G F Asbell's Shooting Stance in Dec/Jan TB

[Flashman]

I have been practicing this technique for about six weeks, from 12 to 24 arrows a day, and I think I have it down.  Accuracy is much improved.  Interestingly, accuracy improves as I continue to shoot in a session as opposed to the past when my first shots were the most accurate.  It probably has little to do with the technique but perhaps it does help with concentration.

[acolobowhunter]

I attended one of Fred's classes a few years ago.  According to his stance and form, I do everyting WRONG.  I shoot mostly in the traditional stance ( upright and straight bow).  I seem to do pretty good at all the 3D shoots and also at hunting.  Have been shooting like this for 35 yrs. now.  I had to laugh a while back watching a couple guys trying out Fred's stance and canted bow.  They must have spent at least a minute getting their feet set just right, bending over and leaning forward then canting the bow just right.  They really looked like they were in pain.  Each to his own, but the animal would have been a mile away before they got a shot off.

[Daddy Bear]

You can apply the same logic in reverse:

(I watched someone try 'a new technique' and it took them at least a minute to get their position correct.) This would apply to everything, not just Fred's stance.

(A hunter who was working his way through some brush and low branches finds himself with a clear shot on the game animal he seeks, but he never learned to shoot his bow from any position other than standing straight up in a fixed target stance with his feet just so. He needs to adjust his position so he can stand erect and square himself to the animal.) Each to his own, but the animal would have been a mile away before he got a shot off:)

[Terry Green]

Yep Daddy Bear....correct.

I'm not sure why Fred squats as he draws, but I've shot many an animal while squatting, kneeling, rotated every which away and canting in various angles.

I've always said that proper alignment and form is from the waist up, and you can take that with you once you learn to many shots that are offered in the field.  It's best to learn to control your bow and not let the bow control you if you want to capitalize on the shots offered in the field.

[junker]

i am a new shooter.  bought my first recurve last year and became addicted.  i shoot in lost tribe club of tn and i started copying the form/posture of some of the better shooters.  all that did was mess me up.  just before bow season started; i started bending from the waist and canting my bow.  i started shooting lights out.  i practice shots between 20 and 33 yards.  
i know i'm not the best target man; but I have shot:
6 point at 48 yds (lucky shot....didn't realize it was that far but she only took 20 steps)
5 point at 18 yds
a doe at 23 yds
and a squirrel at 12 yds

i shoot instinctively but i do pay attention to tip of my arrow

[Stick_N_String]

I agree with Terry, proper alignment comes from the waist up doesn't really matter where your feet are at or which direction your toes are pointing.
I hadn't really paid much attention to either, until I read Fred's article in the Dec/Jan issue of TBM. I've alway's been a rover, even with my compound bows. I try to practice shots from my knee's, squatting, standing, behind me, or whatever scenario I can come up with that might mimic a real life opportunity at game.
After reading Fred's article and having a buddy watch me shoot several shot's from varying position's, I do bend, twist, or whatever it takes to get my shoulder's aligned with my target.
Short point long story, the position of your feet is not nearly as important as the position of your upper body.
Daren

[Joshua Grimshaw]

This Year, I scared a deer off when I tried to move my feet while in the tree stand. The deer did not see me but heard the tree stand make a metallic noise. If I kept my feet still and twisted at the body (as I have practiced) I may have gotten a shot. Of course, if I had done some maintenance on the stand before the season, I may have also gotten a shot.

[et]

I fully agree that for hunting one needs to practice odd body positions for hunting. Being right handed I practice shooting with my right foot forward as when I'm stalking it is the one in front 50% of the time. Reverse canting can also be very beneficial. As has been mentioned above keeping the proper alignment is what is key to the shot.

In the same article he mentioned that shorter arrows are inherently more stable then long arrows. Can anyone explain why this is to me? My experience/intuition says otherwise so please educate me on this. It seems that cultures with the more primitive (simpler) bows use longer arrows for accuracy.

et

[McDave]

Primitive arrows typically have small, light points, or in some cases no points.  You would need a longer arrow to get the same spine than you would if you had a heavier, modern point, in order to get good arrow flight and therefore good accuracy.

Assuming you have two arrows of different lengths that are both equally straight and well tuned for a bow, I wouldn't imagine there would be much difference in stability between the long arrow and the short arrow.  I won't say there is NO difference, as I'm sure someone else knows of a reason why there would be some difference.

[saddlesmith]

I agree with Terry that upper body position is the most important part of your form. I have always been told that if you shoot from a tree stand ,you most shoot a little high if you want to hit your target.If you bend at the waist so everything is in alignment you can hold dead on.Upper body alignment is critical.saddlesmith

[hawgslayer]

 

I've tried the stance and I like it. I practiced with it until I got comfortable in the stance. If the stance works for you and your comfortable with it, then use it by all means. I'm a spot and stalk hunter and my confidence is a notch higher knowing I don't have to stand sideways to draw my bow and make the shot. IMHO!!!!!!!!