Considering giving up

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Maybe you're just shooting too darn much..If each session is intense, maybe every other day would be better. Just let your body heal between days.Do something else..tinker with your bow, read a good book, something besides the physical act of shooting. Make sure you're not overbowed and tuning is good..and most of all--have fun.
If it isn't fun you need a break..either temporary or permanent.

[Lefty]

If your heart isn't in it than you should put it aside for now.  But if you are just a little discouraged, you should hang in there.  3 1/2 months is not nearly enough time.  That is a problem in the world we live in today.  We always want instant gratification.  For me archery is a journey that will last a life time.  A couple years of training to really start to become good and a life time trying to master.  Doesn't mean you can't hunt along the way, just know you limitations at the time and stay within them, allowing them to grow as your skill and experience grows.  Enjoy the journey and stop putting so much pressure on yourself to be an instant archer and remember it is suppose to be fun!

[Steelhead]

Stick with it!Get a lighter bow for sure.You may want to take a deeper hook on the string to help alleviate that numb finger.3 months is definatly not a very long time to master a trad bow.Its a long journey taken 1 step at a time.Shoot less arrows and concentrate more on each 1 you shoot.As far as some good coaching you might try a quality video for around 20$s or so.This is suppossed to be fun.Dont let it bum you out to much.practice at short range and someday you can definatly get a deer at short range to fullfil your original goal.Its a worthy goal and you will be better off for achieving it.Whether its sooner or later.best of luck to ya.

[8up]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and advice. I am not giving up just yet today was just a bad day in the midst of a lot going on. Youngest daughter to be married in 11 days. Oldest daughter is getting married in August and she hasn't learned to drive yet which has me driving 100 miles a day getting her to work.

Now as for my shooting. I maybe overbowed but I don't think so. 53@26 I also have a 46@26. My finger hasn't gotten worse since I doubled the leather. Only the bottom half of the first segment is effected and I think I may have found the reason for it. Seems while shooting 3 under I had unknowingly started shooting just 2 under not really using the ring finger causing the string tension to come across the bottom of the middle finger. The shoulder pain only happens when I shoot alot. Most days its 30 shots now but some days its more if I'm trying to work something out.

I have never shot with anyone and have never had anyone that knew what they were doing watch me. But that will change as we have a 3 day traditional archery shoot in 10 days and I will be there as much as possible. I do have a shooting question I will ask in a seperate post.

Thanks again everyone

[strick9]

I believe your shooting has decreased your stress whether you know it or not,,try to quit, bet you find yourself out there shooting for the reasons you never knew you were...there are these things attached to your boots called straps I sometimes also forget to grab them and pull but you just found yours.now pull. good luck and best wishes...

[OconeeDan]

8UP, you'll learn more about shooting in one day shooting with other people than you can realize.  Try to get with some experienced "old timers" at the shoot, the best thing you can do.
And a 53 lb bow is very stout for someone trying to learn proper form.
Dan

[TexMex]

Good Luck Bro.
 

[SteveMcD]

8UP.. I am very sorry to here that. I agree with Dano. What you need is a break for a while, then come back later. Sounds to me like you've been trying to hard. Shooting every day 5 days a week. My guess is you've been shooting lot's of arrows each day too. That is physically not good. Your body needs to build muscle and also repair. Shooting every other day would be better. When you come back.. Stop trying so hard. You should not force things, when the form is right, the bow will take care of the shot. First rule of archery... IT HAS TO BE FUN!  

   

[gordonf]

3 1/2 months might get you there if you are a particularly gifted archer. But if you are like the rest of us mortals then that's hardly anytime. It seems to me you need to reset your expectations if you are serious about your goal. Give yourself at least a year (or more) And pace yourself - you're not helping yourself by practicing to the point of injury.

[2-BIG]

8UP, I sent ya a PM. Hope it helps ya !  

[ChuckC]

8...trad archery is not for everyone.  It is no crime or shame to jump in and find out or decide that it is not for you.  The crime would have been in never trying it in the first place.  Compound bows are legitimate, fine shooting pieces of equipment and you should not think that you are taking a step back.  It is not back, just different, that's all.  Grab your compound and go for it.  Feel good about what you are spending your time with.  

I suggest you keep your trad equipment, at least for a while, because you may want to try again.  Its fun, but its not for everyone.

Good luck
ChuckC

[bjk]

I never can understand the drama of "I'm getting out, selling all my stuff..."  

As said above, this game isn't for everyone, no problem there.  As you go along you find out if this is something you can be accomplished at.  Anyone can have fun shooting a stickbow, not everyone can hunt with one.  If hunting with one is not in your future, going to trad shoots, etc... still can be.   There are changes you can make to see if maybe this still can be for you; lighter poundage, a sight, etc...in the end, it still may not be.

Hunt with what you are proficient with, shoot what you have fun with...you can do both.

Isn't it supposed to be about being there, the animals, the woods...blah, blah...to some the equipment is the most important aspect...I lean heavily away from that.

Have fun shooting...good luck hunting...remember, realizing that you are not proficient enough is not a bad thing...it might be the best thing.

[jonesy]

Never admit defeat!

[just a bit outside]

Don't give up! Take the advice of all these guys on here that have been shooting for a long time... drop bow weight. I've been shooting sporadically for just over a year now and I could SLOWLY see myself getting a little better. Then, I switched from a 52" Mighty Mag drawing about [email protected] to a 60" Zipper drawing about [email protected]. After just one outting, I could tell that I was 100% more comfortable shooting the lighter poundage. I was way more accurate. My form improved dramatically. And, my body didn't hurt the next day.

Just a little bit of a drop can make a huge difference. And everyone is right, you will have good days and bad days but when you have a bad day, just put it up early and take a break. Or, try some stump shooting at that point and attempt some crazy shots. That always cheers me up and gives me a good laugh.

Another tip... don't shoot alone all of the time. It's okay sometimes, but then again... it's good to have a friend with you to offer suggestions and laugh with you/at you when you do something goofy. Makes stump shooting much better too.

Just my two cents.

Greg

[Bowchef]

Ron, I sent you an email with an invitation.

[tecum-tha]

get the video from  www.pushrelaese.com  and shoot the right draw weight and matching arrows. It seems that your bow is too heavy and that you`re shooting too much training in bad form. Been there,done that. Everything changed in one afternoon with the above little DVD. This is not my video and I don`t get any endorsement from the guy. It just worked for a lot of fresh shooters I am teaching,too.

[Hatchet Jack]

Hang in there Buddy. I had the same problems that you are having to a tee. I made up my mind 2 years ago to shoot a recurve and harvest a whitetail with it. You no what, it's  taken me the whole 2 years to get ready to hunt with it.  I will hunt with it for the first time this archery season. The anticipation is killing me, I can't wait!!! So drop back and punt take a break and slow things up and it WILL come to you. It did for me and I feel it will for you! Goodluck and hang in there!!

Hatchet Jack

[Ray Hammond]

if you aren't having fun....why do it?

There are other things you can do with your time that could bring you joy...you shoot as much as an olympian practicing for world competition..that is wayyyy too much shooting for someone doing this to have a good time and take a deer.

Obsessing over poor shooting is sort of a self fulfilling prophecy(kind of like worrying about getting target panic)the more you get down on yourself...guess what?- the lousier you will shoot.

Positive thinking, knowing you are going to hit the target is the only thing you need in your head- especially when hunting.

I'm sorry you are having trouble...but I would slow down and consider your motivation before going further. It's not life or death to hunt with a recurve or longbow...its a choice. Make sure you decided to do it for the right reasons.There's no shame in deciding NOT to do it, is there?