7 Bow Shooting Tips for Long Range Accuracy

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Shooting a compound bow past 40 yards was once frowned upon. How times have changed. Advancements in bow performance and technology have shooters around the globe extending their shooting range. Why? Aside from being fun, practicing long-range shooting makes closer hunting shots easier. In addition, those of us who know how to shoot a bow on the open western landscape have found that extending effective range puts more antlers on the wall and more steaks on the grill.

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While bow performance and technology have come a long way they won’t do you any good if you shoot with poor form. As you increase your distance from a target, even the slightest mistakes in form become magnified. So, even if you never plan on shooting at a deer from farther than 30 yards away, follow these bow shooting tips to practice at long range and tighten your groups at every range.

kneeling bow practice
Do whatever is comfortable, but be sure you develop a stance that promotes a solid shooting platform. Get your feet too far apart and you will be unbalanced forward or backward. Place your feet too close together and you will feel very unstable left or right.
Try shooting with your feet shoulder width apart or just past shoulder width apart. But if you want to do more than pound targets at long range, you have to practice shots from hunting positions (how many times has an elk allowed you to stand flat-footed in the open and shoot him?). I recommend practicing by putting your feet close together, kneeling down and letting your butt rest on your heels. This creates a very solid platform, and one that I use regularly whether I’m firing an arrow at hide or foam. You’ll notice when you first start shooting from this position it’s pretty easy. But the longer you stay kneeling, the more you'll begin to shake. Keep practicing until you can shoot a softball-size 5-arrow group even with tired legs. OL
bow grip
This is the big one. If you plan to drive arrows into the 10-ring at extended distances, you must take the time to develop a proper grip. First, find a bow that feels good in your hand. I also recommend a bow that has a thin grip. The thinner the grip, the less torque you can put on the bow. Less torque equals more accuracy. Another option is removing the grip panels from your bow. Ideally, you want the grip to sit firmly against the line on your hand that starts above the thumb and runs through the palm area (palm readers call it the life line). Once you achieve full draw, the bow should feel like it’s pushing into the palm. Now, relax your grip. Most archers, especially when they start increasing shot distance, want to put more grip on the handle. Remember, everything is magnified at longer distances, so you want to keep a very open grip, putting as little torque on the riser as possible. OL
anchor point archery
Having an anchor point is essential to accuracy. However, there is more to a consistent anchor point than meets the eye. Most assume that a kisser button inserted into the bowstring at the proper point will solve their anchor needs. However, to some, a kisser button is uncomfortable and draws focus away from shot execution. Honestly, finding a consistent anchor point can only be achieved through the process of shooting. The key is finding a comfortable anchor point or two that can be repeated shot after shot. OL
breathing while shooting
Looking through a peep sight at a target 100 yards away can be intimidating, especially the first few times you do it. When you get nervous about the distance

Source: https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/hunting/2013/08/7-tips-better-long-range-accuracy/

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