Since I'm brand new to this amazing thing called traditional archery, I'd like to know how you all experts like to practice ?
Right now I've been trying to shoot atleast 100 shots per day into a block or the couple 3d targets I have (would love to accumulate more and set up a course on a couple of my 12 acres)
I've seen some folks talk about stump shooting and don't even know what that's all about, but it sounds like a broken arrow waiting to happen (and I've only got 8 good arrows lol)
How do you guys go about practice, and how much do you practice to stay sharp?
what arrows are you shooting and do you have a judo point. I stump shoot a lot and break only an artoe or two a year....two would be rare
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
what arrows are you shooting and do you have a judo point. I stump shoot a lot and break only an artoe or two a year....two would be rare
Well shoot I didn't even know what a judo point was til now. I'm gonna have to order some!
I practice with two old friends 3-4 days a week at our club. We rarely shoot from the marked stakes, but we have shot the course so many times from so many different angles that we have it pretty much wired with or without known distances. We put plastic jugs, etc. in fields on stakes, hanging in trees or bushes, or just lying on the ground that we shoot at between targets. I carry six regular arrows, a judo, and a rubber blunt. I shoot the judo at targets where a regular arrow would probably get lost in the grass, and the rubber blunt at targets that might be hard on a regular arrow or a judo.
lately practice for me has been walking around shooting at wild flowers and dandelions, or really anything that catches my eye with blunt tipped arrows.
I use a lot of Judos but I also thing the vpa small game thumper makes a great roving head as well.
I walk around the place with a judo almost every day. I shoot at anything that catches my eye. One thing that has helped me is to only shoot one arrow at a time and walk and pick it up and shoot again. I have found that I concentrate better that way than shooting 6-8 at a time. I also only shoot one arrow at a time at my block target. The walk to pull the arrow and then walking to a new spot keeps me more focused. Think about it. How many shots do we get on game animals? Its a rare occurrence to have a critter just stand there for a second shot. It has happened to me only a couple of times.
I love stumping and roving as much as everybody else and go when I can. However when I'm wanting to really concentrate on building and reembedding form and release, I shoot a lot of arrows at the target butt.
This has brought a whole new way of thinking about practice for me.
Do th3 judo tips fly differently?
Mine fly differently, because the lowest weight screw-in Judo is 100 grain, and my target points are 75 grain. Plus, I use 6 5" feathers on my Judos, so they are easier to find and don't end up in the next county. But up to 30 yards there is very little difference in trajectory. You learn where to aim a 50 yard judo shot, and it's worth it, because you are such a hero when you connect with a plastic jug at 50 yards (actually they hate you, but in a loving way).
No they fly like any other head. Only exception is they kick up instead of burying in the grass and leaves.
Mine fly the same as there is only 10 grain weight difference for me. I use 75 grain steel adapter and a 135 grain glue on Judo resulting in a 210 grain tip. My broadheads are 125 mounted on same adapter resulting in a 200 grain payload. My target tips are your basic 200 grain screw ins.
Dandelions these days are my favorite target, 3D course and when is too much rain outside I shoot in basement. I shoot at different distances and from different positions. I shoot quite often an imaginary bow and arrow too , but I never wrote it Ok?
You asked for expert opinions, but I'll go ahead and offer mine for good measure. I used to practice in a very systematic way. Goals would be set, practice time had an itinerary and it was a ton of work. This is ok for some I guess, but I'm not that talented and all this work was not leading me to the success I'd hoped; X time multiplied by X arrows= X2 accuracy. I figure if you have to force yourself to shoot it won't be all that difficult to quit. Fast forward a handful of years or so and my practice has become just sending some arrows downrange and having a good time. I have a good collection of targets, including a 2 bags and 3 little x-bow discharge bags, a rhinehart field ball and a rhinhart 18-1. I shoot the field ball most, but I sure like the sound of a pine cone or the explosion of a white dandy lion when a judo point makes contact. Oh, and don't get too attached to your arrows- if you aren't breaking them you aren't shooting too much- unless you are like Terry Green. We should all be so lucky to shoot that well one day (see masterst of barebow I- tradgang ad).
If you shoot too good you will have the same problem with arrows - cracking the knocks due to robinhooding them. So don't get attached to arrows.
A fall from a tree stand led to not shooting much in the last 4 years. My accuracy and bow pulling strength have both suffered.
So I had a surgery this past winter that really helped the situation and now I'm playing catch up.
Here is a routine that I've followed for years.
In the beginning I began working on strength training. Using a half dozen arrows I shoot at a blank bale (large dirt pile). Much like weight training, I shoot with little concern for accuracy and focus on form until it's all I can do to reach anchor.
Once I can shoot 20-25 shots in a session with control I move up in bow weight. 5# is enough. Same process is followed with the new weight.
As I get back to the weight I want to shoot I alternate shooting from blank bale/form one day to target the next... same number of arrows. After a couple of weeks I add in a day where I shoot
"roving" with a Judo point. I'm blessed to have the room to shoot 80+ yards if I want. One arrow at a time and different distance each shot. From very close (like 10 ft.) to very long, then mid range and so on.
Sometimes I get out a bow that's heavier than I intend to shoot. Again this is for strength training... I have a lot of bows.
As season approaches I spend more time on the 3D deer. Mostly 20 yds. and less but also some longer shots like 40-50 yds... Think you'll never shoot a deer at 50 yards? What if an animal is shot poorly and tracked to 50 yds. What do you do if you've never practiced that? After an animal receives a wound any shot becomes ethical!! I don't care if the only shot you have is at it's ass!
I shoot at bare bails about 5 days a week for about 20 minutes each session. I stump shoot with a judo about once a week - and every day in camp - we are in a hunt camp fall-winter-spring so plenty of opportunity - and during fall season around the house stump shoot all hunt days (days off) 2 days a week
same practice routine since the 70s
we never shoot targets or 3D
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QuoteOriginally posted by Draven:
If you shoot too good you will have the same problem with arrows - cracking the knocks due to robinhooding them. So don't get attached to arrows.
I solved that problem many many moons ago don't shoot the same dot.... And you won't have that problem.... basic common-sense to saving arrows
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
QuoteOriginally posted by Draven:
If you shoot too good you will have the same problem with arrows - cracking the knocks due to robinhooding them. So don't get attached to arrows.
I solved that problem many many moons ago don't shoot the same dot.... And you won't have that problem.... basic common-sense to saving arrows [/b]
It was a joke Terry. That common sense is part of the learning curve. 1st robinhood might be luck, but after 3 in the row you get it. Or change the shooting distance, or you don't shoot the same spot as you said. But that's kind of counterproductive when you shoot paper sometimes. Or when you check if broadheads hit the same with fieldpoints.
I shoot one arrow at a time at varying distances.
This year I am going to shoot a lot more from a tree stand at a 3d deer target. I put up a ladder stand with a safety line system just for practice.
About a year ago I started a whole new practice routine and use different targets (after shooting these things for nearly 50 years). I did this for several reasons, one of which is due to busting nocks and damaging arrows. I have always enjoyed stump shooting and generally do that when I claim to be deer hunting. I have run off deer shooting at leaves and other targets of opportunity.
I am at a place in life where I enjoy hunting for small game in a relaxed manner and exploring more than focusing on whitetail deer all the time.
Long story short(er). I built a large wooden frame and attached a piece of carpet and three layers of canvas, all serving as a backstop.
I use BLUNTS.
I watched John Schulz' videos on you tube many times, and practice that form and shot process, and I have really come to like it. You will need to repeat the shot process many, many times properly in order to really get it fluid where you don't have to think about it. Using blunts, the arrows just bounce off and fall to the ground.
For accuracy and tuning I hang the practice golf balls from the frame on strings and shoot at them.
I don't shoot groups anymore.I'm too cheap.
One advantage of this is that there is no fear of damaging an arrow, so shoot, and shoot a lot. I learned to use a back quiver (yes, you have to adjust it properly and learn to use it) and load it with a bunch of arrows now. I practice the whole shot process, which includes pulling the arrow from the quiver and nocking it. I also use a plains quiver and practice with it also.
I suggest that you get a good bow that fits you, but put your money into a BUNCH of arrows (but only after you have tuned them and know what to shoot). Then SHOOT. don't be afraid to shoot.
I think we hurt ourselves by putting too much into one shot. Be it due to arrow cost, self induced pressure for pinpoint accuracy, or whatever. Maybe just overthinking. In any case, I think that leads to target panic, choking, or whatever you want to call it.
Hitting the target is one thing, but I believe that if you practice your shot process enough so that it is automatic, you can focus better on what you want to hit, and you will enjoy it more and do better.
You can do this with recurve or longbow. Doesn't matter.
On bows, I have run the gamut from my first bow made in 1967 to the high dollar customs and back. The new, high dollar bows really don't have many, or any, advantages over the older ones. In fact, for hunting I am back using older, quieter bows. You can find some really good older bows cheaper and put your money into a lot of good straight arrows.
2 cents please.
I love to stump and rove. Leaves, flowers, plastic cups/bottles, plastic golf balls, etc. Recently I've added a "300 round" (outdoors) every other day to gauge improvement.
The reason they went to a 5 spot Target is because of Arrow deflection off of nocks you can tell if your field points fly the same as your broadheads by shooting us five spot as well.
They started looking at this years ago when the guy taught me how to shoot got knocked out of the Olympics because of Arrow deflection off of a Nook.... I'm talking 40 years ago and he was ranked third in the nation and also hunted with Dan Quillian.
Just a little history.
Thanks for sharing it
I haven't read all the responses and I am sure there is sound advice in them.
For me, when I want to focus on form, I either blind bale or blank bale shoot. One arrow. Retrieve. Repeat.
A good mentor is excellent, or surround yourself with good shooters if you can and pick traits from them to try. Not everything that works for them will work for you. Eventually you will find your course for your archery journey. Start out correctly, and the journey will be enjoyable. Start our incorrectly and it can and will be frustrating with some fun mixed in between.
The stumping or roving with a judo advice is excellent prep for hunting, and you might get some good scouting in as well.
Awesome. I picked up some judos to try out . Now I need more arrows. (Broke two this morning by robinhood ) I was mad and happy st same time. So I need more now
Judos are very handy when grass is involved, but I do not like how they go in and out of a back quiver, I changed to hammers, have not lost one yet, but it does help to be shooting at a slope of bare dirt. For target work, I use a 4' by 4' target, I rarely try to shoot groups, I figure that deer do not have a nice yellow dot to aim at. What really gets my hiny in a bind is when I miss my mark and Robin Hood arrows that I am not shooting at, at least not consciously shooting at.
A group of us shoot once a week during the nonhunting months at a local NFAA range with 28 bales. We don't shoot the target faces much, instead we shoot at different size balloons at distances up to seventy yards or so and through openings in the brush. The person that breaks the balloon picks the next shot. We also practice shooting from setting and kneeling positions.
I find that shooting too many arrows at once between retrievals doesnt work so well. My first 3 shots are generally good, after that not so great. Retrieving the arrows kinda lets me reset for a few seconds, and then start again.
Typically, I practice four to five days a week. I don't keep track of the number of arrows I shoot. Sometimes I shoot for an hour. Sometimes between two to three hours, depending on what I'm working on at the time. In the winter, I shoot spot targets mostly to keep my shooting form. Once I can get outside, I shoot at fixed yardages out to 45-50 yards mostly. Then, I begin shooting Walk Backs. I start at 5 yards and shoot one arrow. Then, 10 yards and one arrow. So on and so forth out to 40-50 yards. I also shoot the (15 ) 3-d targets our club leaves out in the summer. Lastly, I try to shoot a 3-d event each weekend throughout the summer. Sometimes they're too far away, but I usually get to about three per month.
Stumps are my favorite (big surprise there). My bowhunting mentor observed I'd rather stump shoot than hunt - hence my camp name.
I have a 20 yard range in my basement I shoot most - bag stuffed with Nylon window screening.
I shoot Douglas fir and they hold up to stumps. We have rotted stumps (it rains a lot here and the frost/freeze further degrades the wood).
A few broken arrows. That happens on soft targets, too (if you shoot more than one). Well . . . sometimes.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2279.jpg)
I guess I need to up my game! Practice out to 50 yds and even 70,?! Wow!
I was feeling good cause in the last month I am finally shooting 3 arrows in the center at 30 ydsNot breaking nocks at 30 yet, but often 2 are touching.
To the question, I have 2 deer, a turkey, groundhog, rabbit, muskrat, and prairie dog and three butts set up around my property. I try to shoot all of these daily at random distances, angles and elevations out to 30 yds.
I also usually shoot 3 arrows then pull them. But when shooting at the 3D targets I will move to a different position/distance and shoot up to 4 arrows at the same animal before retrieving the arrows.
Every shot I am working on my form, verify sight picture, verify anchor add tension release and follow thru.
Started shooting at 9 yrs old, shot a bit in college, did not shoot again till late 30s, never could get consistent with trad gear so took a detour into training wheels, got bored with them quit shooting altogether for a couple years now I am back at it.
Figured out all the reasons I was never any good with trad gear, and have learned to tune arrows to the bow/me and have learned what a proper form should be. Thanks in a very large part to the trad gang!
No doubt about it, i like roving (stump shooting) best.
I stand at my target and toss an arrow in the random direction I want to shoot from. Then I walk to that arrow and toss another. I repeat this until I have 5-6 arrows laying about. I then stand with my foot on the place where the tip was lying and take the shot moving from arrow to arrow. It's way to rocky to stump where I live so this is my backyard routine.
stump shooting pretty much exclusively
I do a lot of my practice on 3D targets, especially when hunting season is just around the corner. I rarely shoot for the scoring rings, concentrating more on where I would shoot that animal given the current situation, especially on quartering and up/downhill shots. Also, I normally only shoot one arrow as if I am actually hunting.
Most of my practice is on a 3D deer or a foam target. I like stump shooting, but in the heat of summer its just hotter than I am willing to try to tolerate. I never shoot more than two arrows at a time, often only one.
I try to mix it up. I shoot in the back yard couple times a week at distances that range from 10 to about 25 yards. I might only shoot 15-20 arrows if I am shooting well or I may shoot a hundred if I want to work on something. On the weekends I like to head out to my club for some 3D work in the woods and all distances.