"Instinctive" shooting/aiming AND???

[wesome]

I am Really not trying to stir the pot, but I have some relatively neophyte questions... It is my desire, and lofty goal to be able to peel an apple (pointing and shooting, or "Instinctively" or Star Wars if you prefer)with a broadhead from 20 yds by Sept. 15th. (I don't care what this aiming method is called or what is seen or not seen in peripheral vision). I can imagine a real hunting advantage to being able to take a faster shot, as well as close-in shots at slow moving game. This is something I would not do w/ a compound. I would also like to return to my early days of shooting small game w/ the bow. That said, I can also see the advantage of a sight or alternate aiming methods for longer shots- for me anything over 20 yds (or maybe 15!). Ron LaClair touched on this in the Masters of the Barebow saying he used whatever he needed to get the arrow to the target. So I'm wondering, do any folks here use multiple aiming methods? If so, which? Do you think using multiple means will slow ones "progression as an archer?" or cause "bad habits?" Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

[McDave]

I had a Hoyt Gamemaster for a while with a sight, and my plan was to do pretty much what you are planning.  Since you hold the bow in a vertical position when shooting with sights, and canted when shooting trad, the sight is more or less out of the way when you don't want to use it.  I've also tried shooting gap for longer shots in competitions, and trad for shorter shots, which some well known archers have done successfully, according to what I've read.

I don't do that anymore.  I decided that in the limited amount of time I have to practice, I should just focus on what I like the best, which is trad.  I'm certainly not as good as I would like to be in Trad, and as long as I feel that way I'll probably focus on that.

But what you're proposing should work; no reason not to do it if you want to.

[LCB]

Personally I can't switch back and fourth from instinctive to point of aim. I feel that both train the brain differently and at this point in my shooting career I can't flick the switch as easily as others.

I also believe that instinctive shooting requires some natural ability. In other words it's something that can be done by everyone, but mastered by few.

[X2]

Most of my practice is from 10 to 30 yards.  I just look at what I want to hit.  About once every 5 or 6 shooting sessions I shoot 35 to 60 yards.  I use the point of the arrow as reference.  I do this just so I know where to aim on the longer shots.  I don't shoot very much at those distances, so most of my practice is 10 to 30 yards.  I have a hard time switching back and forth, so I practice the two separately.