shooting when your old and grey

[sweet old bill]

It just seems the more I shoot, and get older ( now 69 ) I just seem to have more fun. I shoot both the compound and recurve bow.

I have been shooting about a 1/2 hour a day with the recurve and my plan it finally to get good enough to take a deer this fall.

 Seem strange but have about 40+ deer with the bow ( compound ), but have in the past put away the recurve when it came to hunting. I just did not want to stick one in the butt.

 But I now have started getting good groups of arrows from 10 to about 22 yards. Now what I found was the suggestions from this site about 4 months ago, someone said how they shot was to just shoot 1 arrow and then take a few steps back and shoot another arrow. So that you continue to have a new look at the target with each shot.

The other was not only to pick that spot on the target but to work just on form. I found this was key to me, I started with a blank bale and just would draw, lock in, pick that spot, release and keep that bow arm up till I saw the arrow hit the spot I had aimed at. The blank bale seemed to help me more than anything to get over early release ( target panic )

 The other actvity I have been doing was just once a week Is I have some old wood arrows with blunts. I walk the back ridge and shoot at stumps.

So you guys that some days want to just toss the trad bow away there is hope for all of us.

[magnus]

Good for you Bill! Hunting with trad gear will give you a new enjoyment to the sport. Start out with ground hogs this summer and squirrels in the early season. Great practice for hunting at live game with trad gear. Plus they get you pumped up as well. Enjoy the journey.

[KyStickbow]

That's awesome man...I will be taking my bow out this fall for my rookie season. I can't wait!!!!

[Night Wing]

I've always had more fun shooting a recurve. When I was shooting a compound, I was always fiddling with sights, stabilizers, etc. It made it feel more like "work" to me. I haven't shot my two compounds in at least 7 years.

[Whip]

Good for you Bill!  Your routine is sure to produce results.  
One other one you can add as hunting season draws closer is to pick up the bow and make the first shot count.  Keep a log every day of your first shot of the day.  Kill or no kill.  Knowing that the first shot is the only one that counts really helps to improve the focus when it matters.

[Bill Carlsen]

Bill: You should try and make it to the Muzzy stump shoot in Jewett,NY this August. You will meet a bunch of trad shooters and have the most fun you ever had with a bow.

[2fletch]

Bill, I'm 67 and shoot mostly once per week. I find that eye sight is my biggest problem, but I also don't have the consistancy in form compared to about 15 years ago. I agree with most of what others are saying. Stump shooting, first shot, and small game shooting are great ways to prepare for the season. You can do it. Good luck.
 

[straitera]

Great stuff Bill! I know a few snowtops shooting as they always did. Hope I (60) can keep it up all the way to the dirt bed. No rush either.

[Eugene Slagle]

Sounds great Bill, I have a friend that is 87 & outside of an auto accident that required 9 rods placed in his back he shoot daily as well, Told him I want to grow up to be like him.

Glad that the advice that you found on here has helped you get closer to your goal.

[bro-n-arrow]

I'm 72 and have gotten many deer with a bow. Now my quest is to get a elk with my longbow.Will keep trying as long as i'm able.Things like this will keep you young.good hunting LEN

[Bobaru]

I'm with Whip.  I shoot lots and lots of arrows.  But, I started a new thing for myself, my "cold-shot diary."  It started simple, but I've added a few things - elevation & distance to target along with where I hit the target ( eg: "12 o'clock" is most often where I miss).  Of course, distance to center is what I'm really looking for.  

I'm guessing two things: (1) if you can stack good shots in a string, one is ready for hunting and (2) if you stack the shots, day after day, it builds confidence.

[bear1336]

BIll
I am 65 and I tried to shoot at lest 12 arrows every other day and try to stump shoot once a week. Still make my yearly deer hunting trip to Grayling,Mi and will continue to do so as long as I can get around.
Good Luck and keep shooting.
Dave

[JimL]

Alrighty, Good for you.

[paperenginner]

I finaly took my recurve out last year.  I had killed quite a few with my compound but was ready to take the leap.  The end result was two large bucks.  One I put the arrow in his rack and the other barely pierced his back.  Not quite "stuck in the butt" but close enough and both are living today!  I had the same concerns starting out that you did.  I was really confident when shooting targets or birds or squirells.  My problem was when the first buck walked under my stand my mind drifted into "Compound mode".  And by that I mean instead of focusing on one point behind the shoulder while drawling I pulled back and zoned out.  This is what I would do with my compound.  With my compound I would normally focus in at full draw and settle my pin behind the shoulder.  But since I was shooting my recurve instictively I was releasing when my finger touched my mouth.  I found that I was looking other places (antlers) at this point and my arrow flew where I was watching.  

So my only piece of advise is to try and practices as if that deer is walking into your target.  Then when you are in the field this fall try to focus on your shooting rythm and not fall into your Compound mode.  Hopefully you don't have the same problem.

[Jock Whisky]

Bill

See below

JW

[Roadkill]

I am 63 and shoot weekly at the shop. It is still great to spin shafts in the local shop. It is an activity designed to keep one young. Shoot on. Shoot on

[RC]

My Main Hunting Buddy is 67 and he gets it done with his longbow. Dropped down to about 42lbs and 550 grain arrow and is a pigs worst nightmare. We used to hunt together every week now he messed that up by getting......married...
  Stay after them Mr. Bill you`ll gett`em.RC

[ronp]

Great post, Bill.  Keep up the good work.    

Are you going over to OXTAR at the end of June to practice for this fall?