For those of you who have used both types, do you feel that when it came for the shot on an animal, practicing with a 3D target made it easier for you too pick a spot? Just curious if a life sized animal target made it easier to concentrate better on where too put the arrow.

Yes for hunting nothing beats shooting 3d targets of the animals you hunt.jmo

instinctive shooting for me is about practise. the best way...for me..is to make practise as close to the real thing as possible so there is less changes for the subconscious to deal with at the moment of truth.

at the moment i use full size cardboard silhoettes of game i pursue. only because i haven't got any 3D targets yet, which i like better.

i shoot way better doing this as opposed to a ring target. somehow i don't find it easy to concentrate on the centre spot.

just me.

Standerd targets for form pratice. 3D for hunting pratice.

I like 3d's better. Its easier for me to concentrate.

What I've found for "me" that makes it easier to pick a spot on game is to pick a REAL spot that it actually there.

This works on the 3D course too since often you can see the score rings or other arrow hole's ... or your buddies arrow          

As for working on my shot I prefer no target or the 20yrd single spot blue face used in the 300 round

Gotta agree 3D target is the way to go...when I aim I use reference points on the deer like the foot the knee crease of the armpit for may varying yardages. I shoot from every poissible angle which 360 degrees on my range as well as two elevated positions (20' and 14') I shoot from angles I wouldn't normally shoot in the woods as well but what it does is burns the sight picture in my brain so come time for hunting my brain knows what to do and I just git-r-done!  I also have 3 different size deer targets Sm Md and Lrg and practice on all of them so once I decide the size of the deer I know how and where to shoot it. I rarely shoot regular targets unless working on my form.

Having just done a 3D round last Saturday have to say that's my favorite esp if it's slow and you can shoot an extra arrow now and then like it was on Saturday. I like the different targets, distances, uphill, downhill, shooting thru trees and brush, etc. Really forces you to shoot like in hunting situations. Also, we walk the trail but when we're near the shot stake, we walk like we're stalking and try to be very quiet get up to the spot and shoot without pause like a real hunting situation.

sam

Stalk the target? I thought it was only me that did that kinda stuff. I like to step off to the side, away from the stake and shoot. You have my vote for 3D targets being best for hunting practice.

... mike ...     ...

I may get some disagreement on this one but here goes. Not everyone can afford 3-d targets. My solution is  to take everything you shoot at and imagine it divided in three sections horizontally and vertically. The lower line to the left or right is the kill on your walking animal, the center is the kill on a standing chuck, bear or anything your brain can come up with. You can do it on stumps, bails, round targets or 3-d targets.

Appreciate all the great comments here. I have yet too shoot a 3D course and my bag target is getting beat to *(^%$^$. I do practice different angles and such when I am out stumping but again, don't get the real life situation feel.

Sounds like it might be time to invest in a foam deer target.   :rolleyes: