Shooting in the dark, or very low light

[Wudstix]

One last trip out tonight, temp plunged to 93, almost needed a vest.  18 more shots at a Live Oak leaf, 4 times knocked it down, 3 times more than 3" away all the rest within 1" of leaf.  Time to come inside, before I caught a chill!
 

[Wudstix]

Went out this evening, just before last light and threw a few from the D/R longbow.  Did pretty good considering I was shooting for team Yuengling,  The most I was off the mark was 4-5"and had several within an inch of the oak leaf.  This longbow is amazing.
 

[Wudstix]

Went out and sat in the new chair until the temp dropped to 90, and it was still light enough to see well.  Took 8-10 shots from the chair and was hitting real near point of focus.  Then the fireworks started and I decided to come inside.
 

[Wudstix]

Today was cooler than in about a month, 88 degrees at 8pm.  We got about a hour of hard rain.  Slight breeze, was comfortable shooting a dozen-ish arrows and taking my time between shoots.  Mosquitos finally drove me inside.  Getting real comfortable shooting from this seat.
 

[Wudstix]

If you want to shoot you go early or late.  Early is cooler (80) before 0800.  Late is a bit warmer usually under 100 before dark.  Pick your poison and launch them arrows.
 

[David McLendon]

I go out at sunset and shoot well into the dark.

[Wudstix]

Early pink light till dawn works better/cooler for me.
 

[Bowwild]

Years ago, (around 2010) I put small pieces of aluminum foil on some bales and shot from the porch.  Worked well.  I've put tiny strips (simply folded over in a bow of the line) on my fishing line when tight-lining for catfish at night.

[TSP]

"Dark' is a subjective thing, sort of like "far' or "fast' or 'good'.  But shooting at a candle in the dark isn't really shooting in the dark.  Neither is shooting while someone holds a flashlight on the target, lol. 

Dark basically means not enough light to see what you typically need or want to see to shoot well.  Most folks hopefully wouldn't ordinarily try to shoot that way when hunting since, well, they can't see well...and they'd likely either miss, screw up their hunting area and/or wound the critter.   Not much sense in any of that.

For hunting it makes sense to practice in dim light...generally the kind you get at the first or last of the day for whatever the local hunting laws allow for start/finish times.  Even that isn't foolproof...dark still happens in thick forest forest cover...so common sense rules.  It's relative.  The true measure is whether you can see 'well enough' to take a responsible (as opposed to risky or stupid) shot.  Beyond that...as my father would say...

[Wudstix]

Agreed, early light and last light in the location you're hunting are the standard starting/stopping points.
 

[Tajue17]

nothing funnier than going on a coon shoot and listening to arrows smack off trees because many know that a lot of folks think they are shooting instinctive but in the dark they quickly realize they were aiming.   

[Wudstix]

 

[Wudstix]

Practice in low light pays off.  (I must have been in Australia)
 

[Terry Green]

See the back one????

[Terry Green]

PDK was with me on the very short recovery a few hours earlier

[Wudstix]

Nice pork.
 

[Terry Green]

Wud, I have moabs, can you please post pics of yours!!! I would love to see it!!

[Terry Green]

I'm serious, Wud i'm taking the Lightest of the trilogy this weekend.... TheTrad Gang MOAB anniversary series.... I've killed so much stuff with the 70 pounder and the 60 pounder, And it's time for me to take something with the 50 pounder.  Rob sent it to me a few years back. And I think it's time for me to bloody it.... We shall see

[Wudstix]

Mine is 62# 27"' purple heart riser, curly maple lams and bamboo core.  I'll get some better pics after work today.

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[Hud]

It can help to cover one eye with a patch, since it improves vision in the other. In the days of pirates they found a patch help see better at night. "Over time, swashbucklers who often found themselves embroiled in combat had learned how to adapt. Of course, the only way to move stealthily through the dark of night was to utilize your eyes to the fullest. By wearing a patch over one eye, pirates could “trick” their vision into adjusting to darkness more quickly".

Maybe that is why aiming with your dominant  eye is important. "Your dominant eye is the one that provides slightly more input to the visual cortex of your brain and relays information more accurately, such as the location of objects. Research shows that eye dominance and handedness are associated, though not directly related".