Just how good of a shot, do you think you are...??

Ok, let's have some fun, and PLEASE keep it friendly!!!

Now I personally, have always said, that I couldn't hit water if I fell out of a boat...
Since 1995, I lived in a developement, in a house on a 1/4 acre piece of land.
I had a 10 yard range set up in the back yard. (15 if I stood in the bushes)

Before hunting season, I would practice untill I could hit a 2" spot EVERY time.
3-D shoots over the summer, and stumping with my Judos, extended my confidence out to about 20-25yds.
However, when hunting, I always held out for 10-15yd shots.

Now that I'm retired, and at the new house (with a 7 acre yard) I'm able to shoot longer distances.
As of right now, I'm putting every arrow in the center of the block target at 20-25yds, and 3-4 out of 5 arrows
in the target out to 30-35yds. NOW, I still plan on keeping my shots under 20 yards!!

But, the better I'm getting at longer ranges, is a HUGE confidence boost!!!

I will give the same answer as I gave to my bear guide this spring when he asked a similar question..."I shoot real good!........sometimes"

If in my backyard where I am shooting by myself and know every blade of grass...I might be a world champion on a good day. However, when I'm on a 3-D range, my scores tell me otherwise. Likewise, I can't take my backyard results into the woods. Yes I will admit; I can miss occasionally.

I have a room full of IBO and other state championships from the 90's and early 2000's. All before the dreaded TP set in. I have a mild case of it and spend most practice sessions nowadays completing exercises to keep it at bay.

To answer your question more directly, I'm likely just a little better than mediocre if you combine all the variables

Congrats on YOUR shooting. It sounds like you really are developing both your shooting and confidence.

Honestly this is what I expect at 15.  It's not always.  First 3 shots just now from the two piece camo PT.  (I've been told to practice low for Africa). 
Is that every group?  Heck no.  But it's getting more often than not. 
Saw a post on another forum how new shooters complicate things.  Traditional is simple.  We all saw the ones here too.
It's far from simple if you want to do it well.  If you're just having fun slinging sticks, it's simple.  You're spending thousands chasing critters around the world you'd better control all you can.  And having an "off day" on a five day hunt when you've been roaming the mountain for the animal for four days and finally get your only shot, is unacceptable. 
Control what you can. Too many things are out of our control.

I can shoot 6" groups at 20 yards about 9/10 times, which makes me about average for the amount I practice, which is an hour or more almost every day.  Doesn't compare with those skillful enough to shoot half dollar sized groups at 20 yards in Las Vegas, but there are some differences between their equipment and their ages and my equipment and my age.  I know some folks my age who can consistently shoot 3" groups at 20 yards with similar equipment to mine, and those are the ones I would gun for if I could figure out a better way to do it.  However, they don't always shoot their best, and sometimes I shoot better than I normally do, and on those days I can beat them, which is the hope that keeps me coming back.

Another interesting thing is that if you extend out the cone of accuracy from 6" at 20 yards, I should be shooting 15" groups at 50 yards.  Instead, I seem to be able to dependably get 10" groups at 50 yards.  I think the reason is, 45 yards is my point on, and my gap at 50 yards is only about a foot above, measured at the target, whereas my gap at 20 yards is more like 28" below.  Since the kill zone of 50 yard animals at 3D shoots is usually 10" or more, I can quite often hit within the kill zone, which is great because we get a lot of 50 yard shots out here in the west (if the shooting stake for compounders is more than 50 yards, the trad shooting stake is 50 yards or less).  Aside from the difference in point-on, I think I'm able to relax more on a 50 yard shot than I can on a 20 yard shot.  This probably has something to do with having higher expectations for myself than I can usually achieve at 20 yards, and lower expectations than I often achieve at 50 yards.  If I hit the kill zone at 50 yards, it always makes me happy, whereas whenever I miss the kill zone at 20 yards, it always makes me unhappy, or some such b.s. as that.

I'm freakin' deadly at 20 feet!   

R

I practice far distances just so the hunting shots I take seem like a gimme.  I rarely shoot more that 15 hunting....and most of the time much closer.
Tim B

Quote from: TIM B on August 21, 2022, 06:20:17 PM
I practice far distances just so the hunting shots I take seem like a gimme.  I rarely shoot more that 15 hunting....and most of the time much closer.
Tim B

There is A LOT to be said for this right here!  I often incorporate this almost "mind game" approach ......as do many others.  For the people who have been at this a bit now,  we know that there is a huge mental factor that goes into putting everything together to be a CONSISTENTLY GOOD shot.  I say every so often,  treat yourself!  Treat yourself at least for a little bit,  making it the "gimme" and not beating yourself up over the long bombs and why you may not have it all dialed in to be as consistent as you are close up.  Shoot close enough so that without a doubt your are exactly where you want to be,  as this will keep your confidence high and that with also working on the long stuff,  will eventually bridge a mental gap between the two ....... at least this is a mindset I've employed over the years and it seems to work pretty good.  And of course regardless of distance,  if I feel like my concentration isn't 100% on point,  I will see it in my shooting.

Far far far better than me.

I must be far below average.

I'm OK out to 20 yards. Better at 15.

Hmmmm.  Just like Lake Wobegon.  Everyone on this site is an above average shot.   

What really stinks is no matter how good I get, Bisch still gets the buckle and I get humble pie. 

I have days where I shoot great and days where you'd think I had never held a bow before!
In all seriousness, with my bow arm shoulder issues, I have taken a step or two backwards. I've had to adjust my form and alignment to where I can shoot without pain in my shoulder and in doing this, I actually lost some draw length. 
With no cartilage to speak of in my right (bow) shoulder, my shoulder alignment is critical...if I get sloppy, my shoulder lets me know right away. The last few months have been filled with a lot of experimentation as to what causes pain and what doesn't, but after shooting a certain way since the '80s, I still slip up sometimes.
I like to shoot 3-5 arrows from different distances (walk backs or walk ups, only one shot from each distance) and end up with a softball sized group. As of right now, out to 18 yards is where I'm most confident. Sometimes the arrows drop right in there at 20-30 yards, but not frequently enough...YET!!

How'bout I've killed lotsa $#!7 with a recurve!!    I was hunting with my buddy who shoots a compound. I had a skipper hang out in front of me for about a half hour. She stayed there too long so I let her have it. A 22 yard heart shot showed him how proficient traditional equipment is. [attachment=1]

I don't claim to be a great shot, decent, but not great.
What I am good at is getting close to critters, then putting an arrow where it needs to to go.

Quote from: Walt Francis on August 22, 2022, 09:11:53 PM
I don't claim to be a great shot, decent, but not great.
What I am good at is getting close to critters, then putting an arrow where it needs to to go.

This ^^^^^

Although I wouldn't yet say "I'm good at getting close to critters", more like "reasonable" at getting close.

Always working on getting better though.

Best
Lex

Oh heck, deer aren't that tough to get close to if you can get past the property owner.

I'm good nuff to pick my shots at calm deer at the distance I'm certain I can hit them where I want.  I shoot to 30-40 in the yard, but not at critters.

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Well this is one arrow at 20, one at 15, and one at 10.

This is what I'm expecting.
I cannot always punch them in like this, but they are usually more than good enough.

I shoot well enough at 20 to know that I'm better at 15 

Best
Lex

Sorry about the sideways picture,

I'm a bit challenged with the technical stuff, but if someone knows how to fix it, I'd be most grateful.....

Best
Lex

I guess I do ok:)


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