Question for you archery hunters.

[Russ McDonald]

I don't shoot hundereds of arrows.  The most I have done is sigting in my bow making sure everything is tight and on target.  The first deer I got last year in Minnesota.  I remeber drawing getting a good sight and pin on her and hitting the release.  I hit back only because she started moving forward just as I hit the release.  32 yard shot.  Opening day this year.  The buck I took wasn't 10-15 yards in front of the blind.  I drew sight pin and hit release took all of about 20 seconds.  Deer was quarting away so the shot was 3-4" behind the front shoulder and exited right behind the front should on the other side.   My first deer was with a TruGlo 7 pin fiber sights.  This year I have a Trophy Ridge single pin adjustable sight.  On the second deer I had the sight adjusted to 20 yards.  I didn't touch the sight at all when I shot.  Now I hear everyone talking about good anchor point remembering all the things you have to do and then shoot.  I don't remember holding at a certain anchor point holding the string at a certain spot on my face.  Heck on the deer this year I don't even remember seeing the sight pin.  Just the deer through the peep.   Am I shooting on instict just like draw point aim shoot.  I find that trying to remember all the right things just messes me up.  Do you all have this problem?  Just wondering.  I am not a pro and only have been hunting with a bow going on 4 years now.  I hate to be over thinking when I get the draw on an elk this year.

[h20hunter]

Russ..........can't argue with success.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

One excersise I use is to stand in front of my target approx 3'. I draw, anchor, point at target And close my eyes. Then realese .arrow. This trains your body into not thinking about all the different things happening but sucontiously draw and shoot. This has really helped me with those times when you have to shoot quick or you don't get a shot. Hope that makes since?

[et1702]

Russ, Sounds like you are doing something right! 

Peep helps w/ alignment.  But, you should have a consistent anchor point.  Otherwise, you could shoot a little high or a little low, especially at longer distances.  I like to put rear thumb knuckle (i.e., where it attaches to your hand) just under my ear lobe.  Easy spot to find and be consistent.  Like anything else, if you practice consistency during shooting practice, you will develop good form and build muscle memory (so you don't have to think much when it comes time for the shot).

Take care,

ET

[lostbackpacker]

Shooting hundreds of arrows has a couple different results.

* it relaxes me from the days stresses.
* it makes shooting an instinct.  right now I couldnt tell you if my anchor point is the corner of my mouth or an inch behind my mouth.  All i know is that it is the same everytime. 

I havent hunted archery for 4 years.  I just recently picked back up my bow in the past few weeks, and it all came back to me like riding a bike.  everything felt just right. 

My last doe was shot at 60 yards with a 20mph cross wind.  took me two arrows.  i missed the first shot.  All I had to think about was the wind.  I would hate to have to remember anchor point, kiss the button, bow level etc, etc. 

You overthink while you are flinging a hundred arrows, so you dont overthink during crunch time.

[Russ McDonald]

Russ, Sounds like you are doing something right! 

Peep helps w/ alignment.  But, you should have a consistent anchor point.  Otherwise, you could shoot a little high or a little low, especially at longer distances.  I like to put rear thumb knuckle (i.e., where it attaches to your hand) just under my ear lobe.  Easy spot to find and be consistent.  Like anything else, if you practice consistency during shooting practice, you will develop good form and build muscle memory (so you don't have to think much when it comes time for the shot).

Take care,

ET

I guess thinking about it that is pretty much where I hold.  When I do practice I don't hold for a long time and make adjustments.  I draw, since I have the single I am already set at range, and shoot.  I see where I hit usually make an adjustment in my grip, draw and shoot again.  When I practice I never hold more the 20-40 seconds before I hit the release.  Pretty much draw pin on target shoot.   

The reason I switched to a single pin adjustable is because my 10,20, and 30 yard pins were right on top of each other.  You draw and set on a 30 yard pin they just all blend together.  With my adjustable my 30 yards mark on the tape is pretty close to at 20 and 10 so that is why I am leaving it at 30.  Now beyond 30 my adjustments are getting a little further apart.  I have it sighted in a 50 yards now.

[DoubleJ]

Russ, same thing happens with me.  I remember telling Buckmark on the way home last season that I don't remember anchoring or even selecting a pin on the deer I shot when I was with him.  I guess we're the kind of people who just black out from the excitement

[vandeman17]

I think it sounds like you are doing just fine with how you are shooting right now. Maybe the next time you are out shooting, make an effort to feel where your hand is touching your face or anything else that is noticeable so that you can repeat it. I think archery hunting is like the golf swing, there is a right way to do it but there also are different, more unorthodox ways but as long as you are consistent, then you should be ok. 

[Russ McDonald]

Russ, same thing happens with me.  I remember telling Buckmark on the way home last season that I don't remember anchoring or even selecting a pin on the deer I shot when I was with him.  I guess we're the kind of people who just black out from the excitement

You know that is so true.  I know that when I played football I don't remember much.  Only when I was on the side lines do I start remembering things. 

[h20hunter]

Russ, same thing happens with me.  I remember telling Buckmark on the way home last season that I don't remember anchoring or even selecting a pin on the deer I shot when I was with him.  I guess we're the kind of people who just black out from the excitement

Probably from blood loss.

[Russ McDonald]

Thanks all for the input so far.   I will try to remember stuff while I practice which isn't very often.  My practice was a month before season shooting about 15 arrows then put the bow up.  It was sighted in for 20 yards.  Opening day and noon I got my shot block out and had a open  field and sigthed in for 30 which was pretty close to 20 and 40 and 50.  Haven't shot again since I took the deer.  I might do a few arrows in between early in late season if I don't punch the elk tag this weekend. 

[DoubleJ]

Russ, same thing happens with me.  I remember telling Buckmark on the way home last season that I don't remember anchoring or even selecting a pin on the deer I shot when I was with him.  I guess we're the kind of people who just black out from the excitement

Probably from blood loss.

Nobody asked you.

[h20hunter]

Again....can't argue with succes...cut hand or not!