I've been shooting compound bows for about 5 years. I am very deadly with a wheeled bow out to 40 yards.
About a month ago I got a recurve and have been practicing daily and I can easily get within a dinner plate out to 20 yards, and I could probably even take a deer out to 30 although I would not attempt it. My groups are usually about 4-5" at 10, 6-8" at 20 yards shooting a 6-7 shot group.
Today I had the most amazing hunting experience of my life. I spotted some doe and a spike about 50 yards away. I watched them and knowing the local land I estimated where they were heading.
I stalked over to a likely spot and propped myself against some logs leaning against a tree. As the deer approached I lay dead still, fearing to blink even. When the doe got about 15 yards away she stopped and stared at me for 5 minutes, which seemed like 4 hours. I didn't move and she moved on. As he head went behind a tree I moved my arm to brace myself. Then a minute or two later I was out of sight for 3-4 seconds and I silently stood up and drew. At this point she was 18-20 yards away when she came out from behind the tree.
I aimed a little low, hoping to perforate the heart and for a fast and humane kill. I was dead in line horizontally but my height was a little off and I shot just under her vitals. 2-3 inches up and it would have been perfect.
This miss has shaken my resolve in hunting with the bow this year for big game. While I am very competent with the target, my missing worried me that I could make a bad shot and wound an animal, which I don't want to do.
Tomorrow I'll take out the compound bow(I've been simultaneously practicing with this as well and it's all set up and tuned with broadheads).
So how long has everyone been shooting their traditional bows before taking them hunting?
I have been doing a punishing schedule of practice for the last 3.5 months going to as many 3ds as I could make and doing marathon practices at the indoor ranges multiple days a week. I was a little ticked with myself the other day when I went from hero to zero on the bag before the hunt. I just blew it off and the accuracy came back in a few ends. Misses happen. I think the best thing to do is continue to practice and stick with the trad gear. Like all methods if you want to kill deer with it you've gotta put in the time, in practice and afield. Shake it off, hit the bag a little more and give 'em the broadhead.
When I was 14 years old, I practiced for 2 months, everyday during that time period and then I went bowhunting with my target recurve. For 2 years, I never got a shot off since the deer were beyond my own self imposed comfort zone of 20 yards.
When I was 16 years old, a doe came in and I finally got the shot and it was a broadside shot at 15 yards. I made the most of the shot. I didn't try for any "heart shot". I went with my favorite double lung shot since the lungs are the biggest target for a bowhunter.
Since I was pulling 36#, there was no bow string twang noise because I was using a heavy arrow. The shot was a total pass through where the arrow was still flying in the air after exiting the deer. The deer ran about 40-45 yards and piled up.
I don't know why newcomers want heart shots. If the shot is low, the arrow goes underneath the deer for a clean miss most of the times....which you already know. Do yourself a favor next time and aim for the lungs. It's a much bigger target than the heart and no animal goes far without lungs.
Hang the training wheels up for good. You got close enough, your right and left was good. You simply missed low. You made the right choice in targeting the heart. Miss low the animal lives, miss high you get low lungs. Experts occasionally miss shots as do average shooters. If you can repeat that situation you will kill the next one. This time aim for the top of the heart and you will make your first trad kill.
Hang the training wheels up for good. You got close enough, your right and left was good. You simply missed low. You made the right choice in targeting the heart. Miss low the animal lives, miss high you get low lungs. Experts occasionally miss shots as do average shooters. If you can repeat that situation you will kill the next one. This time aim for the top of the heart and you will make your first trad kill.
i have been practicing every day for months, alot more latly since i switched to a different bow in august. with deer season opening oct 15th i have been firing a ton of arrows a day including one with th head im using. cant wait to get out there and hunt. i plan on taking warm up shots before i head to the stand to loosen up. i to shoot compounds alot and its amazing how little practice you need to be able to kill out to 40 yds compared to the practice it takes to hit good with a longbow at 20.
good luck and hope we will see some pics of a deer soon
Excellent question. There are a couple of things to consider.
First, are you accurate enough in the field? Shooting a paper plate from a known distance is a lot different than shooting at a small target at an unknown distance. I'd suggest going on a few extensive stump shooting excursions. Wear your hunting gear and shoot one arrow at a time. Don't pace anything off beforehand. Pick some small targets (leaves, rotten stumps, mushrooms, etc) at varying distances, from 5 yards to 40. Shoot from a lot of different positions and shoot as if you were shooting at an animal. Slowly and deliberately. What you want is for your arrow to hit with a feather's length of your intended target. You'll be able to get a good visual of what your effective distance looks like in the field.
Second, how well do you perform under pressure? Hunting small game will reveal that, and are a great way to confirm your skills.
There is absolutely no shame in not pursuing deer until you are ready. I wish a lot of others had your restraint and patience.
Let me add this, too. Your miss was just that you misjudged the distance. And that is much, much better than missing left or right. Getting better at judging distances will only come with practice. Leave that paper target alone and get out in the woods. Heck, shooting at a tennis ball tossed around your yard is a great way to get your eye tuned to your arrow flight.
Don't give up be persistent. Keep practicing just as you hunt. You did get close enough!
i'm a firm believer in confidence in your shooting ability is a huge part of it...
have you ever noticed that you do some of your best shooting when you just don't think about it all, and just do it?
Looper's suggestion is a good one... the only thing I'd add is "Aim small, miss small." pick a spot, and run you shot.
I agree with everyone. The way i was able to get totally confident with a Traditional bow was sell my compound. If i had the compound i would use it as a crutch and think " man if i would have had my compound i would have made that shot".. It took my 2 years to take my first deer. But it is something i will never forget.
Dont let the miss get to you to bad.. we all miss.
Keep at it . Take to heart what the others told you . I hunt all year long and when not hunting I shoot in the back yard. That was your first try go and keep going for it.
I was hunting after about 6 weeks of deligent practice after I got my 1st recurve.If I was to shoot an arrow that year it would have only been out to 15 years maximum and hopefully closer.I never loosed an arrow except for at a coyote which I missed that season
I was much more accomplished shooting a bow my second season after having another year to practice.Things become much more ingrained over time.
Pick a spot !!!
Stick with it. I have been dealing with the same thing. I can make the shots at home, but really don't want to wound an animal. I lost a nice 8 point a couple years ago due to being over eager to take a shot with my compound. After tracking that deer for the better part of a day, and loosing him i felt sick, and told myself i would never do that again.
I will normally practice on the targets I have in the yard, then throw on some judo points and start shooting what ever I see normally leaves, flowers, dog toys. Its a long road, but it will be worth it.
Shooting instinctively is 90% mental and 50% passion, or somethin' like that. IMHO:
1.) Put the arrow flinger away.
2.) Use a smaller target - Aim small miss small
3.) Only shoot 2-3 arrows at a time - but over the same time period as your 6 arrows - allow for a proper mindset.
4.)Think of a proper kill shot, pick a spot and release when you KNOW your ready.
5.)Shoot from 5-20 yards to find your comfort zone. And helps with instinctive thought process.
6.)Traditional bow hunting is so much more than the kill. It's all about getting close, being close and realizing the benefits of hunting the hard way.
Just my thoughts.
Excellent advice from everyone. I'd only add to make sure you're having fun out there! Keep at it, we all miss sometimes...I think my 10th shot at a deer was my first kill.
I too like heart shots because I tend to shoot high. Nothing bleeds like a heart shot. Oldtimers miss close shots sometimes. No guarantees.
Confidence will determine your ethical shot. Experience builds confidence. *Even gun hunters make mistakes. Doesn't make it right. Respect your game, do your best,...no excuses needed. You get my vote.
Everyone misses at some point. Everyone will wound at some point. Paper plates don't get the heart pounding like deer do. Adrenaline at the moment of truth makes shooting at game a different experience.
Keep hunting with the trad bow. You will never gain confidence in it unless you kill some thing with it. The fact you hit the deer and did not recover is unfortunate but that can happen to guys who have killed 50 deer with a trad bow. Back in 96-97 I bought a Howatt Hunter and shot it for a few days and went out and killed a deer with it. Keep huntin!! Shawn
Some may slam me for this, But..... :rolleyes:
If you're consistantly in a dinner plate, you're "accuracy" is good enough!!!!! Back in the 1970's, all of us boys shot at paper plates, and we practiced out to 30 yards. Also Btw, I was shooting the "heaviest" bow... A 50# Bear Alaskan.
We killed alot of deer between us,and we only lost one that ran into a swamp with knee-deep water. Besides the "Plate" practice, we all carried a blunt,or Judo tipped arrow in our quiver, and "stumped" on our way into or out of the woods. (depending if it was morning or evening, going in and out)
Sell the compound, and buy some Judo points!!!!! As long as you own that wheely bow, you will keep switching back every time your confidense wavers.
Shoot Straight!!! Good Luck!!!!!
I'm with "m midd." The only way you're gonna kill a deer with a trad bow is to shoot trad. There are no two ways about it.
But, Gonzoso is right to be concerned about the ethical part of hunting with trad. It's a serious question, whether one should hunt with trad if one is merely going to wound a deer. When I last faced this (a month ago), I had a serious talk with myself about my accuracy - then I made sure I was "on" before I went hunting, or I wasn't going out. I think people should take that consideration seriously, it will only serve to improve our sport.
Nothing like taking a few squirrels to bring confidence back or build more.
Jump into the trad thing with both feet you wont regret it.
Rob
I harvested a deer with my lame bow at 8 yards, I'm going to be hunting with my recurve from now on.
WAY TO GO, gonzoso!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Missing is like.....well you know, it happens! Dont let it control you! Shoot as often as you can. Hang that wheel thing up (sell it and get another trad bow haha!) and shoot whenever you can, even if only 10 mins here, 20 there.....get it in your blood so that shootin' the stick is like breathin'...ya just do it and do it well! Point it, shoot it and hit what ya want at any time and at a variety of distances. When you get there, its gonna feel great....and there will be no turning back! I shoot every chance I can and try to every day, at least 2 doz arrows or so. Ive been soley recurve and longbow now for 4 years and I truely feel Im in a better place....a great place! Im at the point now where even when Im having an off day, Im still on! Did take me lots of shootin to get there though....but it was all so much fun. Bottom line is you cant shoot too much I dont think. Keep at it man, trad archery is the truth!
I'm a think positive freak, "Aim small HIT small.
It seems most are bolstering up your shooting confidence to overcome your miss but let me give you some different advice.
You made one glaring error in shooting at that deer. You deliberatly aimed for a heart shot at 15 yards thus taking a low percentage shot in hopes of a quick kill. With traditional equipment and no sights you want to aim for the center of the chest area so an arrow a few inches low will drop into the heart, a few inches high or forward will catch the top or front of the lungs and a few inches back will catch the liver. This is your best percentage shot and would have yielded a dead deer.
I don't know if you picked a spot either but you must do that too.
You can shoot OK but your thinking was flawed on the shot.
Many of the most accomplished deer hunters I know aim very low, because most deer will always crouch at the shot. I think you are ready to hunt now, but limit your shots to 15 yds until you feel more confident at 20. Sell the crutch!
Keep at it is the only advice I can give you. The fact is that if you shoot enough, not all will be kills. It's part of life. All we can do is do our best at making the best shot we can and be reasonable sure in our ability to make the shot before taking it.
Forty Two years now but I'm still getting better.
QuoteOriginally posted by Apex Predator:
Many of the most accomplished deer hunters I know aim very low, because most deer will always crouch at the shot. I think you are ready to hunt now, but limit your shots to 15 yds until you feel more confident at 20. Sell the crutch!
I don't think I'm going to sell the compound, it just wouldn't make sense. I have about 400-500 dollars into it and the setup and there is no way I'll get that back. I'd rather just have it and not use it much for the 200$ or whatever I'd be lucky to get for it.
But I got a deer so now I'm more relaxed and confident about the whole thing.
How long to shoot before hunting with a trad bow? Twenty some years ago I sold a bow, with arrows and lessons for less than half what it was worth. I told the guy to use the blunts I gave him to take some shots at rabbits or squirrels to get the feel for shooting at game. He shot a rabbit his first morning out deer hunting, two squirrels the next day. Two or three weeks into the season he finally got a chance at a nice buck. It did not come close enough so he followed it. It went down to a pond, he got as close as he dared and waited. When it came up the bank, he shot it and it went down in less than a hundred yards.
If you want to build your confidence, shoot at something you can eat. It does not need to be a deer.