Question:
How clsoe do you get to your target when
hunting. Just in general for any general animal. I realize before you go
hunting you should be a damned good shot, But i'm asking so i can practice at a
more apropriate distance.
Answer:
An article in
this month's Buckmasters magazine by Chuck Adams discusses hunting distance.
He says that a study by P&Y shows that the average distance for record book
deer is 19 yards. Of course, that could just mean that everyone is just
shooting at no more than 20 yards! If everyone shot out to 40 yards, perhaps
we'd see more record book deer, and the average may easily be 37 yards or
something. hmmm...
He suggests that most archers don't practice enough to shoot consistently at
more than 20 yards *in a hunting situation*, but that ranges of up to 40
yards are very possible if the hunter is a good shooter (not 'exceptional',
just practiced) and his bow and heads are properly tuned. He says (and I
concur) that shooting deer at OVER 20 yards is preferable, since at that
distance the deer don't hear your bow as much and won't smell you as easily.
Also, by extending your effective range from 20 to 40 yards, you can cover
FOUR TIMES the shooting area (do the math. remember Pi x (Rsquared)?) This
is really important, esp. if you hunt from a treestand.
Chuck also suggests that you practice at up to 70 yards. This will give you
greater confidence when hunting. He says that (and the Int'l Bowhunter
Education program agrees) that 40 yds is maximum hunting distance for most anyone.
From personal experience, you may want to close the gap if you hunt large
animals. Elk's max distance is about 20 yards. Moose (at least the monsters
we have in BC) is also about 20 yards (if you can get that close). Black
bear (we hunt those withOUT bait here!) 20-30 yards. The problem with large
animals is their ribs. Moose have ribs that look like the limbs on your bow!
