3D targets from a hunters point of view

[moleman]

Just a simple question, how many of you instinctively find yourselves shooting for the "true kill" rather than the "marked kill" on angled targets at archery shoots? I know it drops ones score, but speaking for myself, old habits dye hard, and I just cant help myself......seems I just feel better about a " true kill" as opposed to a  "marked kill, even if it is just foam and it lowers my score.  

[Roadkill]

Fully understand and often a topic of conversation. The targets are set to preserve the integrity of the target to ensure longer life.  The ten is usually too far back to suit most shooters

[Gdpolk]

On 3D, in my opinion, the ONLY purpose of the increased costs of the novelty targets is to allow the hunter to practice kill shots in a more direct way than with bag targets.  Shots that go for a true kill shot are always better.  

If you want to shoot for points, then go after a bag target as it'll last longer and is easier to score anyway.

[Red Beastmaster]

I never shoot for the rings and could care less about score cards. I don't need a number to tell me if I'm shooting well.

I don't keep score when I golf either. I don't seem to get so mad at my clubs that way.  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

You can use what we call the Hunters score.

+1 for a kill shot
-1 for a wounded animal
+0 for a miss

write them down. Hopefully you have all kills or misses.

[ishoot4thrills]

In most circumstances, where I hunt, I aim for the same spot on a 3D deer target as I do on a live deer, if it's a broadside shot and I'm shooting at a non-alarmed deer. The 10 ring on a McKenzie is usually the center of the lungs, when broadside. This gives me a little room for slight error on my part. If I shoot low, I get very close to the heart/main arteries. If I shoot a little farther back, I get the back of the lungs/liver, higher and I get a high lung shot. Too far forward is where it gets tricky as I may hit shoulder, but that's farther from the center of the lungs than most people might expect.

[LittleBen]

I shoot for the 12 ring. I rarely hit it, but the reason is I find it easier to determine how close I shoot to my intended target.

With hat said obviously the 12 ring is not always in the right spot for a perfect kill.

But we always have to make slight adjustments based on the position of the game animal so I know on a deer I have to pick my spot carefully also.

[Goshawkin]

When I'm at a 3-d shoot,that's the game I'm playing,so I shoot for the ten. I'm picking a tiny spot to aim at anyway,it doesn't really matter where it is on the target??? When I take a shot at an animal while I'm hunting,I'm still just shooting at a tiny spot that I pick,where ever it happens to be,to get the right angle for the arrow.

[awbowman]

I always shoot just as if I were hunting.  I don't care what the score is.  When I am low and tight on the shoulder I just SMILE even though it's an 8!  In fact when I quit the wheels I also quit carrying a bino at the shoots.  I don't need to see the 12 ring, I shoot where I would shoot in a hunting situation, and it has cost me a first place or two.

[xtrema312]

I don't know how to score a 3D target so I don't have a clue about all this number stuff.  I look at the thing and let it have it best I can to kill it.  I have shot a lot of stuff for score, but refuse to do it with 3D archery.

[Roverrich]

IMO 3D teaches us to "pick a spot" and go for it. We can then asses how close we are to the spot we pick using a numeric scale. No doubt the kill zone may not be accurately represented by the rings on the 3D target, but who cares? If we are training to "pick a spot" we should still be able to monitor our progress over time w/ the numeric scale. Only tricky part is to remember to "pick" the kill zone when we hunt and not the 3D rings we project onto our real prey.

[Bob B.]

I never take a score ... I have killed, or I have not killed it.  3-D is a fun shot or me, but I refuse to get hung up on who shot best or what was the high score.  I also may shoot several targets fom one knee or in some unusual position to try to simulate actual hunting situations - but that is just me.

Bob.

[Jeff Cooper]

Just my opinion, but I think 3D tournaments should be called 2D since that is how they are scored.

I also believe they instill negative-habit-transfer in new archers who think they must shoot for the 10 or 12 ring regardless of the live animal's angle.

Just my $.02

Jeff Cooper

[Pheonixarcher]

It depends on the day, and who I'm shooting with. If I'm alone, sometimes I'll score myself as to how close the arrow struck to where I was aiming (actual hunting angles), other times I will try to hit the x. If I'm shooting with a compounder, they seem to always want to go for actual score. If I'm with another trad shooter, we'll sometimes discuss scoring before we begin, and usually take turns calling the shot, whether it be from the compound stakes, standing on that stump, shooting through those bushes, or off your knees. It's always fun and good practice though.

[BigJim]

Unless you can actually see the score rings, it is a mute point. Shooting for score rings from a distance far enough back to where they are not visable is an effort of memmory of where they are and an attempt to hit a small spot you are looking at.
Score rings are actually smaller than the vitals and can be tougher to hit since we may not remembor their location exactly on each animal, plus they are absolute. You either hit them or you don't. Vitals, especially in a 2d effect can only be estimated and interpreted differently by each archer.
There is no doubt it is two different games, target archery vs hunting however, it does teach us random shot distances and using similar size targets to help familiarize ourselvs.

I like shooting for score since it adds just a little preasure you don't get from the target any other way.
BigJim

[Paul/KS]

I can't see those tiny 12 rings anyway (or the tens either most times     ). I shoot for a "kill" shot and a 12 is just a happy accident...  

[LookMomNoSights]

AMEN brotha!!!
I took my wife-to-be to her first 3-D shoot the Sunday before last.   She has a brand new Lost Creek life ender ....a 56" 36# @ 28 (she draws 24  :D  )bow.  I managed to make up some arrows that seem to be perfectly matched for her set up....and she's been shootin'!  And picking it up fast!  She did great at that 3-D and hit 90% of the targets....some were great hits!   I explained to her how even though some of our shots were not in the highest scoring rings,  they were great shots as far as hitting an animal in the right place.  I found myself telling her things like "off the dime, but that would do the job just fine....great shot!"  
When I shoot around the house,  scoring rings dont exist.   When I shoot a 3-D and want a score,  I have to tell my brain to shoot for the rings evey shot!  I guess it just depends on what you want to do that day.   Overall,  I say be able to nail realistic kill shots.   If you can also shoot for a high score,  well that just means you can hit whatever you are aimin' at    !

[ron w]

I shoot to "kill" the target animal what ever it is. If I look at the angle and the placement and it would prove to be fatal....I'm happy, even if it may be a 5. I do get upset with myself if I blow it and hit it in the butt!!!

[Bladepeek]

Ron, I hate those butt shots too    

This thread has me thinking, though. I'm relatively new to archery hunting (20 years in Germany where it's not allowed) and very new to 3-D (first year). I have, however, been hunting with a (can't say the g** word on here) for many, many years and can pretty well visualize the kill zone from various angles. I think I can maintain the separation between a foam target and a real game animal and am thinking very seriously about starting to keep score. That would be a way for me to realistically test whether I am improving. If I am getting more and more 10's and 12's on the foam animals, I can feel more confident when I'm drawing on a fat doe or, (it could happen though it hasn't yet) a really nice buck.

[wtpops]

When im at a 3D shoot i like the competition so im shooting for score. The way i see it I'm picking a spot and shooting at that spot. A spot is a spot weather in the case of a 3D shoot that be in the butt bob or hunting burning through the vitals, if i hit the spot i score a 10 or bring home the meat.

Just my take on it.