Experiment with Interesting Results

[SlowBowKing]

The other night I was burning some brush. I had been busy all day and hadn’t had a chance to shoot, and I noticed the flames were doing a decent job of illuminating my deer target 25-30 yards away, so I decided what the heck.

I had been curious to do some night shooting for a while. I’ve read before that some people dismiss instinctive shooting, claiming that your subconscious is using your arrow point to aim. I called bunk on that, but figured since I would be able to see my target and not my arrow, this would help prove it (at least to myself since this wasn’t a true scientific experiment).

Here’s the first shot…

Just about every other shot I took looked like this. With the low light I was limited to about 15 yards. Now I am not a great shot (middle of the pack at 3-D shoots if I have a good day), but if anything my groups tightened up, and I hit more 12s than I had in a LONG time, even though I couldn’t make out any lines or shot-out spots. I missed the 10 ring once, and that was a form error.

I think next time I’ll put a spotlight on the ground right in front of the deer for better illumination so I can hopefully shoot from farther away. I’ve also heard of people shooting at a glow stick on a dark night for a real challenge.

Anyone else ever try this, and if so, what were your results?

[mec lineman]

Me and my buddy have had the the same talk and seen the same results.  If you really want to test your theory,  try this. You have to be in total darkness, no ambient light from outside.  Go in a basement and aim a small laser pointer on a target in Complete darkness and try it. I am an instinctive shooter,but I will give my eyes and brain and Perifial vision  credit. Your brain takes everything into count. That's why consistent form is so important.

[Wudstix]

This was a group at 25 yards plus at night by the light shining out the side door of my garage.  @7", 5" without the low right shot.  Shooting in low light helps my focus.

[Gordon Jabben]

We used to put a car tire in front of the target bale with a flashlight setting in the tire pointed up at the target and shoot at night.  It was pretty cool, the arrows would look like beams of light when they hit the target.  Seems like we shot well but it's been a long time ago.

[McDave]

I have had similar good results under low light conditions.  Maybe the reason is that we concentrate more when we are out of our normal environment, I don't know.  I do believe that whatever our aiming method is, we need enough information to be able to judge the distance in order to be accurate.  For example, if we are shooting at a point of light in a basement where we already know the dimensions, we have a pretty good idea of how far away the point of light has to be.  If we were shooting at a point of light from an unknown location in a pitch dark gymnasium, that would be quite a feat.

[archeryprof]

I sometimes shoot late in the afternoon until dark thirty and find myself conducting informal experiments shooting in the dark with similar results. Thumbs up on the old school illuminated nock (fur tracer) on your arrow!

[durp]

 

[kstout]

I used to tape a small candle to an arrow and stick it in the ground 3 feet in front of my bale.  wait until after dark, light the candle and shoot for the flame. You would be surprised at how many shots came close enough to blow out the flame.

[beemann]

Been shooting at night for years.  Find it especially helpful when I’m struggling.  Low light really focuses my concentration.  Helps me immensely. 

[SlowBowKing]

Several have mentioned the additional focus that low light brings, and I agree that it did sharpen my attention. I’m going to try some of these methods you all reference and see how that goes!

McDave, I always shoot way better in the backyard than I do anywhere else. No matter where I choose to shoot, I know exactly how far it is to that darn target.

Jacob, I love those tracers! Saw a guy shooting them at the Compton Rendezvous last year and ordered some as soon as I got home! I just love watching them fly. 

King

[Pointed_stick]

Even in low light I would imagine the arrow tip is visible slightly even if you are not consciously aware of it. The illumination of the target with a spot light or similar idea creating a central focus forcing a tunnel vision type effect without peripheral distraction in play may be a contributing factor for sure. Someone had done an experiment a while back in a controlled setting to test this, in a basement, with a laser pointer I believe. The results were not impressive once all the light was removed suggesting there is more going on with the subconscious, and visual cues than we give credit to. If I can find a location to try some experiments of this type on my own I will have a go at it, not available with my current arrangements though. Interesting  to say the least

[BAK]

This experiment was conducted at a traditional league archery shoot in MN about 20 years ago now.

We were shooting in a downtown basement range, no windows.  It was at night, and with the lights out it was like the inside of a cave.  No light.

We put some glow in the dark stars on our targets, then moved back to 15 yards.  On que the lights were turned out and we all tried hitting the glowing stars.

The most pitiful results you ever saw.  NO ONE even came close.  So much for instinct.   

[Blacktail42]

I would only guess to say that by only seeing the target and having everything else blackened out or not in focus, the shooter has a greater chance on focusing on the target than seeing more than what is provided in the shot picture during daylight.

[Larry Dean]

Once shooting in a windowless quonset building, a really good shot said that if all he had was a spec of light or so dark one could barely see a deer that he would never miss. FUN!! We blocked out every source of light, then stuck a lighted site pin in a match box and punched a tiny hole and taped it to the target stack, 20 yards and then turned out the lights. When the lights were out, I moved the box, "Wait, Let me stick another piece of tape to it doesn't fall down." When we were all safely behind the shooter, he shot five arrows, then I tried one shot, I cheated, I moved my bow hand around until I could sort of tell where it was, then straight drew and released. With the first total dark shots, he never even came with in two feet of it, I was a foot high and left. Then someone pushed the door and let in a bit of light, he was in the process of taking one more shot, that shot clipped the edge of the match box. The difference between low light and absolutely no light.

[Kirkll]

We used to go to a 3D shoot that had a night shoot course. you could use flash lights to walk the trail, but had to turn them off before shooting, and you could not shine your light on the target. They just used glow sticks on the targets, and different sized glow sticks at that. So the distance to the targets were all different..... A lot of fun, but very low scores. A lot of lost arrows too. 

Kirk

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