pick a spot when there is no spot

[ozy clint]

does anyone practise with a blank target? i find it helps me concentrate on picking a spot, especially on game sometimes.

[sweet old bill]

sure works for me to get rid of target panic. I just pick a spot on the blank burlap bad in the garage at 10 yards and talk myself thru the shot. I want to have perfect shot form and follow thru...

Now does this help I am sure it does but I am still a lousy shot. I would think that the gods would smile on any old fool at 66 years young that still loves this archery sport of ours. But I still miss more than I can say I am a expert in this sport. Still learning and having fun..

Bill

[Pullonmylimb]

sounds like a great idea.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Bill, pick a FIBER on that blank burlap

[lowell]

During hunting season I am almost always just shooting at a blank sheet of brown paper.  I think it helps with picking the spot on a deer!!

[mcgroundstalker]

Didn't Kidwell write in his book to imagine a button or coin right on the "spot" you want your arrow to go? Maybe something like a red LED light over the heart of a deer in the shadows.

Kinda works for me......

... mike ...

[swampbuck]

There is almost always a real spot that can be picked on deer, I like fat wrinkles myself.

Picking a real spot helped me a lot next don't stop aiming at that spot till your arrow stops moving

[Blackhawk]

Yes,it does help...just V-I-S-U-A-L-I-Z-E.

You're right Mike in that Kidwell does strese the imaginary spot.

[mrgreenhead]

Fat wrinkles are looking at my x wife in a swimming suit again  

[wtpops]

Not me i use a small orange stick on dot. When i hunt or i am shooting 3D, in my mind i put that little orange dot on the target. Works for me

[George D. Stout]

Stumps; clods of dirt; leaves; groundhogs; woodpecker holes, there are myriad targets just waiting out there.

[SoNevada Archer]

I use a black target, I've shot it enough that it has plenty of torn spots. I use a torn fiber or shadow to aim at. Works farly well for me out to about 16-18yards. After that I can't see the details well enough to really pick that tight of spot. Then I just use areas.

[dan ferguson]

Its easier said than done in some cases, I have shot quite a few turkeys and I have also missed alot, In my mind they are harder for me to pick a spot than any other critter, either there feathers are all the same or I just lose focus. Maybe I will try that solid target, sounds like that might work.

[Larry247]

I use a blank target, no dots or spots.

I shoot one arrow and then follow with five more.

[Stripstrike1]

I really like this thread.  I have had a few really bad shots at animals because I didn't pick a spot.

[Rick McGowan]

If you shoot at a actual spot, you will end up shooting at an animal, not a spot on that animal. Sometimes we luck out and there is a visible spot on that animal, otherwise its a mental game and the best way to practice is by imagining a DOT in the right spot, the smaller it is the better you will shoot.

[Jim now in Kentucky]

If I remember correctly, Howard Hill said  he imagined a crow or some other varmint on the  standard field archery target, then "I kill it."

[JImmyDee]

No doubt: my groups are tighter when I pick a spot.

But...  I was amazed at how tight my groups were when I shot at center mass and it was so dark that I couldn't see anything on the target face.  I mean, five arrows at 20 steps and I could cover the group with the palm of my hand.

How's that work?

[Rick Wiltshire]

I agree that to "aim small, miss small" is excellant advice.  

But just a thought, perhaps contrary to the pick-a-spot aiming school, use the outline of the animal, or target, (top, bottom, two sides) and adjust your aiming to hit the kill area based on the edges of your target.  It allows you to focus in on a small area dictated by the body positioning of your animal.  This can be especially helpful in low light conditions when it is very hard to pick-a-spot.

[Pat B]

I only shoot at either 3D deer targets or a blank foam target and pick a spot. I've never seen an animal with a bullseye although that might be helpful.     Pat