Archery marksmenship

[treebutcher]

The hunting course for NS involves classroom work, following a blood trail and shooting. The shooting portion involves hitting a pie plate (12") 3 out of 5 shots at unknown ranges from 10 to 25 yards. This type of accuracy is not all that hard to achive and the bare minimum for hunting. I know people who have picked up archery and 2 months later pass the hunting course. If hunting is your end result give a quick call to the DNR office and find out what they require for you to hunt. In NS you need a min of a 45lb draw bow. With a bow its not too bad but I have heard of a guy buying a crossbow with a real short draw it did not meet the minimum standard for hunting (that would suck big time). DNR will have the time and place any courses that you need.

 

[=(M-1)=]

Man this is all getting so advanced, Well for me anyway, I don’t yet know the lingo or the properties of a Compound bow. But I have down loaded a few tutorials to help me better understand the bow, and how they relate to my body structure, I'll be reading through those hopefully tomorrow. Then I can better grasp what’s being said here. I'm sure its all extremely valuable info, that will only increase in value when I'm purchasing my first compound bow, and again when I finally begin shooting it.

Thanks for all your tips on shooting, I see so many different schools of thought, that not all of you agree on, but be assured, if you take the time to write it, I'll probibly be printing it out, then reading it and giving it an honest try first hand at the range. its Sort of like having 50 instructors, some may say thats bad, but I'll take that over just one. because this way I can really find what works for me. keep it comming, its all good.

 

[captonion]

Don't let all the lingo scare you off. Not at as scary as some may let on.
Your best bet is join an archery club if you can. There is always shooters willing to help you when your learning to shoot.
There are also fellas at these clubs who will bombard you with big words, tell you that the equipment they shoot is the best, hammer their cest, and in the long of it be no real help at all.
The humble fellas I find are the best for offering quality assistance.

When I started to shoot I knew nothing at all about shooting a compound.Started out listening to the humble guys, and was doing quite well. Then I srated buying into the hype of the this bow is best, you need these sights, the release you have sucks guys, and spent a pile of money trying to keep up. My shooting went stale because these guys offered little other assistace other than what equipment is best. Once I came to my senses, back to basics, and listening to the right guys, I started to improve again.I am now where I want to be shooting bow. No I am not the best at the club, and I am quite Ok with that. I shoot consistant, and enjoy most of the people I shoot with, and aginst(on occasion).Joining an achery club has been a very positive experience.
If you decide to take up archery, and you enjoy it your doing it right IMO.

 

[treebutcher]

capton is right on you can get overwelmed with the lingo and needing the fastest bow, best release, etc. Right now I'm stepping back to a fiberglass backed hickory long bow. No sights, release or anything. I enjoy instinctive shooting (I'm not good at it). The point is Archery can be as complicated or as simple as you like. Try not to fall into the trap of buying more stuff to improve your shooting.

 

[trevj]

Try not to get too tied in knots over the choices available. You won't find a group of folks that are as big a bunch of gear whores as hardcore archers generally are, and the bigger a gear whore they are, generally the more vocal they are about how one bow is soooo much better than the next one...These are great guys to buy a used bow from! They upgrade a lot!

Practice shooting like you are going to hunt. If you are a tree stand or ground blind guy, it really does you no good at all if you are not a great shot until the middle of your session.

For the sake of the exercise, figure out what you will feel like, after sitting still for two hours or so, in none too warm weather, them you have to take an odd angle shot from a cold start, with an elevated heart rate. Unless you have nerves of steel, and don't get at all excited when that big buck walks into sight, anyways. Try practicing, wearing your hunting clothes, too.

Boils down to having to be able to make that first arrow work, rather than the following forty or so. If you have to struggle to pull the bow from a cold start = too heavy. Speed is good, but all the speed available ain't worth a pinch of excrement if you have to fight the bow to draw it from a cold start! IMO. But that's about hunting...

Talk to some of the dealers at the archery shops. Go to the ones that have a range, that can allow you to try the bows! Try not to get too tied up in the oneupmanship that the advertising flogs.
Modern bows are pretty easy to pick up and shoot reasonably well. Much like a modern rifle. But if you want it to really perform, you are gonna have to learn a few things about technique, about tuning a bow, and about practicing what works for you.

Personally, I liked practicing the first few shots cold on arrival at the range, sitting in a chair, trying to draw as smoothly as I could. Slow and smooth, like I was being watched by a deer, eh. IIRC, my draw weight is set around 62 pounds, and it feels right to me. I can't estimate range for a pinch of youknowwhat, so I bought a rangefinder. I spend a lot of time ranging the surroundings to sort out my maximums, and my range markers.

Cheers
Trev

 

[.5MOA]

the short answer as some have mentioned is, yes.

It can get complicated same as anything once someone really gets into it. Best advice is to go to "bow" shop with qualified people and have them help you select the right equipment, determine eye dominance, draw lenght, etc. then join a bow club and they will help you get started on proper form and shooting. Better still join your local bow club and get your feet wet and have a knowledgable bowhunter from there go to a bow shop with you to get started. There will be all kinds of knowledgable bowhunters there willing to help you out.

At first shoot only until you start getting fatigued, then stop, build up the duration over time. Just remember that practise does not make perfect but "perfect practise" makes perfect so concentrate on form not how many arrows you fling. As some have mentioned consistency is key, being able to execute the shot the same each time. Picking euipment after you know the basics is mostly personal preference and much of what you buy will depend on what you use it for.
Best to buy a bow with adjustable draw lenght as when your form gets more consistent and you bulk up with hunting clothes you will probably want one a little shorter than when you are measured at the shop. That is just my personal opinion. Another personal opinion with regards to the bow is draw weight. Don't "overbow" yourself or buy a bow that you can not draw easily sitting flat on the floor with your legs outstreched. If your out hunting, tired, cold and stiff from sitting for hours and a nice animal walks out chances are if you are shooting a bow too heavy (draw weight) you will not be able to draw your bow or you will need so much movement to do it that the animal will see you waving around and spook.
There is too much to write here and too many opinions so for your first bow join a local bow club and go to a quality bow shop with knowledgeable people. Shoot 3-D and fita if you get the chance as it helps but there is nothing like actual in the field practise under situations you will face while hunting by shooting from your treestand, small game hunting, roving (stump shooting), etc. Practise in all weather, positions and field conditions because rarely will you ever have perfect conditions or terrain.
Don't discount longbows or recurves, they take more time and practise to shoot well but they are simple and a ton of fun to use. I have owned and shot most types of archery gear and there is never a single right set-up for everyone. There probably isn't anyone on here that shoots the same set-up as the next guy and what works well for them you may not like, so pick what feels good and works for you. For a first set-up don't buy bottom end and don't buy top end, stay somewhere in the middle since most guys will sell their first set-up within a couple years when they become better and by then they "think" they know what they want. I have bow hunted for 25 years and I'm still changing stuff even though my very first bow killed deer every bit as dead as my present set-up. I have pretty much settled since 2007 on a set-up but I still usually change something every year or two. I like a quiet bow so I shoot a 2007 Bowtech Guardian, 28" draw set at 53lbs with wrist sling, STS string supressor and hush kit. For arrows I use Easton ACC 3-49's tipped with 4 blade muzzy's and 2.8" Easton Diamond vanes on the other end. For accessories I have a double grip bowtech 6 arrow quiver, G5 Me sight, Trophy Taker Pronghorn drop away rest (cut down), Specialty Archery 10" Featherlite Hunting Stabilizer. I shoot a string loop and peep with a scott Mongoose release.

Good luck with whatever you choose and have fun!

 

[rlg]

No big secret, lots of practice and hunting.

I honestly don’t know where this fits in to CGN. But I'm being a noob and no one can stop me!!!:stfun00 so here’s my question. With modern sighting systems on bows, is it easier to learn to shoot them accurately? I'm hoping to take up bow hunting some time, but don’t want to spend a life time learning to shoot one.

This is how I have been practicing for the last 30 years or so.

Assuming that you have taken an introductory course of sorts and you know how to handle the bow and set your sights.

Go out into an open field, throw an empty water jug or a styrofoam block onto the ground. Then spend the next few hours walking around and shoot at it as you walk around the field. Of course, always vary your distances but stay within your comfort zone. As you get better, you will naturally get further and further from your target. Estimating you distances will become instinctive after you have shot a thousand arrows into the jug (you will have changed jugs a few times by then).

Secondly, when you are in the bush and actually hunting (hopefully, PETA is not listening) shoot at everything and anything that moves. If a rabbit happens to cross your path, shoot it. If a partridge lands not too far away on the ground, shoot it. If a squirrel is hanging of the side of a tree truck, shoot it. These are small tarkets and you will probably miss them often, but when you do hit, it will be satisfaction beyond your imagination (as well as a good meal). This particular practice will also help with the first time shakes. The more often you shoot at a living creature, the less nervous you will be the first time a deer walks out in front of you.

Good luck and enjoy. Bow hunting is truly a great way to hunt and you will love it.

Regards
Robert

 

[X-fan]

.....

If I've shot my compound bow enough to become comfortable to place my arrow in a deer's vitals at 20-30 yards, then I shoot enough only to maintain this level of marksmanship and I keep my own personal maximum range in mind at all times.
......
.......

That there is the $64,000.00 point....Well said.

My first bow was a (instinctive) recurve....I went from never having shot a bow to hunting with a bow in about 7 months. My skills grew rapidly (along with my broken arrow collection) though when hunting season came I realized the only shot for me was going to be very close...15-20 yards close.
Lo and behold my first week of hunting I shot a small spike...At less than 10 yards. Funny thing is that little deer is the most memorable deer of my life! I can still see the fletching in a slow motion arc as it disappeared into the bucks chest.....Strange how some things stay with you.
Traditional bow hunting is frustrating, but extremely rewarding.

 

[rem338win]

Really, the lingo is only hard at first. But this sport/hobby has at least 3 times the gadgetry of anything else I have done. Fletching, feathers, FOBs, carbon, aluminum, hybrids, nocks, magnetic nocks, string loops, cable rollers, cable sliders, prong rests, drop away rests, 3 pin sights, 5 pin sights, adjustable sights, pendulum sights, etc, etc. All to overwhelm to new guy and the old hand.
Find an experienced mentor, and start simple. 60lb bow, 7" brace height, 32-36" axle to axle, a good drop away (my suggestion) rest, a good 3 pin sight, and a really good release are the first things to focus on. Add a peep and you can start shooting.
And don't read a magazine for awhile lest you be convinced your setup will not work.

 

[=(M-1)=]

I'm reading a lot of good stuff here, and reading it carefully.
I particularly like the hunting bits, such as X-fan getting 10 yards from animal, WOW! I imagine this does not shock any of you, and you have all probably done something similiar, but it amazes me. and hope I can do the same.

The beginner tips you all have posted are going to be very helpful, particularly about buying and upgrading constantly. I admit i have done this with my rifles, some scopes never even seen a day of two of service before I upgraded . But in my defense I discourage others from doing so, so I'm not that guy who makes you spend money and offers only a teaspoon of knowledge. But I'm getting it under control, or I'll go broke trying to pay for two sports at the same time.

Secondly, when you are in the bush and actually hunting (hopefully, PETA is not listening) shoot at everything and anything that moves. If a rabbit happens to cross your path, shoot it. If a partridge lands not too far away on the ground, shoot it. If a squirrel is hanging of the side of a tree truck, shoot it. These are small targets and you will probably miss them often, but when you do hit, it will be satisfaction beyond your imagination (as well as a good meal). This particular practice will also help with the first time shakes. The more often you shoot at a living creature, the less nervous you will be the first time a deer walks out in front of you.

Good luck and enjoy. Bow hunting is truly a great way to hunt and you will love it.

Regards
Robert

I,m sure this was not meant as a joke, but I rolled It just seems to tickle me pink the very idea of shooting everything that moves. just like the evil hunters in the Disney classic "Bambie". I guess I should be careful NOT to move if I go hunting with aka "rig."

But its make good sense though, there are hoards of gophers at the local ranches surrounding my community. we are being overrun in fact. So I'll give the bow a try on some of those pesky little SOB’s. it is bound to make good sport and practice. Thanks rig. (P.S. I'm not mocking you, I just found it terribly funny is all. What does that say about my sanity I wonder?)

 

[rlg]

But its make good sense though, there are hoards of gophers at the local ranches surrounding my community. we are being overrun in fact. So I'll give the bow a try on some of those pesky little SOB’s. it is bound to make good sport and practice. Thanks rig. (P.S. I'm not mocking you, I just found it terribly funny is all. What does that say about my sanity I wonder?)

If you are ready to eat what you shoot, it is all good.

Groundhogs don't count. You can shoot as many as you like. Good practice........