I've shot instinctive since '06...

[twostrings]

and absolutely love that I'm hunting accurate inside of 20 yards! I got into trad archery for many reasons, but one of the main ones was the ability to shoot without a sight in hunting situations. For that reason, I was quick to adopt a strict instinctive shot.

However, I am not a stellar shot, I've never been able to consistently rattle arrows together, and though it is fun to shoot the long arrow, I can't do it that well. I'd like to improve my overall game so I'm going to experiment with gapping in the off season this year.

Anyone else ever added gapping to their instinctive game? Did it in fact help your instinctive shot in the long run? Any pointers you would give?

Thanks,
Matthew

[reddogge]

Yep. It helped stop my occaisional pesky high shot at those mid range targets. I draw the arrow quickly setting the gap and switch focus on the target so I'm sort of shooting instinctive anyway.

My advice is to google RangerB's videos on gap shooting for a how to.

[Terry Green]

I never did....I just dedicated myself to learn the trajectory of the arrow at the speeds I shoot.  Multiple bow weights and arrow weights modified so that I'm shooting around 180-185 no matter my set up.

This takes lots of arrows at longer distances and striving to be accurate at longer distances.  It does take time but can be done.  Luckily I had the time at hand ....at the time.  If I had to learn it now, it would be difficult.  Too many irons in the fire.

Best of luck to you either way....    

[McDave]

Many people like to shoot instinctively at shorter distances and gap at longer distances. I have done that for years. However, once you become aware of the arrow point, it doesn't go away. Pretty soon, I began "gapping" at all distances. What I eventually did was to stop actually measuring the gap and start instinctively setting the gap for whatever felt right for the shot. You can get very accurate using this method of "instinctigap" shooting.  I don't know if his is the method Terry uses, but from what I understand, this is the method Howard Hill and Rick Welch have used.

[dragonheart]

Shoot longer distance, 40 or more yards, at a large bank along a creek or such.  Avoid shooting at a "spot" or "bullseye" altogether.  Just look at the middle of the area to hit at 40 yrds and allow your brain to center the spot.  Concentrate on the middle, but avoid busting a blood vessel tring to hit a tic-tac at 40 yrds!  Your brain will get a chance to "imprint" the trajectory of the arrow flight.  This is the one constant, given you draw the arrow the same length, same weight arrow etc.  Shooting only at short distance, your brain never gets that chance to imprint the arc.  The masters of  the old school archers shot lots of arrows at longer distance.  they simply never got hung up on this only under 20 yrds stuff.  Shoot one set up or very similiar setup for the entire season or year.  Changing arrows, bow, bow styles only leads to a lack of confidence and IMHO that is the most important factor in sending a broadhead into the right place on a critter.

[NBK]

I just finished writing a huge paragraph on why I prefer to shoot instinctive and not gap shoot.  I'll paraphrase it by simply saying that my typical hunting opportunities are 20 yards and under and I'm simply more effective shooting instinctive.  There are sooo many variables in a hunting scenario:  the animals approach, where is the draw opportunity, where is the shot opportunity, what's the animal's demeanor?, will it hit my scent stream?, etc.  The art of simply looking at what you want to hit and putting the arrow there is what drew me to traditional, and I love every second of trying to master it.  Personally, I hope I never do, because then what would I do?

[So-Mo Archer]

Dragonheart has a good point, in that one needs to shoot at an area as opposed to a spot at greater distances. Also, make sure that you shoot the same way each time, close or far, so that you can use what you learn at the bale in the woods.

[twostrings]

Thanks for all the input! It seems to me that the majority of you are politely suggesting that I stick to the instinctive shot over playing around with gapping. Does that sound about right?

If so, I guess the question would have to be "Will I mess anything up in the long run if I do play with gapping?"

Thanks,
Matthew

[dragonheart]

Originally posted by twostrings:
Thanks for all the input! It seems to me that the majority of you are politely suggesting that I stick to the instinctive shot over playing around with gapping. Does that sound about right?

If so, I guess the question would have to be "Will I mess anything up in the long run if I do play with gapping?"

Thanks,
Matthew

Ask yourself what in the sport are you most interested in?  If you strictly want to shoot well at targets, (field, 3-D, shooting groups, indoor) then conscious gap shooting is going to rise up.  When you talk with folks at that level of competition shooting, all of the top archers shoot some type of "system" of aiming.  

If you strictly want to shoot animals, instinctive shooting lends itself to odd bow and body positions.  It also works well as a "reactionary" technique.  Similiar to wing shooting with a shotgun.  Hours, days, weeks, and years of ingraining swing up and shooting can lead to some awesome shooting at realtively close range.  The difference between shooting game and targets is the stationary targets don't move, and game animals are moving alot of the time.

Hunting method has something to do with it also.  Are you spot and stalk primary or treestand, ground blind?  A blind typically has something set up to stop or slow the animal down to give the archery hunter a chance to get "just right" with the shot.  The animal does not always cooperate, of course.     :D   Gap or instinctive either will work well for this type of hunting method.  

At longer ranges, we all have to adjust something to make the arrow hit the intended area.  I have shot with guys that have multiple anchors on the face, lower for longer, higher for shorter.  I have shot with guys that knew at 80 yrds they were this many feet above the target or used the shelf and stacked up where the arrow rest was, etc.  
This was in a target setting.

In hunting, shot decisions have to be made quickly, and at times from unorthodox stance.  You also have the "being under the influence of adrenaline" factor.  It can be difficult to think about an aiming method when your heart is pounding out your chest!  

Instinctive shooting lends itself to looking at where you want the arrow to go and allowing the shot to happen in a more reactionary way.  It takes practice of the shooting form fundamentals just as any method.  You will find that in any given shooting method, certain shot scenerio's will have plus and minus.

Stick with it, whatever you decide and give it a chance.  

 

[Goshawkin]

Does John Shulz use Howard's system of "split vision"? If so that pic shows it works in pretty unorthodox positions as well!  :eek:

[twostrings]

Dragon Heart, thank you for the explanation...and the time to write it out for me. I'm going to continue working on my instinctive method. The reason I love archery is because I hunt with a bow. Targets are fun, but not my end game.

I really appreciate all of your insight and opinions. It's really great to have such a great place to talk with other archers and learn from one another.

Time to go shoot!

Matthew

[Stumpkiller]

I shoot instinctive out to 25 yards (and replace the occasional nock monthly, and my shafts are grooved from strikes by the next arrow).  I also use point-of-aim past 30 yards and stump shoot ( or field archery targets) out to 80 yards.  I am uncertain just what "gap" shooting is, but I know if I hold 12 feet over a target with the shoulder of the tip of my arrow I will be close enough to hit a stump.  If I put the seam between head and shaft on a target at 65 yards I hit often enough to imnpress compound shooters.

[Terry Green]

I made this shot just this year....right in front of 6 compounders....100 yards at midnight....instinctive.

Needless to say, it blew their minds, and one bowyer now has 6 bows on order because of it...I'm not even kidding...

   

[reddogge]

You had to hear the arrow striking home. Unbelievable shot. Bragging rights forever!!!!

[twostrings]

Terry, what a phenomenal shot. Great job helping 6 guys pick up trad gear!

Matthew

[Wild Bill MCP 808]

Just keep shooting often. Always vary your distances. You own computer will make the adjustments. Knowing your equipment limitations goes along way for accuracy along with form. Stay with instictive shooting. You will get better in time. Just like "Stumpkiller" said you will break some nocks and start smacking arrows in time.

Enjoy! Wild Bill

[TSP]

Most instinctive shooters cannot shoot as well as a good gap or sight shooter, that's just the way it is.  But we all have our own goals and aspirations.  If constant nock-busting accuracy with a bow is your lifelong quest then instinctive is in reality a darned poor choice, as are old-style bows and arrows.  But I'll say this.  Many of us would rather suck at shooting wings off gnats with old-fashioned methods, than excel at driving tacks with bows and arrows that rob most of the challenge from the effort.  There is nothing like depending on one's own faculties to feel like you've accomplished something and I can think of no better way to follow that mindset than to shoot with that mindset.  I guess I'd rather stop and smell the rose than be hell-bent to shoot all the petals off it.  Give me an old-style bow n'arrow, and an instinctive shooting style, any day of the week.

[zetabow]

I started off Instinctive and when I moved to longer range IFAA Field/3D and I started to use Split vision/Gap,I still use all these aiming methods and can still shoot Instinctive to a good standard but keep it under 20y these days and leave the other aiming methods to the longer shots, they all work if selected for the right shot conditions.        

     

Me and my Horsebow and some Aerial targets shot Instinctive.

[charles m]

I always liked these as they show what you can do, and beyond 20 yards if you want to apply yourself.

 Broadside profile with wife\\'s commentary   2.0 MEG  wmv file


  Over the Pond......

And he actually applies his instinctive shooting in hunting situations and kills stuff.