Struggling with 3D?

[KYFOXSTICK]

I am new to traditional archery and I am aware that nothing about my form and shot sequence is anywhere near perfect. I shoot a indoor 20 yard spot league during the week and generally hit fairly well for my limited experience. However, when I get on the outdoor 3D range on the weekends it's like I have never shot a bow. I feel like I do everything the same but something is apparently different. I might shoot two great shots followed by a complete miss. I do not feel it is target panic. I know that practicing all the fundementals for years is the key....just curious to see if anyone had similar issues when starting into traditional archery. Thanks in advance for any help.

[McDave]

Animals are different from spots. The spots help you to focus your attention to the middle. The animals diffuse your attention all around.  I just shot in a 42 target 3D tournament today, and I can guarantee you that I would have shot a better score on bullseyes.  For one thing, you can miss a bullseye in any direction and still get a score. On a 3D range, some targets are wide but have very little high/low tolerance, while others are upright but have very little left/right tolerance. Others are at angles.  Plus some of the targets don't have very good backstops, and the chance of a lost arrow nags at your mind. Altogether a very entertaining, if humbling, way to spend a day.

[S.C. Hunter]

Everything McDave said above. I also see people struggle with 3D because now you are not on a set 20 yard range indoors. Being outside with everything around you is a distraction plus a animal at 20 yards in the woods may look longer if it is in a funnel type of lane. Indoors you know that shot is 20 yards every time you let a arrow fly. A large animal at 40 yards may seem closer because of the size and a racoon at 18 yards may look 30 yards away. 3D shoots are great for this reason it trains you to judge distance if you use a aiming method. If you shoot instinctive or split vision it trains your brain to see a target and know what your hold is by repetition and from seeing your arrows flight over and over again. Probably the most important thing is to believe you are going to make the shot.

[KYFOXSTICK]

Thanks for the replies. I am not concerned with score but  i am concerned with making ethical shots on animals because preparation for the hunting season is my main concern. I do shoot a instinctive type method and I agree that judging yardage is a issue and great practice. However, I make bad shots on targets at ranges inside 20 as well. When shooting at a dot I can focus on that dot and have fairly good results at close distance. However, when I focus on the spot I want to hit on a 3D target I tend to struggle. But, if I can shoot multiple arrows at a 3D target I tend to get better but still lack the consistency that I have on spots. Thanks again and I really appreciate the input.

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by KYFOXSTICK:
Thanks for the replies. I am not concerned with score but  i am concerned with making ethical shots on animals because preparation for the hunting season is my main concern. I do shoot a instinctive type method and I agree that judging yardage is a issue and great practice. However, I make bad shots on targets at ranges inside 20 as well. When shooting at a dot I can focus on that dot and have fairly good results at close distance. However, when I focus on the spot I want to hit on a 3D target I tend to struggle. But, if I can shoot multiple arrows at a 3D target I tend to get better but still lack the consistency that I have on spots. Thanks again and I really appreciate the input.

I just want you to think of a few targets that gave you trouble or that you missed all together. Are you absolutely sure you picked a spot on the animal? Sometimes people say they pick a spot and the still look at the entire animal. If you do this the anxiety of a possible miss just gets worse. The short ones are the ones you must truly focus on because when you make a bad hit on them or miss it is tough to swallow. The short ones seem so close the anxiety of a miss sets in if you don't burn a hole in your spot. These targets are easy to look at the whole animal with no focus. If you use the method you described (instinctive style)some people using this method will begin to try and aim if they miss, and then you just confuse the brain because now you are trying something you don't practice. So you begin to guess where to hold or try to use the arrow and now you are completely lost. Answer those questions as honestly as you can and you may find your answer.

I forgot to add when you use more of a instinctive style you really rely less on knowing an exact yardage. You more or less feel the shot if that makes any sense. When you get a chance to go back in the woods or a open field find a leaf or pinecone on the ground look at it, come to full draw focus on it and don't worry about the distance and let that arrow go. You may shock yourself if you just trust it and let it happen.

[reddogge]

Just a couple of tips for 3-D shooting. There are no unethical shots in 3-D as it's just a game. All shots are ethical at a foam animal.

One tip is to defer to shoot last in your group so hopefully someone will put an arrow in the spot and you can use it an an aiming point.

Another tip is to pick out a shot out portion of the vitals or at least an area with a few holes to aim at.

Thirdly if you become frustrated try working on a gap method to at least put you in the ballpark so you will hit the animal and not blow shots over or under them. Gap shooting become more instinctive over time and you can still shoot your close in targets instinctively as before.

[KYFOXSTICK]

Thanks for all the advice. I practiced for a few hours today on some 3d targets and I realized two things. One...I have a hard time focusing on the spot I want to hit. After reading some your advice I wanted to make sure I was focusing on a small spot and I'm not sure that I am. Hopefully this will become easier with practice as I'm sure it will.

Second, I noticed that my form does not feel nearly as good as it does when I'm shooting indoor or at the blind bail. So I might be suffering from a little fear of missing on the 3ds as well. As the day went in I did progressively get better by focusing on my shot.

I have watched the first 3 volumes of masters of the barebow and it seems that a gap method is the way for distances past say 25 yards. I would be interested in trying this type of aiming even though I never plan to actually shoot a animal outside of twenty yards.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by KYFOXSTICK:
Thanks for all the advice. I practiced for a few hours today on some 3d targets and I realized two things. One...I have a hard time focusing on the spot I want to hit. After reading some your advice I wanted to make sure I was focusing on a small spot and I'm not sure that I am. Hopefully this will become easier with practice as I'm sure it will.

Second, I noticed that my form does not feel nearly as good as it does when I'm shooting indoor or at the blind bail. So I might be suffering from a little fear of missing on the 3ds as well. As the day went in I did progressively get better by focusing on my shot.

I have watched the first 3 volumes of masters of the barebow and it seems that a gap method is the way for distances past say 25 yards. I would be interested in trying this type of aiming even though I never plan to actually shoot a animal outside of twenty yards.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Glad you were able to find some things to try in all the suggestions that were offered. Now for Gap shooting. Someone else may have to chime in because I know to little about it to be of any help. Good luck!

[reddogge]

It seems there are two methods of seeing the gap. One method sees the gap at the target in real inches under the target (ie: point of arrow 18" under target at 20 yards for instance). The other method sees the gap 30" in front of the bow (ie: 1/2" gap between point of arrow and target at 20 yards). RangerB has discussed the first method in his video and the second method is being discussed right now over at archerytalk.

Very interesting stuff.

[KYFOXSTICK]

Shot great today on the 3d course. I have found two things that you guys mentioned that has really helped me. First, truly focusing on the spot I want to hit has made my misses still hit relatively close...at least for me with limited experience. Second, having faith and confidence in my shot. Trusting my instincts and not trying to aim has really improved my shots at all distances.

Looking at a spot you want to hit and watching the arrow hit exactly where you are looking is a amazing feeling. I cannot thank you guys enough for input. Today is the first day that I truly felt confident that I was going to hit what I was looking at. With your help, I am completely confident I will be ready for the 2013 hunting season. Thanks again