What do you think helps you shoot better??Stump shooting or shooting at 3D targets?For me I think stump shooting has helped me out big time,only because Ihave been picking smaller targets at longer ranges.I thing its a lot more fun than a 3D shoot.Whats anybodys thoughts on this subject???????

I love stump shooting but I think they are both helpful. Any kind of shooting as long as you use proper form and concentrate. 3 D shoots help shooting under pressure and shooting alone helps me focus. Just get out and shoot! Magnus

I think both are great, stumps for judging distances and 3-d for shot placment. I love stump shooting, it is nice to get out in the woods and discover nature.

Can't shoot enough arrows at a 3D shoot.
Don't like standing and waiting to shoot
Stumps I can shoot when ever I want and as many times as I want

3-D helps me shoot better. I guess I concentrate more. When I go stumpshooting, I always end up  doing  more scouting than shooting.

Both are great for improving your shooting. On 3-D targets I never go for score, I try for the best hunting shot placement I can get. A lot of 10 rings are not where I what to shoot in a hunting situation. Not all targets, but some. When stump'n start calling the spots,that white fungus on that stump, that moss on that log. It helps to pick a spot and focus your attention! Most of all have fun!!

QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Both are great for improving your shooting. On 3-D targets I never go for score, I try for the best hunting shot placement I can get. A lot of 10 rings are not where I what to shoot in a hunting situation. Not all targets, but some. When stump'n start calling the spots,that white fungus on that stump, that moss on that log. It helps to pick a spot and focus your attention! Most of all have fun!!

x2

3D is much better when you don't go for score and shoot to kill.It also helps because you're trying with one arrow on the first shot,which may help your focus.

Stump shooting is just what Ron said.

QuoteOriginally posted by 3Feathers:
What do you think helps you shoot better?? ....

'shoot better' for what?  hunting?  3d?  formal target?  'fun'?

if it's for hunting, i'm totally with fred asbell (in his latest tbm article) - ROVING!!!!!!!  

Stump shooting is my favorite practice for hunting.

ron w.
I totally agree. While stump shooting I'm walking thru the high grass, weeds, around downfall. The same as if I were out stalking game. I tend to study the aspect as though it were a real opportunity to take home game.
To me it resembles a more realistic scenario.
Fred

My answer would be shooting in general, but more along the lines of making it prey specific and as close to reality as possible! For example.. When preparing for a bear hunt, i hang a stand and place a 3D Bear target at say 15yds or so and practice shooting in low light conditions after supper! I like to try to get as realistic as possible when i practice for a hunt, i shoot at turkey targets, and get tuned into shooting the different angles that they present! I like to practice the quartering away shots as well as broadside shots for deer, out of a stand and also on the ground! Im goin to get clever for my elk hunting practice and do some shots that are in thick cover, as well as some shots that are uphill, downhill, quartering away, broadside, kneeling, and standing!!!

I'm partial to stumpshooting.  In fact, I've probably been guilty of coming down out of the stand too early to start stump shooting several times.  Don't know if its better or not, but I enjoy it more.

Stump shooting for sure.
3D is so structured I can usualt work out the exact distances just by looking a both the pegs in front of and behind me,plus I've shot those animal targets so many times I now know exactly what size ect they are.
When I stump shoot or "Rove" as it's called here, I always pick the most difficult weed,lump of dirt ect I can see,and often at really silly distances.
If I'm with a buddy an we're playing best shot picks the next shot,,,things get real hard real fast,an close is never good enough.

one great thing about stump shooting is that its free ( other than the arrows you lose). I am currently occupationaly challenged (unemployed), but I live on the edge of about 20 acres of woods. lots of stumps, puffball mushrooms and other targets all for free. On the other hand if you are new at this, going to a club and shooting with other archers will accelerate your leaning curve in a big way

Something else I like to do is take my homemde burlap bag target into the woods and find a good stand and then place the bag at various distances and have at it.

I like to think they both have their place in our learning curve. Stump shooting is lots of fun without the (pressure) of 3D... Although a life size animal target will help you to REMEMBER to pick a spot and keep form. Oh yea... I don't keep score or shoot from "the stake" unless it's a trad only shoot.

... mike ...

Persobally I think foam is a little easier to chew, and stumps take WAYYY to long to boil  :rolleyes:    :D   But seriously. I like 3D for the comeraderie (sp) most and then the shot placement. Stump shooting is a fun and relaxing time to be by yourself and meditate.  

My opinions mirror many others. I like 3-D shooting, for fun with others, on my yard range, and in competition with other Trad folks. Frankly, I think the occasssional competition with other Trad shooters is a better evaluation of how my shooting is coming along (because of the "pressure") than shooting for fun or stump shooting. I just like to shoot. However, it is important, however you shoot, to do so with a purpose. If you can make every shot important, from a form perspective, you'll move along that learning curve and devlop the necessary subconscious archery skills needed for the hunt. Frankly, I'd love to stump shoot -- I haven't done it much since moving to Kentucky. Where I live there are so many rocks on the ground, or worse just under a film of soft dirt to destroy my arrows. Many of the stumps are cedar and those babies are as hard as rocks on arrows!  I'm planning on making a 1-mile loop trail through the woods and creek bottom behind my house with some type of economical target so I can "stump" shoot without destroying my arrows. I want to do this because I can't stand most kinds of exercise that is without purpose other than cardio and calories. I could walk that trail daily and have a ball.

When it gets really close to bow season, say within 2 weeks I start a regime. First thing in the morning, during barely legal light I shoot one arrow from my deck into a deer target. I need to kill that target every time I take this one shot because that's what will happen when season opens. Ironically, I find I shoot less once the season begins than at any other time of the year. I know I need to fix this habit though. I don't like to shoot an arrow from my stand except at the end of a sit in the morning ...and those rocks!  In the evening I don't take a shot at all because I learned the hard way that a 3PM arrow can spook a 5PM deer that mosey's through and smells the arrow!  I sit until dark so shooting after that isn't practical.

I understand the fun with others and the competition aspect of 3-D's. But as an archer who has fought with and not won target panic, I really don't need extra pressure to come into play.1 or 2 guys is good fun and relaxing, more folks around and my shooting goes to h*!!. I can't explain it but that's how it is. So I go to make a kill shot or 2, and stump with some friends as much as I can!!

Roving..roving ...roving...
even if ain't 'better' , it sure is more fun !!!

I enjoy stump shooting but my favorite is 3D. I love shooting 3D for fun or competition. When we go to our club during the week we will take turns picking where we shoot from. We try to make them just like a hunting shot. Some through brush and some angling shots. It makes it alot of fun and makes me a better shot. I really get into it right before hunting season. I feel better prepared because of the life like look of 3D targets. It doesn't matter which way you shoot as long as you have fun and and enjoy the outdoors with a stick and string in hand.