If you aren’t challenging yourself, you ain’t trying hard enough.
Shooting my recurve
- Thread starter Boarhead
- Start date
These guys are making it look too easy. I knew it wasn't, but dang.... Kept looking for levels, pins, etc. Fugg... As soon as I figure out the aiming instinctively bit, I think I'll be ok.
OO2
Well-Known Member
The instinctive shooting has given me fits. I try to attack it by aiming with the tip of the arrow and judging distances that way.
People say shooting instinctive is like throwing a baseball. I can put a baseball where I want it but dang if I can put an arrow where I want it by just pulling back and letting it rip.
practically nobody shoots truly "instinctively". that's a term that is misused routinely with respect to shooting a bow with no sighting device on it. it can be done, and those gifted few than can do it are the ones shooting aspirins out of the air in front of crowds. pretty much all of us gap shoot/split vision to some degree unless you draw with three fingers under the arrow nock and "gun barrel" with arrow point by anchoring directly under, or in front of, your dominant eye, which many still consider a form of gap shooting. this method can be extremely accurate when perfected, but leaves a bit to be desired for hunting big game, imo. after many years and shooting hundreds of thousands of arrows, close range shooting (20 yards and less) becomes more of an unconscious act whereby muscle memory takes over. trust me, if you have to "think" about the act of shooting while shooting at game, the results will probably not be favorable.
It's simply figuring it out through range time. I consider myself fairly gifted with hand eye coordination. Anchoring is also something that seems different in comparison to shooting my bow with the training wheels on. Through time I'm sure I'll get a better handle of it all.
yes, shooting many arrows and shooting often is pretty much the only way to learn what works for you. aside from the few tenets of proper form (solid bow arm, consistent anchor, consistent string hold, proper back tension/pulling through the shot), there is no right or wrong way to shoot a bow. important also to have a properly tuned bow with the correct arrows, which also takes a little trial and error.
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I used to be really fair shooting instinctively. Literally did not want to see anything but what I was hoping to hit and somehow the arrow would generally hit there. That went away.
Interesting that you mentioned gun barreling Jamie. I’ve been shooting three under and doing just that lately- and it’s the most consistent for of barebow shooting I’ve tried in years. First shot accuracy is great. Usually I need a warm up or two and that’s something a deer will not give. Here is my first group tonight from 30 yards... I’m digging it. I can see the flight of the arrow much better too which makes it a lot more fun! Cheating? Maybe. Don’t care.
Interesting that you mentioned gun barreling Jamie. I’ve been shooting three under and doing just that lately- and it’s the most consistent for of barebow shooting I’ve tried in years. First shot accuracy is great. Usually I need a warm up or two and that’s something a deer will not give. Here is my first group tonight from 30 yards... I’m digging it. I can see the flight of the arrow much better too which makes it a lot more fun! Cheating? Maybe. Don’t care.
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Here are three more from 20 and 25 respectively. It’s a very repeatable method. I’d encourage anyone to try it.
OO2
Well-Known Member
gun barreling isn't "cheating". I don't understand why would you suggest that it is Brock? I've tried it, but it isn't for me. I think that if I was more into competitive 3D archery, I would try to learn to shoot this way because it is the easiest way to achieve supreme accuracy by most accounts.
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Perhaps I have it in my head that it isn’t “traditional “ or is cheating because years ago in the traditional class the IBO did not allow it. Had to shoot a longbow cut no less than 1/8” off center, wooden arrows and split fingers. I don’t know who laid out those rules but I suppose whom ever it was shot that way. I just want the dang arrow to go about where I want it on the first shot. It’s quite possible to shoot aerial targets well this way too.
I shoot 3-under and don't really "gun barrel" the arrow at all if I'm inside 25 yards. I feel like it's mostly instinctive. Sure, I can see the arrow in my peripheral vision and it IS somewhat of a reference point, especially for windage, but most of my focus is on the spot I want to hit. Like Jamie said, once you shoot enough arrows it begins to feel automatic, and more "instinctive." On the other hand, when I shoot out to 40 yards, my arrow point is right on the money for that yardage... so I make a conscious effort to gun barrel the arrow. This is just for practice and fooling around of course. It's really fun to watch a feathered arrow fly 40 yards in a huge looping arc and finding it's way to the vitals of a foam target. My opinion is, it doesn't matter how you make that arrow find it's mark. As long as it makes you smile that's what counts. The bottom line is you're still shooting a bow without wheels, sights, a rest, or anything else.
I'm basically the same way. From what I understand, that's considered split vision shooting. I don't care what it's called, it works for me. I reference the arrow for windage, but I'm not aiming with the arrow tip. I, personally, can't do that without closing my left eye. I started this little journey thinking I would gap shoot like that and couldn't do it.
OO2
Well-Known Member
Doing my best to shoot while I’m at school. Trying to set up scenarios in my mind and act out the real thing (as best I can) So far so good. This was the first shot. Shots opened up when I was just flinging arrows but when I slowed down and focused on situations I was shooting middle of the target. Still at 15 yards. That’ll be my kill window if I want to finally kill one with my recurve. These new heads should do the job nicely.
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Excellent shooting! Keep up the great work man.
I finally got my new string from mountain muffler a few days ago. The string is incredibly quiet btw... I couldn't believe how loud my black widow string was, comparatively. Anyway, tonight I got around to tying in a clicker draw check and did some shooting with it. While I do like the draw check aspect, I absolutely HATE the noise associated with it. The initial click isn't too terribly loud, but certainly loud enough to ruin the element of surprise. And the ensuing click on the shot is downright obnoxious. I can't handle it. It's just way too damn loud for me to tolerate. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I was really looking forward to using that clicker to help tighten my groups, but the fact is the sound is just too big of a distraction for me.
I finally got my new string from mountain muffler a few days ago. The string is incredibly quiet btw... I couldn't believe how loud my black widow string was, comparatively. Anyway, tonight I got around to tying in a clicker draw check and did some shooting with it. While I do like the draw check aspect, I absolutely HATE the noise associated with it. The initial click isn't too terribly loud, but certainly loud enough to ruin the element of surprise. And the ensuing click on the shot is downright obnoxious. I can't handle it. It's just way too damn loud for me to tolerate. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I was really looking forward to using that clicker to help tighten my groups, but the fact is the sound is just too big of a distraction for me.
OO2
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
Sounds like the mountain muffler string is pretty nice. Will be looking forward to further reviews as the season goes on.
That’s a bummer about the clicker not working for you. I don’t seem to notice the click upon release. Have you tried putting tape on it to quiet it up? Even if you make it so it isn’t audible you should still be able to feel the dimple flex on the metal so you know you lock into the same draw spot.
I didn't try to tape it. I was so disgusted with the thing I didn't waste any time taking it off my bow. LOL. I think a big part of it is that we're getting very close to bow season opening, and I'm shooting well enough without the clicker that the idea of learning something new this late in the game is a bit risky. Maybe if I tinker with it again at the start of next summer I may come around to the idea. But for now, I'm just gonna stay the course. That mountain muffler string is fuggin legit, though. It took almost a month to get it but it seems to be well worth the wait so far.
I don't have a Mountain Muffler string, but I did get his Hush Kit and put it on my D97 string. It definitely helps deaden the shot and is really simple to set up. As a bonus, when you buy the Hish Kit from him you get enough material to do two strings, and I think it was only around $12.
OO2
Well-Known Member
I’m liking where I’m sitting at 15 yards right now. Seem to be hanging around the kill zone. Variation L-R is from me casting hand out or not seeing arrow hit before dropping bow arm. I like how these simmon broad heads are flying and I have oriented the blade so it’s giving me, dare I say it, an aiming point at 15 yards. Top of the arc on the bottom of the head gets on vitals and the arrow is released. I’ll take what I can get after my results the last two years.
It’ll all be for real come the 28th!
It’ll all be for real come the 28th!