I'm really looking forward to hunting with my longbow this coming fall. Practice is going well and I'm shooting good groups comfortably out to 25yards. Good groups that is after my first shot. I find that once I shoot one arrow I can hone in on the distance and where I need to aim. My question is how does this translate into a hunting situation do you traditional hunters carry blunts and stump shoot on your way to your hunting grounds or stand? I'm thinking by doing this I would gain confidence and also warm up a little. Am I on the right track?
Yes, you are absolutely on the right track. Some of us need to "get in the groove" before we hunt or do a formal target shoot at a club, by warming-up at close range. Not everyone needs to do this, but I certainly do, and it was discussed on the latest "Masters of the Barebow" DVD. I read that even Howard Hill would always shoot a few arrows before going hunting. I carry blunts in my quiver, and make a point of shooting termite mounds, or soft sandy pig diggings, or hardened cakes of cattle or buffalo dung before really getting into the hunting hotspots, or whilst waiting in ambush. Good luck!
I try to shoot a few arrows before going out and also while hunting (at stumps,dirt clods, etc.).
Always have a judo are blunt in my quiver for this reason. It's also FUN! :goldtooth:
i also always carry a blunt. practise while you hunt
I always take a shot out of my tree stand at a target I think is within distance. It seems to give me confidence.
Get a hold of J Kidwells' book "Instictive Archery Insights". That will help you understand how your grey matter works when it comes to this trad stuff.
... mike ... :) ...
You Bet, I always carry a judo for pratice, and if it is a early am hunt i take a couple shots at my bag target in the basement before heading out!!
if I am reading your post correctly, I am seeing that you can dial it in but the first shot may not be right on. Thinking about how we hunt, we need to really worry about that first shot.... not so much the next several. Although shooting groups is a good thing, the fact is, you are likely to get only one shot.
Stump shooting... loosing only one arrow per target, at unknown distances, is a great way to work on that. And, as told above... shooting before you go out into the woods, or better yet, as you are hunting will help you dial in. That first shot, however is THE ONE.
ChuckC
Howard liked to shoot a practice arrow first. I do the same and often stumpshoot walking to my hunting area. If in a stand, I often shoot a judo at a pine cone, etc. to get a feel for the situation.
If this will be your first year hunting with your longbow, I say keep your shots well under 25 yards. A lot of people here have been at this quite a while and will tell ya that 25 yards is quite a poke, even for very good shots. Once I am in my tree and settled in I usually pick out a leaf in a direction I doubt anything will be coming in and take a practice shot. I try and keep all my shots under 20 yards as well. 10 yards or so is perfect. Shawn
Why wait till fall - there's bears soon....cmon. Get some shooting in...stump shooting is perfect practice and off you go..take a backup
Getter done cowboy
jer Bear
Last bear I got was at 9 yards on the ground. Don't think many ppl would have trouble hitting at that distance, but it's been known to happen.
Practice at long shots too....they make the shorter ones seem easier...practice...practice.
My first shot is usually my best...my concentration is better too.
jer Bear
Al:
I think Chuck said it best, too the hunting archer groups are a waist of time. Shoot one arrow at different distances and learn to make the first arrow a hit. In the fifty plus years I've bow hunted I can only remember one time I ever got more than one shot at an animal and I missed them both because I was telling myself how easy this was going to be instead of concentrating on making the shot.
Bob
Part of the pleasure in shooting traditional gear is being able to shoot and practice more often "in the bush".
You know when it is o.k. to practice coming back from your hunt, or even walking to if you have a long way to go. If I'm not disturbing my hunt, I shoot.
My favorite practice is picking up a grouse or other small game with a blunt during the afternoons or near camp, or even when exploring.
An exercise I use when loosing an arrow is not an option is to focus on a target, pull back to anchor, then let down. I've done this on stand while passing the time and just before the critical last couple feet of a stalk with good results. If you're having trouble with that first shot, give this a try in practice and see if it helps. This is also a good exercise for those folks who short draw when they shoot. Another thing that will help is after my warm up routine and form training is to only shot a single arrow at a time before getting my arrow. I usually start this single shot routine a couple months before hunting season.
Good luck with your shooting.
Slick
I would not put too much stock in groups. The real measure is the first shot. Get a judo (I keep one or two in my hunting quiver) and spend most of your time stump shooting, one arrow at a time. You first shot of the day is the most important. Another recommendation is to take a few practive shots with a judo at the beginning if each hunting trip. The best hunting practice is one arrow per day. Actually, your first miss will be high and caused by shooting at the whole animal. Pick a spot!
Mike
Alot of times I shoot a couple of practice arrows at camp just before I go to the stand. Sometimes it is hours before the next shot on an animal happens. I don't know if it actually helps but it does feel good if I shoot a real good group and then get in the stand.
Bisch
Thanks for all the replies, some great ideas that I will incorporate into my practice. I was especially concerned about making that first shot count. Chances are that my quarry isn't going to stand around letting me get dialed in after an arrow or two.
Al, get a hold of Dennis in Calgary. He has some of the hex point blunts, get them in the same weight as your broadheads and shoot them all day long while hunting, stumping etc. I have yet to destroy one. They will fly the same as your broadheads and are good for grouse as well.
Terry
I always carry a judo or blunt while I am hunting and scouting. Stump shooting is great practice and you never know when you might see a grouse or a rabbit. :)
I pretty much always shoot a couple of arrows in camp before I get on stand. Even if they are in the dark
Al (Scott).. one of my joys is to walk in the woods with a longbow and a couple arrows. Typically I use hex heads as they are tough as heck and pretty decent at not getting lost.
I do the usual stump shoot routine, then after a bit I start to play. OK... I can probably hit that stump from here, standing upright with plenty of room, but... how bout over there, standing so I have to shoot between two trees that leave about 6" of space, and they are half way to the target..... or I have to bend way over or get on my knees to shoot under some stuff or even (gasp) I have to bounce the arrow off a tree or drop it in over a brush pile.
We can do those things now cause we are playing, and it really doesn't hurt a thing if (yeah right IF )we miss. But boy does it do things toward helping you pull off shots and you get pretty excited when you do it.
I hang foam balls the size of tennis balls from cord and tie those to trees along several trails on my little place. Try hitting THAT at 20 yards, 30, 40, around trees etc. A summer of that and you will KNOW what you can hit and what you can't. and did I tell you about the fun I have.
And... also important. I love to do this by myself.... but I REALLY love to do this with a friend (or child, or spouse)... to share the fun and the joy of playing in the woods. Don't compete... just goof around and enjoy your time in the woods.
ChuckC
This Is a very good thread!! I made a thread similar to this one on another traditional forum and some of the answers surprised me. In saying that though everyone Is different on how they prepare themselves for the hunt. As for myself I always warm up before I head out In the woods. I don't like to stump shoot on the way In to my woods being I'm afraid of making unwanted noises but I do take a few practice shots at home before I head out for my hunt. Ones effective range can change from day to day or week to week so It sure Is nice to know where your sitting when the time comes. I feel naked when I don't shoot before I go, It's just part of my routine.
Never leave home with out a stump arrow.(judo or blunt). In the stand I take imaginary shots all day long. Some of those shots are as good as Byron Ferguson, on his best day.
Joe
After you shoot more the first arrow will start finding it's mark.I only shoot from the stand when I want to kill something.I don't want stinking arrows sticking around my stand.Shooting groups instills muscle memory and the sight pictures you need to shoot well.It also gives a hunter the most important part of his training.Confidence. jmo
Many years of experience and much wisdom in the previous replies.
I can only add to this discussion what has been very helpful to me over the years, that is hunting small game. I was introduced to hunting small game with a longbow at around age six. Though I did have a few opportunities, I was not allowed to arrow a big game animal until age 12 when I killed my first whitetail deer. Though I was only 12, by that time I had a bunch of string time under my belt arrowing several species of small game. No matter how much string time you have in the comfort of a familiar course, and no matter how well you can string together a succession of well placed shots on an inanimate target, I cannot begin to stress enough the difference in felt pressure of making the one shot you may take on a live game animal when afoot in the woods during conditions that are often far less then ideal. There have been volumes of books written on this very subject in the world of hunting archery of which at times can prove to be a huge stumbling block for some to overcome. I have found very few things in archery that can duplicate this experience any better than spending time afoot in the woods hunting small game. Such time spent will quickly help you to develop your woodsmanship and tackle management skills when hunting with your longbow. Such time spent will quickly help you to develop stress inoculation against game panic when you decide to take that first shot on a live big game animal. Such time spent will quickly help you to develop your confidence in your abilities to accurately place a killing shot with that first arrow while hunting during conditions that are often far less then ideal.
So my suggestion would be that you broaden your horizons by not becoming a single dimensional hunter who only goes after a narrow range of big game animals that you only shoot from a stationary shooting box within a limited duration of time each year. Expand your horizons as there are numerous opportunities to enjoy your longbow afield throughout the entire calendar year while going after a plethora of fish, fowl, small game, big game, dangerous game, and vermin. Also, if you find yourself in the back country on a hunting trip with friends on a non-hunting day, you can easily lay out an archery golf course with minimal materials gathered afield and spend a great day practicing all sorts of shots over a game of archery golf:) Also, you can hone your low light shooting skills by spending time each evening shooting at small candles around the campfire. The list goes on and on, and all will improve your hunting skills over time.
Best,
DB
I've enjoyed reading all of the responses. I've changed my practice routine to shoot an arrow from an unknown distance then back up or move forward a few paces shoot again...repeating until my quiver is empty. I've found my shooting has improved greatly, I competed in my first 3d tourney a couple of weeks ago and surprised myself with how well I did. I'm looking forward to doing the 3d archery again and really look forward to shooting everyday, even if time only permits a dozen arrows. I'm looking forward to carrying my longbow afield this fall, in the meantime the gophers are on full alert.