What is the opinion of your own shooting?

[Buckshot06]

Very well said OFBM

I agree with you completely. I would say that I am pretty good some days and some days not so good. I never shot in 3D tourney, I only shoot for fun and groceries. So I don't were I stand as compared to others.

[nkybuck]

First thing is I LOVE to shoot Second is I'm very competitive. I love to win a competition but if I don't there's always next week. I shot on the national level for a couple of years and enjoyed it very much. The biggest thing I learned the more time you have to invest in yourself practicing the happier you will be with your performance shooting. Right now I'm not completely satisfied with my shooting but I'm working on it. My youngest son 12 has a new found interest so I'll be spending as much time as I can getting him out. So IMO if your happy with your shooting maintain that feeling with practice if your not practice any time you can and you will get better.

[madoktor1]

I'm happy with my shooting overall. I shoot as much as possible even when season starts. Some of my friends and I draw an archery hunt that is the weekend before season actually opens every year. This year, if we weren't hunting, we were shooting in camp. When I practice, I generally practice for confidence by taking long shots. I shoot some from 10-40 yds., moving back and forth and then I move to 50 yds. and finish my session out from there. This gives me extra confidence in the shorter average shots and I don't think about them as much or "overthink" them. In my opinion, you can't shoot too much but you can not shoot enough. Even the best miss on occasion.

[pastorfarley]

I know I am not a good shot, but I also know I have improved in the last year. My theory on hunting is only the first shaft counts

I had worked up to a fairly high level of confidence last year and then I started taking longer shots and ended up putting 3 arrows into the weeds (they are still there ) The problem was lack of consistent practice so I was off anchor point, used the wrong eye to aim etc. The only way to ensure the first shaft is true is practice so that the draw, aim and release are natural and consistent shot after shot. Modern aids like peep sights can help. I am hoping my new peep will prevent eye switching but there is no substitute for practice.

This year my cellar backstop has not taken a single hit (knock on wood) so I know I am more consistent than last year, but all will be revealed when the woodchucks come out in the spring

[illinihunter]

I believe I'm a better shot with the longbow than I am with the wheels. Been shooting the stik since I was 10,having a hard time with the letoff and the wall it just doesn't feel natural to me.
I don't shoot 3d.Some of the best pure shots I know have never shot foam.I test and tune on paper then its nothing but stump hunting.I feel it helps pick a spot rather than looking at the deer target.
To each his own,do whatever it takes to make yourself a better shot.
Aim small ,miss small.

[CopperHead]

I am a natural at nothing so I have to practice, practice until it is ingrained into muscle memory. Like bowman said it haunts me to make a bad shot or loose an animal. But at the same time you have to have confidence in yourself. You have to believe that you can make that shot.

The only thing we can do is practice practice practice and then do it again. I feel like I owe it to the animals I hunt to be proficient and that is what drives me to practice. Thsi same thought is what also prevents me from hunting with traditional gear. I just dont have the confidence I can make the shot consistently.

I love to bowhunt its truely an addiction.

[BT]

Before I answer this....the guy that owns his own shop....
Keep in mind that he is probably the best he has seen locally because there is no incentive in your area and this is what he is into.
In Maine, I will clean the course....any where and any time...no questions asked.
Here in NY...I'll be in the top 10...maybe win once in awhile....if the good guys are having issues
Performance is based on location, generally speaking.

As a for instance....

If you dont have Pro's or Pro shops locally, you dont get a fast education and even worse, the education that you do get can be based on the findings of locals who more than likely are self taught.
I have only seen three self taught (what I would call) Pros in my life.
Those three were naturals that just didn't need to be exposed to an education.
We all know the type...whatever the endeavor.

I was that kind of guy when I was young (with a recurve) but I have lost it to old age.
What I had with the compound was based solely on education and exposure to real Pro's over the years.
My level of skill (shooting) is directly proportional to the time invested and (of course) depending on what type of shooting that we are talking about.

I never could break 280 indoors and rarely ever shot over 265 in 3-D once the 80's were behind me.
Field archery?....I suck something aweful....just dont like it and therefore I score what I happen to score... depending on the day.

Hunting?....I do not like my performance in the field at all.
I envy people like Greg who have that built in range finder.
Can I hit the spot at 50 yards?....sure...no problem at all ... if I know it's fifty.
But I dont know and even if I do, it gets in my head.
Anything past 20 yards starts to freak me out.
Thats why I always shot the flattest bow available to me.
It's not that it gives me any more confidence....it doesn't.
What it does give me is an aid that overcomes my own weakness.

Can I improve on that?...no.
I will always have the fever and I will always start thinking and second guessing myself.

SO....
The question would be answered no.
Not because I cant shoot well....just because I cant when it really counts

[voodoofire1]

I was that kind of guy when I was young (with a recurve) but I have lost it to old age.
"What I had with the compound was based solely on education and exposure to real Pro's over the years.
My level of skill (shooting) is directly proportional to the time invested and (of course) depending on what type of shooting that we are talking about."

Bt, that doesn't sound like age, sounds like desire, or a little lack of.

"Can I improve on that?...no.".........YES YOU CAN!... desire is the key.

We can all be better shooters,...... when we get our bows out to practice, do we practice to be the same... no! ...we practice to get better, don't we? and we will if the desire to do so is there, but we must be realistic... "a jack of all trades is a master of none", and that goes for archery too... see I'll never be an olympic archer, and I've known that since I was a kid.. Why?... because I don't want to(lack of desire), but I will be the best hunter I possibly can because the desire is there to do that... I have a lot of fun shooting 3-d, but to me that's all it is... fun... I get dead serious when I'm practicing for hunting season, I do that at home.. alone... just like in the woods... could I be better, heck yes!, but I am happy with my shooting, just not complacent, so I try harder... but I never forget the fun....

[BT]

Feb 6, 2009 10:49:15 GMT -5 voodoofire1 said:

I was that kind of guy when I was young (with a recurve) but I have lost it to old age.
"What I had with the compound was based solely on education and exposure to real Pro's over the years.
My level of skill (shooting) is directly proportional to the time invested and (of course) depending on what type of shooting that we are talking about."

Bt, that doesn't sound like age, sounds like desire, or a little lack of.

Actually, it's physical when speaking to the traditional and it's time pertaining to the compound.
The compound isn't a big issue but the recurve is.
Eye sight, depth perception and strength are the three things that aren't getting better and were key to shooting the stick.
I can drop the bow weight but eventually, it would be unethical to continue hunting at some level of weight reduction.
The most important aren't coming back.
Thats why I developed the shooting system that I featured in "judgment call"....becasue I had too.