Better practice????

[3Feathers]

What would you concider better practice for hunting?Stumpshooting or a burlap bag deer target?I am much better at stump shooting and wandering around the yard shooting at leaves than shooting at that bag target.Only using one arrow also.Seem to hit or get closer while shooting at stumps and leaves and such.But the bag target shoot 10 times  60/40 kill shots.It drives me crazy sometimes.Anybody else have the same problem????

[Ben Woodring]

Stump shooting is great for practice at unknown ranges in unfamiliar surroundings.  However picking little leaves, mushrooms and such doesn't require you to pick a spot on a sea of brown.  bag shooting with a deer outline with no aiming points is good for picking a spot...and if you can't pick a spot you will be a frustrated vegetarian or at best a pork eating deer hunter.  Did I mention practice picking a spot is paramount?  Pick a spot, pick a spot..a little something I say to myself every time I draw on deer....squirrels are easier for the same reason

[ArkyBob]

I now only use a bag target for tuning a bow.  I've found, like you, that shooting at a bag I don't concentrate nearly as well as when I am "stumping" in the yard or woods.  I take plastic soda bottles, gatorade bottles and even small stuffed animals and scatter them and pick shots from the last one I shoot at.  It has helped me a bunch on not just trying to hit an area but hitting a small object.  Good luck

BOB

[PeteA]

Been doing a lot of stumping this past year. We often pick a stump and a small shadow or spot on a stump and let it fly. My buddy brings a rangefinder and we range the distance AFTER the shot. It's surprising how accurate we are at longer distances 26-28 even 30 yards when we don't know we're at these yardages. I shoot a lot better at stumps then my bag target as well. I sometimes suspend a red ball in front of the target to force me to pick a spot. Never saw a deer with a red ball on it thou!

[JDunlap]

TP is worse when shooting at my bag target. don't know why. Seems I can stay locked in better when stump shooting. Really frustrating..

[WidowEater]

With stump shooting, you are shooting at unknown distances, with variable target texture, while out walking in the woods like you would do while stalking or still hunting.  I think stump shooting is head and heels better for real world hunting practice.

However the bag lets you work on form better. You cand dial in at known distances.  Picking a spot on the target may be harder.....at first.  Then you just look at the same spot on the target over and over and then all of the sudden you have made reverse progress.

[joe skipp]

Bag target for form...

Stumpshooting keeping it real...

[bornagainbowhunter]

I find that picking a spot on a black bear to be the hardest.  I am sure it is because the solid color.  I practiced that at the range for a bit and have overcome my problem.

Also, you might want to make sure your not focusing on your arrow so much that you can't pick a spot on the bag.

God Bless,
Nathan

[mcgroundstalker]

I too shoot well when picking a leaf or small clump of earth on the ground... Bag targets or 3D's make it a bit harder... Maybe all the (other) arrow holes makes your eyes wander... Try to imagine a very small leaf on your deer target... That will give you something to focus on...

... mike ...

[Frank V]

I think stump shooting is better. It's more fun than standing in your backyard, gets you into the hills. It's also unknown ranges.
Frank

[darin putman]

I too do better roving and shooting at various angles and things, also like to shoot at small golfball size wiffle balls with the kids.since I started doing this type of practice I hardly use field points at all as a matter of fact just received 6 more Judos through mail yesterday.I've also now know just how tough my douglass fir shafts from surewoods are, just put it this way I'm impressed!!!