Shooting your bow laying down?

Cyclic-Rivers · September 15, 2010, 09:55:00 AM

It's easier for me if I am lying on a bench. I dont have much practice from the ground. I find I wasnt great at it but not terrible. If it was a close hunting shot I would take it. By close I would say 15 yards or less.

Cody Roiter · September 15, 2010, 11:25:00 AM

limbow · September 15, 2010, 11:27:00 AM

Nice Cody, I was wondering if we would see a pic of you doing the above mentioned

Paul WA · September 15, 2010, 11:43:00 AM

I would try it but it might take all day for me to get back in a vertical position...PR

Flesner · September 15, 2010, 11:58:00 AM

Funny way to shoot a cat!

BobW · September 15, 2010, 12:39:00 PM

we were goofing around with that at Sawmill (PA) this past year. Both on your back, and on your belly.

Made for lots of laughs

Charlie Lamb · September 15, 2010, 12:46:00 PM

I use to employ the laying down shot a lot when ground squirrel hunting... squirrels out in a meadow with no cover near. Walk up until they go down the hole. Move up within range and make yourself comfortable. Twang, plop!

Results of the first photo.

Keeping the arrow on the string is simple. Let it lay on your finger as you draw. About half way back it will stay on the rest all by itself... unless you shoot off the very tips of your fingers.

steadman · September 15, 2010, 12:47:00 PM

Practiced shooting off of stomach for a few years. Missed a nice pronghorn that way in CO. Always practiced in short sleeves and hunted in long sleeves. Hit the sleeve, arrow went under buck. He was only 10 yards away. Good fun!

Randy Koleno · September 15, 2010, 01:10:00 PM

A few of us shoot off our bellies at our local 3d shoots and during winter league nights. We have a lot of fun and are reasonably accurate. I never needed it hunting yet.

kbetts · September 15, 2010, 02:03:00 PM

Ahhh, gotta get half way back for the arrow to stay on huh? I tried earlier and no dice. I thought my nocks were too loose. Gotta try again.

elkbreath · September 15, 2010, 02:04:00 PM

yeah, for me its always been on my stomach. First I've heard of being able to do it the other way. I'll give her a go! heaven knows my dad needs to be able to do this with all the midmorning siestas he takes! course, he shoots wheels

kbetts · September 15, 2010, 02:05:00 PM

Mr. Lamb, that brings a whole new meaning to "aim small, miss small".

Archie · September 15, 2010, 02:29:00 PM

I think I'm gonna try this out. I could have had a great shot on a whitetail a couple of seasons ago, had I been able to shoot laying down.

Toklat1 · September 15, 2010, 08:03:00 PM

Ok, so it can be done! I'm going to try it so next time I'm in the predicament I was in up in the panhandle, I'll have another option. Thanks for all the input.

KEG · September 15, 2010, 10:04:00 PM

At a archery shoot on Camp Pendleton here in So Cal one of the shots for traditional archers was to shoot under a string stretched between two posts at a height of approximately 15 inches. Archers used various techniques to try this shot with mixed results. I used Charlie Lamb's method had the best result in my group.

Bill Tell · September 15, 2010, 11:08:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Ron LaClair:
I used to do a lot of shooting from the prone and other positions back when I was doing shooting demos.

Ron, I have witnessed you shooting off of your back with your feet. You said you learned how to do this when you broke your arm. I think it was on the first Masters of the Bare Bow. I've not tried this yet. Maybe I will tomorrow.

September 16, 2010, 11:55:00 AM

When I was a kid in the late 50s I saw a film of Howard Hill shooting on his back. I took my fiber glass Ben Pearson out and used it to shoot ground squirrels in the grave yard open grass area, all graves now. I shot one doe on my back with a heavy longbow. I was using a badger dig on a hillside for a place to sit, while I had a cup of tea and a cigar. The doe came from above to the left. when it turned away, I laid back with bow and arrow in hand. It got curious and came over to check me out. When it got to within 15 feet of me, it decided it had seen and smelled enough and turned to leave. My shot was good and my first doe tag was filled.