Friday, August 22, 2008
Are Long-Range Bow Shots Necessary?
I know a few people who brag about taking long shots at whitetails. Some even brag about taking 80-yard Hail Mary shots.
Most long shots are a waste of time and effort, not to mention the possible loss of a perfectly good arrow and broadhead. I can consistently shoot killing shots at 60 yards, but seldom do so when hunting Michigan whitetails.
Very few opportunities exist in this state for long-range bow shots. If truth be told, most of my whitetails are shot at 20 yards.
I killed a Quebec-Labrador caribou at 60 yards a number of years ago while hunting in northern Quebec. The caribou came out of the woods, trotting slowly, and I drew and shot. The caribou went down from a clean shot through the heart and lungs.
Every year I hunt Colorado for elk, and I’ve killed some bulls at 25 yards at a water hole and I taken a few elk at 50 to 60 yards when they wouldn’t come any closer.
Caribou and elk are larger than whitetail deer, and represent a much larger kill zone, but with careful planning, both species can be shot at much closer distances. Dave Richey, the retired outdoor writer for The Detroit News and now the publisher of his personal website and weblog < http://www.daverichey.com >, has killed more caribou with a bow than anyone I know.
“I’ve never shot a caribou with a bow at more than 20 yards,” he said. “Most of the ‘bou I’ve taken have been at distances of five or 10 yards. I always position myself near a major crossing, hide behind whatever cover is nearby, and wait until the caribou swim ashore. They always stand on dry ground, shake off excess water, and begin walking down the trail that leads away from the river crossing site.
“I take my shots as they walk past. The shots are close, and the possibility for a clean shot is there. The hardest part is being at that crossing when caribou are using it.”
Stealth, good planning, and careful attention to the wind are key items to consider when hunting whitetail deer. For the most part, long shots are not needed in Michigan although the skills needed to be effective with a bow in western terrain is normal. Some bow hunters in Idaho, Kansas, Montana and Nebraska may need to take longer shots at deer in those areas.
I shoot with the red-dot device that I first put on the market over 20 years ago. Over years of trial and error on hay bale and 3-D targets, I’ve learned how to “gap” my aiming point.
Hunters must know where their arrows will go at 40, 50 or 60 yards. That can only be learned through continual practice. It should be stated that the faster the arrow speed, the less deviation there will be at different ranges.
I know where to hold at 20 yards. I know that my hold will be slightly higher at 30 yards, and once I extend my range to 40 yards or more, I know what is necessary at the longer distances. This is gapping, knowing just how much higher one must hold to make an accurate hit.
We have a 3-D course here that we shoot all summer. 3-D targets such as bear, coyote, deer, elk, turkey and others are scattered around at various distances. Hunters must first determine the distance, and then determine their aiming point. The aiming point at 40 yards will be different on an elk target than a deer target.
This is where the knowledge of where to hold becomes so important. I believe a good 3-D target range is fine practice for taking those longer (and shorter) shots. Learning how to gap for longer shots is important once the average person gets to 25 or 30 yards and farther.
Gapping, and learning to judge distance accurately, are necessary. Of course, a flat-shooting bow with fast arrow speed is needed for longer shots. Someone shooting an arrow at 150 fps will have an arrow trajectory like a rainbow. There are ways to develop accuracy at long range, but it requires a great deal of practice.
A thorough knowledge of your bow and arrow set-up, and the distance, will tell you how much gap (hold over) is required on targets out farther than normal. Each person is different, and if you are in the Marion area, stop by my Buck Pole Archery Shop and I’ll be happy to discuss gapping with you.
It’s an offer that is hard to turn down. - The Whitetail Wizard