How do you know the range?

[U.S.ArmyRetired]

I was watching a spot & stalk hunt on Outdoor Channel last night. The mule deer came out of the brush, the hunter, without ranging the deer, shot it dead on at 60 yards. How does a hunter estimate range accurately without a range finder?

[Kokanee]

I saw the same episode too and was in awe. Don't know about the estimation of exact yardage, but nonetheless it was a long shot that hit the mark dead on so to speak.

[Texrock]

Shooting unkown yd. in 3d shoots will help you learn to judge. A lot of us practice judging yardage as much as our shooting. I've been shooting 3d for 10 years and it has honed my hunting skills greatly. Not only can I judge yd. when it comes to making the shot I can do that as well with confidence. Get you a range finder and get outdoors practice you'll be surprised what you can do with what you can do.

[Archery1st]

Lots and Lots of practice...It really isn't that difficult to estimate the range if you can accurately estimate in 10 or 20 yard increments. Shooting a lot of 3D will certainly help you learn how.

[Playa]

practice. enough experience & you can get pretty darn closem even with elevation changes & such. just takes a lot of practical experience

[Bowwiz]

As stated-Shoot 3-D Archery-Its the perfect practice for judgin yardage.

[bigtuna]

I agree with what has been said already. 3d helps a ton when it comes to guessing yardage

[cwbow]

X10

[DrenalinJunkie]

All the above....

[Mac...]

Start playing golf! Your range will improve dramatically!
Lol
But seriously the 3D's and practice always helps.

[cosmiccowboy]

It was a hunting show. NEVER believe it happened the way it's shown. They get the kill shot on film and THEN write the script for the hunt.

[dustoffer]

"Shooting unkown yd. in 3d shoots"

Was in a club in SA in the '70s--all we shot were animal silhouettes at unmarked yardages (this was before 3D targets I guess). I got to the point where I was usually +/- 1 yd out to 40, and +/- 2 yds to 60. Can't do it now, but then I hunt from fixed stands so I know the yardage in my shooting lanes.

[WyoHunter]

All the above!

[mboltm]

I agree with all of the above, Now I just have to get back into it

[Pistol]

TV show? He probably ranged the distance before the deer showed up, or like cosmiccowboy said, the script was after the shot. Never believe anything on media- they show what they want you to see