Instinctive shooters, How do you aim at longer distances?

Rattus58 · November 06, 2010, 02:36:00 AM

I started my shooting practice with my kids not knowing anything about archery. What we wound up doing was shooting at 5 yards, walking back 7 or so paces, shoot again.... move forward.. back to 30 yards etc... for months and now for me years....

We shot at slippers, golfballs stuck in haybales and now coffee cans and homemade deer/sheep/goat targets out of scrap foam.

What I was taught by old timers, was finally anchor. Once I learned what the importance of anchor was, I was able to improve my accuracy, but more importantly, that computer you've been hearing about between your ears, has something it can reliably assimilate.

If I had one thing I'd contribute to this discussion, is make sure you've a reliable anchor point and the rest becomes more meaningful.

Much Aloha... :cool:

JamesV · November 06, 2010, 03:19:00 PM

I always look at the spot where my arrow hits therefore I am usually dead on, tried it the other way and I was not as consistent.

BowsanAiros · November 06, 2010, 04:34:00 PM

I can't agree with you more Rattus58..
The anchor point (is the foundation) of all aspects of archery...

dragonheart · November 06, 2010, 07:58:00 PM

If I am in a deer situation and start to think about things like hold over or point-gap I might as well skip the bow entirely and throw the arrow overhand. [/QB][/QUOTE]

LOL! I hear ya, just bore a hole through the spot with your concentratuion when you are in "combat mode" shooting at a critter!

F Thomas · November 07, 2010, 02:45:00 PM

Last week I had one of those days where everyting came together. At about 40 yards I could shoot and follow the arrow and actually see it hit the target spinning and come to a stop. I can't usually muster up that amount of concentration every shot. Even at 20 yards

Anchor and release are the foundation that allows me to hit what I am aiming at with any degree of consistency even out to longer yardages where I will slip into a gap shooter for sure.

F Thomas · November 07, 2010, 02:54:00 PM

Now if I could just do this at 60 yards or even 100 I would be really happy. But I can't right now. But I'm going to practice.

traditionalman · November 17, 2010, 05:45:00 PM

You have to know the cast of your bow and practice some long shots. Once you know the cast of your bow you can see the arrow in your mind and the tradjectory it has to take to get to the target. You should not be far off if you do this right.

Kip l Hoffman · November 18, 2010, 11:45:00 PM

finally I find another guy that shoots like i do. pure instinctive. i am talking about "precurve". I knew there had to be another one of us out there. it is so simple and guys make it so darned difficult. just look at the target the very last thing and the fingers will release and teh arrrow will go where the eyes are looking. i have shot elk and deer beyond 60 yards on more than one occasion. the distance meant absolutley nothing to me because i had not a clue what it was untill i stepped it off. i surprised my self. i set up a set of circumstances and when the circumstances are met the arrow leaves the bow. some times i remember drawing the bow. most of the time i only remember seeing the arrow in flight. setting up the circumstances is like saying "when he steps out behind that tree", "when his left foot goes forward", when he puts his head down to drink". If he doesn't do what i set down as the triggering event,he walks till another day. when i am hunting i need a triggering device any more to shoot an animal.

BowsanAiros · November 21, 2010, 08:23:00 PM

Good post Kip..
I too shoot purely instinctive .
Most of the time when I practice,I have no clue how many arrows I shoot, until I take them out my target.
As far as how I aim at longer distance, (I don't)..
I look at what I want to hit, (the smallest target possible)
Usually the size of a bottle cap past 30yds..under 30yds, its usually the size of an X..

zetabow · November 22, 2010, 02:42:00 AM

I find I'm my most accurate shooting instinctively BUT it really only works at short range -25y, anything past that I now use Split/Gap/POA.

I remember a few years back shooting alone on my range at a 60y Deer, 3 arrows instincticely and didn't hit squat when I looked back I could see the red stake that I just shot from and thinking its not that far and took 2 shots at the red stake, nailing it twice, it then dawned on me that I was looking at the Deer and not picking a spot.

I think when it comes to longer 3D shots another aiming method is a better choice unless its a small object like a Rabbit or the red stake that I shot, something you can really zone in on. If it's long range and large like a 3D Deer we tend to find it hard to ignore the whole animal and only pick a small spot.

confidence is a BIG factor in shooting so use what makes you the most comfortable, long range shooting is only really in IFAA 3D and marked Field for short range Bowhunting, Fita and IBO 3D Instinct is as good (if not better) an aiming choice as any other.

People I see shooting instictively bad are bad for two basic reasons, first the dont understand the dedication required to shoot instinct well and second they believe all thats required is to focus on a small spot really hard and everything well be good i.e they have no solid form to back it up.

Ben Maher · November 27, 2010, 04:07:00 AM

good post Steve !
Im am blind in my right eye and so by definition am left handed in the shooting sports . Past my POA my bow hand is beginning to block out the target so I reference something above the target if possible ... at 70 and 90 i use a lower anchor point.

Ravenhood · November 27, 2010, 08:39:00 AM

The only way I can hit anything at any distance is to 100 percent stare at it and only it.I have found in 40 years of hunting the key for me is TRUST or Blind faith, sometimes its hard to do.

ermont · November 28, 2010, 09:47:00 PM

20 to 25 yards is my limit. I just trash arrows at 30.

Pepper · November 29, 2010, 10:12:00 AM

When my brain computes correctly, it goes where it is supposed to.

Killdeer, I don't have that much RAM.

wildgame · December 03, 2010, 07:21:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Ravenhood:
The only way I can hit anything at any distance is to 100 percent stare at it and only it.I have found in 40 years of hunting the key for me is TRUST or Blind faith, sometimes its hard to do.

ditto couldnt have said it no better!

Longspur77 · December 05, 2010, 09:59:00 PM

20 yds from the ground and 20 yds out of a climber is what gets me. I always shoot high out of tree

SOLDIERII · December 11, 2010, 11:11:00 PM

I aim high on my target, its just a matter of practice. I rarely hunt past 20, so its not an issue for me.,

champ38 · December 19, 2010, 07:21:00 AM

I shoot purely instinct, never paying attention to the arrow. I focus both eyes on target ,regardless of distance, and let her rip. I do spend at least half of my practice sessions shooting from 60-80 yds, this has sig. improved my shooting.

bigugly1 · December 19, 2010, 11:07:00 AM

The club I go to there is s goat with compound stakes at 60yards with a good back drop. A lot of us trad shooters will use this as a fun shot and the instinctive shooters do better than gap shooters. Same as always I just pick a spot brain takes over and arrow flies. I hit more often than I miss but I'll never shoot that far at game.

bigugly1 · December 19, 2010, 01:05:00 PM

The club I go to there is s goat with compound stakes at 60yards with a good back drop. A lot of us trad shooters will use this as a fun shot and the instinctive shooters do better than gap shooters. Same as always I just pick a spot brain takes over and arrow flies. I hit more often than I miss but I'll never shoot that far at game.