Deadly at 12, but ........

[RTC]

I been practicing a lot and feel like I have improved this past few weeks. I can consistently group 5 arrows in a 3 inch circle at 12 yards, but I have a mental block when I take one step back. I need to get as consistent up to 15 yards due to our lease set ups.
ow have you guys dealt with a similar situation? cut the distance to 1/2 a step?

[JTeLarkin08]

Lol I am the same way. I just stopped worrying about it and make sure my shots are less than 12 yards

[rebelmdb69]

I am deadly at 12" right now lol. I am hoping to be good at 10yds by Xmas to hunt the late season.

[bk_tradguy88]

I would suggest stepping back a little farther and getting good there. I like to practice out to 30-40. I limit my hunting shots to 20 and under. When I get well practiced at 30-40 before hunting season 20 and under groups become extremely deadly. If it was just as easy to settle the nerves down, lol.
B

[Bisch]

If you are good at 12yds then you can kill all kinds of critters. I would be willing to bet that my average shot is right around 12yds.

Bisch

[agtex42]

When I first started shooting trad I would typically only practice at my pre-determined max hunting range of 17 yards or less. I found that during the season my confidence for my "max effective" range just wasn't there and I passed on quite a few deer.

This spring I've been practicing regularly from 25 yards or more and it really makes that 17 yard shot feel automatic. If your lease setup requires you to shoot 15 I'd say get proficient at 20, the extra focus required to shoot those longer distances accurately will pay dividends when you're drawing on an animal at the moment of truth.

[DoubleGArchery]

12 is good for me , 15 ok,
20 is like shooting a shotgun.

[tstrick1993]

Dont think about it so much. Dont try to place arrows. Trust your instincts. Shoot so that it is easy to repeat everytime. I try to imagine the shot being silky smooth. But Thts just how I see it. .Trent.

[shortstroke 91]

Try shooting 1 arrow at a time and put all your focus on that one spot you're looking at. The shot is the same if it's 10 yards or 50 yards, only difference is 50 yards will show your flaws faster and mentally it seems tougher even though it's the same shot. Don't worry about it, if you have good form the distance will come. Never stop learning and while you are don't be afraid to try something different.

I find 1 controlled arrow at a time helps keep the mental focus sharper than 10 arrows fast and loose. Quality not quantity.

[splitfinger]

What Agtex42 said. If you practice at 20 yds. a 15 yd shot seems like 10 yds. I like to practice at 20-25 yds. and just before quitting for the day, shoot about 2 groups of 5 arrows at my hunting distance of 12 - 15 yds. You will be surprised how good you can group by practicing at longer distances.

BTW...My average shot on deer is about 8 yds. Just get 'em in closer. Hand corn at 10 yds from your stand and be quiet. You can do it!!

Doug Key

[Bisch]

12 is good for me , 15 ok,
20 is like shooting a shotgun.

....with no choke!!!!

Bisch

[Bisch]

I thought of something else too....if your set-ups are a little too far for you, then take a little bag of corn with you to hand throw in the area where you want to shoot. All my feeders are set at 13-14yds from the stand and I always take some hand throw corn with me and put it out. The critters find it as they are eating around the feeder and I end up with a close shot a lot of times.

Bisch

[Chunky]

I second what Bisch said about the hand corn.

How much worse are your groups? You don't have to hold a 3" group in my mind. If your group is twice that range, you can still kill on every shot.

[Rambow]

My average shot from the stand is 15-22 yards. I do the majority of my target shooting at 30, which makes the shorter shots from the stand money in the bank.

Edit:
Just seen this was under traditional. Different animal there, but I'm sure same basic concept but a little closer.

[JTeLarkin08]

When an animal is in front of you it's a different ball game anyway. I have seen guys who could shoot dimes at 50 yards with a compound miss deer at 20 bc of nerves.
I can't hit the broad side of a barn with my longbow if you put a target in front of me. But if you put something with hair out there I zone out and make the shot. Its different for everyone but that's my 2 cents