Recurve perfect group!! Almost...

[Machias]

They are shooting trad.

[Recurve-Elk]

Wow thats impressive!!  I can't wait to be shooting out to 40 yards!! I just can't seem to get the instinctive shooting down quite right after shooting my compound for so many years.

[boneaddict]

You'll get it.  You are doing it right.  Start close and move back.  Stay perfect.

[Lowedog]

I'm also a believer in the 40 yard rule.  Thats what I killed my buck this year with.  I tend to stick with the 30 yard rule whenever possible, but this time I had no choice.  I do as you do though and shoot a few from outside "the comfort zone" to try to help me.   

I didn't know you were an Indian Bone...

[bow4elk]

I'm also a believer in the 40 yard rule.  Thats what I killed my buck this year with.  I tend to stick with the 30 yard rule whenever possible, but this time I had no choice.  I do as you do though and shoot a few from outside "the comfort zone" to try to help me.   

When I'm dialed in with my recurve, I do a lot of 40 yard shooting but limit shots on game to 30(ish) yards but strive for 25 or less.  It's amazing how close 25 yards seems (and how little pressure there is) when you practice at longer distances and get comfortable with arrow trajectory and bow arm follow through habits.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Instinctive works well,  however it is not the only sighting method out there.... I guess I use a hybrid sighting system... close yardage is almost purely instinctive out to 20-25 yards.  Even though I do sort of use a gap system when it comes to shooting further yardages.  I know that lets say my Sapphire Hawk is point on (Point of arrow) at 50 yards.  THen I practice enough to know that I need to be 12 inches higher for 60 etc... and at 40 it might be 6 inches low,  30 would be 10 inches etc..... However it all comes to practice... the more "good" practice and the more it will come to you.  I consistently shoot 20+ arrows from 20-80 yards every day now,  as I am preparing for the NFAA Outdoor Nationals,  which includes shots from just a few feet out to 80 yards,

[Hornseeker]

NWW...I was going to compete in a field shoot next weekend...but hurt my dang shoulder and it is very unlikely now. If I do, I"ll be shooting the 35# bow I built for my wife....

Anyhow, Recurve.... how long have you been shooting again? You are shooting fantastic! Like NWW said, instinctive isn't a bad deal, especially at close range, but as you extend your ranges you have to use other means. What I recommend, is as you start to move back, say to 30 for now, just keep shooting groups like you are, but consciously see the arrow tip in your periphery. YOu dont have to "LOOK AT IT"...just see it... does that make sense at all?

Whats going to happen, and it will happen even if you dont try, is you will develop a "sight picture" and holding at anchor like you are, for maybe 1-2 seconds, helps you develop the picture easier than if you snap shoot. Please dont start snap shooting... your form and shooting style are excellent already!

Anyhow, you will develop this sight pictures. NWW is honing his sight picture by shooting 10 to 80 yards...he's paying attention to his gap, but is also ingraining a sight picture into his subconscious that will serve him well if he quits calculating inches up or down while gapping...

Hey NWW....what you gigure your gap is for that 80 yard targets??? Is that a hideous distance or what???

[Recurve-Elk]

ya that definitely makes sense!  Ill give that a shot.  I think I am ready to take those few steps back to 30 yards!!  I remember last summer, I couldn't hardly shoot 15.  Its going up!

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Hideous is an understatement... I normally pick a spot in a tree (if available) behind the target,  and depending on the bow and of course arrow wieght could be as little as 3 feet,  LOL  I shot down at Redding this year in the NFAA 3D nationals... they shoot from 4 yards to 101 yards there....  Of course the 101 is the bigfoot target which I think is 10 feet tall.  The proble there is bigfoot is down in a canyon with a pretty prevelant sidewind.... lots of fun watching the arrow flight!  THe guys with coumpounds would shoot and arrow would hit.. I shoot and carry on a conversation as the arrow flew..LOL 

[Hornseeker]

Wow...that is a GREAT Sasquatch Target. I've heard of that target many times, but never seen it till now. I have a friend that shot recurve in that shoot several times and would commonly drill the squatch about as good as anyone, but then again, he's a several time world champ....

3 feet is a pretty good gap for 80 yards. Last year I was shooting my hunting arrows that had 220 grain field tips on them, 570 grain total arrow weight with a 56# bow. My gap for the 80 yarder must have been nearer 6-7 feet... I actually kept all 4 on the butt, but only 2 arrows scored..

Recurve, if you shoot that good at 20, it will only be a matter of time and practice and you'll be shooting nice, vital sized groups at 35-40.... after that distance.... yuk...its tough to keep a good group at 50-60 yards. Beyond that is brutal. When I am really shooting well I can keep all my arrows on an 18" block target from 75-80 yards....but that is shooting from that spot, over and over, and knowing exactly where my gap is....

Fun stuff!!!

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I am shooting right now a much lighter arrow for the field events,  425 gr total.  I am guesstimating that it is about 3 feet,  with the sight picture and not really measuring.  If the bale is a 4 foot high bale the target is centered on,  I hold about 2 feet above the bale.  As you discussed with recurve,  I really don't measure,  just see the tip in my peripheral (?) and know that is about right.  AT 60 yards I am holding on the top of the 4 ring,  and 70 is top of the bale.  Fortunately there are only 2 shots at 80 (walkups) in the field round,  and nothing past 70 in the hunter.  The animal rounds are out to 60.   

[Hornseeker]

Well, I think my shoulder made huge progress yesterday and today...so I will be doing the field and hunter rounds next weekend! We'll have to compare scores. I cannot for the life of me remember what I shot last year??? I edged out one guy, but the two of us were sumptin like 40+ points ahead of the others...

I will put some lighter arrows together this week and shoot them, likely for the first time, Saturday morning before the start shoots! I know... lame....

I do some gappers that literaly count inches. so they look at the yardarge (may even use a rangefinder as far as hunting and such goes) then say, well, he's 44 yards, point on is 55, so I need to hold 11 inches under the spot I want to hit...

I may get into that someday, but for now I dont want to use a rangefinder...so will just use my instinctive gapping!

[Hornseeker]

I just looked up last years scores for kicks and giggles...

I shot a Field/Hunter combined of 266  on Saturday last year... then on Sunday I shot a 450 on the Animal Round... I was proud of the 450... not so much on the 266....

[NWWABOWHNTR]

28 Field score was 329
28 Hunter - 311
14 animal - 210

That was at the state shoot a few weeks back,  had only been shooting the "Hawk" a few days,  so not to disappointed with those scores.  Also, only my 2nd field event... I had a pretty good field round going until about the 23rd target and the straight uphill shots messed me all up.... shot consecutive 7's on 3 straight uphills.. Had a serious brain fart and forgot how to shoot... Bend at the waist... hmmmmm

[carpsniperg2]

love the arrow in bigfoots soda cool pic thanks for sharin