Barebow archery question

[Nonsuch]

I'm getting on well with my flatbow and seem to be getting good groupings by just looking very hard where I want the arrow to go and instinctively adjusting for range. However, quite a few people try to encourage me to align a known spot on the bow with the target as a means of achieving consistency, or aligning the tip of the arrow with a known point below the target. It probably doesn't help that where I am able to practice is mostly populated by target archers who have sights, stabilisers etc. They can't quite believe I can hit the target at all the way I am aiming.

I seem to be getting on just fine not looking at the bow or arrow tip but my first ranging shot is often inaccurate before I adjust for range. Therefore I quite like the idea of using the upper bow limb as a rudimentary sight. On the other hand I like the pure insinctive style - like throwing a dart etc.

Any thoughts or advice from the experts on this ?

Thanks in advance
NS

 

[SimonM]

I shoot bare bow and had the same issue when I started...all the target archers looking down on me as a mere field archer!

Stick with the instinctive shooting, it works.

My advice would be to shoot lots of arrows and various ranges until you just "know" where the arrow will end up.

Just make sure you have a stable anchor point and can replicate your position ervy shot.

Simon

 

[nuggets]

am not an expert but i shoot a recurve with a sight on - I would say to you shoot the way you are shooting -its what you feel comfortable with -and your hitting the mark !! go for what works for you !!

 

[dwardo]

I use point on aim for my shooting. Its hard to explain but i know roughly if my arrow tip has to be on target, below or above target depending on the range.

There are guys that shoot completely instinctively but i think if you have a form/method its easier to diagnose and rectify any problems you have, especially during those "off days" we all have.

 

[phill_ue]

There is an American chap who can shoot thrown paracetamol pills out of the sky, if they can achieve the same thing with their fancy bows with sights bolted on then they are able to comment IMO! Otherwise, keep doing what you are doing, eventually you will just know where to aim and judging distance will become second nature.

 

[Dave Budd]

Shooting purely by instinct is as old as the hills and works for a lot of folk, especially those shooting 'primitive' styles or starting out. Sighting techniques for barebow shooting help when you get up to the top of the field, in that the best instinctive shooters almost always have a sighting technique; but if it's getting you on the target then who's to complain?! Let's face it if you were craving the centre of the spot/kill, then you'd shoot unlimited class As simon says, replicate what you do each and every shot. My old coach said that making the perfect shot was easy, repeating it is the tricky bit

As for the target archers looking down on you, stuff 'em! I started off in target and as soon I tried field, I've never turned back and that was about 13 years ago Target archers always struggle when they try field (lots of exchange trips between field and target clubs), partly because they tend to leave their good arrows behind incase they miss and lose/damage one (so they aren't able to shoot as well as normal), but also because they aren't used to shooting up/down/across hills, over dead ground/valleys, through bushes and between trees. Basically there are more variables than just wind and distance for them to cope with!

another thing about instinctive shooting is that it's much easier to hit the mark one shot at a time, such as around a field course, than it is at static targets. So shooting 4 dozen arrows at 60yds is much more difficult to be consistent than shooting 40 arrows at 40 targets, unless you have a sighting method such as making a mental note of where your put teh tip last time the arrow went in the gold. At least that's what I've found

 

[wattsy]

i got trained by a bloke called tom williamson his daughter won bronze in the 2004 olympics and he always said as long as your positioning is the same every time you'll discover where your naturally aiming and then you can use gap aiming to drop your arrows where you want them (i have to aim slightly to the right of centre different amounts for different distances for example).

 

[Rob]

I would stick with the instinctive. It sounds like you are naturally making an adjustment in your aim (looking or not) after the first shot misses the place that you want the arrow to land.

I would suggest that you try and shoot one arrow from different distances, standing up, kneeling down etc., to try and improve the accuracy of your first shot. Not always a good idea to do this from different angles with a whole quiver full of arrows, as you might suffer from extra damage.

I only shoot more than a couple of arrows from the same place or try and use a sighting mark on a bow or on the target when I am trying to work on my loose.

 

[DavidJT]

Stay instinctive! It's much more rewarding, just sort of thinking the arrow onto the target. "Be the Arrow!" sounds such a cliche, but when you get it right that's almost how it feels.
Archery is the art of repetition, so I would try to master one distance at a time. Repeat each distance (15, 20, 30, 40.... yrds) until you are happy, especially with the first arrows. I've been shooting (Flatbow, and longbow) about 2 years, and I'm no great shot, but OK up to about 30 yrds. All falls down at 40 or even 50 yrds though!

 

[Nonsuch]

Thanks for all the replies. I like being the arrow ! I'll stick with instinctive

NS

 

[Ex Member lyndon]

i started with long bow 12 years ago no sights no pins nothing and i was able to hit a um...pheasent sized target , shall we say 9/10 now i shoot a compound with sights stabalizer etc its different but not one bit more accurate as almost every shot involves range gestimations.
get one mid distance down so you can drill it every time and your at least as good as a taget archer with a fixed range sight on varying range targets as its harder to adjust if your not used to doing it in my opinion.
im at least as accurate with my £800+ compound as i was with my free of a m8 longbow (or the recurve with one cracked limb lol) i used to shoot
stay as you are if its what you enjoy
ps. no idea if anyone can see but my bow in in my pic

 

[kawasemi]

I shoot bare bow and had the same issue when I started...all the target archers looking down on me as a mere field archer!

Stick with the instinctive shooting, it works.

My advice would be to shoot lots of arrows and various ranges until you just "know" where the arrow will end up.

Just make sure you have a stable anchor point and can replicate your position ervy shot.

Simon

Hi NS,

This (and other quotes on here along the same lines) is sound advice. Stable anchor point and 'learning' where you arrow goes in different situations is the key.

Enjoy your archery.

Kawasemi

 

[Grayfox]

Good instinctive archery comes from shooting...shooting...shooting...shooting

 

[farmershort]

Is this a good thread to ask about shooting pheasant, goose, and munt jac sized 'targets' with a bow...

I realise it would be illegal to shoot those things live with a bow in the uk (which is daft), but ticking with the 'target' analogy....

is it common, what's the range a long bow? fatal, and otherwise.....

I assume it's the same rules as for a .22 rifle? if the target is against the sky, dont shoot?

thanks, and sorry if this is the wrong way to ask... i'm new here

Adam

 

[Ogri the trog]

Is this a good thread to ask about shooting ......

thanks, and sorry if this is the wrong way to ask... i'm new here

Adam

Adam - it is the wrong thread, wrong forum, indeed the wrong website to ask such a question. Our rules state that we will keep within the law of the land. We are not in the habit of repeating those laws published elsewhere, that is your job to find them and adhere to them.

Your understanding in this matter is appreciated.

Ogri the trog
Forum Moderator

 

[farmershort]

Adam - it is the wrong thread, wrong forum, indeed the wrong website to ask such a question. Our rules state that we will keep within the law of the land. We are not in the habit of repeating those laws published elsewhere, that is your job to find them and adhere to them.

Your understanding in this matter is appreciated.

Ogri the trog
Forum Moderator

thanks. understood