coming down. I am also trying to put zero hand torque on my grip. I practice with one pin and reduced my peep hole size. I try eliminating one component of unsteadiness by only allowing up and down movement. I have found my windage (side to side offnessesss...is that a word?) has improved a LOT. I also try to pick appropriate sized bulls eyes too because I find it is so small that my pin covers it, I lose my focus. When it comes to the moment of truth and shooting at an animal my buddy brought up an interesting point. He said he will range his animal for precise distance....a critical component at longer distances, and aim just a tad lower than normal. If he is off on his holding steady low...it is a clean miss..no biggy. If he is dead on...it is a money shot in the heart. If the animal ducks.....he is screwed with a lung shot. I am shocked how many elk I have seen duck the string now...not personally but I've seen quite a few videos of this now. Anyhow.....please give me more tips on how I can safely open up my opportunities by accurately extending my range. If a person feels this is unethical or wants no part of this I respect that. I used to be the biggest advocate against people shooting out past 40 because I thought it was stupid....but I have changed my mind and seen not only that it can be done but it can be done ethically. I have personally passed on bulls that I now feel I could have added to the freezer. I would love to have those situations back. Anyone have a time machine I could borrow???
Thoughts???

[stringunner]

I think the key word here is "ethically." That word should be a priority when desiring to extend our max hunting range. I'm all for it if a guy knows and recognizes his own limitations. I think all the work you have done during practice times is where it really pays off. And shooting ALOT! Having a good understanding of real hunting scenarios and outside impacts, which you obviously have experience with, is going to pay off as well. Understanding how the wind affects your arrow flight, being able to recognize a nervous and alert animal from one that is not, knowing how form can impact a shot when shooting extreme up or down angles. How long do you hold back, tired, fatigue, out of breath. Do you practice in a t-shirt all summer but wear bigger bulkier cloths while hunting? Backpack on or off? Etc. A 60 yard shot on an animal in an ideal situation, ok, but a 60 yard shot in a less than ideal situation, better wait to get closer. I think there are a lot of different factors that we forget to think about when shooting be it 20 yards or 60 while at home vs while in hunting situations. I can hit a bag target with pretty consistent groups at 60 yards all summer long, yet this year I messed up two chip shots at bucks (thankfully clean misses on both) at less than 20 yards. I killed a bull a couple years ago with a 44 yard shot, my longest to date, it felt pretty close and ideal at the time, I have since passed on some shots at the same distance that felt much further or not ideal. I find that there are very few shot opportunity I have in my tree stand that are further than 30 yards. But I know guys who hunt open country and 40+ yards are considered close.

How to do it? I don't know man, practice and experience I think is the only way to improve.

[Swede]

#1. Put a good scope on your 30-06. Hold steady against a solid object like a tree or log ... lol

I think practice, practice, practice and have your bow and arrow both tuned to perfection.

[lamrith]

#1. Put a good scope on your 30-06. Hold steady against a solid object like a tree or log ... lol

I think practice, practice, practice and have your bow and arrow both tuned to perfection.

What no 6.5Swede? I am just disappointed, it's just not right.....

[Swede]

I still have my 6.5 Swede. It would certainly do the job well past 40 yards. I think that old gun would like to go hunting again.
Oly asks a good question. Like many of you, I have passed on elk that were just beyond my range of comfort. I know many that would shoot and pray. I too believe in answered prayer, but I think practice is the only ethical way to really know where your limits are, and that under ideal conditions.

[DBLGBL]

Sounds like you are heading in the right direction with distance practicing and form concentration. Something I think is also important in taking longer shots is making sure you have a arrow & broad head combination that is capable of getting the job done when it gets there. I'm a big proponent of heavy arrow and coc fixed blade broad heads. 60 yards and a perfect shot scenario are my maximum.

2gbl