Target Shooting Confidence

[baacke13]

I practice a lot maybe even too much. But I was wondering if there is any fact to the idea that you will be more confident/accurate after shooting at a target shaped as the animal you are hunting over stressing over perfection on 1 to 2 inch bullseye.

[Woods Walker]

I break my practice sessions up into two parts.....FORM practice....and "pick a spot" practice.

My form practice most of the time is spent shooting at a regular bullseye at close range. I'm not really focusing on aiming at this point, but more on my form. Sometimes I will close my eyes, draw my bow, and as I do that I visualize the part of my form that I'm working on....back muscles, arm, draw hand, etc. Sometimes I will draw the bow, and then SLOWLY let it down, while focusing on my form. After a half dozen times or so of this then I will loose an arrow.

The I go to my regular shooting practice, or "pick a spot", as I call it. I shoot a recurve instinctively, and I do NOT want to have to think of ANY part of my form or shooting mechanics once I start to focus on a spot. My concentration has to be 100% on the molecule of the spot I want to hit. ANY archer should have his/her form down pat anyway regardless of which aiming method they use.

That said, I do recommend that once your form is solid, then shooting at an animal shaped target will help you for hunting. A 3-D target is the best, because it will make you aware of the penetration angles, and also the fact that it, like a deer, is 3 dimensional.

I also love to shoot Judo points in my yard,as then I can shoot at almost anything and not lose an arrow. "Picking a spot" on a weed head gently moving in the breeze will DEFINATELY make you concentrate!

[baacke13]

I do all my practicing (with field tips) on 2 inch bulls eyes. I know that if I use the right form I can shoot 3 inch groups or better out to 30 yards which is pretty much the maximum range my current set up is capable of shooting, but I always get aggravated because it seems I'm always just off the bullseye and not hitting my "spot". But I feel like on the few occasions that I do get to shoot at a 3d target or even just a cardboard cut out of an animal I can't miss the vitals. This always has puzzled me.

[Proline]

I shoot bag targets winter/spring/summer. September 1 comes and pretty much nothing but 3d's. Little different when ther isn;t bullseye to focus on

[pgchambers]

I often tape vitals pictures on my targets(as life size as possible). I then can try my different angles and yardages shooting for the lungs and heart. A kill shot is a good shot in this scenario, so I tend to be less focused on hitting that small spot. I do still pick a spot, but again, I am less concerned about how close I am to the exact spot, and more concerned that my shot "killed" the animal. Just a cheaper alternative to 3D targets is all.

[baacke13]

I painted a detailed vitals on one of my targets works great but pulling field tips out of an open layer broad head target isn't easy so I stick to my bag target for field tips.

[bobow]

I painted a detailed vitals on one of my targets works great but pulling field tips out of an open layer broad head target isn't easy so I stick to my bag target for field tips.

You can use field points on a broadhead target but you need to use lubricant such as Scorpion Venom or something similar. You have to lube every 3 or 4 shots.

[baacke13]

Made a monumental discovery in my inncosistency. I found that I had been forgetting to make sure that I aligned my peep and my front sight the same way every time. My accuracy and confidence instantly increased.

[kellory]

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[msbadger]

I have two deer targets...and HD deer I use to "get in shape" on at ground level and a small Mckenzie that is used to shoot at from a 16ft stand...I only use 3 arrows and I move the target around to different yrds....I shoot instinctive so by the time I'm ready to stand practice I'm concentrating on the spot I'm aiming at...using 3 arrows forces me to "settle"...for at my age climbing up and down that 16ft ladder to shoot just three times is rough on the knees ..This also helps me relearn to control my breathing....for after shooting 18 arrows(6sessions) or so ...by the time I hit the top of the stand on a warm day my breathing pretty much matches buck fever