I can't decide if I've helped or hurt myself...

[shag08]

Hey guys. I have been bowfishing ALOT lately. My success rate is extremely good for the shots that I have to take. Very seldom do I get shots under 10 yards...most are between 15 and 20. I get very few shots from the bank as I have to do it. I have to find the fish then wait them out to come in range. There are various obstacles for them to pass on their way to me and I'm wide open to them. It's a whole lot like deer hunting.i wait for them to go behind a tree/log or have their back turned before I can draw or they bust me on the bank.

I know I take my time with these shots and pick a spot. And I kill fish that seasoned bow fishermen tell me are impossible shots.

Here's my problem...,I haven't shot at a target in the yard in over a month. I've been shooting and killing fish so I figured that was practice enough. I decided I'd shoot my widow longbow at some targets today....worst shooting secession I've ever had!

Target panic has crept in and screwed me completely on shooting at a bullseye. I can close my eyes and hold the bow at anchor forever...as quick as they open and I see a spot, the arrow is gone.

I honestly don't care a thing in the world about target shooting. It's just to stay in shape for hunting. I don't do tournaments or anything. I shoot for the sole purpose of taking game. I wish I could shoot nothing but live targets.

How is it I can hold and pick a spot and wait out a fish, but a bullseye screw me plumb up? If I can kill deer like I do fish I'd have no problems with it. But I'm at a loss about this and it has me worried.

[McDave]

I would imagine the excitement of hunting is enough to keep target panic at bay, at least for now. Target panic isn't a constant thing, it keeps changing.

Your description of being able to close your eyes and hold the bow at anchor forever, but when you open your eyes and see the spot, the arrow is gone, makes me think you are a good candidate for a trigger, because that's exactly what a trigger does: you hold on the target until the trigger goes off, and the instant the trigger goes off, the arrow is gone.  You're doing the same thing by closing your eyes and then shooting as soon as you open them, but of course that isn't a particularly effective trigger, since you aren't aiming at anything when your eyes are closed.

Popular triggers are clickers, touching a feather to your nose, or home-made gadgets you can snap with your thumbnail. Anything that is sort of under your control, but where you can't guess the exact moment it will go off.

[shag08]

Thanks McDave. I think I'll order a clicker and give that a try.

Yeah closing my eyes is useless in any and all situations. I was just doing it to be able to hold at anchor and not let her rip lol. I also tried holding and counting but that didn't seem to help much either. Once my brain saw everything lined up, it didn't matter what number I was on, the arrow was on its way. Those were good, accurate shots for the most part...but it's soooo aggravating to be going to 5 and just let fly at 3.

[McDave]

You also might want to try the book "Instinctive Archery Insights," by Jay Kidwell. He has some specific exercises for you to do to break the habit of releasing as soon as you are on target.

[reddogge]

Try some stump shooting in the yard with judo points. I find it helpful shooting at an object rather than a flat target. It's kind of like hunting.

[Todd Cook]

Shootin dots and shootin critters is two separate things, IMHO. I have good success on game and pretty fair on 3d, but I can't shoot dots to save myself.Anything with fur,fins,or feathers gets me locked in. I pick a spot, draw and shoot. Dots just don't hold my interest for very long, and I just don't aim as well.