Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Archery Gear => Topic started by: Recurve-Elk on July 06, 2010, 09:29:34 PM

Title: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 06, 2010, 09:29:34 PM: Well guys, I started hunting with a compound and did that for three years. Then last year I picked up a recurve, and I am happy to say I have it pretty decently figured out! Minus that one arrow that always seems to ruin a perfect group... Take a look at this video, 20 yards with all arrows tightly grouped in the kill zone, then one in the leg.... And of course it is the last shot. Watch as I drop my bow in frustration :chuckle:

(http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u7/snowboardernitro/?action=view&current=Theonethatgotaway.mp4)
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Lowedog on July 06, 2010, 09:54:36 PM: Nice shooting! Keep it up.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Machias on July 06, 2010, 10:21:46 PM: Good job, keep at it!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on July 06, 2010, 11:41:25 PM: Oh, with any shooting, getting rid of the flyers is a challenge for anyone. Your first shot is often your best shot, so.. Make every shot the first shot. If you have a shot plan, and run through it to a 'T' every time, then that last shot will be fired as well as your first or third shot. It's all in your mind. Not the technique of your shooting.

Every shot is my first shot. Every shot is my best shot. This shot is my kill shot. This shot is a bullseye. Keep telling yourself that as you're about to draw. Then focus on the next steps to commit that shot plan.

-Steve
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: bow4elk on July 07, 2010, 12:06:48 AM: I had a mentor tell me, "you're only as good as your first arrow". Nice shooting. One practice tip you might try is shooting one arrow only, then putting the bow down for 10-15 minutes. Go out and wander to a different location in the yard. Shoot one arrow. Repeat this process and work this kind of practice into your routine. It will help you shoot a "regular arrow" and not allow the mental distraction of trying to shoot a "special arrow" when the chips are down. The point is, you only get one first arrow at an animal. You don't want to burden that shot with a bunch of mental baggage...just shoot a regular arrow calmly. Practice this and you'll find that the regular arrows will find their mark with more consistency at different and mixed yardages.

Again, great shooting! I noted that you are practicing the GOOD habit of anchoring with each shot. Many traditional shooters struggle with this because they don't practice good shooting form & shot sequence routine.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Todd_ID on July 07, 2010, 12:26:17 AM: Dang good shooting! You'll get 'er done this fall with that kind of shooting!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 07, 2010, 08:35:17 AM: Bow4elk,

Thanks for the tip! I think you are spot on with this. In the video as each arrow found its mark I was getting more and more excited, and I guess on the last shot it got the best of me. I think I will try your tip today and see how it goes. :archery_smiley:
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: PacificNWhunter on July 07, 2010, 08:47:39 AM: Nice job!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Drifterat on July 07, 2010, 08:54:35 PM: Good shooting.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: ribka on July 07, 2010, 09:13:12 PM: Quote from: bow4elk on July 07, 2010, 12:06:48 AM
I had a mentor tell me, "you're only as good as your first arrow". Nice shooting. One practice tip you might try is shooting one arrow only, then putting the bow down for 10-15 minutes. Go out and wander to a different location in the yard. Shoot one arrow. Repeat this process and work this kind of practice into your routine. It will help you shoot a "regular arrow" and not allow the mental distraction of trying to shoot a "special arrow" when the chips are down. The point is, you only get one first arrow at an animal. You don't want to burden that shot with a bunch of mental baggage...just shoot a regular arrow calmly. Practice this and you'll find that the regular arrows will find their mark with more consistency at different and mixed yardages.

Again, great shooting! I noted that you are practicing the GOOD habit of anchoring with each shot. Many traditional shooters struggle with this because they don't practice good shooting form & shot sequence routine.

Good advice. Developed a nasty habit of snap shoooting years ago. This method of shooting helped me out

Good shooting. Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: boneaddict on July 07, 2010, 09:16:11 PM: Good advice Bow4elk. It helps when your yard is all hilly and such too so you aren't always shooting the same elevation. Also helps decrease robin hoods. Thye might be cool, but when arrows are about 10 bucks a wack these days. :archery_smiley:
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: boneaddict on July 07, 2010, 09:16:55 PM: I'm going to try to extend my range a bit. I wish my arrows were a bit heavier. This Nevada hunt has me worried.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 07, 2010, 09:31:40 PM: I have extended my practicing out to 80 yards with the longbow. Only because of the NFAA Field events, it has helped me in my confidence at 50 yards quite a bit. Good news is I haven't had to take (chose not to) any shots at a live animal at anything past 40ish. Not sure I will either but with practice even shooting trad I think you can get to the point where you will make it a good shot. I waswn't sure about shooting those long yardages for the field events but the challenge has made it a lot of fun.

Recurve- keep at it! Good shooting. I believe in the one arrow idea, but will tell you that I shoot somewhere around 100 arrows a day minimum.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: boneaddict on July 07, 2010, 09:44:12 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 07, 2010, 10:08:19 PM: Are you guys shooting trad? Or compound?
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Machias on July 07, 2010, 10:19:27 PM: They are shooting trad.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 07, 2010, 10:22:39 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: boneaddict on July 07, 2010, 10:25:12 PM: You'll get it. You are doing it right. Start close and move back. Stay perfect.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Lowedog on July 08, 2010, 03:30:24 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on July 07, 2010, 09:44:12 PM
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... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: bow4elk on July 08, 2010, 04:04:01 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on July 07, 2010, 09:44:12 PM
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.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 08, 2010, 05:43:49 PM: 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,
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Hornseeker on July 10, 2010, 07:25:50 AM: 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.... :dunno:

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??? :chuckle: Is that a hideous distance or what???
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 10, 2010, 07:33:18 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 10, 2010, 02:29:34 PM: 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.... :yike: 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
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Hornseeker on July 11, 2010, 12:41:38 PM: 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.... :rolleyes:

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!!!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 11, 2010, 02:22:05 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Hornseeker on July 11, 2010, 03:57:19 PM: 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! :dunno: I know... lame.... :chuckle:

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!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Hornseeker on July 11, 2010, 08:14:37 PM: 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....
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 11, 2010, 09:34:35 PM: 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
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: carpsniperg2 on July 11, 2010, 09:47:50 PM: love the arrow in bigfoots soda :chuckle: cool pic thanks for sharin
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Hornseeker on July 12, 2010, 11:48:05 AM: By the way Recurve...something that really improved my shooting in fairly short order, was shooting the "300 round". Its on a 40cm target like this
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F319J1qg%252BesL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&hash=b812ab3dcff655101c3e51a0c6dfcbcdc2e982b3)

You stand at 20 yards and shoot 12 ends of 5 arrows each.... the middle is 5, then 4.3.2.1. as you move out the rings. Best possible is 300. The way you are shooting in that video, I would think you'd shoot a 230+ pretty easy, but its hard to say. Maybe much better?? My best ever is a 263 (barebow) 278 with a sighted recurve. Its cool, cause you can track your progress pretty easily just by looking at the numbers.

Then...when you are ready, you shoot this same target at 30, or 40 yards...

Good Luck!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 12, 2010, 12:46:45 PM: Thats sweet! Where can I get some of those??? Lately I have been stump shooting a lot. Seems to help with the instinctive shot, and there is less pressure to get a perfect shot, so I end up shooting better haha. Its also fun!
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 12, 2010, 01:15:58 PM: If you google NFAA Blue face target (40CM) you can order them. Most of the archery clubs have them also. I shoot a lot of Blue Face during the winter, at the clubs indoor range, as it gets to dark after work to shoot outside much. This will definetly hone your skills! I even have some on the bales at the house to shoot at. if you go to:
http://www.lancasterarchery.com/index.php?cPath=53_250&osCsid=e1plpcmd47s102ce3j68i0qia7 (http://www.lancasterarchery.com/index.php?cPath=53_250&osCsid=e1plpcmd47s102ce3j68i0qia7) they have all kinds of target faces there, most are pretty cheap. Keep shooting! This is the hunter target....
Title: Re: Recurve perfect group!! Almost...
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 12, 2010, 01:21:35 PM: Shooting the blueface 300 rounds is not only good practice but also good for the endurance! 12 ends of 5 arrows, plus 2 practice ends... 70 total arrows. My suggestion is if you do shoot this, and you are not consistently shooting in the 230-240's, move up to 15 yards until you can shoot those scores there. Then back up to 20 and you will be all set. Since you are only a short drive away, you might want to look into joining the Whidbey Bowmens club, we shoot an indoor league every year, both multi color and blue face and currently shooting an outdoor league on Wed nights. We also have 3-4 3D shoots we hold open to the public. Our practice range is 20-80 yards, plus we have a 32 target 3D course and the indoor range. If I can be of any help just PM me. Shoot straight!