SLOW DOWN

[Pine]

This might just sound like the rambling of an old duffer, but SLOW DOWN.
I have known several bow hunters that can shoot on paper very well but have yet to harvest a game animal.
You can research the internet for information about traditional archery and for the most part, you find garbage.
It gets confusing. I don't understand how I can help someone with there form and arrow tuning without  being hands on in person.
Wrong direction, I need to get back on the point of this thread.
The speed of your arrow, don't worry about it. Trying to get just a couple more feet per second can make you nuts.
I think some of you should try this exercise, find a nice woods and walk at a normal walking speed hundred yards or so and keep track of all the animals you see, like birds, squirrels and the like.
Now when you get to a good spot to stop, just turn around and stay put for about five minutes.
Now retrace the approximate path you just walked but go very slow, and watch the animals again. Hopefully you will be surprised at the difference in the amount you will see.
Now as far as actually hunting, let's talk about deer. " The best camouflage is don't move " (  Fred Bear ).
And when a deer comes into a shooting situation, stay still and calm, let the deer get relaxed with where they are. Watch the tail for relaxed tail wags, not sticking straight up.
If you wait to shoot, there's less chance of them ducking the string.
And when you shoot and see you have a  good hit, DON'T MOVE OR MAKE ANY SOUND.
Many years ago, ( I was about 20 years old  ) I had a nice buck broadside around 12 yards or so and as I turned to shoot it snapped it's head around and was staring in my direction. He looked without moving for a minute or so and then went back to nibbling on the ground.
I dew back and let fly and the arrow was through the lungs and he spun back the way he came from. I got up and went to see the arrow, that buck was standing just a few yards away looking to see what happened.
It then took off at full speed.
I went to where he was standing and there was a pool of blood but when I trailed him, there was just a spot every once in a while.
Went to get help to trail him and we trailed for a couple hundred yards and never recovered him.
Big mistake I made there being impatient and excited.  My hope in telling about this is that someone will learn from my mistake.

[huckbuck]

Good reminder Pine...thanks for sharing.

[Grumpyfoot]

That is hard earned knowledge. Thanks for sharing.

[cacciatore]

Some basics that you always need to remember. Well said.

[rastaman]

Good post sir!

[STICKBENDER98]

Great advice that applies to all hunting, not just traditional archery!!! 


Jason

[Wudstix]

Sitting still before the shot, and also after the shoot is some of the best advice there is, listen and you just might hear a crash right there.
 

[JDinPA]

Good advice.
When I first starting bow hunting, I struggled for a couple seasons. Things happen fast, but there is plenty of time if you just calm you mind.
Corny movie, but good quote to remember- "You have to feel the shot. Take your time with it. You have all the time you need. All the time in the world."

I would also add if you are shooting from an elevated position; do not drop your bow hand instead bend at the waist.

If you are shooting instinctive, burn a hole in the target with your focus and practice it.
I've gotten in such of habit of doing that, I do it every day. I find myself focusing on kill zone targets when walking in the woods, in the garden, at the zoo. LOL but I may be a little nuts...

[PrimitivePete]

Great tips !!! I do believe that in today's more complicated world we tend to overthink the game plan. Ever since I simplified my approach I can see much better results
1. Hunt the wind
2. Get comfortable and don't move
3. Wait for your chance
4. Enjoy the time away from everything and everyone

[Mole trapper]

Great Post, when you think you are walking too slowly,  slow down further,  I take a couple of small steps, wait 30 seconds to look around again and repeat.

[A Lex]

That is GOLD Pine, pure gold.

Thanks so much for sharing that.

Sometimes, us "not-so-young" duffers need to be remindered of some importamt things......just like that 

Thanks again

Best
Lex

[Terry Green]

I agree with everything Pine, except the part about not being able to help with someone's form without being hands on. I was posting about the Form Clock and the Magic T since we started this forum back in 2003. Someone started a thread about it and and it morphed into a mammoth of a thread with 105,416 Views.  Some people will never get 'hands on' and I never discourage them.

And, there are plenty of DVDs that have helped people.  Besides the Tradgang DVD, the Masters of the Barebow series has also help multitudes of people.

 

[Wudstix]

The concept of slowing down when we hunt is well stated.  Just like still hunting you have to move so slow it doesn't look like you're moving.  "Oozing" is a good way to look at it.
 

[Roger Norris]

This might just sound like the rambling of an old duffer, but SLOW DOWN.
I have known several bow hunters that can shoot on paper very well but have yet to harvest a game animal.
You can research the internet for information about traditional archery and for the most part, you find garbage.
It gets confusing. I don't understand how I can help someone with there form and arrow tuning without  being hands on in person.
Wrong direction, I need to get back on the point of this thread.
The speed of your arrow, don't worry about it. Trying to get just a couple more feet per second can make you nuts.
I think some of you should try this exercise, find a nice woods and walk at a normal walking speed hundred yards or so and keep track of all the animals you see, like birds, squirrels and the like.
Now when you get to a good spot to stop, just turn around and stay put for about five minutes.
Now retrace the approximate path you just walked but go very slow, and watch the animals again. Hopefully you will be surprised at the difference in the amount you will see.
Now as far as actually hunting, let's talk about deer. " The best camouflage is don't move " (  Fred Bear ).
And when a deer comes into a shooting situation, stay still and calm, let the deer get relaxed with where they are. Watch the tail for relaxed tail wags, not sticking straight up.
If you wait to shoot, there's less chance of them ducking the string.
And when you shoot and see you have a  good hit, DON'T MOVE OR MAKE ANY SOUND.
Many years ago, ( I was about 20 years old  ) I had a nice buck broadside around 12 yards or so and as I turned to shoot it snapped it's head around and was staring in my direction. He looked without moving for a minute or so and then went back to nibbling on the ground.
I dew back and let fly and the arrow was through the lungs and he spun back the way he came from. I got up and went to see the arrow, that buck was standing just a few yards away looking to see what happened.
It then took off at full speed.
I went to where he was standing and there was a pool of blood but when I trailed him, there was just a spot every once in a while.
Went to get help to trail him and we trailed for a couple hundred yards and never recovered him.
Big mistake I made there being impatient and excited.  My hope in telling about this is that someone will learn from my mistake.

Good post......and I have to say that your first comment blows my mind. I was just talking about this with another bowshooter....how many traditional archery guys HAVE NOT killed game. Especially whitetails. Granted, I am no trophy hunter....thats a different subject. But as to putting meat in the freezer with a longbow or recurve? It just aint that tough. We tend to overthink everything, and internet heroes want you to think they are special....but here's the formula: Find sign. Conceal yourself and/or get into a tree near said sign. Shoot the first deer that gets broadside.

[Terry Green]

Yes Roger.....

And when hog and javalina hunting sometimes you have to make it happen, and sometimes you have to let it happen. Not many will understand that statement, but when you get to the point where you do, you are off to the races!

[Wudstix]

Some times you have to slow down, and others you'll need to kiddy up.  Especially, where I hunt hogs, the pressure on them is constant and we joke that they sleep at 5 mph.