Age and Accuracy ?

[RaybowTx]

For those of yall that have been shooting for many years see alot of decline in your archery overall at this later age?...........Ray

[Arrowcraft]

I just turned 65 and shoot every day , i hope not Im for ever trying to get better although I recently had to drop bow weight from52# to 47#

[McDave]

I'm 71 and have been shooting archery about 25 years, more seriously in the last 10 years than in the years before that.  I think I've been able to maintain my accuracy through continued learning, and dropping down in bow weight as needed. My strength isn't what it was.  When I first started, I thought 55# was a good target bow that I could shoot all day, and I regularly shot a 65# bow, although I dropped down to a 60# bow for hunting pretty quickly, just because I realized that I wouldn't usually be shooting my hunting bow under ideal conditions.

Now my regular target bow is 40#, and I've pretty much decided that my hunting bow should be 45# rather than 50#, for more or less the same reason I dropped from 65# to 60# 25 years ago.  It's not that I can't shoot a 50# bow anymore, it's just that I think I have a better chance of hitting what I'm aiming at with a 45# bow.

Thanks to God I haven't had any debilitating injuries that have cut my archery career short, just normal wear and tear, like an old engine.

[Maxx Black]

I'm 66 and still shoot daily. Still 55# draw on most of my bows. I've been lucky to stave off injury . Accuracy still good.

[maxwell]

65 and counting been shooting close to 60 years. Accuracy got better as I went along in my journey. Dropped bow weight to 45ish for hunting and target.Have to say the last few years I dropped off a bit in target accuracy but not much. I don't shoot near as much as I used to.  Fishing gets in the way. b Still shoot in cellar during  winter 20- 30 arrows three times a week only at 5 yds for strength and form.

[highlow]

Only been at this for a couple of years now so I'm actually getting better. When you can't shoot worth a crap when you first start, you can't help but get better with practice. I'll be 72 the end of this month and hope to continue with this for a good number of years to come. If my accuracy suffers, a small price to pay to be able to at least draw a recurve or longbow. Some of the guys with whom I shoot say I'm pretty good for an old newbie. They could be lying just to make me feel good though. Don't care. It's so much fun.

[BWallace10327]

I'm 25 and banking that I'll get better as I age.  Hopefully this thread doesn't disparage those hopes.

[ranger 3]

I'm 68 and I shoot as good as I used to but I now shoot 48#s

[Orion]

I'll be 70 in a couple of months.  Have been shooting sticks for about 60 years.  Used to be quite good, then developed target panic about 25 years ago that I've never completely overcome.  I shoot almost daily and usually a tournament a weekend during the spring and summer.  I've dropped down in bow weight to about 50# now.  Not as good on targets as I once was.  Still manage to get the job done hunting.

[highlow]

Hey Brent. Don't worry about it my boy. Aging is what it is. Can't do much about it. Just enjoy every day you're able to pick up your bow, punch some paper or wait for the big one to walk by. It goes so fast.    

[fmscan]

Nothing has changed, I stunk at 35 and almost twice that now and I still stink....

[Sam McMichael]

I'm 66 and over time have had to reduce draw weight. I injure more easily and more often. I once pulled a 78# bow without difficulty, but now my hunting weight is around 55#. A second injury that I am currently dealing with has me down to about 40# until rehab is complete. As for accuracy, I see no decrease. I am a bit more patient and am less likely to attempt an iffy shot.

[hawkeye n pa]

59 and still shooting good. Takes a little longer to warm up on the aerials though.

[Bobaru]

Shot every bow I own today.  That would be 7 bows.  They range from 65# to 40# at my draw. I'm 65 years old now.

Ordered a Blacktail bow in 2011 and downsized to 47# because of my age.  But, my wife got me going to the YMCA in 2013.  I do cardio, but also emphasize strength training on my shoulders, chest, back, and arms.  

I haven't "pushed" my exercises beyond my limit, but I am interested in building rather than maintaining.  It's paid off as I've increased my ability to draw bows.  Whereas in 2012 I was finding my 58# bow becoming too much, and in 2013 I was convinced that 50# was definately my upper limit.  I turned around and hunted in 2014 (age 64) with my 65# bow and was successful.

I think that what I've learned is that a bow requires very specific muscles, but my exercises are a generalized muscle workout.  That means I'm in better all around shape to shoot.

Anyway, it seems to work for me.  I couldn't be more pleased with the results so far.

I feel blessed to be in such good physical shape.

[Preston Lay]

Ray I remember a day that you were superb! For me it seems to have declined some. I wear glasses now and have a hard time shooting with them on. So when I don't wear them I have an excuse.

[Phillip Fields]

I turned 69 a couple months ago. I going from a 55# bow down to a 49# bow. I'm still as accurate as I ever was.

Originally posted by BWallace10327:
I'm 25 and banking that I'll get better as I age.  Hopefully this thread doesn't disparage those hopes.

You should! But know that it is a hill, and that at some point you will be at the top, with nowhere to go but down!

I'm about to turn 55, and am still shooting the same ~50ish # bows that I have always shot, with pretty consistent accruacy. I fear the day I hit the top of that hill that I referenced above.

Bisch

[elkken]

As I look back, I'm a legend in my own mind        

You need to realize when it's time to change things like draw weight and shot distance. I probably shoot more arrows now than I did twenty years ago but I don't hunt near as much as I used to and that alone has affected my accuracy I believe. I'm not as serious about the outcome of a shot just target shooting. I do however have lots of dead animals to prove I used to be able to shoot pretty good ! I'm now 67

[distantbear]

I'm 65 and still shoot a 65# bow everyday. Can't see what I hit but the arrows is gone somewhere!

[Thumper Dunker]

Almost 60 Shoot 55-60lb bows. Try to shoot every day also. I think I'm Better now than ever. Some times.