Tonight, I got out the Hoyt and practiced to 16 yards but spent a lot of time at 8 yards. That's twice as far as I shot my last deer, and the close range helps me hold at anchor. It's so close, hitting the target isn't a challenge, and I seem to be able to concentrate on my anchoring better. I think a lot of us have neglected close range shooting, now and then, but it's as important as growing comfortable at longer range shooting. My average shot has dropped to around 9 yards, so close in shooting isn't a waste. So move up and spend time, each session, at closer range. It'll make you that much better.

Joe

Good reminder that practice takes many forms, all useful.

Yours sounds like a variation on 'blind bale' practice, shooting so close that you can close your eyes and focus on the 'feel' of your form. Recommended by many coaches.

In the past I've spent too much time at a single distance, which tends to groove you into that distance's 'sight picture'. I find it more useful to vary distances. One club I belong to has targets set at varying distances, and it's helpful to move around and never repeat shots. I find it very useful before shooting a 3D course.

(And yeah, some of the regular targets are in the process of being rebuilt.)

Times two What joe said

I do the same Frisky...I spend a lot of time at short ranges working on anchor and repeatable form...and a lot of people do miss shots at close range when they are fine at 20!

I have to cant my bow at close range or I'll shoot high every time. Probally not the best way but it works for me.

Will, it's the best way if it works best for you.

I shoot mostly from 35 to 65 lately. I can see right quick if I have a focus problem, but it does weigh on my close shooting though...

Depending what you're working on 8 yards could be 5 yards too far. Eight is good to start aiming after you have your form down pat.

Bowmania

I practice a lot at close quarters in the basement shooting through a Chrono. Not really too see how fast I'm shooting but more to see how consistent my speed is

It's been so dang hot out, I too have been shooting 12 and under. It really helps with form and sequence.

I have to do what Will Tell does, can't my bow, but I shoot canted anyway, just have to can't more and I still over shoot at those close ranges.

Good one Joe.

I don't cant but crawl for the very close shots.>>>--->Ken

“ I practice a lot at close quarters in the basement shooting through a Chrono. Not really too see how fast I'm shooting but more to see how consistent my speed is.”

Sounds like another VERY GOOD use for a chrono.... probably of greater practical significance than what most people use them for.

After all - it doesn’t matter what the velocity is, so long as it IS what it is on every shot! I once owned a Martin Lynx (which I shot barebow off o’ the fingers) and which had a DL a bit longer than mine, so I never got off of the steep part of the backside of the force curve. Kinda tough to tune or get your “Instinctive” range estimation working that way, though I suppose it probably did enforce my consistency, what with the penalty being so severe as it was....

Riff on Shooting Blind: Sometimes i’ll draw, take aim, and then close my eyes for a few beats before the loose. Really forces you to settle into a strong anchor. You’d be surprised how well you can shoot that way...

Just a thought....

The reason I choose 8 yards for close in practice, is the target is at the back of the inside of the garage and I want clearance out in front of the garage too. I can move up to 7 yards and have enough space to shoot too.

Joe

All so true

I don't shoot competition and only shoot deer at less than 20 yards.,I know I should practice at longer ranges but I don't have trouble shooting deer less than 20 yards. And most of my shots are less than 10 yards

Eight yards is a good distance for shooting pennies, tossed across the target stack. I think always shooting at close range can cause one to get stale or develop a bit of panic for longer shots if done too much. I need to keep chasing things up. Yesterday I practiced my 150 yard plus shots, out in the pasture, my 150 yard groups are getting tighter. Like Byron Fergusson says, the center of a cow pie is the same size as the center of an aspirin.

LT, I disagree. Working on anchoring, that is, holding at anchor, is best done close in. Soon, holding becomes easy and you can continue to hold well as you move back. I pay little attention to shot placement when I'm close though. I just work on anchoring.

Joe

Had similar thoughts Frisky so your post is interesting.

Everyone wants to back up. I do because I shoot just for fun now and I like to watch the arrow arch at longer distances.

Even on archery ranges, sometimes the shortest targets don't get the same amount of practice as the longer ones and they are difficult to score well on.

Also, what about those stories we all hear from our friends. I use to hear one every year working at an agricultural research station where at least one of the other bow hunters, and there were many, said they missed a deer real close up. Hum ...Should've practiced real close up.

Frisky X2 and that counts for a lot!!

I just can't stand it when I have to agree with him!! But when I shoot close I work on anchor and expansion and shooting that grouse right in the coconut!!

I also have to agree with Frisky. You can work on release and form and iron out some problems. Probably not good to shoot 8 yd too long. Mix it up a little. I also agree with shooting the Hoyt. The longer you shoot it the longer it will be till you have to shoot the doomed to fail, cobbled up, over rated mouse trap TD.

Thanks for the advice/reminder. I definitely don't practice close range enough, and my last two shots at deer have been inside of ten yards.

My hunting setups are designed for very close encounters.

I try to never take a close shot opportunity for granted. I find myself baring down more intently and holding a little longer on close shots.

In Zen archery, students spend several years drawing and releasing an arrow at about 3 feet before they are ready to move back. It makes good sense.

Joe

I may just stand and draw, aim and let down, how about that for close range? lol

The problem with Zenders and their odd off balance bows and their great long development stages, how many 3d tournaments have they won? I don't think a Zender should ever tell us how to shoot or hunt. I can just about imagine 500 years back at either my Ojibwa gramma's village or my Penobscot gramma's village, what would happen if a Sender showed up with his goofy bow and declared that he was there to give them shooting lessons. "I am the Zen Master." "Here is what you do, stand here and plug the target at, oh let's say the length of a cougars tail, if you do good enough, in three years I will let you take a step back." That making a kid stand at 3 feet, I thought they were on the metric system, for several years was probably just a ploy to keep the rowdy little buggers busy. I think for shooting consistency taking long flight shots in an open field is also needed and fun. It allows you to really see how consistent your power line is and gets you out in the sun and fresh air. It may be difficult to find a field big enough to contain the arrow shot from Frisker's Bear takedown.

LT- You are correct. Aiming is not a part of close range shooting. That's the point of close range! You concentrate on things besides hitting your target.

Joe

Frisky’s garage is big enough to contain any arrow that may be shot from his Bear takedown. Don’t know when if ever he will shoot it. But I understand, I’ve had a bow or two that I dreaded shooting.

8 yards is just fine to shoot from. Form is form.

I'd need to shoot a 5 spot at that distance but practice is practice. It's easy to extrapolate what the group sizes would be further on out.

For me, traditional bowhunting is pretty much a 20 and under affair anyway. I don't gap, I grip it and rip it with as clear a mind and conscience as possible. My best 300 round is 262 about 10 years ago. Probably shoot 240ish right now, at my best.

It's all good. This is supposed to be fun, right?

In practicing hard for a rather large shoot I was planning on attending?....I did my usual...

"5 Arrow Walk-Ups"

where once I pull them?....as I walk back I stick arrows in the sirt at random distances that includes 5yds out too nearly 27yds. (used to be 30yds but my wifes bogenvillia goy fat)

The cool thing for me at these distances is they are all in my instinctive realm which too me means...

"I don't have to guesstimate yardage"

(I just look, point and shoot) but?...

That 5 yarder?...will dang sure bite me if I don't include it in my practice on a regular basis.

Folks can do things differently and still come out with the same conclusion. You should shoot short ranges as well as longer ranges, but it should be geared to what you want from archery. I'm not just a bowhunter...which is a 6 week season back here, the other 46 weeks I still like to shoot so I incorporate all shots that I enjoy taking. If you shoot regularly at all distances, there shouldn't be an issue with a hunting shot at whatever distance you choose to shoot it. If you think one way is the only way, well then you're thinking wrong. The key is to do what you need to do, and want to do to get better.

Jinkster, I know what you mean I had a good shot at a rat less than three yards, I put the arrow over it six times before it ran off, I couldn't believe that my mind wouldn't allow me to lower the aim point.

toward deer season I practice closer and closer. Huntin shots i call em. It gets thick in the ol woods in Ky.

This reminds me of my first succesful stalk and close range. I was stalking a doe and I intercepted her at 4 yds. I started my draw when she went behind a giant hickory but she come around to fast and I was only at half draw. I drew staight and level and she stepped out right where I was drawed. I thought her eyes was going to pop out when she seen me. I felt good about the shot even at half draw and let it go. Pass through shot both lungs run 75yds. I hope my mind stays strong and dont forget that hunt!

For close up form work, the bigger the target the better. I also think that it should be high enough that one can do form work shooting upward a bit. Mine is about 7 feet tall.

“If you think one way is the only way, well then you're thinking wrong.”

“It's all good. This is supposed to be fun, right?”

That’s kinda how I feel about consciously sighting down the arrow vs. “ignoring” it and just letting one rip; if I didn’t do both pretty regularly, I’d probably only be half as good.

“Depending what you're working on 8 yards could be 5 yards too far. Eight is good to start aiming after you have your form down pat. Bowmania“

2x. I agree with Todd. I do form around 8’. My close aiming practice is usually 10yards in my basement. Sometimes I even turn lights off for both. I will hang glow in dark sticker when I do 10yards.

~Wojo

I sometimes just throw 6 arrows out in the yard and shoot from where they land.

I can shoot closer than 8 yards and do in late summer as I start practicing from my stool, as I shoot from the sitting position. Getting low gives me clearance so I can shoot from right inside the garage. Being one of the world's greatest bowhunters, I can get a shot off at 4 yards, so I have to practice it.

Joe

Most of the time I cannot hunt from a stool because the deer get so close that I don't have room to draw my bow, then they start running as soon as i stand up to back up, that is why I need to be able to shoot fast.

You play the way you practice.

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