Hello Tradgang!
At my local hunting club, we shoot a 28 target outdoor course in the summers. The yardages range from 80 yards to 11 feet. This past year I shot with my barebow R/D longbow. I shot from all the regulation stakes, just as the compound guys were, but I could not practice my form or even gauge how I was doing because the shots were so far I rarely even hit the target. My question is, would it be a better idea (more beneficial to my progression) to shoot a more reasonable maximum yardage? My "gut feeling" says I should shoot closer, but I'm interested in how others before me have learned the ways. Thanks

I think that belongs to the shooters forum body.

A lot of guys disagree, but I think shooting 3D and hunting are two totally different deals. Sure its great practice, but its also a regulated competition. Shooting that far will give you a better understanding of how your bow performs, but you (hopefully) will never shoot at game any where near that distance. Shooting those distances once a week will not hurt you as long as you are hitting your form hard at a reasonable distance most of the time to check your progress.
If you are still struggling with form, I'd concentrate on it at no more than 15 yards, shooting at a small orange sticker placed on your target. Still compete for the fun of it, but don't use that as way to practice on a regular basis.

Good advice from YORNOC.

Charles.

Mostly when we shoot in a mixed compound/trad shoot, we form a group of trad shooters and establish a 50 yd. max for our shots, i.e. any shots where the shooting mark is over 50 yards, we shoot from the 50 yard marker.  Sometimes, that is sanctioned by the shoot, other times not, but we do it anyway.

That said, I enjoy shooting at any distance up to 100 yards, and usually take a few shots at distances over 50 yards every morning when I shoot with my friends.  I really enjoy shooting at the longer distances, as I enjoy shooting at any distance, and like anything else, you get better at it the more you do it.

Sounds like IFAA Field rounds, like any kind of Bow shooting confidence\\ability need to progress at the same level, if you push distances past your ability then you run the risk of losing confidence at all distances.

My training involves walkback every 5 yards till I reach 80y (sometimes 100y) with (unsighted) Recurve and Longbow, for me it's the most effective way to build distance shooting and confidence.

If you play as a game where if you miss two shots from a distance you go back to half the distance you reached (i.e 40y go back to 20y) it keeps you in your comfort shooting zone but also allows you to extend the distances slightly at the same time. First few weeks maybe start at 5y and move back 2y after every shot once you reach 30 yards then try shooting every 5y and extend even more after each round I stick and arroe in the ground and try and improve on it, keeps it fun and I stayed focussed.              

It's a good way to monitor your progress as each week you can see yourself getting further back and still scoring which is good for your motivation.

It's also good to do some Bale work before every shooting session just to groove your form and shot sequence.

Good luck and keep it FUN

When we shoot at our local 3Ds as hunting season gets near (around July) we start taking our shots at just hunting ranges in order to help "program" the brain for hunting. Why practice a 60 yd deer shot if you just dont take those kinds of shots. We also usually keep score ourselves and rarely turn in the cards......its not like we're going to win a chevy truck or anything....That said, going to Denton Hill and flinging arrows at the elk up the hill is a real blast....till ya go get your arrows.

Our local 3D course has 3 stakes.  One compound, one trad and one kids.  We never keep score.  I loose to many pencils....

When I shot field rounds in the 60s and 70s I used a Bear Tamerlane target bow and light target arrows with 3" fletch and shot it bare bow but walked the string.  I don't know any other way to shoot that round bare bow and hit the 55, 60, 65 and 80 targets repeatedly.

If you shoot hunting tackle and use hunting weight arrows and anchor you had better stick to 3-D.

QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
  I don't know any other way to shoot that round bare bow and hit the 55, 60, 65 and 80 targets repeatedly.

Reddogge I've managed to shoot 375 Hunter, 380 Field (at Nat competition and not just a practice round) with Longbow\\Woodies, it can be done with good form and a little hard work.      

I used to shoot at a field archery course and the only way I could do the 30 plus yardages was to gap shoot.  Not what you want for hunting practice.

Thanks for all the advice!

The Feb/March 2011 issue of Traditional Bowhunter Magazine Answers this question perfectly.