Less is more?

[catman529]

I know I was complaining here about my groups blowing up recently. Well here are the latest results.

A few weeks ago I was shooting 4-5 days a week, at least 12 shots each time. Not that much, right, or that's what I thought. I was getting pretty tight, but then started getting more shaky and groups were getting frustratingly inconsistent.

Got new strings which took a couple weeks, and since then I've only been shooting a handful of times once every few days. I shot a few this morning and my shooting has improved again.

At 59 pounds the bow is easy to draw and hold, and I don't feel tired after a dozen shots (could and have done far more in one session) but for some reason I have done better just shooting a few here and there. I never have called myself an archer, just a bow hunter. Heck my old clothing bag target is so torn up that there is currently no bulls eye, I just aim for the center of the "dark area" and pretend it's the pocket behind a deer's shoulder, and I am making good shots now.

Is there any explanation for making better shots with less shooting? I still would not win any tournaments, nothing brag worthy, just good shots that will kill a whitetail deer.

 

[UTGrad]

I speak for myself but simply being accurate enough to kill a whitetail deer is not good enough. I want to pick out a single hair or a tick in the vitals of a deer and send the arrow to that point. Accuracy under pressure when it's kill time is different than shooting in the back yard.

 

[TNDeerGuy]

There are several reasons why you are likely shooting better�I'll name a few. A big one is the lack of fatigue�your muscles are fresher, stronger and not breaking down on you and your not over compensating for that, which leads to bad form and the formation of bad habits.

The next biggest thing is mentally you're stronger and more prepared�which can be strongly influenced by the previous reason. Putting more importance on a few arrows is mentally challenging/more rewarding than picking a few good shots out of a 100 arrow practice end. If you're only going to shoot 6 arrows....you better make them count, and when you do you end up boosting/creating confidence�the holy grail of archery! I'll take 1 six, well shot, arrow group over 50 good shots out of a 100 tries any day of the week! You only get one arrow in the woods....practice like that!

Many times I will go outside fire one arrow and go right back in. If it was a great shot then I go back in. If it was just okay, I'll likely fire another�it is always best to end on a feel-good positive note. (kinda like going into the locker room at halftime with a lead )

 

[catman529]

There are several reasons why you are likely shooting better�I'll name a few. A big one is the lack of fatigue�your muscles are fresher, stronger and not breaking down on you and your not over compensating for that, which leads to bad form and the formation of bad habits.

The next biggest thing is mentally you're stronger and more prepared�which can be strongly influenced by the previous reason. Putting more importance on a few arrows is mentally challenging/more rewarding than picking a few good shots out of a 100 arrow practice end. If you're only going to shoot 6 arrows....you better make them count, and when you do you end up boosting/creating confidence�the holy grail of archery! I'll take 1 six, well shot, arrow group over 50 good shots out of a 100 tries any day of the week! You only get one arrow in the woods....practice like that!

Many times I will go outside fire one arrow and go right back in. If it was a great shot then I go back in. If it was just okay, I'll likely fire another�it is always best to end on a feel-good positive note. (kinda like going into the locker room at halftime with a lead )

I think you are right on

 

[Shed Hunter]

I've found the less I shoot for groupings and the more I focus on my target rather than what I am doing the better I do. My practice has turned into one shot at a random target at a random distance from an elevated position.

 

[muddyboots]

When I shoot my best I get up and shoot once before work. After about 2 weeks of that I can put them where I want them.

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

I used to get up and shoot one shot every morning off my deck while I was rushing to go to work or wherever. Trying to simulate a pressure situation

 

[knightrider]

I speak for myself but simply being accurate enough to kill a whitetail deer is not good enough. I want to pick out a single hair or a tick in the vitals of a deer and send the arrow to that point. Accuracy under pressure when it's kill time is different than shooting in the back yard.

lmao if you can see a hair or tick while shooting a deer at thirty yards while looking through a peep and a pin you have way better eyes than me!!! just busting your chops I no what you mean if they aint touching out to 50 im not happy. catman keep on keeping on and it will keep coming together brother

 

[catman529]

I speak for myself but simply being accurate enough to kill a whitetail deer is not good enough. I want to pick out a single hair or a tick in the vitals of a deer and send the arrow to that point. Accuracy under pressure when it's kill time is different than shooting in the back yard.

lmao if you can see a hair or tick while shooting a deer at thirty yards while looking through a peep and a pin you have way better eyes than me!!! just busting your chops I no what you mean if they aint touching out to 50 im not happy. catman keep on keeping on and it will keep coming together brother

I know what you mean about not seeing a tick or hair on a deer... even at 20 yards the adrenaline makes the whole deer a solid object with no hair or ticks... just gotta hold the pin steady in that zone, where to hold it is mostly instinctive for me and the reason I have made bad shots is not holding it steady and/or rushing the shot

 

[lung punch]

I have my draw set two inches short and my poundage waaaaay down. I can't believe how much this has helped my confidence and ability to make hard shots espically to my right. (I'm right handed)

 

[UTGrad]

the reason I have made bad shots is not holding it steady and/or rushing the shot

Picking the smallest spot possible on a deer and FOCUS on that spot like your life depends on it helps me hold it steadier and slow down the shot.

 

[UTGrad]

I have my draw set two inches short and my poundage waaaaay down. I can't believe how much this has helped my confidence and ability to make hard shots espically to my right. (I'm right handed)

Is your draw length two inches shorter than what it should be or were you two inches long and you reduced it to the right size?