posted
I can see how getting proper form down is important for shooting competitions and backyard shooting. But in a hunting situation you might as well throw proper form out the window.It is extremely difficult to achieve proper form while shooting around brush or trying to remain concealed. Posts: 60 | From: Michigan | Registered: Sep 2011
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posted
you can still have perfect form while sneaking around a bush or laying on your side for that matter. Practicing your basic form (alignment of arms, release, bow cant, anchor, etc.), which all have variations, is very important in my opinion. Perfect "form" for target shooting is very different to hunting form. You must be able to adapt to all situations, but still keep your ingrained basic form. ...Does that make sense?
Posts: 741 | From: Bella Vista Arkansas | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Makes perfect sense to me, because I practice form while shooting, I can shoot pretty much any bow just as well as the next. When in awkward positions it's more likely you will hit what your aiming at if you usually have good form.
-------------------- [*]Leon Stewart 3pc. 64" R/D 51# @ 27" [*]Gordy Morey 2pc. 68" R/D 55# @ 28" [*]Hoyt Pro Medalist, 70" 42# @ 28" (1963) [*]Bear Tamerlane 66" 30# @ 28" (1966)- for my better half [*]Bear Kodiak 60" 47# @ 28"(1965) Posts: 1790 | From: Soviet state of N.J. | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
I like to think of proper Field/target form as my benchmark of my shooting abilities,if I cannot make good shots in perfect shooting conditions I'll be less able to make good shots at awkward angles/positions.
Once I get my tourney form perfected I then work on more difficult shooting angles/positions. I even able to make good shots laying flat on my back.
Posts: 402 | From: Tallinn Estonia | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Form & technique are positive reinforcement for good shooting. Can't remember the last time I had a perfect squared away opportunity at a moving animal in the deep woods.
-------------------- Buddy Bell
Trad is 60% mental & about 40% mental. Posts: 4460 | From: Texas | Registered: Oct 2007
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Tennis, trap & skeet, quarterbacks, golf, handgunners, baseball hitting, skiing, and....yes, archery all depend on good form for consistent results. Good form under ideal conditions will typically translate to better form (and results) when the situation is less than ideal. Good habits are hard to break, once ingrained in the mind. It took me a lot of years to "get" it...the importance of form and consistency to shooting a recurve or longbow well. I'm one of those who don't believe a poor archer can be a good bowhunter. Good, consistent, accurate shooting in ALL situations is one of the trademarks of a really good bowhunter.
Posts: 843 | From: OH - Buckeye Country | Registered: May 2004
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posted
Good form equals good shooting. Bad form equals an occasional lucky shot. The better form that one possesses the more luck will show up in the hunting situations.
quote:Originally posted by MicW: in a hunting situation you might as well throw proper form out the window.It is extremely difficult to achieve proper form while shooting around brush or trying to remain concealed.
Absolute totally false statement.
-------------------- Mr Terry.....will you turn on the crickets for me - Cade Cabrera Posts: 24247 | From: GAWGIA | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by MicW: in a hunting situation you might as well throw proper form out the window.It is extremely difficult to achieve proper form while shooting around brush or trying to remain concealed.
Absolute totally false statement.
In Michigan I hunt in wooded locations and in most cases have to shoot around obstacles.
I am not denying that practicing good form will help but it is when you get down and dirty that I believe form is secondary to the fundamentals and comfort of the shot.
I have seen it many times where a guy can stack arrows on a range, but in a tree stand or ground blind where the setting is less then ideal they can't hit the broad side of a barn if they were in it.
Also in my quest to become the Alpha Predator I have reviewed hours upon hours of video of the greats (Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Byron Freguson ect...) and if I were to hide their identity they would be judged poorly on their form in a hunting situation.
I am not trying to say practicing form is the wrong thing to do, I am just trying to boil this down to its fundamentals of the draw and use that to base my efforts for all situations.
Posts: 60 | From: Michigan | Registered: Sep 2011
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I have shot a recurve in the past for target shooting (an old bear recurve don't remember what model), and went to a compound bow for hunting. The recurve I have shoot now is a Samick sage 60#, I have nothing against this bow so far it seems to work well.
Now I am thinking of getting into Trad. hunting exclusively, Is there a big difference in getting a higher end (custom) bow?
And as just a matter of your own opinion, what maker and/or model would you suggest and why.
Stick around.......
-------------------- Mr Terry.....will you turn on the crickets for me - Cade Cabrera Posts: 24247 | From: GAWGIA | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I can't recall any videos I've seen of the bowhunters you mentioned where they have thrown form out the window to take a shot on game. And I doubt any of them would take a shot if they had to throw form out the window.
Perhaps you need to explain to us what your definition of "form" is?
To the majority of "bowhunters" form is considered alignment and consistent anchor.
A bow can be shot from any angle of "cant", and any form of body contortion, and as long as your alignment and anchor are consistent you are using good form.
Without proper alignment and anchor your shot is all but relying on a hope and a prayer!
**Edited after seeing Terry's highlight above**
Just saw your post on shooting a cable gun. You can't shoot an arrow launching device the same as you can a trad bow, a bow can be shot from any angle or position. Explains why I've never shot the other and thus explains your confusion with form.
posted
As Terry adroitly puts it, "Form is from the waist up." The EASIEST way (but not the only way -- just the EASIEST)to LEARN form is the flat surface stance and upright posture but that is NOT form, just eliminates the weird positions until you learn the alignments necessary. Once you have that feel and knowledge, then it will not matter how you are standing/sitting/bending/ crouching you can still achieve your alignments!
IF you get into a position where you cannot achieve your alignment it would be best to NOT take the shot. No different than the target too far out of range. To be accurate and efficient you need to be able to get that alignment (form) in any position or else -- DON"T SHOOT!
-------------------- 9 H Hill bows 3 David Miller bows 2 Black Widow bows USA Archery, Level 4 NTS Coach Posts: 1377 | From: Grand Rapids, Minnesota | Registered: Feb 2009
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was blessed to make the shootdown round at the howard hill classic this past weekend made it through from top thirty down to top 8 , due to lack of form on my part , i collapsed slightly on what would end up sitting me down and shot a 5 low left on a turkey ,(im rh) this was an animal target and form is what kept me from advancing further, its the #1 most important aspect of shooting ! target or hunting , i took my largest whitetail from a crouched position in standing soybeans , in illinois 4 years ago , but my alignment was perfect and all due to practice ! so i believe that form is our foundation! and we build on that foundation, thanks for listening, Chuck
-------------------- 2010 ASA TRADITIONAL WORLD CHAMP Posts: 992 | From: albertville alabama,35951 | Registered: Apr 2009
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quote:Originally posted by moebow: As Terry adroitly puts it, "Form is from the waist up." The EASIEST way (but not the only way -- just the EASIEST)to LEARN form is the flat surface stance and upright posture but that is NOT form, just eliminates the weird positions until you learn the alignments necessary. Once you have that feel and knowledge, then it will not matter how you are standing/sitting/bending/ crouching you can still achieve your alignments!
IF you get into a position where you cannot achieve your alignment it would be best to NOT take the shot. No different than the target too far out of range. To be accurate and efficient you need to be able to get that alignment (form) in any position or else -- DON"T SHOOT!
And there it is!!
Thank you Moebow.
Alignment is the key. I would love to learn what it takes to achieve perfect alignment in any shooting condition.
Posts: 60 | From: Michigan | Registered: Sep 2011
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