Your first few trad shots at live game.......?

[virginiashadow]

I have decided to make the switch from compound hunting to a recurve this fall. I am a deer hunter, never really hunted much else besides squirrels.  I am trying to get a gauge of what type of mental game I need to incorporate in order to be "succesful".  

How did you fare when you shot at you first few rabbit, deer, buffalo, elk, whatever???  Did you shoot better than expected?  Did you rise to the occasion?  Did you fail because of nerves, improper form, lack of practice, poor shot selection?  What would you have done differently? ANY input would be helpful toward my development.  These are some questions I have for you folks. I am sure you experiences will help me out in trying to understand what lies in store for me this fall.  THANK YOU.

Brett

[BOWMARKS]

Pick a spot!!!!  Welcome aboard much more challenging and fun.  

[allanburden]

I agree with what bowmarks said! Just pick a spot and let 'er fly.  What's gonna happen will happen no matter what.  If you suffered from 'buck fever', the shakes, whatever you want to call it before, you'll dot it now.  If you have a method to overcome that you will still be able to overcome it.  Most of all, get out, have fun, and enjoy the hunt!  Welcome aboard, great group of folks on here who share a treasure of information and skill.  

[highpoint forge]

I missed. That's what happened. From 9 yds.

[Killdeer]

I am a conservative hunter. I don't take a shot unless I fully expect to hit the mark.

I was successful in my first shot at a deer, but have had the next deer jump the string and the one after I could not recover.

Bunny hunting with Shawn was a thrill. I thought there was a good chance that I would not be able to hit one of those things. I killed two, one was hit on the run. Squirrels are tough. I killed one last fall but could not recover it. I have missed more squirrels than I care to admit. I am also convinced that I will not hunt squirrels without a broadhead. A big one.

Practice smart, go to the shoots this summer, and read threads in the Shooters Forum. There is a lot of good advice there. Oh, the Baltimore shoot is in two weeks. Be there!

Killdeer  

[KHALVERSON]

definatly pick a spot
i screwwd up with quite a few by shooting at the whole animal
its a humbling experience to miss game at 7 to 10 yrds or worse yet just wound game
kevin

[Stone Knife]

I missed my first few shots at deer by not picking a hair on the animal. Pick a spot and focus and the missing stops.

[fido dog]

My first shot was at a rabbit this past weekend. I missed....went right under him about an inch.

[HUNT 24/7]

I can't wait to make my first shot on a game animal, have to take my bowhunter safety course in August first GGGGRRRRRRR!!!!!!!  

[vtmtnman]

Don't forget to pick a spot.That's probably the most common mistake everyone makes.Even some of the more experienced folks here.If this is your first year,you will practice till it hurts and then some,so practice is a given.And stay under what is comfortable to practice at.

IE-Your practice is consistent to 20 so stay at 15 for live animals and you should be ok.

In my experiences,once you start killing animals(Big or small) your confidence will go up quick.Makes a huge difference,at least for me.

I was about 10 or 11 when I shot at my first animal.At about 45-50 yards.The arrow went about a third of that and worm burned the rest of the way to the deer.What would've I done different? I guess I could've NOT shot..   :rolleyes:

[swampdrummer]

Like everybody else stated. Pick a spot! My first "few" shots at deer I failed to do just that and shot at  the whole animal. Missed the whole animal too! My first two shots I missed two different does in about 2 minutes. One at about 11 yards, the next at about 8. Just as soon as they left, I emptied my quiver into a nearby stump with a 3 inch group! GRRRR
You'll know when you've succeded at picking a spot. You will most likely recall nothing but seeing just that hair, That tiny little crease, and not much else.
Good luck!

[Friends call me Pac]

My 1st shot was at a field mouse and was a miss.  My 2nd shot was at a whitetail doe.  I had done a lot of blank bale shooting and I truely believe the muscle memory gained from that helped.  From about 12 yards I picked a spot and sent an arrow right trough the lungs.  70 yard recovery.

Next shot was at another doe.  I hit a small limb that I didn't notice from my stand and the arrow went under her.  Clean miss.

Next shot was a doe at 25 yards.  The doe was broadside and edgy.  She knew something wasn't right. Picked a spot and released. That doe went from broadside to backside facing me before the arrow got there.  It entered the ham and exited at the bottom of where the rib cage begins.  recovered in less than 100 yards.  

Next shot was at a doe around 20 yards.  Shot right under here.  No reason just a plain miss.

Next shot was at a wild pig.  20 yards and right behind the shoulder.  Just like I would shoot a deer.  Lost that pig and found out later pigs and deer are not built the same way.

So in conclusion I would advise shooting only at relaxed animals.  Know the kill area if it's an animal you don't have much experience with. Keep broadheads razor sharp and lastly go out and have some fun.  For me the kill is great but the hunt is just as important and memorible.

[WESTBROOK]

My first shot missed due to a deflected arrow. My second one missed cause I got hung at full draw for about 15 seconds waiting for the deer to finish her step from behind that sapling that was covering her front shoulder, just lost concentration.

When you start drawing the bow you gotta be locked on the the hair you want to hit, dont be watching what the animals actions are, focus ONLY on where you want that arrow to go.

Eric

[sunshine]

i missed my first 6 shots at deer. all from a tree stand. reason - bad form, didn't pick a spot, brain fart. on level ground i pull up on an animal/target from below it. then raise to my comfort zone and settle. in a tree stand i WAS pulling to full draw above to deer/target. results - i was shooting over the back. deer was not ducking the shot - bad form.
3 things to remember:
                     1. pick a spot
                     2. bend at the waist
                     3. good form

[virginiashadow]

Thank you guys a bunch. I really appreciate your honesty, that means a lot to me.  I have killed a decent amount of deer over the years with various weapons, the most recent of which have been compound bows.  I switched over to bowhunting only 5 seasons ago and have not looked back....now it is time to move backwards again to trad hunting, or should I say forward.     I am not a big buck fever guy.  I am not saying I don't ever get the shakes and fall apart, but it rarely happens.  

I will pick a spot just like I did when I hunted with a compound and focus until my arrow drives home.  I also am going to try and shoot at relaxed animals.

Did any of you have any issues with your draw?  Draw too early?  Too late?

[WESTBROOK]

My draw was perfect, the deer stopped a 1/2 step too soon! LOL

Eric

[SS Snuffer]

Don't over think the shot. Just concentrate and let it fly just like in your normal pratice. I  killed the first 4 deer I shot at, not that I'm a great shot I just was so wired and had praticed so much that the bow just did it's thing. To be honest I was suprised! Don't try to think about the range like you did with a compound just shoot. It's GREAT!!!!!

[Ken Taylor]

I can't remember because I was young and in those days I hunted everything that moved, but...from mentoring  compound switching to traditional hunters I'd say the most common problem in the beginning is falling apart at the "moment of truth".

I think that part of the problem is going from a "physical-mechanical" process (sights) to a "faith" process (as in instinctive).

No matter how good they are on targets, it usually takes some hunting time with a "naked" (to them) bow to build the confidence it takes. I have often been asked after their first attempts "how the heck do you guys do it?".

[virginiashadow]

Thank you Ken.  I plan on shooting a lot from elevation once I get my form where it needs to be, and I am going to place some targets out in the woods to get a good sense of depth in a real environment.  I want to be confident in my shooting come October.  And I will gain that confidence by shooting in the same enivronment/height in which I will be hunting.

[Jmgcurve]

The first live animal for my recurve was on a mule deer hunt in Northwestern Colorado. I had switched from a compound and still had buddies shooting the wheels. Two of us were walking down a 2 track when a doe came trotting out of the oakbrush to and across the road. We saw her about the same time and my buddy tried to get drawn, anchored, guess yardage, find pins, and settle a level. He later commented that when he tried to get on the doe, he saw fletching go through where he would have aimed. About twenty-five yards later she was down--never changed direction--just speeded up her trot. Man, that felt good, and convinced my friends traditional was for real. I have never looked back in twenty years. I'm Hooked!

Congratulations on the switch.