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Post by inant89 on Aug 27, 2020 20:27:36 GMT -5
New bowhunter here again, just got my arrows in and it's time to start practicing tomorrow. So, without a range finder, what's the best way to semi accurately determine the distances to set my target to sight in my bow?
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Post by swetz on Aug 27, 2020 20:57:49 GMT -5
You could use a tape measure to the measure the distance.
You could also just count paces to have something reasonably consistent to measure by.
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Post by BOBinIN on Aug 28, 2020 5:25:00 GMT -5
Or...just buy a range finder, if you intend to go hunting, you're gonna need it there.
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Post by Russ Koon on Aug 28, 2020 11:27:15 GMT -5
I'll second the motion to get a rangefinder ASAP. Even if you don't plan to use it to actually find the distance to game while hunting, it will be the best tool to use in developing your ability to accurately range things by eye. You will be able to practice anywhere and almost anytime, across various topography and past various intervening obstacles that will otherwise affect your attempts to effectively rangefind by eye alone.
Not at all necessary to get the latest and greatest. I bought the one I'm using now at a local pawn shop for $25, and it's been completely reliable and accurate.
Developing your ability to range things by eye will take many, many more hours without the rangefinder to verify your initial estimate, especially when there is a bit of a rise in the ground between you and your intended target, or when ranging across a pond. Some of us have been shooting 3D tournaments for most of our lives and even with all that practice, the rangefinder still is a quick and handy way to sharpen our "eye" as season approaches each summer.
Also, the best way to use one when hunting is to use it when you have settled in to your stand, blind, or the stump you want to sit on, and range a few reference points nearby....that white oak that's dropping acorns may be 28 yards away, so the deer that comes along the trail to feed near it will be around 25, for instance. Just a couple reference points in either direction from your location will be a great help in the excitement of the moment when one does come into view.
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Post by onebentarrow on Aug 28, 2020 11:29:44 GMT -5
Lay a tape measure on the ground. Then take normal strides along the tape till the equal a set footage. Then when you want to set your target you can figure x no. of strides = x no. of yards. What I found for me is 6 normal strides is 15 feet or 5 yards so if I want 20 yards I take 6 ×4 to get 24 strides. I would start at the target and take 24 strides turn around and that would be 20 yard shot. In the woods I would pick distinct things(stump,big oak,small beach) from my tree and step them off so I new if a deer was a couple yards this side of the beech it was 17 yards. I also shot my bow with only 1 pin. From 0 to 30 yards. I knew that it would hit the kill zone at all distances so at 30 yards I aimed a couple of inches higher than where I wanted the arrow to strike. This took some time pratceing at known distances[6 strides 12 strides and on] In my back yard but it eliminated the problem of trying to figure out which pin I needed to use. Just put the only pin on the center of the deer and fire. If you would like more on the one pin method PM me and we can call and talk on the phone. It will be easier to talk on the phone to explain the finer points of my system
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