Out of nowhere I got an itch to try my hand at archery. I guess I had thought about it before but we finally have a backyard suited for safely setting up a small archery range. So I went and got the basic supplies and have been having a blast.
Because I am only interested in getting good at target shooting I have decided to practice with a recurve bow with no sights. I understand that compound bows are superior for hunting because they are more powerful and targeting is easier. And if I were planning to hunt for food or survive the zombie apocalypse I would go with a compound.
But I actually don’t know what I am doing. I’m watching a bunch of videos learning proper form. I learned the hard way that using the tip of the arrow as a sight is NOT a good idea.
Anyone else into archery? Any experienced archers have any advice for a newb?
There has been a debate for years over gap shooting vs. instinctive shooting. Gap shooting:
"One of the most efficient shooting methods (without installing a sight) is called Gap Shooting. This style uses the point of the arrow, as if it was a sight, and adjusting for different ranges. Most gap shooters start by learning the “point on distance.” The point on refers to finding the distance where the arrow point is on the intended target and after releasing, the arrow hits the target at the intended spot.
From there, the archer moves to different distances to learn how much lower (or how much higher) to place the point of the arrow on the target and still hit it. Gap shooters can be extremely accurate, but it doesn’t lend itself to bowhunting. It’s an unnatural feel to hold so much lower than the target, which is a live animal in a hunting situation. It takes a longer thought process when the moment of truth is suddenly in front of you."
"Instinctive Shooting:
Many of the purists in traditional archery feel the only true form of shooting is instinctive shooting. Instinctive shooting is the most natural of all shooting techniques. In essence, you simply look where you want to shoot and shoot where you are looking. Unfortunately, it can be the hardest of the shooting methods to learn, yet the most rewarding to the bowhunter.
The best way for me to describe it is to imagine throwing a baseball. Most likely the first time you picked up a baseball and tried to throw it you were inaccurate because you hadn’t learned the basic techniques. Yet in a few years, it becomes second nature after learning the mechanics.
Instinctive shooting is similar, it takes a lot of practice, but once learned, it becomes a deadly method. Shooting your bow over and over, learning the arc of the arrow at varied distances will become second nature. After a while, you can visualize the shot in your mind. Just like playing shortstop in a baseball game. The player catches the ball and throws to first base, never thinking about how hard they are throwing, the arc of the ball, or the distance. It just becomes a learned process where the mind can subconsciously determine the arc of the arrow, the distance, and how to hold in relation to the target.
Once learned the bowhunter can take advantage by never thinking about the distance of the shot and instead focusing on where he wants to place the arrow. The disadvantage is that it is nearly impossible to become as accurate as some of the other methods. Become the Arrow book by Byron Ferguson is a great source of information on the subject of Instinctive Shooting."
https://www.3riversarchery.com/blog/basic-shooting-methods-traditional-archery/
I use both of these methods, but whatever method you choose, practice, practice, practice. Don't practice when you are tired, you'll only practice mistakes. Also, don't shoot st the same distance all the time. After 2-3 years of practicing at varying distances, I was able to hit birds in flight (or beer cans if my brother was throwing them) deer sized game at 60 yards (with a 70 lb longbow) and things like snapping turtles at 20 yards. But then, I was a hunter, although you never know when the zombie apocalypse will happen.
