Author Topic: I shoot instictive how bout you? (Read 3765 times)

scout4 · « **on:** July 07, 2008, 03:04:07 PM »

Instinctive shooting

ratgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2008, 12:43:07 PM »

I shoot barebow,but aint sure if it's instinctive or not.

Type99 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2008, 12:33:58 AM »

Hello...

I just started shooting instinctive after many, many years. I bought a Martin X-200. I am still shooting at 10 yards, to get the feel for it. Although I can hit the target dot on my block, the consistency is not there. I would like to get to the point where I can pick up a cold bow and hit what I am aiming at. It is a very different type of shooting. I have to concentrate on the target, and if I pay attention to anything else, the shot is likely to go off in another direction. I know there was another thread on this forum somewhere where this topic was covered in depth, and I would recommend that to anyone who is shooting instinctively for the first time.

Today is too hot and muggy for shooting, and the horseflies are murder, but most of the time I can't wait to get home and shoot my bow. I doubt I will use it for hunting this bow season, as I lack confidence and need more practice time, but who knows?

Cheers,
Gary

mjh · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2008, 02:46:28 AM »

Instictive...very much about form and consistancey....form...form...form ....been shooting this way for years and still work on the basics every time out shooting...its the only way I know how to shoot and in the last few years I have finally gotten to a level that I can say I can shoot pretty good ....most of the time

gstewart44 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2008, 03:59:05 AM »

i started instinctiveshooting 40+ years ago when I was a teenager, and was fairly proficient with fish and small game. Of course after college I had to have the latest greatest fastest compound bow when I started bow hunting for deer. Used my compound bow until about three years ago when my eyesight started failing to the point of not seeing the peep sight.

this past Christmas my wife got me a Martin Savannah bow. I couldn't be happier back to the basics. I have been practicing in my back yard and I can consistently nail a beer can at 20 yds. Later this summer I will be practicing at 30 yds, and then from a treestand for fall deer season.

Instinctive shooting feels like magic when your body, mind and bow become one.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2008, 06:01:49 AM »

I'm not a traditional shooter but if I were I would be shooting instinctual. It doesn't make sense to me to go to a traditional bow and put modern sights on it.

a45gunslinger · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2008, 06:14:29 PM »

instinctive...just like throwing a baseball.... also I still shoot a compound w/ sights - Kevin

scout4 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2008, 05:01:57 AM »

Okay Fella's, Thanks for replys! I got distracted the other night while tryin to make up this post. So lets give it another go. Anyway,...I've shot instinctive for many years now, even shot a compound bow I was had by instinct. Now here's how I know that shooting with this method really works! Quite a few years back I had an accident that gave me a bad shoulder which disabled me enough to be unable to shoot right hand. So I read more about instinctive shooting, picked up my wifes old left hand york recurve bow and started workin out the process of left hand bow shooting. At first this was difficult, but after a while it became more an more natural to me. Now today I shoot left hand, and believe I do pretty darn good at it I keep most shots where I'm lookin within my range limit. Not really sure just what all takes place but I do know it is purely instinct, and it works! Okay then, guess thats all for now, have a good weekend! scout4<><

Jacko · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2008, 12:23:03 AM »

Hope I'm not starting something here but I honestly believe INSTINCTIVE is a misleading / misunderstood term .

I believe that those of us that shoot barebow are actually shooting using learned behaviour not an ingrained instinctive behaviour . I believe it is learned on a subconscious level . If I throw a cricket ball I look at the spot I want to throw the ball to and throw - if it falls short I learn [ hopefully ] to throw the ball in a higher trajectory to reach that mark , if the throw is high , next time I throw with a lower trajectory - same as shooting a bow and arrow barebow without the use of referance points [ gaps ] .

I've been shooting bows for over 30 years and one example of my point is if I switch to shooting heavier arrows , naturally they fly with a more arched trajectory so I need to raise my bow arm to acheive a hit at the same distance a lighter arrow with a lower hold would . In time I have learnt on a subconscious level where my bowarm needs to be .

Of coarse none of this will work if my form is crap - every time I practice form is foremost , no use reinforcing incorrect information . I freely admit I do not shoot instinctivly as eluded to here - I use a split vision method where I know where the arrow is in relation to the target but do not directly sight off it as with a gap system . I look right past that arrow and focus on the spot I wish to hit , the arrow is in my secondary or perifial vision and my bowarm just comes up into the correct zone to hit the target , a learned behaviour .

regards Jacko

PS - Sights have been used on traditional styled bows for a very long time , long before the introduction of fibreglass laminations . I am sure many moons ago I saw a picture of a native american artifact with a stick lashed to the selfbow . If memory serves me correctly it was found near a ancient stone blind near a game trail . Makes sence to me that they would work out where to lash that stick for a referance to aid in making meat .

mjh · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2008, 11:25:21 AM »

No not starting something and yes the term INSTINCTIVE is somewhat misunderstood in many context. In the context discussed here though it is the term described by many in the shooting of a bow and arrow. I doubt too many would argure with you that it is a learned behavior. How else would you get better if you didn't improve your form and learn from missed shots. Even at high levels of shooting I think instinctive shooting is always in process. Also as one switches from one bow to another and to different arrows there is an adjustment(learning) period. I think instictive is just the common term that came into use and is used in the popular liturature and culture.

Gurn · « **Reply #10 on:** December 23, 2008, 03:22:04 PM »

Yep what he said.

kernman · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2009, 04:06:54 AM »

I started shooting a recurve about a year ago, so I am no expert.

I look only at the target, and not at the arrow, nor at the bow. When the shots are off, I will adjust my posture, and/or the bow, until it feels right. Kind of like hitting a baseball: keep your eye on the ball.

On a real good day I get maybe 6 inch groups. It works for me, although I have a long way to go as an archer.

I believe I am instinctive shooter. However, I took a couple of lessons from a guy who says there is no such thing.

I read somewhere that with practice, your brain and muscles will eventually learn to work together to hit the target. This seems to work for me. I try to relax, and let my body and brain work together to make the necessary calculations.

I think you would define that as instinctive shooting.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2009, 02:48:27 PM »

My first shot is always dead on. After that it goes to pot. My mind gets in the way I think. Just the way my shooting goes. That being said there was a time when I could hit dimes consistently at 20 yards with my old Damon. It's still my deer bow.

sidekick · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:53:16 PM »

I sure wish my first shot was always "dead on", I'd never have to practice, just pick the bow up and go hunting. I prefer barebow recurve in most hunting situations, but as already stated, I'm not sure I shoot 'instinctive', but call it what you want, it's shooting without a specific sighting device.

deernhog · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:22:37 AM »

I shoot with three fingers under and sight from the tip of the arrow. I used to shoot with a guy who shot a recurve three fingers under and used what he called string walking. Moved his anchor point up and down the string below the knock. While he was no Howard Hill he was able to hit a target well from 30 yards in.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:44:23 AM »

never used sights

guys with sights out shoot me

but i am still in business after dark

moose · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2009, 03:25:29 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on January 27, 2009, 10:44:23 AM

but i am still in business after dark

10-4

squirrellluck · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2009, 03:27:28 PM »

I did not say I don't practice. I do because I don't trust this to be true always.I worked a 4-12 shift for several years. My friend owned a small bow shop and range in Rosedale In. where I lived. So every day before work I would stop and shoot for an hour or so and I became pretty good. However for me repeatable results are what I trust. Just because this seems to be true on the range I don't believe it to be true in the woods at varying distances and situations. I didn't hunt with a bow this year because I wasn't able to devote enough time to practice to be comfortable enough to take the chance of a bad shot. I shoot 2 fingers, 1 over 1 under the string

kernman · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2009, 12:55:59 AM »

As a new shooter, it's difficult to hit the target on the first few shots. I need to warm up as bit. Buy its getting better.

I wondered how that would work out in the deer woods, given I won't be able to warm up first. Any suggestions?

45-70.gov · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2009, 03:36:32 AM »

Quote from: kernman on January 28, 2009, 12:55:59 AM

As a new shooter, it's difficult to hit the target on the first few shots. I need to warm up as bit. Buy its getting better.

I wondered how that would work out in the deer woods, given I won't be able to warm up first. Any suggestions?

go back and start when you were 5 like i did

jgalar · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2009, 02:27:31 AM »

Try changing your target to a vertical line. When I haven't been shooting in awhile I use about a foot long piece of duct tape vertically placed on the target butt. Windage is pretty much the same if you are shooting at 10' or 100'. Don't worry about how your arrows are hitting high or low until you can keep them in the same plane as your vertical target. Elevation adjustment comes with experience of shooting - visualize the arc of the arrow hitting the target before you release.

As someone stated above my first shot is usually one of the best, I don't maintain focus enough for the next shots.

kernman · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2009, 01:12:22 AM »

Jgalar,

That's an interesting thought. So I will place a piece of duct tape vertically on my staw bale, and aim at the grey strip?

It seems that when I miss, I hit too far to the left of the target, but I am usually close on horizontally. I will take more careful note of this from now on.

jgalar · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2009, 04:16:43 AM »

If you are hitting to far to the left and you are a right hand shooter your arrows may be spined to heavy.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2009, 02:58:35 PM »

Or you may be gripping the bow too tightly If I grip too tight my arrows tend to hit left

streak · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2009, 04:29:45 PM »

kernman,
Good form and practice ,practice is the name of the game! For grins to improve your accuracy try a little night shooting where a small target is the only illuminated object. I have done this with a small white circular paper disc attached to the hay bale and a good flashlight set up to shine only on the white disc at 10,13,15, and 20 yards. The darker the surrounding`s the better. Shooting like this keeps you concentrating strictly on the target and other distractions which are there in the daytime are eliminated.

This way you concentrate more on the target and if your shooting form and bow has been tuned correctly you should start seeing an improvement after a few session`s!

kernman · « **Reply #25 on:** February 08, 2009, 06:31:45 AM »

My archery shop guy set me up with this rig, so I think my arrows are spined okay.

I think its probably more about form, or gripping the bow too tight, as sqirrellluck says.

I read that as you release, you are supposed to get a "surprise break," like with a rifle trigger. But I haven't been able to do that yet. The article said to practice with a 5 gallon (or was it one gallon?) bucket full of water, picking it up by the handle, with your shooting fingers, and then letting gravity pull it out of your grip.

Has anyone tried that?

I don't want to overstate my case: I'm not shooting terribly bad: I'm able to group 6 inches from about 12 yards on a good day. And lately I'm rusty because I havent shot in a couple of months. But I definitely feel like Im getting better. When I started I was barely able to keep the arrow on the straw bale.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #26 on:** February 08, 2009, 09:43:56 AM »

Kernman I'm no expert at all. But here are some things I've found that helped me First I don't grip the bow so much as let it rest in the v between my thumb and forefinger with my fingers loosely curled around the bow. Find a comfortable anchor point Mine is the corner of my mouth with the tip of my index finger And last I never try to hold the draw. When my finger touches my mouth I release. If I try to hold the draw I hit all over the place. Hope some of this helps. Scott

45-70.gov · « **Reply #27 on:** February 08, 2009, 02:04:05 PM »

i hunt squirrels

that acurrate enough

without sights

deernhog · « **Reply #28 on:** February 08, 2009, 02:51:11 PM »

I hunt em too but killin them is the issue with me.

streak · « **Reply #29 on:** February 08, 2009, 05:16:40 PM »

kernman,
What type of bow are you shooting? Also type of arrows,and type of shooting glove or tab?
squirrellluck had good advice about having the bow lightly resting in the V between the thumb and the index finger with the rest of the fingers lightly curled around the bow. But be extra careful ,because at the instant of release the bowhand sometimes will tightned up and the bow will thus be torque to the left , if you are right handed, therefore the arrow will be shooting to the left! Try to be sure that the bowhand is straight towards the target and does not move until the arrow is at the target. I try to always have a good soft grip steady grip on the bow during the draw and release!