Longer shots

[flywise]

Today I was doing a little shooting here at the fire station in preparation for a hunt tomorrow. to change it up a little I walked out to 30 yds and even 35 yds. Well I was all over the place. I did not expect to shoot good from those distances but I did figure I would at least hit the dang 24" square box I was shooting at(blunt tips) I decided that I would try closing one eye and look down the shaft. It was amazing how good I shot after that. no more arrows missing 10" right an left just missed dead on a little high or low.

With in 20 I have no problem with both eyes open but after that arrows fly all over the place. Anyone else have this problem and is there a solution other than closing one eye?

[Muzzy4blade]

Most of my family bow hunts. Each of us has our own style. For me it is about results and what works for me. IMO go with what works for you. One shot one kill.

[Bisch]

I do not normally practice farther than 30yds. I shoot a lot at 30yds and in. I keep both eyes open all the time. It is all in consistent shooting form.Sometimes my form is on and I shoot real well, even at the longer distances. Sometimes my form is not there and I still tend to keep it OK at 20yds and in, but it really shows out past 20yds!

Bisch

[Draco]

Your obviously not able to align the arrow in line with the target with both eyes open. When you close one eye, you can see the arrow clearer to align it better. Now that you have finally admitted that you are seeing the arrow, if you will learn to gap then you can stop those vertical errors as well.

[Texas5o]

I used to never close my off side eye and could hold things together pretty well. Then I began to have arrows that were waaaaay off target, even at close range, for some unknown reason. Recently, I discovered that I could hold them much tighter if I close my left eye (I shoot right handed). I think part of that problem is that my eyes are getting bad enough that my left eye sometimes takes over with both eyes open. It still feels wierd shooting with one eye closed, but I'm getting used to it........and I'm shooting better that way close in and farther out.

[RACK]

Flywise, this is my scenrio , hope something in here may help with your op....
I'm right handed ,bow staff pointed at target kill spot, (at this point i have already established my vertical center ), right can't apx 32 degrees, i anchor my right middle finger (split) to cornor mouth , keep my left eye squinted to preety much shut seeing the string ,shaft , down to tip,and target only with my right eye. The very second these all align , i know my target objective is exactly 9 inches below true. Thats good up to 12 yards with my 55#longbow, i simply adjust the 9 inches accordinally as i go back in yardage.

[flywise]

Bisch I never really play or practice out past 25 either certainly not shooting at deer out past that. I just found it crazy that out to 20 both eyes open works great. At 25 kinda iffy past that both eyes open don't work at all. My eyes have been getting worse for a few years now and I just wonder if that has anything to do with it.
As far as Gap shooting goes Draco, I watched a video on how to get good at that and I don't believe I have the brain to ever vet that figured out LOL. but I'm not opposed to giving it a shot.

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

One thing I've noticed when my group scatters or starts too, it's the lack of concentration.
Maybe it's harder for these tired ole eyes to see that far in the first place and you start to "look at the whole animal" instead of being able to see a hair, of piece of mud stuck on 3 hairs.
20-25 yds gives me the confidence,,, So when that 6-8 yd sucker shot presents it's self.....
only to be humbled by shooting over a hog at 8 yrs....ok 6 yds ! But I was all excited !!

Closing one eye, limits what you see by 50%....... so you concentrate more !

Just rambling thoughts from a old bowhunter.

[Draco]

Forget the video Kirby. Gap is some thing you practice at until you have it and from then on you are, dare I say it, instinctively putting it in the right spot to hit your target. I never think of the gap when I shoot, it just goes there. Go to the thread I posted on it and look at the pictures. It is really very simple.

[stikshooter]

One thing I've noticed when my group scatters or starts too, it's the lack of concentration.
Maybe it's harder for these tired ole eyes to see that far in the first place and you start to "look at the whole animal" instead of being able to see a hair, of piece of mud stuck on 3 hairs.
20-25 yds gives me the confidence,,, So when that 6-8 yd sucker shot presents it's self.....
only to be humbled by shooting over a hog at 8 yrs....ok 6 yds ! But I was all excited !!

Closing one eye, limits what you see by 50%....... so you concentrate more !

Just rambling thoughts from a old bowhunter.

This is my take on this as well. I have to concentrate harder and longer as the distance increases.

[moe monsarrat]

I shoot with both eyes open. It's all the same shot over and over again. You just hold it higher for the longer ones. Don't start thinking of longer and shorter as two different shots. I remember hitting a trotting javelina once at what turned out to be 40 yards. I never thought about how far it was or anything like that. I just wanted to hit him.

[tomcat8910]

If I go outside and just shoot, I do really well, but if I start thinking(lol) my groups starts to open up a little. I guess that thinking gets in my way to much! Thats just me. I shoot with both eyes open and just concentrate not on the target, but the spot on the target I want to hit. This has taken several years for me to do this. I'm just a slow learner I guess. On distance, I try to move around back and forth from the target and just shoot and not concentrate on the yardage to much. That seems this works the best for me.