Man I am struggling I have shot at 4 deer under 20 yards all broadside, missed a doe tonight from the ground, shot a foot in front of her, did that on a buck at 5 yards. Shot over the other 2 one from the ground the other from a tree.
I know what the problem is I am just shooting at the whole deer and not picking a spot, hair, crease or something.
Can't seem to get it together. Theses deer came in behind me I was in my ghillie suit, and small tripod stool. I got out of the chair and was getting set for a shot behind me. Well with one leg way out on one knee, you know they had to change direction and came into my lane, I was off balance but no excuse.
Sounds like you are doing more right than wrong to me. Getting shots at deer from the ground and in a ghillie. Not knowing you or your experience level, it sounds like you are having a good time and have identified the problem.
Yes Sir sounds like your having a good time. :thumbsup:
You just need to focus on the spot. Try and pick your spot as soon as possible and don't take your eyes off it. When it's time to take the shot you will be focused.
also practice picking a spot all the time, not just when hunting. when you look at a car tag, pick out 1 number. pass a mailbox, pick the pivot for the flag, look at a door, focus on the knob, etc etc
Whitetail on the ground are tough, concentrate on the elbow,smaller target. Hit it a heart shot,if it drops double lungs.You may as well quit counting misses,,, there will be more misses. With time more harvests with less misses.
I was having somewhat similar issues. For me, like you, the problem came from a difficulty picking spots. After 18 years of compound hunting with fixed sights, I could not get over the need for a hard reference under pressure. So I learned a gap system and I'm doing much better now. Just the reassurance of my references gives me confidence.
Even when your having a practice session your preparing for that moment. So what I do is not just pick a spot on the bag target but go through the whole shot process while visualizing the scenario being a hunt. Every shot for me is a practice in visualizing a hunt. You will be surprised by how this makes the moment of truth much easier.
Chris
Adam,
A lot of good advice has been given already.
Shooting high is fairly common and can be caused by a variety of things some of which have little to do with the shooter....like alert animals dropping at the shot. However, shooting a foot in front of 2 animals at very short range would have me concerned because that is not nearly as common. Actually, it is rather difficult to do with a properly tuned arrow at 5 yards in my opinion.
Do you have any problems on targets at short ranges, Even occasionally? And do you shoot with the arrow under your dominant eye?
You have the hunting part down, now time to work with your nerves. I have the same issue with nerves.
been there! here is something I don't often admit. my first 2 years with a recurve I missed 12 deer. 3 from the ground and 9 from treestands. all under 20 yards!!!!
was shooting at the whole deer as well and when you shoot at the whole deer your eyes are drawn to the edges. usually the top edge and the deer reacts and we miss.
In hind sight I would not trade those 2 years for anything now. I learned so much in those 2 years from all the close calls and full hunting season I would not trade a single second of it.
Those 2 years of missed helped make me the hunter I am today.
I still miss a couple deer a year on average. some years I don't miss any other years I might miss 3 while trying to fill 6 or 7 tags. all part of the game.
don't worry about it. learn as much as you can. have as much fun as you can. and keep at it.
Sounds so simple to pick a spot. Much easier in backyard than when in the moment of truth. Anyone try a sight or a peep or something to get you to focus?
I make sure that during my practice sessions that I duplicate how I shoot deer. Most of the time during practice, I am not worried about spooking my target by drawing my bow, so I just pull it back and shoot. If I did that on a deer, it would surely see the movement and spook.
Next time you are practicing, get that stool out, sit down and draw your bow back slow and smooth like you are shooting a deer.
I hope that makes sense.
Benjy
Just to help you break the ice try this...
You'll find that on a deer if you place the tip of your arrow at it's feet with your periferal vision your arrow will hit the lungs.
It's the system Howard Hill advocated in his writing.
sounds like you are having fun,,, but to fix it I'd start stump shooting or better yet shooting at hay bales with no targets on them... plain ole blank faced hay bales are the perfect color to practice picking a spot on deer.
deer targets are nice too..
finally look at nothing but the spot you want to hit when the deer comes in,, their eyes and ears are in your peripheral vision,, I never take my eyes off that area behind the shoulder.
Looking forward to reading of your success.
You're sort of panicking at the shot. Rushing and not picking a spot. I know. I've been there, done that. I've been hunting with a stick for more than 50 years, and still blow a shot occasionally.
Here's my mantra now. When I have a critter in range, I tell myself, "You're either going to get the shot, or not. Don't rush it. If you get a good shot, take it, if not, let him walk." Helps calm me down ( And yes, after 50 years, I still need calming down). When I've had tim eto think about the shot this way, I've never missed.
Stick in there. It will come together for you.
Get Jay Kidwell's book, Instinctive Archery Insights. He is a sports psych and explains what is going on inside your brain- perfect sense! The button technique is the only thing that has worked for me even after 25 years of trad (and 40 years of archery!). "Pick a spot" has NEVER worked for me on game.
Thanks for the pointer, the bows tuned, I can tear it up on a 3 range, but come game time I'm like tony romo.
Sorry cowboy fans, I really appreciate the folks sharing there progression with me.
QuoteOriginally posted by Keb:
Thanks for the pointer, the bows tuned, I can tear it up on a 3 range, but come game time I'm like tony romo.
Sorry cowboy fans, I really appreciate the folks sharing there progression with me.
LOL !!!! great analogy !!!!!!!!!!!
Keb, I've had the same problems. A couple things - Tajue17 mentioned to practice without a "target." He's right. You'd be amazed how much your groups open up if you pick a spot on a blank target. Second, my worst shots have happened when I'm off balance. I had one shot where I'm sure I was so worked up that I didn't anchor at all. In face, because I was turned, and off balance, and trying to get my bow limbs around tree limbs, that I now guess I was several inches away from my face - and shot to the side on a 5 yard shot. Being calm, and going through a routine to make sure you're locked at anchor is the key.
Try hunting more small game. Makes you pic a spot, there still some pressure involved but will help you get on the right track
the only target I use is a McKenzie type deer target so every shot I take in practice is like the real thing
then it becomes a non thinking exercise and it just happens....I almost never miss deer although
I did shoot a huge buck in the antler once...guess where I was looking LOL
Keb,
Man, this site does not have to be a confessional, unless you just need some closure, lol! That's why there are excuses like string jumping, sun in eyes, deflection off unseen brush, etc. Actually, I have felt your pain...very recently, perhaps...after a long,unbroken string of success...nah, this transparency thing isn't helping me! At least you have made the correct diagnosis, so you're well on the way to recovery...the bad news is it can obviously recur without warning!
I also try to do the following... every time I see a critter, especially stuffed ones at the likes of Gander Mtn, Cabelas, Bass Pro etc, but even on living ones, i pick a spot. I pretend to go thru the shooting gyrations ( I don't fake a draw etc.. looks weird in public), but the staredown, the picking the spot and focusing on only that, the timing it for body movement, direction, front leg moving forward.
Every time, every critter. Especially the family cat. :eek: It gets to be normal stuff.
I believe, the reason most of us miss at game is because we don't pick a spot to aim, sometimes we forget to do a lot because we are excited.
Chuckc
Once you get more used to focusing on a single spot, you will be pleasantly surprised.
I love to Tony Romo analogy! Keep after it. Once it comes together you're going to bag a lot of critters. Remember, you're better than Tony Romo.
I have a two anchor system, use the rich welch method, but I honestly can't remember touching my nose to to the feather during any of these shots.
This is my second year trad, I killed on buck last year and missed a doe and buck last year. Last year I shot with a gap method.
I do know on the ground even in a ghillie I feel naked and rushed to shot.
I went thru this as a compound hunter trying to shoot spring gobblers off the ground with no blind, bet I missed the 1st dozen I shot at, then it clicked and killed about 15 long beaded with no blind and rarely missed one.
So I guess this is just part of the progression, I would much rather miss then wound theses animals. I think patience is the key I need. While it's no push over from a tree stand, it's much harder to pull it off from ground level.
I do find it easier to get setup and have better shot angles and more shots from the ground, I hot till January 15th here in Missouri. Headed out tonite and see what happens.
Get used to it. I've been at this a long time, taken well over 100 animals and still have the wheels run off from time to time. I'm still looking for a right front from this past week.
Shooting 3D targets regularly is a very good way to practice picking a spot. I shoot 3D every week all year around and practice picking a spot and keeping focused on that spot behind the shoulder until the arrow hits the target. When a real deer comes by you will automatically pick that spot and focus on it before you raise your bow.
I follow the Hitting Em Like Howard Hill from John Schulz. My point is a bit down from where
Charlie said, the angles and dangles work out a little longer for me. I make certain that I am really borrrowing in on the last 6 inches of draw, I will see familiar gap and line up of the arrow for that shot and release hard. If I skip something, I can get a real embarassing clean miss. Clean misses are always somewhat of a relief, but like antler stew, they don't eat well.
I had an older friend tell me that when they saw a deer bowhunting; he would say to himself "what do I have to do to kill this deer". Saying that would calm him down and get him to go through his shot sequence. I do it now and believe it works.
Run a couple 40 yard dashes to simulate your heart rate then practice your shooting at home with your gillie suit on.
Just breathe! you're getting them in close...you're getting shots off...you're not wounding critters. you're doing good! Relax, and it'll happen
Charlie,
Can u explain the tip on the feet thing?
It's all mental bud. Happens to us all. But the good news is you can stop it. Slow down and really pick a spot. You will be fine. If u can hit the target you can hit the deer. It's easier said than done, I know. But once you are able to really concentrate on the spot you will be good to go. Here is something that is kind of interesting. I have hunted in Africa 3 times. When hunting over there I am on fire as far as shooting. I thought about why that is so, and I'm convinced it is because when an animal comes to the water hole, you have a good amount of time and you know it. With deer you always have that voice in your head telling you "he's gonna get away! Shoot!" Just take your time and you'll be fine.
Thanks for the words of encouragement, I just need to lock onto a spot before the animal gets in range.
not to beat a dead horse, but pick a spot. I use to write I on my risers at the sight window. when I first started I missed the same doe four times, I could have shot again but I was out of arrows. lol Picking a spot works. an old friend once told me to put a small spot on a wall in your living room and try concentrating on it. once you get that first one under your belt, that helps a lot.
Man I feel your pain. I've been busted by a shooter buck, missed him as he dodged my shot 2 weeks later, had a doe duck on me and got a high meat only shot (she is back on my camera now with a scar bout mid back looking healthy), and just Friday I made a bad shot on a doe from a ground blind in the guts. The elevation on her shot was perfect but between me feeling my bow arm move a little and her slightly moving on the drop of the string... I got nuttn but guts. I feel like you that I just can't get it together. But I do have some relief that I'm getting closer to getting it done. I'm getting on them as are you, and that's what really matters, getting them in range at all.
Dave
So I took a big chunk of brown cardboard and put on my bad target and did the button method or drills were I visualized a red button on the spot I wanted to hit.
At 1st I started to shot at crease in the cardboard, I know why I was missing things my groups were horrible trying to do this.
I'm not sure how the button method will work in the heat of the moment. But towards the end of my session I was putting the arrow in the area surrounding my red button.
Are your broadheads/arrows tuned properly? Poorly tuned arrows can fly well with field points but not broadheads. I missed my first traditional shot this way. After missing, I went home and shot my BHs...turns out they were all over the place.
Arrows tuned broadheads fly like rockets, it me it's my M.O. I have screwed up some gifts in the woods.
Got get a handle on this.
If it makes you feel better, I missed my first five trad shots before connecting...it just takes time. :thumbsup:
Oh yea I forgot to mention, it took four years to get that first kill. But there wasn't quite as many deer back in the 80's either. Hang in there.
Oh yea I forgot to mention, it took four years to get that first kill. But there wasn't quite as many deer back in the 80's either. Hang in there.
It looks as if the second kill is going to be the hard one, I harvested a good buck last year must have been luck!!!!
Better lucky then good!! I just need to come down and relax and spend the extra 2 to 3 seconds, focusing.
Wait all year, heck 2 seconds should be easy, lot harder said then done.
If you are a right handed shooter, your dominant eye should be your left eye. You may be right eye dominant. With the excitment of the coming shot , your dominant eye may take over and you miss were you think you are aiming.
I'd feel sorry for you except that twice over the years I've emptied my quiver without hitting a hair, all in less than a minute.
Keep at it Keb. You will get it down. Like I said, if you can hit the target you can hit the deer. It's all in your head. And we have ALL been there.
Keb, play some games. Draw an 8" black circle onto your cardboard backstop. Shoot a bunch of arrows and see what the range of accuracy is.
Now draw a 1" or even a 1/2" dark circle and do the same. You may never even hit the smaller circle, but I bet your groups are way tighter around it.
Often we pick a spot on the deer, but that spot is the entire area behind the shoulder. Not good enough. Pick a hair, or make your "button". A 1/2" spot, not an 8" spot.
ChuckC
I got a giant chunk of brown cardboard to simulate brown for a deer and having been using the button method, I am really liking it.
Every thing I look at while not even shooting I imagine a red button on it.
I think this is going to help, we shall see at go time if I am Romo or Manning.
QuoteOriginally posted by 19420:
If you are a right handed shooter, your dominant eye should be your left eye. You may be right eye dominant. With the excitment of the coming shot , your dominant eye may take over and you miss were you think you are aiming.
I think this line of thought differs from the mainstream just a tad!
Eye dominance should match your hand. If you are right handed then you anchor under your right eye on the right side of your face. Right eye for right hand and left eye for left hand!
Bisch