Originally Posted by
red state
When practicing, I shoot one arrow and think about my release and form as I walk to retrieve my arrow. You usually get only one shot at a deer so I practice accordingly. I even walk quickly on a steep grade before shooting to simulate the heart rate one has when a deer approaches.
It is all good practice for a hunt and as TYR probably knows....you do get only ONE shot at tournaments.
I've actually called one of my home-made hunting tapes "Flags, Tags and Double Jeopardy" because I have failed attempts, successes and second chances at the same deer within the same minute (after missing). On one hunt I recorded my skimming across the back of the deer but knew that the deer would try and get back with the others so I quickly shook my mistake off and readied myself with arrow #2. Sure enough, I was presented a second chance and had a clear mind this time around. After the shot, I removed my head set and recorded the deer going down within 60 yrds. I have actually filmed some great hunts (including a spine shot). I may look into pulling these from the old, dusty tapes and converting them but if anyone actually has some DIGITAL footage, I'm sure we'd love to see it (and it doesn't have to be a kill footage either). All footage would be appreciated.
When I filmed my nice 8pt with bow, I showed the 6 holes that was in that buck.....almost missed him as he had picked me out in that large, old Blackjack tree. I truly lucked up hitting him and killing him. He only went 100 yards or more but it is a wonder I found him at all. the arrow went in the LOW, flabby part of his front leg, came out, angled up and into the LOW brisket/rib area, out the described area and rose as it exited the opposing flabby part of his other front leg. I found 90% of the shaft that housed the WASP broadhead but I never found the fletching. You could hear the arrow break as he bucked from the impact and I can't imagine why the arrow rose as it did because I actually hunted too high back then. Had the arrow not rose so miraculously, the buck would have lived with minimum harm (very minimum). It simply was his bad luck and my good blessing.
I used to several months in advance practice using two arrows, so as to do corrections after the first shot --to get shot in so to speak.. . Then about two or three weeks before opening day start shooting one arrow only! Redstate is correct one arrow shooting forces you to concentrate the way you should! If wanting to get close to how its going to be if not hunting in a tree stand go stump shooting but be sure to use judo-points! Even with that you are likely to break a few arrows but its loads of fun when two or three guys do it as a competition shoot. Also if possible practice using a 3D deer target. I'VE BEEN SHOOTING BOWS FOR WELL OVER 50 YEARS SO LOTS OF STUFF I JUST DO MY OWN WAY AND LET NATURAL TALENT FLOW OUT. Sure sometimes that's just being a bit lazy but now its like target shooting with guns, I do it for fun but the improvement aspect just doesn't exist as I'm not going to get any better. I've maxed out on that a couple decades ago. I shot my heavy bow a few weeks ago and did very well. My nephew was amazed but to me it was just very well. I'll never shoot again like I DID WHEN IN MY 20'S ,30'S and 40's. Eyesight has diminished and concentration just isn't at that high of a level any more. Still very good but no longer truly amazing. Archery requires so much more than gunning! Hell, with guns I can still shoot a flea off a fat bullfrog's ass on a cloudy day at 60 paces and never even make the frog flinch! --Tyr
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