What motivates you to shoot?

[25contender]

You are doing the right thing. Get the bow checked first. How many pounds are you pulling on the bow. Many times the poundage is cranked down to much if you are just starting to shoot again. Maybe taking a few lbs off the bow in the beginning will help. Many times the draw length is wrong. Many people shoot draw lengths that are to long for them. This is not good for consistency . I always tell anyone that comes over for a little help to think like a machine when you shoot. The bow will only do what you tell it to do. If you are not consistent about everything you do when you shoot every shot will be different from the last. Try to get a system down from the time you line your body up for the shot til the time you follow through after the shot. If the shot isn't right let up and start again. After you are consistent then you can make a few changes if you have too. Just strive for consistency first.

 

[packmule]

If shooting at night it could just be the lighting and your eyes trying to focus on too much.

 

[Timberstalker]

Thanks for the tips and encouragement guys. I do think the draw length may be a little too long, I'm not sure what poundage I'm at. I beleive somehwere in the 65# range, I know it's not maxed out. I try do do the same thing every time and beleve I am, but having someone watch may tell a differant story. It's crazy, I feel like a rookie! I will get it down, I'm glad I'm getting things ironed out now!

 

[Engideer]

I know one area that I struggle with at times is punching the trigger. As much as I enjoy shooting at long distances to make those short shots seem easier, another thing I will do every once in a while is shoot from very close range (7-8 feet) with my eyes closed and just concentrate on squeezing the trigger. With your eyes closed, you don't feel the same apprehension about "hitting" the trigger as soon as you are on target. It is not as good as switching to a back tension release, but I am not smart enough to hunt with one of those.

 

[Timberstalker]

Turns out my peep sight was moving on me, I also learned I was not using my sight to its full potential. I never knew the round part around the sight pins was actually a useful part of the sight, I've always just focused on the sight pin. Other than that everything else is in check, I was shooting pretty nice groups by the time I left the bow shop.

 

[packmule]

That tidbit of info is very helpful. Generally the smaller the peep & the smaller the pin the more accurate you can shoot. The trade-off though is it can present a cluster in low light situations.

 

[ddress00]

Sounds super corny but Cameron Hanes with Hoyt motivates me. He brings a certain intensity to bow hunting that I've not seen in the past. He's always pushing himself to be better physically an mentally to be a better hunter. I like that he treats bow hunting like an athlete would a pro sport. Shooting daily and constantly striving to get better keeps me motivated.

 

[NVBird'n'Big]

Turns out my peep sight was moving on me, I also learned I was not using my sight to its full potential. I never knew the round part around the sight pins was actually a useful part of the sight, I've always just focused on the sight pin. Other than that everything else is in check, I was shooting pretty nice groups by the time I left the bow shop.

What tips did you get about using your sight to its full potential? I'm interested to know, maybe I'm missing out on something.

 

[Timberstalker]

What tips did you get about using your sight to its full potential? I'm interested to know, maybe I'm missing out on something.

The sight I have has a circular guard around the pins, I think it's very common. Being a "old school" shooter I though it was nothing more than a guard, it turns out it is round for a reason. It was suggested that I center the round guard with my peep sight first, then put the pin where I want it, all be damn if I didn't shoot better right away. Before I just focused on the pin, never payed attention the the guard. It's probably called something other than a guard too..

 

[25contender]

Centering the sight ring in the peep. It helps you shoot the same every shot. I talked a little bit about it in the video on the first page. That is one reason I like the Spot Hogg sights. The sight ring matches match up with my peep sight at full draw. When there is no light between the peep and the outside of the sight guard the sight is centered. After a while you dot realize you are centering your sight it just comes naturally.It really helps when you are shooting up and down hills.

What tips did you get about using your sight to its full potential? I'm interested to know, maybe I'm missing out on something.

 

[Timberstalker]

Yea, sight ring! That's what they called it. I need to pay more attention.

 

[Timberstalker]

It's much more fun to shoot when I shoot groups like this one. My last 3 arrows yeserday evening, all within a inch.




I'm actually looking forward to shooting tonight!

 

[NVBird'n'Big]

On target shooting techniques, does everyone shoot for groups at the same spot on their target? I tend to pick one spot for each arrow, my bag has 16 dots, each arrow is shot at a separate dot and I gauge accuracy based on that. At $10/arrow and with no reflecting equipment, I am wary of damaging arrows. I'm no Robin Hood but I have taken off vanes in the past and have seen guys break arrows while grouping. Am I doing something wrong and missing out on a better practice or is it a to each their own kind of sitch?

 

[Againstthewind]

On target shooting techniques, does everyone shoot for groups at the same spot on their target? I tend to pick one spot for each arrow, my bag has 16 dots, each arrow is shot at a separate dot and I gauge accuracy based on that. At $10/arrow and with no reflecting equipment, I am wary of damaging arrows. I'm no Robin Hood but I have taken off vanes in the past and have seen guys break arrows while grouping. Am I doing something wrong and missing out on a better practice or is it a to each their own kind of sitch?

I like the five dot targets to save on some arrows. A 16 dot bag works, too. Maybe some group shooting to make sure you are being consistent or if you have to adjust something. At Longer ranges groups might be better, you can put a bigger target out there to see, and the chances of breaking an arrow are less further out. But there are some excellent archers out there that probably should answer instead.

That is a nice group I agree 25contender

 

[25contender]

Yea man that is a good group!! Nice

It's much more fun to shoot when I shoot groups like this one. My last 3 arrows yeserday evening, all within a inch.

View attachment 9656View attachment 9655


I'm actually looking forward to shooting tonight!

 

[Timberstalker]

I only try to shoot groups when I'm making sure my stuff is in check. Once I know it is, I do more of what your talking about. I don't like to tear up arrows either.

 

[25contender]

Anything out to 40yds I will shoot at different dots. I like to see how I am grouping so as I move back past that I will shoot at the same dot with three arrows. Once over 60yds I will shoot five arrows at the same dot. When I am shooting at 60+ yds I am really shooting at area larger than dot because when you float your pin on the target you cant really see a individual dot.

It can get pricey shooting at the same dot up close.

On target shooting techniques, does everyone shoot for groups at the same spot on their target? I tend to pick one spot for each arrow, my bag has 16 dots, each arrow is shot at a separate dot and I gauge accuracy based on that. At $10/arrow and with no reflecting equipment, I am wary of damaging arrows. I'm no Robin Hood but I have taken off vanes in the past and have seen guys break arrows while grouping. Am I doing something wrong and missing out on a better practice or is it a to each their own kind of sitch?

 

[packmule]

On target shooting techniques, does everyone shoot for groups at the same spot on their target? I tend to pick one spot for each arrow, my bag has 16 dots, each arrow is shot at a separate dot and I gauge accuracy based on that. At $10/arrow and with no reflecting equipment, I am wary of damaging arrows. I'm no Robin Hood but I have taken off vanes in the past and have seen guys break arrows while grouping. Am I doing something wrong and missing out on a better practice or is it a to each their own kind of sitch?

I always shoot at different spots. Same size dots will give you the same grouping info. You likely need to be aiming at something smaller than 1"-2" dots anyway to group...which puts you aiming at nocks. It's 10x more fun to test that out shooting with friends and testing your groups on their nocks.

 

[Timberstalker]

Anything out to 40yds I will shoot at different dots. I like to see how I am grouping so as I move back past that I will shoot at the same dot with three arrows. Once over 60yds I will shoot five arrows at the same dot. When I am shooting at 60+ yds I am really shooting at area larger than dot because when you float your pin on the target you cant really see a individual dot.

It can get pricey shooting at the same dot up close.

Nice one 25!

 

[Timberstalker]

I always shoot at different spots. Same size dots will give you the same grouping info. You likely need to be aiming at something smaller than 1"-2" dots anyway to group...which puts you aiming at nocks. It's 10x more fun to test that out shooting with friends and testing your groups on their nocks.

Sounds like a good technique mule.