Judging distance

[yankeedeerslayer]

I'd like to hear everyones process for judging distance. I have killed turkey and am ok at it but I wan't to be more effective.

The first situation is by sound. Many times I have been fooled and thought to myself if I could only have better figured out how far away he was I would have had a better chance. By the way, my hearing ain't so great. I can hear the sounds even faint sounds like purring, clucking and such but just can't determine how far a gobbling tom is sometimes. I know if I can hear them walking in the leaves I best get set up quick and don't move.

Second situation is by sight. What is a good method for determining his distance for a kill? For discussions sake let's say my max kill range is 45 yards but preferred is under 40. I know if I put a deke out how far that is because I walked it. But what about in a field with no reference markers? What do you look for?

[Ctburdchasr]

there are a million methods, the best way is practice and experience. during scouting pick a target guess the range then walk it. hear a car or truck in the distance then guess and walk it. that is the most effective all be it most difficult way. I think anyways.

[memert116]

I'm not great at judging how far away sound is....just the way it is for me.  I ususally set my decoys out at 20yds so that makes things easy and you get used to judging that.  When I was in the service we used a pace count over a known flat distance and then practiced adjusting that for uphill and downhill.   Or you could just use a rangefinder....

[Gooserbat]

I don't think there is any one fool proof way to judge distance but I do know that if your sitting on your butt against a tree 40 yards looks farther than when your standing up.  All I can recommend is practice and don't shoot if you think he's 40 yards but shoot when you know he's 40 yards.  If he happens to be a bit closer then all the better.

[TN Beard Buster]

Here's what I do. I shoot 3d and I have to judge my yardage on every target. When I'm turkey hunting I carry my range finder and I pick a tree, stump, a large clump of grass in a field, or a pole in a power line. I judge the yardage in my mind and then shoot it with the range finder to check myself. In the process I'm ranging things for the moment of truth. As far as judging how far it is to an unseen bird, I also have worsening hearing, I just get ready when I know he's closer.

[deersled]

I don't think there is any one fool proof way to judge distance but I do know that if your sitting on your butt against a tree 40 yards looks farther than when your standing up.  All I can recommend is practice and don't shoot if you think he's 40 yards but shoot when you know he's 40 yards.  If he happens to be a bit closer then all the better.

Aint that the truth. Missed a couple opportunities thinking birds were 35-40 yds when they turned out to be 20-25. Shooting with a bow of course. On your butt it is very difficult to judge.

[tnturkey]

practice. I shoot a lot of archery as said above. start taking a range finder with you and guess then shoot and when you are tired of that do it some more. In open fields I guess 10 yard inquments all the way to the bird or deer and if I can I shoot it with the range finder. the best way I found with birds is if I think it is a stretch most of the time it is. don't take the shot if you aren't sure you're eyes can play tricks on you.

[DirtNap647]

I take my rangefinder pick out objects once he breaks that barrier its over

[Gobble!]

I take my rangefinder pick out objects once he breaks that barrier its over

Yes if I have time on a setup I will pull out the rangefinder and target items that stick out. If not I try to start picking items that are 10 yards, then 20 years, then so on.

[Gobble!]

I take my rangefinder pick out objects once he breaks that barrier its over

Yes if I have time on a setup I will pull out the rangefinder and target items that stick out. If not I try to start picking items that are 10 yards, then 20 years, then so on.

[redleg06]

Sound is really just experience and understanding the factors that will effect how far you can hear. I moved from Texas to Bama a few years ago and it's quite a bit different -   In Tx, where it's flat and not many large tree's you could hear one from half a mile a way on a still morning.  In Bama, specifically when foliage starts to come in, that distance may be 150-200yds.  The other factor that really effects distance is hilly terrain. I hunt everything from swamps to really steep foothills and that plays a huge role also. 
You just start to get a feel for it.   Generally you cant hear them drum from 50-75yds. Maybe a little further on a still morning in an open area.


As far as judging site distance, I used to bow hunt quite a bit so I got used to using a range finder quite a bit and it really helped me figure distance. Again, just experience mostly.   

[Greenshed Longbeard]

As far as judging sound distance good luck foliage wind hills and the direction the bird is facing when he gobbles are a few of the things impairing sound judgment.    as for the distance use a range finder

[WildTigerTrout]

IMO when it comes to estimating or judging distance there is no substitute for experience and practice in the field. I have a rangefinder but do not carry it turkey hunting. I learned to judge distance as a teen before they ever thought of handheld range measuring devices.

[appalachianstruttstopper]

I look at their eyes. With the way I can see, if I can see his eyes clearly, distintively, then he is in my comfort zone for making a clean kill, about 35 yds and closer.

I reference my method with each encounter and keep this in my mind as to how their eyes appear at various distances from my point of view.

As far as sound, turkeys can gobble loud or not, I actually had a one gobble at 25yds before and could barely hear it. Also had one gobbling to my soft purring at 40yds with his mouth closed.

If a turkey is hot and will gobble to a crow call, then I blow 1 short burst and see how long it takes for his response  to get back to me. If I do this and it works, then I can tell somewhat how far he is away by sound travel. Same way with a hoot in the morning with roosted birds, 1 quick scream and listen to response time.

Another way is to cross reference between 2 points. Listen to his gobble, move straight right or left 50 or 75 yds and listen to his gobble again and cross reference the angle.

[ssettle]

Range finders are great if you have access to one. If you hunt fields it's best to have one. In the woods a lot of times things are farther away than you think, least that's what I've found. I like to place my decoy within 20 yards of myself and off to my left since I shoot right handed. With a shotgun if your off the distance a little bit it's more forgiving. A bow, well take a range finder