I've been reading a lot about being "overbowed" and started thinking about my personal process. For practice, I get out my 55#er and fire off a dozen arrows. By the time I get to a dozen, my shots are spreading out to a 6-8 inch group at 20yds.
Then, I drop back to a 40 or 45#er and fire off as many as I want until the end of my practice session.
My thought is that hunting with the 55# is okay, 'cause I'm not gonna shoot more than once or twice at a deer, so those two shots will be good. So, does anyone else use this system for practice and use the heaviest # possible for them for hunting?
thanks for your thoughts,
Dan
Dan,
Good post. As for me, I shoot my hunting bows all the time. I do not go to many 3-D shoots, I mostly shoot at my practice hunting targets or stump shoot in the timber. When my groups start to open up or I just do not have it mentally, I put the bow away. I also shoot from my "expected" hunting postions. So, for me, I shoot my lower poundage bows when my elbow is bugging me. If I am fine, I shoot my hunting weight bows and practice being able to shoot them well even after multiple shots.
That said, I do have friends who shoot lower poundage with light arrows 3-D bows and then they have their hunting bows as well. I will be interested to read what others do.
Bob.
I do on a bigger scale. I'd say that you're doing well with your current practice. Focus on your form with the heavier weight and DON'T over think it. The mental aspect of increased draw weight is the toughest thing to get over IMO.
I shoot what I hunt with all the time. Even on 3-d shoots..
At present I don't, but I guess there are lots of people that do. I would think the older crowed ( which I am a member of ) wouldn't do this because it's harder for us to draw heavier bows when we're not warmed up such as sitting in a tree waiting for something to come along.
QuoteOriginally posted by D:
I shoot what I hunt with all the time. Even on 3-d shoots..
X2
This is the first year I've hunted with a bow less than 60#. Used a 50 pounder all season. But I practice up to 70#. Even when it was 12 degrees with a 20 mph breeze, I was able to easily draw the 50# Habu...pretty sure the 70 pounder would have been a bit more than I could've managed in the cold!
I tried going away from my hunting bow to a much lighter bow during the late spring and summer last year then went back to my elk bow and holy cow it was tough getting those muscles back up to speed. Just got an ILF setup with two sets of limbs, one 55# and the other 65# at my draw length and I have arrows figured out for the light one that shoot the same speed as my heavy setup. So I plan on shooting back and forth with them to keep up my strength and work on form with light one and then try to keep it with heavy but shoot it less when I go out.
Good post, Iv' wondered the same thing. I usually shoot the heaviest bow I can. I do the same thing you do, usually. I shoot the first few arrows well and then have trouble keeping them within a paper plate at 20 yds.After a hour or so of this I seem to revert and start shooting well again- can't explain it! It's my way of keeping my muscles in shape.These long shooting sessions leave me sore for a day or two sometimes. My remedy is to shoot the next day or two with a lighter weight bow. I sometimes loosen up with a 45 to 48 lb bow and then go to the 50 to 55 lb. If I can shoot a few times a week my muscles stay in shape and trained. I wasn't able to shoot much for about seven months, so now I'm paying for it. Oh well, thats what happens when you start heading over the other side of the hill.
Oh yea, I guess I got a little off subject. I normally hunt with the heaviest bow I can. Once I get in shape I shoot my heaviest bows all the time.Use it or lose it! :thumbsup: :archer2:
Because I only own one bow right now it's the one I shoot all the time. It's 57# at my draw, 29.5". If I have been shooting plenty I can shoot it consistant for 150+ shots. If I have not been shooting regular I need a few warm ups then I can shoot well for about 30. I am trying to save now for one that's in the 50-53# range. I will be selling some other items that are not necessary, or that I can make a new one such as my 10" blade camp knife.
Chris
QuoteOriginally posted by D:
I shoot what I hunt with all the time. Even on 3-d shoots..
X3!
Bisch
I shoot the same poundage (60-65)all the time. Unless you are injured, IMHO, you should always train with your hunting weight bow, any back and forth with a lighter bow is counterproductive to learning to handle your heavier bow.
I don't shoot many 3D tournaments, but I shoot the same weight I do hunting when I do... So, I guess my answer to the question is... I'd rather shoot a shorter session of quality shots with my hunting weight bow then shoot all day with a lower weight bow. With work, and family over the last few years I don't have a lot of time to shoot either...
I try to shoot my heaviest bow (65#) all the time. Although there are times when age creeps up on me, and I get tired, so I'll shoot that day with a lighter bow.
I shoot the same weight bow for practice, 3D and hunting.
I believe shooting the same bow for all of the above increases my ability to hit what I am looking at... Brain is not attempting to recalibarate between different setups.
On days when your usual bow feels too heavy, it`s probably just because you have not eaten correctly and may be somewhat dehydrated.
Gotta fuel the engine properly to produce torque properly.
You need to be able to draw hunting what you shoot routinely and easily during practice. Hunting, sitting still, being cold & stiff, in awkward draw positions means you will only be able to draw less bow weight IMO, at least up north here, in Wisconsin, during Nov. & Dec. etc.. When you sit on stand in temps. in the teens for 4 hrs. and a buck comes directly below you or other compromised shot scenarios, drawing your typical bow weight can be very challenging. If anything, practice with heavier draw weights and hunt with lighter.
In the summer, standing shooting on the level with muscles all warmed up, wearing a tee shirt and shorts, I can easily draw 15% to 20% more bow weight than I can hunting...and I bet you can too!
Kris
Ive got 2 bows, a 51# and a 56#. I hunt with both, the heavier in warmer weather, the lighter in cold weather. I practice with the heavier bow !
QuoteOriginally posted by D:
I shoot what I hunt with all the time. Even on 3-d shoots..
Same for me! :thumbsup:
I shoot the same bow for all activities, but due to an injury that has not completely healed, I dropped back from 65# to 55# last year.
Why not hunt with your lighter weight bow? 40-45 would easily kill anything most guys would hunt here in the US...and if it is more comfortable to shoot...I would shoot it all the time....would be a lot easier when sitting in woods in either cold or damp conditions and trying to draw after hours of not moving or shooting....just my opinion...
I have steadily gone down in weight....and now I shoot and practice with the same bow/poundage I will hunt with...familiarity fosters confidence....at least in my book.....
I usually practice and hunt with the same bow, a 56# Foley recurve.
However, most years I shoot my 62# bow for about a month before archery season begins. When the season starts, I hunt with the Foley.
We get stronger by taxing our muscles. By shooting a heavier bow for a while, it makes my my hunting bow even easier to draw. I think most will agree that when a bow is easy to draw, accuracy improves.
I tried that.. Didn't work for me... I shoot 53 pounds all day long no problem and it's fun..
Got one about five pounds heavier,, shoot great first ten shots then it's no fun,, begin to strain muscles..
Figured no problem,,
PROBLEM was first time I hunted within,, and three walked inn me and the adrenaline kicked in ,, heart beating faster. It was all I could do to get is back,, I thought what the crap!!!!
Why can't I pull it back... Without effort!!!!
Missed BAD,,, good thing my acadian woods bow was quiet enough I got another shot.!!
Now I shoot the same pounds all the time,, if it's not comfortable to shoot all the time I won't hunt with it!!
QuoteOriginally posted by Lee Viv:
Why not hunt with your lighter weight bow? 40-45 would easily kill anything most guys would hunt here in the US...and if it is more comfortable to shoot...I would shoot it all the time....would be a lot easier when sitting in woods in either cold or damp conditions and trying to draw after hours of not moving or shooting....just my opinion...
I have steadily gone down in weight....and now I shoot and practice with the same bow/poundage I will hunt with...familiarity fosters confidence....at least in my book.....
I've been trending downward as my age trends upward! Kirk is building me an extra set of limbs for my Sasquatch (40#) in addition to the heavier ones. I don't really notice the extra weight too much until I get over 60#...then it becomes work. :coffee:
This time of year I may switch to a 40# bow to play with bunnies and stumps. Much easier on wood arrows. By the Spring I will drag out my heavy bows (60-65#) and work with those, then I pick the bow I will deer hunt with and for six months I only shoot that one bow for everything and every day. That will be in the 50 to 60# range.
a 3d event can either be approached as a target competition or a tune up for actual hunting.
to excel in either typically, but not always, requires different bows and arrows.
i'm no longer interested in target archery, so i only shoot my "hunting weight" longbows, all over 50# @ 29". this includes walking a 3d field course, or playing archery golf, or just plain ol' roving the woods. that's a plus for me, and always keeps me in physical shape for bowhunting and sharpens my instinctive aiming process with the arrows i'll use for hunting.
I do the same as Rob. I shoot instinctively and I don't want to confuse my already taxed brain.
In my mind, I am a hunter (you should see how good a hunter I am..In my mind) so I practice with my hunting bows exclusively. When I get tired or mind mind begins to wander I stop, I sure do not want to practice bad form.
I consider 3-D and stump shooting practice for hunting so use the same bows for each. There's about a 6# range in draw weight in my bows. Toward the end of summer, I'm shooting my heaviest, usually in preparation for an elk hunt. By the time I start deer hunting in late October, I usually drop down 4-5#, particularly if it gets really cold.
I'd say I generally shoot the same bows all the time. I make all my bows, and I don't bother making anything below hunting weight (45#+).
I don't find that weight particularly strenuous, But when I start gettgin tired and the groups open up, I just slow down, walk to the target slower, focus on my form, talk more with my buddies, and not worry as much.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
QuoteOriginally posted by D:
I shoot what I hunt with all the time. Even on 3-d shoots..
X3!
Bisch [/b]
Yep!
Jason
I belive its best to pratice with what you hunt with.Its the best way to really get to know your bow.my 2 cents
I agree with those whom practice with what they hunt with. However. When my shooting form is suffering. I like shooting the lighter bows to help get back in check. I'm currently getting back in check. Haha