Long Range Bow Hunting
The first bow that I ever owned was an old PSE Nova. I loved that thing, and to this day, it still is in our family. It’s more of a wall piece now, but the point remains. Shooting that bow was one of my favorite things to do in our backyard. How fast the arrow hit the target was something that mesmerized me. I remember the first time I ever shot 40 yards with it. It looked so far away and I felt like my bow was pointing more at the sky than the target itself. Nonetheless, it got the job done and the arrow found its mark. Bows and their accessories have come leaps and bounds since the days of old. So have the shooters though. So much so that 40 yards is more of a chip shot and hunters are routinely killing animals at ranges double that and more. Long-range bowhunting is a hotly debated topic, because this archery thing is about getting close right? So, why are hunters bending the needle on this?
Our Equipment
Before we dive into why hunters are shooting long range at critters, let’s talk about how. Our equipment these days is absolutely stunning in both appearance and effectiveness. Bows are shooting faster than ever and are more shootable than ever, making us as shooters more accurate than ever, in a shorter amount of time. The accessories on our bows are also helping in that regard. Slider sights and rangefinding technology within them is giving us the ability to shoot farther than ever with confidence. Hunters are more regularly practicing well north of 100 yards. It’s the new normal with today’s technology. Being able to shoot that far is also making us better archers I believe. When one is sending an arrow at these intense ranges, everything needs to be on point. Our flaws are magnified and the long range will show that, giving us the tools to tweak our shooting to perfection.
Bowhunting is Hard
Laying things out just plain black and white, I don’t think that people are longing for long range kills with their bows. Getting close to animals, especially spot and stalking, is incredibly exciting. It’s what makes bowhunting leave such an imprint on us. Why wouldn’t someone want a close shot? The fact of the matter though is, while this is super exciting, it’s also incredibly hard. Sneaking up on an animal in their environment will test more than a few folk’s mental fortitude. When many are faced with this difficulty, the natural tendency oftentimes is to just want to learn how to shoot farther. If they can’t get closer, then why not extend their shooting range right? Instead of getting better at stalking, they get better at shooting. I totally get that as all of us want to be successful and this could be a gateway to that. Bowhunters only get so many opportunities to stalk game and the only way to get good at doing so, is to do it. Shooting a bow though? We can do that much more often. Those long shots at targets though are way different than taking the game to the hills and critters that walk them.
Know Your Role
While our equipment these days is more than capable of shooting accurately past 100 yards, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we are capable of doing so. I should clarify that. Not ALL of us, as shooters, are capable of doing so. Here comes the gritty truth. Not all shooters are created equal, which is totally fine. I know people that I would trust to hit the bullseye at 80 yards more than I’d trust another to hit it at 40. Again, this is totally fine, but I think what is important is that we recognize that in ourselves. Know your role as a shooter and be honest with your ability. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to get better, but we all start somewhere. Social media has a way of empowering folks and I think this is one of the areas it can do that. Just because you read on someone’s post that they shot a mule deer at 87 yards and got a clean pass through, doesn’t mean that you are ready to do the same, even if you’re equipment is. There is much more that goes into pulling something like this off that extends past the range you can shoot.
Variables of Long Range Bowhunting
Shooting long range at animals well exceeds just one’s shooting ability. Animal awareness, wind, and your overall composure make a huge difference. An animal that is on edge is much more likely to jump the string or simply move as the arrow is coming their way. This opens up the possibility of making a marginal hit. Wind will do the same. In gusty wind, there isn’t a bowhunter on the planet that can aim like they do when it’s calm outside. Aside from that, this bowhunting stuff is intense right? Buck fever is a very real thing and can cause us to make stupid decisions and lose focus. This 100% has an impact on shooting ability. Aiming and shooting at an animal is also much different than shooting at a block target. The white dot you’ve been aiming at ceases to exist and now you’re faced with picking a spot instead. So, if you are planning on the possibility of taking a long shot, consider these variables in the process. It doesn’t start and end with how far your sight tape will reach.
Closing
Please, let me be clear about something. In no way shape or form am I degrading long range bowhunting or long range hunting in general. It’s a different skill entirely, and one that should be admired. When I hear people complain about someone being successful at a distance that is well past the norm, I oftentimes chalk it up to jealousy or that distance just being out of their own comfort zone as a shooter. In turn, they think it’s wrong, which in my opinion is unacceptable. Just because your personal comfort zone ends at 35 yards shouldn’t be a reason to be disrespectful to a hunter that is comfortable to 70. I think our shooting and hunting styles is a reflection of our environment and the land/species that we hunt as well. In thick country, there isn’t an opportunity to make 80 yards shots. In wide open spaces though? That’s a different story with two different kinds of hunters. So, no matter your situation or archery ability, ask yourself some questions. That’s all this piece is about. It’s about being honest. Not just for your own good, but for the good of the animal.