Getting discouraged!

[zinndl]

I have practiced with my long bow every day since march and I have gotten fairly good with it, but as of tonight I have completely missed 3 deer and made bad shots on two that I did not recover! I am no stanger to taking deer with a compound bow, but with my long bow every time I get a good shot opportunity I go to pieces. Tonight I missed two doe that were no more than 12 to 15 yards away ( I was about 15 feet up) one was a perfect broad side and I shot over her and the other was almost broadside & I shot under her. Do any of you have any tips for maintaining focus and composure under pressure.

[Cherokee Scout]

Pick a spot!
Do not lift your head to see the arrow hit the deer (very common problem)
Pick a spot, concentrate on it until the arrow hits.

[Soilarch]

MAKE yourself breath slow.

Convince yourself its all part of a routine.  A routine that's happened a million times before we were even born.

No matter what you hunt or what you hunt with...focus on the smallest thing you can. Then you imagine you can "magically" zoom in until you pick a single hair.  (Now obviously we can't actually do that.  I admit it's childish, but it helps me.)

[Apex Predator]

As painful as it is, it takes a big man to tell that story!  I suggest practicing in your head before the real deer arrive.  Visualizing the shot before it presents itself.  It's proven to be a very valuable conditioning tool for top athletes.  I can work myself into a "buck fever" without ever seeing a deer just using my imagination.  I helps me get over the shakes and quakes when the genuine article arrives on the scene.  You can work through it.

[limbow]

I try to visualize where my shot is going to be, almost predict the shot in mind. Once the deer presents itself I focus on the shot I visualized. I typically don't look at the deer until it arrives at my predicted shot location, I then draw-Pick a spot and cut loose. I think anticipating where the shot is going to take place helps me with the anticipation of the actual shot on the deer. Keep at it, it will all come together for you.

Kevin in Michigan

[Scott Gray]

When you practice concentrate on keeping your head down and bow still until the arrow is in the target. I had the same problem for two years in a row and it wasn't because I was not a good shot but the fact that my form would break down when I shot at live animals. The good news is that I got that monkey off of my back last year because I "stayed in the shot" until the arrow hit the deer.

[sdpeb1]

Here are my thoughts as someone who also has practiced alot since this spring in preperation for my first hunting season(two more weeks)with my first longbow. Develope some sort of shot sequence. First as I take a full breath as I come to full draw, then I my sight window set, then I let out my  breath and relax fingers and let it fly, keeping my eye on the spot I want the arrow to hit. If shooting from stand I've been drawing level then I bend at the waist to my target. If I don't tell myself to do this each shot then pretty soon I forget my shot sequence and then I have to go back to step one and start all over again. I suppose some can just get it ingrained and they never have to think about it but I can't seem to. My brother also missed a deer at 10-15yrds, shot over it, and then a few min later he arrowed one high and never recovered the deer. He has now given up on shooting his new recurve for hunting this year. If you've shot two deer that you havn't recovered you need to take serious actions. Do you have a deer decoy type target? I'd get one and take it in the woods, set up your stand and work on a hunting type scenario. Previous poster said to focus on the smallest thing you can, I focus on what I imagine as the size of a quarter, if I focus on something to small I don't shoot as well for some reason. Keep us posted on your progress.

[zinndl]

Thanks for all the help; one other question; With my compound I was able to take alot of shots from a seated position. With a long bow is it a mistake to shoot while seated? I did that tonight because I was afraid I'd be seen if I had tried to stand up. I do know that my form must be breaking down either way when I get a deer under me.

[Orion]

No problem shooting from a sitting position with a longbow.  I shoot 8 out of 10 deer from a sitting position.  Forces you to bend at the waist if you have to.  You're probably just looking at the entire animal and cutting loose.  As others have said, pick a spot and complete the shot.  good luck.

[Scott Gray]

Shooting while sitting is fine as long as you practice it. If you only practice standing then only take the shot standing. I gotta admit I get shook up too when deer are under me but you know what? I love that feeling  

[Bonebuster]

For practice, try one shot, with no warm up.

Try to put yourself in a realistic hunting situation, and with no warm up, pick a spot and shoot it.

As hunting season approaches, I spend very little time shooting repeatedly. My form should already be automatic, so I`m not working on form. Instead, I switch to a one shot type of practice.

For me, even practice from heights is easy, because I can step out on my deck, and take a shot before work. When I come home, I pull my arrow, and take another shot or two.

I have found it to be a great confidence builder
when I am able to place an arrow in the kill zone of a 3-D target with no warm up.

Part of your lack of focus MAY be that you are preoccupied with the possibility of a miss or worse. Being confident is a MUST when you are shooting at an animal. ANY lingering doubt will creep into your mind and use up at least some of your shooting ability, or your ability to concentrate.

The phrase "pick a spot" is so simple sounding, but when your heart is bouncing around inside your ribcage, it is difficult to do just that.
Then add some stray thoughts and worries, and "pick a spot" is the last thing on your mind.

My advice is the same as everyone else`s.
Pick a spot, but do so with the knowledge that you have become a pretty good shot with your bow.

Know this...you are not alone. Good luck.

[recurvist]

I have to Quote my favorite line ,when it comes to shootin ...Aim small miss small...your probably just lookin at the whole deer. try pickin the crease behind the leg, or even a hair then if u miss three inchs u still in th vitals...keep at it man it has happened to all of us!!  

[Roger Moerke]

Lots of good advice it is truly pick a spot! I have shot over, under and its because of not picking a spot forget they even have a head or tail only vitals. i still miss did again this year but I know why!
One thing that gets me in trouble is watching there face and thinking I have to shoot NOW!
Body language is a big part of things but not when actually executing the shot.That decison has already been made by the brain. i could go on but its really pick a spot You do it on targets animals are no differen except they have a way of humbling me quite often!!

[Slasher]

sounds like a brain dump problem over an ability to shoot a bow problem...

The problem with trad gear is that there's no peep and no fiber optics to remind you to focus on a lil spot... Just force yourself a lil pause in practice and say to your self, "focus on where it's going to hit..." and then follow through with it- Don't drop your bow arm to watch it!!!

You'll be fine!!! Just have to get that lil pause and get your mind to focus... I think we've all been there at one time or another... and I have had to remind myself early in the season as the adrenaline tends to mess with our shooting processes...

Now GO GET 'EM!!!

[John3]

In his book Byron Fergison (one of the greatest longbow shooters I've ever seen)admitted he couldn't hit a deer when he first started bowhunting. He shot at the whole deer...

Thats what is so great about traditional bowhunting. It is all you. No gadget, sight ect.
Staying calm at the center and doing it right. Does it get any better? It doesn't. Stay calm, pick a spot and follow through.

Thing will work out. It does get easier after the first. Good shooting.

JDS III

[razorsharptokill]

Take a couple practice shots with field points while in the stand to proove to your self you can hit what your aiming at. I usually shoot at least one before I climb down in the mornings.