Author Topic: Instinctive at distance (Read 3263 times)

hogless · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2015, 11:24:00 AM »

I always take a few 35 to 40 yard shots with each practice session for form it will let you you know if you have any problems with your form

reddogge · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2015, 02:38:00 PM »

One other comment Tony. You may find that when you get to your point on distance and beyond you will probably begin to gap shoot aiming over the target since it's impossible to not see the arrow in your vision. Most people I shoot with do that. Some stack arrows on top of the target and some pick a point a certain distance over the target to put the arrow on.

You remember the ram across the canyon at Baltimore? We shoot it from 60 yards and I've hit it 4 out of 4 the last times I shot it with one 11. I basically know I have to put the arrow 2' over its back and a good release will hit it.

tracker12 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:04:00 PM »

Rich
I braved a few shots this evening in the cold and actually hit my bear target 5 out of 5 in the kill zone at 35 yds. With my second string. First string was a little wild. It was a shotgun pattern but would take any one of the shots. I just don't like using point on but watched the spot and just saw the shaft in my view. Looking forward to a warm day so I can work on this.

ChuckC · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:42:00 PM »

I can tell you my own thoughts on it. Likely nobody else will believe it or accept it, but here goes.

Of course, on the top of it all. . not everybody can be the best. I couldn't jump like Jordan, can't throw like Rodgers, can't shoot arrows like Hill. . but I CAN jump, and I CAN throw and I CAN shoot arrows.

There are two things inherently concerning with instinctive shooting.

First is the fact that, yes, a dime at ten feet is the same size as a dime at 100 yards, but see, I can plainly see the dime at ten feet.

At thirty feet I can see it less well, At 60 feet, I can just make it out and at 100 yards I can't even see it.

So right off the bat, it is easier to aim at a small target close by than it is to aim at the same small target far away. Those with better distance sight are well ahead of the others in that game.

Second, instinctive makes the brain run the show by seeing a whole picture, a target, a landscape, maybe wind (branches blowing) etc and it causes you to hold the tool in a certain way that has either been practiced exactly, or practiced closely enough to allow some cross over to give or take for the current picture.

There is no front sight to put on the target, there is no back sight to put on the front sight to better line things up. Just your brain.. Your brain is great, but face it, at distance, no matter how good your brain is, having all the add on's makes it a lot easier to get it right.

At ten feet, unless you are shooting flies, a few minutes of angle miss, or discrepancy between shots is still OK and you will likely still hit the target. At 100 yards, that exact same miss will not hit the target. And that is presuming you could see the same target to aim at in the first place.

For most folks, having a sight can be more accurate than none, having a front and rear sight is better, yadda yadda. But many of us want to shoot instinctive and we gotta deal with the limitations we are handed.
ChuckC

tracker12 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2015, 07:58:00 AM »

Chuck
Good points and you hit it in the end in that we have to deal with our limitations or the ones we place on ourselves. What I like about traditional archery is the simplicity. Over the last five years I tried all the sighting methods (point on, split, gap ect) and just didn't like shooting that way. I've come to the conclusion that if I felt the need to use a sighting reference I am just going to put a site on my bow and be done with it. Or worse yet just shoot the Wheel bow. Luckily I have not felt the need to do either one. Just went back to an instinctive shot and happy being there. What I have found is that as long as I can see a good spot my accuracy is not bad. Practicing more often at longer distances has made a big difference.

calgarychef · « **Reply #25 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:20:00 AM »

Long shots really exaggerate our little inconsistencies in shooting. At 20/25 yards I shoot instinctively but beyond that I make adjustments. At 30 I lift my bow hand a bit, I mean a rally small amount, almost imperceptible. At 40 I begin to use my arrow tip as an aiming device.

Terry Green · « **Reply #26 on:** February 23, 2015, 01:49:00 PM »

All depends on how bad you want it, and how willing you are to COMMIT to it....or, how much time you have available. I know everyone doesn't have a lot of time during certian times in their life....I got lucky and had the time at the time to truly immerse myself.

So, don't just 'give up' at 20, or 30 etc if you really want it and have the time and willingness to commit.

tracker12 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 24, 2015, 07:07:00 PM »

I make the time and shoot at least a few arrows everyday. I have been forced to limited my sessions due to a trashed right shoulder (3 surgeries on it) that is ok as long as I do not over do it.

Terry
Do you practice at night. I have put a glow stick on a target at night for practice but in the past have only done this at 15 yards or so. Might try moving it back a little.

Terry Green · « **Reply #28 on:** February 24, 2015, 07:26:00 PM »

Yes...I LOVE practicing at night.

Producer · « **Reply #29 on:** March 02, 2015, 08:12:00 PM »

As I see it there is a lot of things that can happen before an arrow from a stick bows travel over 30 yards. You can be the best shot in the world and miss a deer or make a bad hit in that distance. The animal moves, jumps a string or a number of things. A humane kill is, or should be, the first thing in order. I had a deer jump a string at under 20 yards for a luckily complete miss. You might be able to hit targets at 100 yards but it takes a while for the arrow to reach that far. Just my opinion.

tracker12 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 02, 2015, 09:47:00 PM »

Not to worry Producer I have no intention to shoot at an animal at 100 yards. Now at the Baltimore Bowmans annual 3D shoot the last shot on one of the courses in a Ram at around 80 yards. It's always fun to take that shot an a lot of beers have been won and lost there.

Terry Green · « **Reply #31 on:** March 02, 2015, 10:22:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Producer:
As I see it there is a lot of things that can happen before an arrow from a stick bows travel over 30 yards. You can be the best shot in the world and miss a deer or make a bad hit in that distance. The animal moves, jumps a string or a number of things. A humane kill is, or should be, the first thing in order. I had a deer jump a string at under 20 yards for a luckily complete miss. You might be able to hit targets at 100 yards but it takes a while for the arrow to reach that far. Just my opinion.

Sorry if you somehow took what I posted as that I shoot at animals that far. I was just answering the guys post about shooting. Again, I never implied shooting at animals at 100 yards.

BTW...are you in the film business?

Terry Green · « **Reply #32 on:** March 04, 2015, 09:33:00 AM »

BTW Tracker ....you are smart to do that....because out west, you will THINK you are shooting at 20 but its 30...so you might miss or wound. So PRACTICING at longer distances DOES help....BUT!..

When you get out there start shooting 30, 40 and 50 yards at various targets, 'clump shooting'...and get use to the different perspective. This will make a BIG difference.

Skates · « **Reply #33 on:** March 04, 2015, 02:42:00 PM »

Dang, guy ask a legit question and gets a sermon. I can see that someone hadn't been here long enough to know that we don't 'read into' stuff and make non-proclaimed accusations here.

reddogge · « **Reply #34 on:** March 04, 2015, 03:02:00 PM »

Tony, the other half of the puzzle when shooting at distance for me is range estimation. Perhaps shooting instinctively you can eliminate that little chore but I need to practice it and work on it constantly. I have a couple of techniques I use which helps.

Producer · « **Reply #35 on:** March 04, 2015, 07:35:00 PM »

Terry, I got my nick name as I was an owner of a entertainment company a few years back. I appreciate all your comments about shooting over range. You are correct about shooting in the desert and judging range. I went to a 3-d course in the desert shooting over washes and small canyons and rocks and I can't tell you how far off I was in judging the distances. I have learned to do a better job over time but I know in my heart of hearts that I better be close to the animal in the desert if I can be reasonably sure of a good hit with a stick bow. The vast majority of the shooters out here shoot compounds for that reason. I just have no interest in them.

Terry Green · « **Reply #36 on:** March 05, 2015, 04:30:00 PM »

Regardless of bow...longbow, curve or compound...you still need to shoot some distances for perspective change. 'Thinking' its 20 and picking a 20 yard pin when its really 30 still aint good. Perspective change doesn't know what kind of bow you are using.

That was my last point.....

charles m · « **Reply #37 on:** March 05, 2015, 09:50:00 PM »

Why is it an instinctive shooting question gets turned into a promotion of shooting compounds topic?

Mod Alert!

Terry Green · « **Reply #38 on:** March 31, 2015, 08:57:00 AM »

I got rid of the compound comments since this is a trad site and we don't promote switching to compounds.

'Going out West' can be a big change for folks that aren't use to wide open spaces like I said before. When I was younger we played before the Atlanta Hawks in the Omni and we all started out our warm ups shooting air balls because of the same reasons spoken here....the perspective change.

Again, not advocating launching arrows....but long distance shooting upon arrival will definitely benefit those unfamiliar to that type of terrain.

Sorry this got off track earlier, and sorry if my post upset someone, but this is a traditional bowhunting site, and I had other issues with other problem threads and I was up to my eyes at the moment. AND, some of what I wrote were feelings from other members as I got emailed, called, and texted about this thread as some folk know that's the fastest way to reach me.

Some folks are very protective of this site, and some of what I wrote were their words.

Anyway...good thread and nice responses and food for thought about this subject and aiming method.

tracker12 · « **Reply #39 on:** March 31, 2015, 01:00:00 PM »

Well I put some of my "longer" range techniques to the test time past weekend. The Professional Bowhunters Society has a 3D shoot at the Baltimore Bowmans Club. It was a blast and they had a few sheep, caribou, moose and elk set out quite far. For my first round I shot the distance shots pretty poor. Line was good but most shots were low.

In between rounds I went to the elk target and must have shot 30 arrows at around 35-40 yards. But the end I was placing all the shots within the lung area. I found it very helpful for me to be able to see the arrow under the target. I am sure that after repetitive shots I was gapping to some degree.
Interestingly the next time out on the course my short shots were also improved.

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Author Topic: Instinctive at distance (Read 3263 times)

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