When you first started...

[trad_admirer]

how well did you shoot?  I'm finding out that I suck pretty bad.  I had no idea that it would be this hard without wheels!  Before, I would get upset if my groups "blew up" to 2 or 3 inches at 50 yards.   Today I was tickled to death to hit the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket at 20 yards while stump shooting (I only shot once because I was afraid I'd miss if I shot again)!!!

So, did everyone start out this way or is it just me?  You guys that are really good shooters RAWK!

[Bear Heart]

Most people stink it up.  Some with experienced folks around them progress a little faster.  Remember it is supposed to be fun.

[R H Clark]

Everyone has to learn.

Take the things you learned from shooting your compound and apply them to your trad bow.

Too heavy a bow will make things very tough.

Most good shots I know have worked out some sort of aiming system.

Go to some 3D events,seek out the best shooters and politely ask for help or pointers when you find them on the practice range.Most good shots don't want any questions at the target stake.

[sdpeb1]

I dropped the wheels 2yrs ago. Got good fairly quick, within a few months I was shooting six arrows in 4-6in groups out to 35 yrds with my 41# longbow. Now a couple of months ago I bought a 48# longbow(w/different grip) and I can't group at 25yrds consistently. I've been shooting it just about every day(even at -20 degrees) and I just can't master this thing. Just within the last few days it's starting to get to me. I've never had anyone with experience help me, if you CAN find someone like this treat him well because they are hard to find. You almost have to get"Masters of the Barebow" and a book like "shooting the stickbow(Tony Cameron). Then you just have to shoot alot. I got to admit it's right up there with golf as being the hardest thing to be good and consistent with. I really don't mind having a bad golf day, but I want to hunt with this bow and I have to get consistent. If your out stump shooting it sounds like your having fun, and that is key to tradshooting.- Steve

[trad_admirer]

Thanks guys.  

My very first day of shooting I noticed that i wasn't anchoring AT ALL...   I had to remind myself that the fundamentals still applied.  I have no idea why I would've thought they didn't.

I'm going to my first trad event tomorrow and I will definitely be trying to pick a few brains while i'm there.

[McDave]

I think things like wondering how you're progressing, and what period of time it will take before you are able to shoot an X" group at Y yards, are goal oriented thoughts.  There is nothing wrong with being a goal oriented person, but if you are, there are lots faster ways to get to the point where you can shoot a tight group at 30 yards than traditional archery.

Traditional archery is a process oriented sport.  People like traditional archery if they like to shoot arrows.  Lots of arrows.  People who like traditional archery like to come home at the end of the day and relieve their stresses by flinging arrows in the backyard.  Naturally, we like to get better at it, and we generally do over time. But the GOAL of getting better at it is less important to most of us than the PROCESS of shooting arrows as an enjoyable end in itself, rather than a means to an end of attaining a certain level of proficiency.

So where does that leave you if you're a goal oriented person in a process oriented sport?  No different than you were before, I guess.  You don't need to make any apologies to anyone for being goal oriented, anymore than someone needs to make apologies for being introverted or extroverted, or being short or tall.  But it is interesting that you picked a sport where the progress is slow, based on purely arbitrary self-constraints.  I wonder why a goal oriented person would do that?

Whatever reasons someone may have for doing that, if he likes the sport and plans to stick with it long-term, he would probably increase his enjoyment by not expecting improvement every time he shoots, but sometimes just shooting for the pure joy of it.

[trad_admirer]

Good point McDave..  BUT..  lol...  I am very much a goal oriented person.  Nothing I can do about it (i've tried).  I don't set goals like X" group at Y yards.  

Actually my goals are things like: Developing proper shooting form, Anchor, Release, and Follow through.  

I've put a lot of pressure on myself because I am supposed to be deployed this fall.  And I wanted to hunt a big game animal with trad gear.  The only season I'll be able to hunt is spring turkey in TN and KY.  I have exactly 4 weeks from tomorrow (actually today now) to work on my shooting.  If my max range is 10 or 15 yards then so be it.  I'll just have to get Mr. Tom Longbeard in a little closer.  I don't know if i can get him in close enough to spear him with the arrow or club him with my bow though(which is what i'd have to do as of right now).

I actually do love shooting arrows!  Lots and lots of arrows.  From any kind of bow.  I just love seeing arrows fly for some reason.

All this just to say that i'm not just some impatient little prick whining about not shooting the way i think i should.  It's something important to me that i've wanted to do for a long time, and i figured now's the time to do it--just in case.  you know?

And to be honest, i was kind of just looking for a little encouragement from people saying "yeah man, everybody sucks at first!"  lol..

[Saltydog]

OK "Yeah man, everyone sucks at first."

I can say that because I sucked when I got rid of the training wheels a couple year ago. And I'm witnessing the same thing now that my Lady has taken up the sport. But I can tell from your attitude - you will get better

Shooting a tight group is nice, something we all strive for on the practice range. But more importantly, did that first arrow go exactly where you wanted? That is the most important consideration if you are going to use the "stick and string" to hunt with.

I have 2 suggestions for you;
1 - Go to as many 3D shoots as you can. The benefits are twofold. You only get 1 shot at targets of varied size and varied distances so you get lots of practice making your first arrow count. And you will most likely meet other shooters that can critique your form and help you correct bad habits.
2 - Buy yourself a 3D turkey (since that is what you want to hunt) and shoot at it from different angles and distances as often as you can.

Best of luck to you in your shooting and my sincerest gratitude for your service to our country

Scott

[freefeet]

I suck.   :D  

I don't have much of a problem with suckin' cause i'm not in any rush to go hunting, it's illegal here and it's going to be at least a year or so before i can afford to go anywhere legal to hunt.  

I've always found that the more you want to get somewhere the more you lose sight of the journey, and that's usually a shame cause the journeys can most times be the best part of the trip.

[Bonebuster]

Keep it fun, like Bear heart said..."It`s supposed to be fun".

One thing no one else mentioned is you must have good arrow flight for consistency. Just like with a compound, good flying arrows are a necessity.

All the advice you can get is good, but in the end, your are going to develop a style that is all your own. Maybe made up of different things you have learned or seen others do. Maybe all your own.

Too much draw weight is probably the biggest culprit in regards to slowing down the progress of new traditional shooters. Drawing your bow should be no more difficult than walking. Too much weight at the start prevents you from finding a consistent, comfortable anchor point.
Once you find an anchor point you prefer, it will probably stay with you for life. Shoot a light bow at the start to find this preferred anchor.

The twenty yards and beyond you are used to with your compound, has changed to twenty and in. I can stand and shoot along side anyone with a traditional bow, and hold my own. I practice out to, and beyond thirty five yards, but for hunting, my realistic, effective range is around twenty yards. "Realistic" means, I can pick up my bow and make my FIRST shot land where I want. Any time I want.

Keep it fun...don`t turn it into "work".

And remember, the next time you shoot at the bottom of a five gallon bucket, don`t shoot at the whole bottom of the bucket...shoot at the tiny little knob that is molded into the center of the bucket. "Aim small...miss small".

[Steve B.]

TA,
I agree with Bonebuster-you will develop your own style eventually but it will be a combo of a variety of learning and your own personal makeup.
I am like you in that I am goal oriented in the sense of my primary focus being to kill what I am hunting with a simple piece of equipment.  I like to shoot arrows to some degree but nothing compared to my desire to just hunt.  If I had the choice of shooting a thousand arrows at various targets all year or just shooting one to take some animal then I'd go for the hunt.

So yes, I sucked for a very long time until all those elements came together for me and I accomplished my goals, and it was very satisfying.  But the key for me was filtering alot of info, trying alot of tips and techniques, and then putting something together that fit and felt good for me, and worked.  The problem comes when you don't allow for this personalizing of all the elements that make up shooting form and technique.

Personally, the most satisfying part of accomplishing my hunting goals was that at one point I finally quit listening to all the advice and criticism of my shooting buddies and went out and did my own thing and was successful, when often they were not.

[trapperDave]

we all "sucked" in the beginning. Its a long journey, so relax and enjoy the ride.

[Friends call me Pac]

When I started back in June 08 I started at a modest 10 yards and was thrilled to keep all 5 arrows on the 3 high stack of haybales.

I kept shooting at 10 yards until I could put all my shots into a paper plate. That took about 10 days worth of shooting everyday.  I then moved back to 15 and did the same thing. Then 20.

Today I know I can hit my target at 25 yards but not as consistantly as I would like.  Still with a 20 yard comfort range I managed to get two deer this year with my recurve.  I passed a lot up but it still worked out.

You'll get there.

[trad_admirer]

Thanks guys!  All of this must be really good advice... Because i was hearing the same thing from the experienced trad guys i got to shoot with yesterday.  

I think just watching guys those guys made me a better shot!  It was pretty amazing to see how relaxed and fluent they were.  I think that helped more than anything yesterday.