In your opinion what is the most important skill in shooting /hunting with trad gear!

[ron w]

Well I guess I can't really add to whats been said, all the comments on the pages before pretty much say it all...........ron w

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

I used to think that shooting skills and woodsmanship were equally important. Now I feel that being able to hit what you're aiming at is the more important of the two. Personally, I'd rather go an entire season without a shot than get one and botch it.

[Gray Buffalo]

Knowing your limitations and hunting within them. Knowing the shot not to take is just as important as knowing the one to take.

What Winterhawk and Vermonster13 said  

[Robert Honaker]

Most important skill.......Get very, very close.

That covers shooting skill and hunting skill.

Get close and you will kill stuff.

[Whump]

Whump Sez: The one thing that helped me close the deal was making the first shot count when you practice. Shoot that first practice shot just like you are shooting at your quarry. If you have to shoot more than one time to get on target when you practice then you need to think more about the first shot you take at each practice session.When I say think about it--I mean sit there for 5 mins if you have to and concentrate on the shot--then pick a spot and shoot.  I am not saying shoot one time when you practice and that is it, but don't take that first shot for granted. If you usually miss your mark on the first shot when you practice; what do you think is going to happen when you are shooting at a live target under pressure? When you are able to walk up to the line and shoot that first shot in the kill zone your confidence will be boosted exponentially and confidence is everything on a hunting shot.   Hunt safe.

[JEJ]

I've only hunted whitetail and smaller, but I (we?) put a lot of pressure on myself when that old moment of truth rolls around. Hours spent practicing form, pick a spot, money on the deer lease, gas, equipment, cost of kitchen passes, etc. etc. all seem to weigh down on me when a deer I want to shoot gets close enough. I don't think it is buck fever, but I can really start to feel that "bottom of the ninth, two strikes, two outs, score tied" feeling begin to pressure me to start "forcing" something to happen. Guess what I am trying to say is that letting the shot "come to me" and not letting my self-imposed pressure take over and rush something bad is the most important "skill" I need to master. I keep telling myself I don't need to kill a deer, squirrel, rabbit, etc. to have a successful hunt, and I have had tag soup for the last few years while having a great time in the woods. My friends all call me mental anyway, so put me down for "mental" being the most important skill.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

As far as shooting....it's form.

"Hunting" is a whole different skill set.

[joe skipp]

Accuracy...this comes from starting out with a bow weight you can handle comfortably and develop good form. Start out with a bow too heavy for you and bad habits will soon follow.

Developing good form...coming to full draw, anchor for a second or two, aiming and a good clean release. All basics that can easily be learned. I can't stress enough, especially when I deal with compound shooters going trad...get a bow weight that is comfortable and you can handle easily. Once your form is down and you find the right aiming system, the rest will fall into place.

[centaur]

After you have the 'mechanics' down (setup, shooting skills) then patience, but along with that goes persistence. We are all going to blow stalks, have animals close but not a good shot angle, weather days, etc. Without persistence, we may be ready to cash in when if we hang on a bit longer, success may be just around the corner.

[WVeer]

Shot placement with a sharp (***SHARP***) broadhead and knowing when to shoot.

[3Feathers]

Patience, good form, follow through and Aim Small.

[sleepingbear]

pick a spot and concentration.

[dpowers311]

Consistency, being able to do the same thing over and over and patience.

Dave

[jhg]

Two things:
I think being honest with yourself about what kind of shot you should be taking or can make. I'm not talking about shots that you knew you could make but "go wrong" from unforeseen influences on the arrow.
I mean low percentage shots. If you blow it, will you do whats right and find that animal, no matter what?
And,
If you  lose the animal and say something like "...I'd take that shot again..." that isn't really being honest about what happened. Either at the shot or on the recovery the ball was dropped.

I think these are very near the top in importance because every other skill is filtered throught that same lens that is either honest with yourself of not.

A high standard. Maybe  I'm old school. I was taught to never take a shot unless you knew you could make it no matter how badly you wanted that trophy. I was taught that the hunt would not continue until the animal was found. If that meant the hunt was essentially over, than so be it. Tough love I guess.

Thanks Dad.

Joshua

[kat]

Preparation...  Accuracy, ethics, and patience.

[Tajue17]

what I think of to become more accurate or when its fallen apart for me is,,, upon release push the bow right towards the kill (no matter what distance its at push that riser right towards it) and do not move either hand or my head when the string pulls from my fingers--> don't TRY to watch the arrow but watch it come up and drop down to disappear behind my fist (hand holding bow) and I ussually start shooting a tighter group.

[Robert Honaker]

Again if it's one thing...get close and you will kill stuff.

[jdemoya]

Getting close to your intended target!

God bless,

José

[curlis]

You have to KNOW that you will be able to make the shot when it happens. This goes for hunting or tournaments. I've been around lots of guys who mentally talk themselves out of shots. Does that mean you'll never miss? Not at all, but you have to be ready for the next shot.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

for me the difficult part is knowing when to draw your bow so as to not get caught by your quarry, for shooting , always hitting the same anchor point