Bowfishing help or hurt shooting?

[Rob W.]

First and foremost I'm a deer hunter. I love to shoot 3D but the ultimate goal is practice for October. I don't usually do much bowfishing but it looks like I may have a little more time this summer.

My question is do you guys think a long summer of bowfishing helps your shooting or creates bad habits?


Rob

[Flingblade]

As long as you maintain your shooting form it will help as it is more practice, but for me I have a tendency to start shooting too quickly and not get to full draw and anchor.  I do great shooting at loafing fish or undisturbed fish feeding in the shallows but I always want to shoot the ones that spook and very quick shots are necessary.  It's fun and I usually go 3 or 4 times in the spring but I quickly get tired of looking at carp and a bucket full of fish I can't eat.

[KHALVERSON]

rob
since i switched to shooting 3 under and rick welch style
i think the bowfishing helps with my form practice
i dont tend to form bad habits by snap shooting
of course i dont get as many shots at fish but there is always a trade off
kevin

[robtattoo]

It affects my shooting enough after a long summer on the water, that I switched to a compound for all my bowfishing.
If I think of it as 'not archery' & use equipment I consider 'not bows' I found it really helps me maintain my real bow shooting.

[toddster]

i have been bowfishing with my ig for 15 years, i feel it makes me a better shot.  where can you shoot on moving animal often

[owlbait]

How can anything that is so much fun, be bad for you? I think it does get you to rush "some" shots, but realistically, sometimes we have to when in the field too. If I used the same bow, it might take me a few shots to settle back in, but ....

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I go often. I do not feel it hurts or helps.

[Blackhawk]

If anything, it hurts me.  I find myself snap shooting, not coming to anchor, plucking and other bad habits.  When I concentrate on form, I do much better.

However, it's too much fun not to go after those carp, so I live with my maladies.

[Bowwild]

I can't see how it would do anything but help. I've shot carp the same way I shoot everything else whether foam, paper, or mammal.

[bowslinger]

I think it helps my shooting.  I won't take a shot until I have ascertained it is a carp or gar.  I don't shoot at shadows to re-enforce the old adage to not shot until you are sure of what you see.  Because it is a carp, I don't care if I don't get a shot.  I practice waiting for a high percentage shot.

This approach helps me develop the discipline to not rush a shot, to make sure of my target and to practice proper form at a living target.

While I enjoy bowfishing and find it exciting, it does not fully replicate the adrenaline I associate with big game or turkey hunting, so who knows?  I have never had a carp excite me so much I thought my knees would buckle!

[mark land]

I'm with Rob on this as well, bowfishing absolutely screwed up my hunting shooting with my recurves big time, in fact it got so bad I almost quit trad hunting due to my poor performance on game.  I spent over 2 years working with a clicker and lot's of practice to get back to shooting well again.
I too switched over to a compound for my bowfishing, more specifically Onieda and it has helped be develop a anchor and more consitent shooting with my recurve as well.  It also has increased my hits and recovery on big fish as well since I like to concentrate on shooting big fish and not numbers anymore.
Bowfishing with a recurve I tended to snap shoot and half draw all the time which led to a lack of penetration on big fish and with shooting 1000's of shots during the year you tend to ingrain that routine in your shooting so when presented with a pressure situation shot as in hunting big game I would tend to short draw and not settle in to my anchor and shoot low on animals or just fling before I was ready, it was very frustrating.  
Since hunting is my main love and bowfishing second I had to make a change to continue to enjoy trad hunting wtih my recurves so I made the change and as I said it has been very benficial to me.

[Fletcher]

In my case, I think it helped.  Having to pick a spot low and usually off the fish forced me to aim and has helped with my snap shooting.  I do practically all of my bowfishing walking the bank or wading, stalking the fish which helps with a more controlled shot.  I have shot off a boat which can lead to shooting fast.  That could cause some issues over time.

I shot half a field course last weekend; that will make you work on your form.  :eek:

[Gatorgone]

I have not noticed a problem.  Helps keep in shape too.

[Stone Knife]

You still have to pick a spot to hit fish constantly, I would rather shoot carp than 3D shoot for the fact that on the 3D range most shots taken at targets are farther than I would shoot at game.

[KentuckyTJ]

Good post Rob. I have terrible shooting form, I am a snap shooter with no anchor point and I attribute it to bowfishing. That may be bad on the 3-D range but shooting at a live critter I know it has helped me.  Especially from a stand when you have to contort your form in anyway to get the shot.

[lt-m-grow]

I love bowfishing, but I agree is makes me a poor(er) shooter.  I actually have been avoiding it the last two years.  Sort of like donuts, I love them, but they are not good for me. :-)

I also think the heavier arrows, that fly so poorly, cause added problems.

Stone Knife, not trying to argue, but picking a spot, not on the animal is poor practice (for me at least).

Robtatoo, interesting concept of changing weapons...

[Guru]

I've never felt it's hurt my shooting a bit.  

[straitera]

Love bowfishing & believe it is great hunt practice. You'll find yourself hitting where you look way often! Just not enough time to mess up!

Just read G above. Wasn;t trying to contradict.

We have salt water mullet from the Gulf in our brackish waterways in & around Houston. They're very fast & fun. Also, carp too are skiddish unlike gar which often float like logs on top of the water. Some of our gar (fresh & salt water) can be monsters over 5'!

I went last night for the first time in several years. All the snap shooting at fish wreaked havoc on my regular form for shooting critters and it took me a while to get backon track today.

Bisch

[JamesKerr]

I think bowfishing helps your shooting if you remember to use proper form when out there.