Do you talk yourself through shots on game??

[twitchstick]

I'm on auto pilot when I'm shooting my best.

[Bowwild]

An Olympic coach (and traditional hunter) recently told me "commit to the shot". Translation, trust your practice and just do it.

[mambashooter]

I don't see an animal when I shoot. I see a target.  

[Bonebuster]

Yep.

[LongBow'erman]

I tell myself to calm down, take a deep breath, and pick a spot. After the shot I'm all tore up, but I thank god for the opportunity.

[champ38]

I convince myself that Im not going to shoot at the first thing that walks out....and then i quickly change my mind when theyre standing in front of me..seems to take the pressure off and calm me down a little.

[moose eye levi]

I'm not gonna shot I'm not gonna shoot I'm not gonna shoot...until I hit full draw then wack!! For some reason it calms my nerves until I let loose the arrow.

[30coupe]

I think, "Yup, I can make this shot." Then I see the arrow on its way. I kind of remember thinking I'd been at full draw for quite a while, but I've taken so many shots before I ever draw on an animal that all the steps are automatic. From the time I decide I'm going to take a shot at an animal, I do nothing but watch the spot. When the critter is where I want it, the shot happens.

[TroutGuide]

new to this game but it seems that I practice shooting at the shoulder of a deer and when I shot my doe I just shot where I would shoot on the target it was instinct.  I would like to think I picked a spot but I picked the shoulder and shot where I knew I should.  It was a quick forced shot at 6 steps.  This was my first trad kill so I am no expert but this is pure experience and reaction that I am recounting.  Amazing how confident in what you are doing a recent kill makes you.

[TroutGuide]

This website is cool!!!!

[TroutGuide]

This website is cool!!!!

[TroutGuide]

I guess I second that sentiment!

[highPlains]

NO! When I think is when I miss.

I practice all year so that when the moment of truth comes I can place my confidence in my practice, and let things happen on their own. If I interrupt that process with conscious thought things go wrong.

Honestly, I wish I could keep myself from talking myself through the shot. I have not always done that. But recently, when allowing myself to just react and not think, my results have improved a lot.

[RkyMtn Joe]

Been bowhunting just over 50 years now and about 30 years ago I had a spell of missing by not picking a good spot and concentrating on that.  I started telling myself from then on to "Pick a Spot---concentrate" and I still do it today.

[tim roberts]

First it is; Pick a spot, come to full anchor, follow through, now wheres my compass?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

No, but I do talk myself through the process of tying my shoes  

[Archie]

This may seem a little cheesy... but somewhere along the way I started a little rhyme to a quick little Sunday School song I learned as a kid:

Pick a spot,
Anchor deep,
Follow through,
Brush your cheek --

Watch where it goes!

I hum it as I'm sitting or stalking!

[Kip l Hoffman]

Hey guys, who ever went to so much mental trouble when you threw rocks at frogs.  When you practice make sure you come to full draw, anchor tight against your jaw and then look at the smallest thing you can see on the target.  Once your brain and your eye are looking at the same thing the fingers will release automaticaly.  When it comes time to shoot the critter lay out a set of circumstances that will make you shoot.  IE, When his head goes behind the tree.  When he looks the other way.  When he crosses some imaginary or real line.  Once the conditons you set happen, you will automatically go through the shot sequence.  Most often I do not remember anything until I see the arrow well on the way.  If the arrow and the world is in color, then I know  I shot a good shot.  If the arrow or the world is in black and white then I know I shot a poor shot or missed.

Works for me.

Kip

[Coonbait]

When I get into trouble is when I think to much! I put to much pressure on myself and don't just let it happen like I do when I practice. Anchor is the only thing I'm trying to work on when I shoot at game. Seems I tend to rush the shot sometimes by not coming to complete anchor. It's a work in progress!
GLENN

[-Achilles-]

Ever see the shakiest gun in the west?LOL