QuoteOriginally posted by Jesse Minish:
I once shot a hair off of a bucks back    :D  

Jesse, I can relate to that!    

Not good enough to kill 5 grey squirrels in a hunt, carry on . . . .

Never good enough to suit myself.

Jason

I'm a legend in my own mind ....    

I can't shoot as good as i used to but I'm sneakier now than I used to be because I can't move so fast anymore

I don't shoot as well as I used to.  Just don't put in the practice time that I used to.  Still enjoy shooting, but is not as much fun in your own backyard alone.  Shooting with a friend or group of guys is much more enjoyable.  
I always have the goal to shoot as well as I did a few years ago.

I heard Jack Nicholas say onetime "you can never master golf".  
I think traditional archery is much the same.  You can never really master it.  Some archers are better than others- but there is alway room for improvement no matter how good you are.  My skills are much like others who have commented here, some days I can really drill it and some days it just "ain't pretty".  I think that's what makes this so much of a challenge and so much fun.

Five T-rats in three hours,only three misses-I don't know if I could match that or not,but I do have a tendency to wack chipmunks with some regularity.Shot three in four shots one day.First one was sitting on a low tree branch. Shot him in the head at ten yards.Second one was at 15 yds.- ....missed em. Third one was at 15 yds.......center punched him. Forth one was at 20 yds.......chest shot him as he paused running along a log. Could I do that every day?- no way! Should we take some pride when we shoot well?-shur.Sounds like you shot well that day,and you should be proud.Like anything it takes time and effert to become proficient with the bow and arrow. Sooting while hunting takes different skills than target shooting and so forth...We can't all be Howard Hills', but isn't it tons of fun trying.

I think it boils down to the fact that many of us are better than we would ever admit, but, and its a big but, we take shots we are comfortable with more than the average crowd.  I bet in a pinch, i.e. a hunting situation, a lot out there would make a 35 yarder look routine.

We just don't talk about it.

QuoteOriginally posted by joe ashton:
It takes - what - an hour to learn how to shoot a trad bow and a life time to learn how to shoot it better. It is a journey not a destination.

I like that

How good am I?  Five squirrels with only three misses, I'm certainly not as good as you are.

if you killed everything you shot at with every weapon you use there would not be much sport in it. thats why they call it hunting. take flintlock out instead of your rifle next deer season and see if that puts the thrill back in it. sound like your a guy who likes a challenge.

whatever you do dont turn it into work. have fun with it. those squirrels you missed . a youth hunter may kill them next year. things happen for reason.

"whatever you do dont turn it into work. have fun with it. those squirrels you missed . a youth hunter may kill them next year. things happen for reason." troutguy

ROGER THAT, hamburger is cheap so, don't sweat the ones that got away!

Based on your initial comment, I you rush perfection with the trad gear you may get bored with it and you will end up hunting with a spear, and then bare hands!    I have the same issue...tackle something new, get as good as you can and then take the next step...luckily traditional archery has provided continuous room for improvement and countless things to research and learn...enough so to keep me busy for the forseeable future...good luck! Also, the only way to not get frustrated shooting at squirrels is to not shoot at them at all....and what fun would that be!?

Practice makes perfect.Ho no, sory,perfect practice
makes perfect!!!



LOL...

MAY THE SPIRIT OF FRED BEAR GUIDE OUR ARROWS.

I'm as good once as I once was..

I'm not satisfied. Most shots are fine...but not all! I'll keep on working to improve.

Wow, lots of replies! Thanks!! Every reply is filled with experience and wisdom!

I believe that no matter how good a traditional bowhunter you are thatif you never missed then you would quickly become bored with hunting and shooting. I think that the experience is what we seek and if we do not succeed in it every time that is life. I have memories of the game that I have taken but I tend to remember the times that I missed or blew an opportunity and the deer or turkey walked away unscathed. It seems fitting that we should enjoy the experience more whether we are successful or not. Just my opinion and my thoughts on hunting.

StickBowManMI,I agree with you 100%!!
Very well said and thought!!!!

MAY THE SPIRIT OF FRED BEAR GUIDE OUR ARROWS.