Pick a spot/miss/hit

[Bow Bum]

I have a curse of picking a spot on deer only about 50% of the time. The bigger issue is that the 50% I don't pick a spot, I still hit the deer (seems most people miss) and as can be expected, its hit poorly. My recovery rate on the bad 50% is starting to become something of an issue with my personal level of ethics.

I'm not real sure what goes on, but on some shots, it just doesn't occur to pick a spot. If the current trend continues, I may need to hang up the stick and string, which is a tough reality to have to consider.

Thanks for listening to me whine...  :rolleyes:  

B

[VictoryHunter]

It is good that you can admit that. Maybe there are some guys here that can offer some advice on picking a spot.

[old_goat2]

I picked a spot on an elk this year, but didn't point the arrow there, keep your chin up and figure out something that works.

[LB_hntr]

i also have a hard time remebering to pic a spot on game animals. I constantly have to tell my self take my time and go thru my process. i do however, make sure to pick a spot, but there are alot of times I have to force myself to do it rather than like on the range where it comes natural.

Good for you for your concern on the recovery rate. This is a battle on you can decide.
But keep in mind, just the fact that you admit this and have concer with it already makes you way more ethical than most of the people that buy a license. And makes you a great outdoorsman in my book. I would hate to see you throw in the towel as the hunting world needs people like you with your high ethic standard.
 Not knowing anymore than stated above, my suggestions would be to keep shots close and comfortable and learn/practice recovery tactics that go beyond simple blood trails.
  I too will admit there have been times I was ready to give up on traditional bowhunting for one reason or another and at times it has been a love hate relationship. I honestly belive that everyone that is at this sport long enough will feel taht love-hate relationship at some time.
  Now after all these years I can honestly say the good times out weigh the bad times 10 to 1.
I can also honestly say after a bunch of animals in the freezer with traditional equipment knowing the best recovery methods is a very important part of the hunting game.
There was a study done quite a few years ago i remeber reading. It was a specialized and heavly regulated deer hunt on a military establishment. They recorded shots, recovery rates, equipment choices, etc. the numbers were interesting as longobw hunters had best recovery rate, recurve shooters were second and compound were worse. the concensus was that the trad hunters we better at recovery than the compound guys and also the trad guys were more experienced hunters. The reason I say this is make no mistake about it. gun guys, compound guys, and trad guys make bad shots ocationally for whatever reason. but the tracking knowledge is the key.
 here is a link to a few podcast and videos i did that give you a ton of great info on tracking and recovery.
  http://tbwpodcast.com/episode-9-animal-recovery-tactics-part-1/

 http://tbwpodcast.com/episode-10-animal-recovery-tactics-part-2/

 http://tbwpodcast.com/video-18-using-peroxide-for-blood-trailing-2/

[damascusdave]

Practice with one broadhead tipped arrow once you are preparing to hunt...make sure you pick a spot on the target for each shot

DDave

[Dogboy900]

Had the same problem on a hunting trip to Australia. Finally started imagining a bit of orange peel as a target on the animal and repeating it to myself for the whole draw cycle.

The story is here  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=121390;p=1#000000

I have seen guys who write a note on the limb to pick a spot so they see it before they draw. I am sure you will get over it just need to work on it.

Maybe shooting at a blank bale and picking a spot to hit?

[trubltrubl]

two schools of thought

1 On a poor shot location if it is anywhere in the body cavity ...the animal is  generally recoverable  with good post shot trailing practise

2 animals lost are never wasted in nature...the predators and scanvengers have the animal picked clean in days...from the coyotes to the birds to the insects...nothing left

on the second point I realize this is not rhe desired result but in the animal world , things have a way of working out

I don't know many bowhunters with a 100 percent success rate....strive for a better outcome, maybe make your shots closer and like others said in time and training maybe the SPOT will come together...

keep your chin up, stay positive and strive to improve...we all have been there.....I just shot a deer and was back of my desired spot....and recovered the deer the nexr day....so it can happen....

[Cy14561]

I have the same problem at times. And have made poor shots because of it. It seems as dumb as forgetting to put on underwear but it happens. I think a lot of it in my case is practicing in the yard I knock an arrow pick a spot let it go, but hunting sometime I have to wait a few minutes to get a good shot I guess the basics of shot execution might slip through the cracks, just keep working on it I know I do, but its not a reason to quit

[Whip]

I share your struggles, and have to constantly work at it.  Under the pressure of the moment it is very easy to forget what seems to be so simple.

When practicing, shoot at a blank face target.  No aiming dots or shot out spots on the target face.  With every practice shot you take incorporate a set routine that you go through every time.  Include a mantra that you repeat in your mind for every shot where the last thing in your shot routine is to think "pick a spot".  Do this every time during practice sessions and it will become ingrained in your routine.

[Bobby Urban]

x2 on what Whip said.  Cover your target with a solid color or get a one color target.  I have a feed bag stuffed with the plastic grocery bags and it is all white.  I sprayed them black before my bear hunt in the spring.  No spots or dots so I have to really concentrate to stack arrows.  The idea of using a mantra before/during every shot is a great idea if this is an issue because it will create a muscle and mind memory that becomes a part of the process w/o thinking.  

I teach this same process to the kids I coach in wrestling - practice does not make perfect - PERFECT practice makes perfect!!

Another thing that can help is to stop shooting a bunch of arrows from one spot at your target or you can get lazy and forget the process because your muscle memory takes over and you just continue to repeat the same shot.  Instead, shoot one arrow at a time from random distances and angles.  This will more simulate a hunting scenario and help you to remember the process.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

As others have mentioned, building a better shot sequence/mantra may be just what you need. Something that forces you to pick a spot before shooting will help a lot. You may want to talk to Joel Turner. He helps a lot of guys with target panic, and frequents the shooters forum a lot. Admittedly this is not quite the same as target panic, but a lot of the same principles apply. In the end, you are releasing arrows when you don't want to release.

[Izzy]

Put a piece of tape with the message "pick a spot" on the belly of your bow. I have seen stickers out there with that sort of message, couldnt hurt to try.  

[ChuckC]

Izzy, problem with that (I did that for years) is you don't tend to see that either.

I personally believe "not picking a spot, a real spot, not just that whole area of the deer" is the biggest reason we miss, the second being that in the excitement, all our practice comes apart and we don't do what we practice.  

The only way past that is to immerse yourself into the game and get more similar opportunities, even if you don't take them.  For many of us, we have one chance at shooting per year.  How much practice is that ?

EVERY single time a deer comes by, immediately assess if it is a shooter or not.  Done.  Every single time one goes by within any sort of shooting range at all, pick a spot, and assess shot chances. . . I can shoot now because..  I Can't shoot now because..  Practice the scheme.

When we finally have the opportunity to drop the string, hopefully we have practiced a bit and do it right.

ChuckC

[KSdan]

Never could pick a spot. After 25 years of trad,  (and 40 years of hunting), winning local shoots,  many PY under my belt, etc etc I STILL CAN NOT DO IT!!!  

I could not understand it- then I read Jay Kidwell's "Instinctive Archery Insights."  For most- you can not think or practice your way out of it.

[reddogge]

When you first spot the animal pick your spot then, a tuft of hair, crease in the skin, etc. Don't take your eyes off of it even for a second while the animal moves into postition. Then when the time comes the spot is picked.

[Bowwild]

You might not want to hear this but I had a similar problem in the late 70's and early 80's. After a couple of high hits I couldn't stand it anymore. In those days in IN you were lucky to get one shot a season and I didn't like blowing mine.

You didn't say where you are hitting when you miss. I'm guessing you are hitting high. If so you could do like I do, I aim for the top of the heart near side, with the intent to strike the offside shoulder on pass through. Shoot low and a likely complete miss shoot high and the lungs catch the arrow.

I've made this shot many times. The only downside is often times when the off shoulder is hit the arrow bounces back so quick you think penetration is poor. But a deer piled in less than 70 yards says otehrwise.

The thing yo might not like to hear is I went to sights from about 1982-1995. That forced me to pick a spot.

I used sights until I returned to recurves in 2010. I'm string walking now with the arrow point as my aim point. Works well for me.

While I'm happy with my shooting these days I've been experimenting with a very simple, single pin moveable sight the past few days. Last night I shot far better groups without it than with it. Sights are not magic bullets. Aiming isn't the most important part of the shooting process.

[woodchucker]

I have always had a problem hitting "high" and sometimes wide.....

What I do is pick a low spot. I focus on the corner of the elbow,right below the shoulder. It stands out,and is very easy to see!!! If you hit high, you should still be good. Low, should be a clean miss.

It worked out good for me yesterday!!! The buck I shot yesterday, was hit right through the left leg, through the chest sliceing his heart, and cutting the right leg upon exit. He left a blood trail a blind man could follow!!!!!

Good Luck!!!! "Pick a Spot!!!"  

[trubltrubl]

This is all great advise for the mechanics and thought process... .Here is advise for your psyche after a mistake . I once read some good advice on any situation that goes bad.

 1  Fret about it and beat yourself up and nothing will change and success will likely not come your way

2  Except it and think. How can I improve the situation so it doesn't happen again. This will always make you better each time you use the philosophy

I have beat myself up when I make mistakes and it ate away at my enthusiasm . I try and follow #2 as best as I can and it makes things better.

[centaur]

I posted this on another thread:

"When I pick a spot, I hit what I am aiming at. When I don't, I miss. Simple as that.
I imagine that most misses with traditional equipment boil down to not concentrating on a spot. It is so easy to shoot at the whole animal, almost always with a bad result. Trust me, I know from experience."

I constantly have to remind myself to pick a spot, either while practicing or shooting at animals. If I don't, I invariably miss. Something so simple can make such a huge difference in our shooting and success in the field.

[Bowwild]

We often shoot the edges of the "spot" we are looking at. If the spot is a 9" pie plate we shoot the edges. Put a small dot in the middle of the pie plate and the group often shrinks to follow the small spot.

It is good to pick a small spot in the lung area rather than the entire lung area. The advice to pick a hair, tuft of hair, shadow, crease, etc. all help to define the spot.