Tell me about your practice routine....

[archer66]

I am coming back to traditional archery after 20 years of shooting a wheelie bow.  I've always done a lot of shooting and now that I'm re-training myself to shoot trad practice is more important than ever.  

I'm interested to hear your practice routines....what distance do you shoot, how many arrows at each distance, shooting games to sharpen skills...I'm a details guy fill me in.  Might not hurt to add what kind of bow you shoot and at what weight..especially worth mentioning if you shoot long yardages.  

My routine has always been to shoot a lot at different yardages...and again, and again and that's what I'm doing with my recurve...just training my minds eye...grooving my anchor and release.

Other than that my son and I like to play a game where one of us stands still with their eyes closed while the other carries targets to different locations around the shooter.  We have 15 acres here around the house to use for this game or we might go to the woods and play the game there.  Targets might be placed in the open or they might be obscured or partially obscured.  The shooter then determines if a shot is possible and judges distance then makes the shot...if possible.  Good way to sharpen range estimation and shot selection.  Fun too.

[BowsanAiros]

I've been shooting instinctive for over 20yrs. Started with a compound and bought
a Kodiak Magnum just over a year now. 45@28 I shoot carbons with a bear weather rest.
I get excellent results out past 40yds. Here's my shooting routine
  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=005977  
it's the same routine as I did over 20yrs ago.

[McDave]

I'm lucky enough to have several good friends who get together almost every morning at 7:00, and we shoot for about an hour at our local range.  Our shots vary from marked distances of from 10' to 80 yards, to pinecones and tennis balls at unmarked distances.  The variety of our shooting, together with the companionship, is what keeps me coming back day after day.

We shoot about 70-100 arrows every morning, so we have to use fairly light bows.  I use bows in the range of 40-45# for my morning shoots, and bows of about 55# to hunt with.

Most people who take up traditional archery like the process of shooting more than the results of accurately hitting the target.  That's good, because the only way you're going to get any good at traditional archery is to shoot a lot of arrows, so you might as well enjoy it.  Most of the year, we have the range to ourselves, until a week or so before some major tournament or hunting season, when we have to share it with our compound brothers, who will shoot the minimum number of shots they think is necessary to get ready for whatever it is they want to shoot.

[Stumpkiller]

In the winter I shoot a bag 3-D deer I have in the basement.  I can just squeek in 20 yards.  Every morning I shoot one to 12 arrows before work.  Sometimes I take only one arrow and shoot with the retrieve in between from varying distances.  I want the first shot to be my best, so I don't stand in one spot and pound away.  We heat with wood and every time I check the furnace I fling at least one arrow.

Now that there's daylight I take a shot of three at my outdoor 3-D from 10 to 65 yards before work (NOTE: I would not shoot at a deer past 25 yards, but I like the longer ranges "for fun").  Past 35 yds or so I gap shoot.  I always end at 20 yards to drill that last shot in my brain (I consider that my ideal distance).  After work I take two arrows out and circle the 3-D getting shots through cover and at odd angles.  I like to have two deer targets so I can vary things.

Weekends I go play with the stumps.

Currently I'm shooting a 62" 52#@28" recurve that I draw to 30" for about 56#+/-.  My point on with 630 gr arrows is a few feet past 65 yards.

[NJWoodsman]

I'll shoot 3D targets at various elevations, from 13-25 yards, sometimes out to 30+. I tend to emphasize bale practice more, at 10-15 yards. I'll do a couple of 3D shots "cold", to simulate hunting, then I'll do bale work for 30 shots or so, then back to 3D or target at 20 yards.

[njloco]

Welcome back.

Don't have the elevations but I pretty much do what NJWoodsman does, bale work will remind your body and brain what you use to do 20 years ago, I was amazed at what it did for me. Now I'm still learning what I used to do naturally, but it does come back quick.

Good luck.

[crotch horn]

My friend & I shoot around 250-500 shots on a normal day at different targets & distances. We both shoot just over 50# bows & they are our hunting bows. He is retired so he shoots EVERY day like that. I work so 2-4 Xs per week. The best practice for hunting that we do is shoot a basketball. Just let a little air out of the ball. Stand side by side & one person kicks the ball. You get 3 points for every time you hit the ball while it is rolling. Once it stops you get one shot worth 1 point if you hit it. We play to 21. Use rubber blunts for this for the obvious reasons. It is a blast & really sharpens those hunting skills.

[George Vernon]

Every practice session should start with a specific goal in mind.  For example, when I notice some erratic arrow flight, I know my form needs some work.  In a form practice session I'm close to the target (less than 20 yds).  I go through my shot routine slowly starting with the posture I know works for me.  I prepare and take a shot going slowly and reminding myself of the key things I know must be in place like a smooth continuous draw, get to a definite anchor, get good back tension, smooth release, etc.  I'm not concerned with pinpoint accuracy, just trying to remind myself of what a good shot 'feels' like.

If I want to work on accuracy, I make sure my form is in good shape, then back up to 30 yds or beyond.  This distance really makes me focus on a spot.  If I rush, I have a tendency to shoot at the 'whole' target.  So I have to pick a spot before starting my draw and put total concentration on it until the release happens.  When I'm grouping well at 30+ yds, all shorter distances become much easier.