Hitting Game

[britts]

This happens in reverse also. I know someone who is as good a shot at targets as I have ever seen and it doesn't bother him if 1,000 people are watching him. Put a buck in front of him at 15 yards and he's either going to miss or you're in for a long trailing job. So just because you can hit paper doesn't make you a good shot on game.

[James Wrenn]

I have a buddy that I honestly think is the worse shot I have ever seen.He is flat terrible and I would not be sfraid to let him launch arrows at me from 20yds.Still he kills stuff every year with a bow.He shoots them real close,misses a few and I am sure wounds a few.I know for a fact however he shoots no better in the woods than he does at targets.I personally don't think anyone does.They just get lucky or get closer shots than at the 3d. jmho

[Guru]

I never said that bad shooters won't bring home game. A guy that is a good woodsman,expereinced hunter, but can only shoot effectively at 10yds will bring home plenty of game. He knows his limits and makes it work for him.....That's a good hunter!  I'll put my money on a guy like that anytime over a hotshot with little hunting experience.

I'm talking about the original analogy about not being able to hit a 3d target,but can consistently kill squirrel size critters at 30yds.....moving no less    :rolleyes:

[Bonebuster]

If someone can shoot good on targets and fall apart at game, then why can`t the pendulum swing the other way?

I`m not really saying someone who shoots POORLY at targets can do amazing things in the woods, but I believe it IS possible to reach a higher performance level when the seriousness of a shot at an animal hits home.

Bad form equals bad shooting, regardless of the target, and no measure of adreneline is going to compensate for it.

A bad shooter is a bad shooter, but I believe there are shooters who reach a different level when the time is at hand.

[Don Batten]

Good point Curt. I will once again borrow a line from the spirit of the bow, dvd by the Wensel brothers. "archery is seeing how far you can get from the target and hit it. Bowhunting is seeing how close you can get and not miss." DB

[wapiti]

"It's totally possible...because the one thing I've learned about people is that we are wired similarly...yet diffently."


Being good at one or the other is totaly in the realm of things. I was shooting my bow at Dan Toelkes one evening and struggling with hit and miss as usual. Shooting with me was Andy Duffy. He is may well be the greatest sporting clays shooter to walk the planet. HE KNOWS OF HIT AND MISS AND WHY. He looked at me and asked do you miss game like that. I said no. His reply was you have any idea why you hit at 50 yds and then miss so bad? Why I asked. He said you think miss. It is all in your head. when you are out in the field you don't think about it and let instinct take over. "After you hit your mind goes to don't miss mode ".  " When I am in competion I NEVER EVER think about missing or a target that I missed,EVER". Too many subconsciously think miss and so they do .

I must say he is right. When I am working the target over and I am missing badly it is not from form but lacking concentration of just "getting it done". I truely belive many miss at the range because they are not letting their natural abilities do their best.

That one little bit of advice really helped. For many hunting is when the "game" face goes on. No pun intended.

BTW I think Andy charges $175/hr for advice like that. That guy is a machine! I listen when he speaks.