Traditional Frustrations

[Oct.1]

I am debating on using my recurve this year.
I have been shooting my Kodiac for about six months now and have gotten the instintive feeling back. Not doing bad from whatever distance within reason. However, every so often I have a wild pitch. It may be one out of every ten, and it may be the first one I shoot or the last, but its still a fact. Got the compunnd out and its just like a gun. No problem.
I may never be able to hit an asprin in the air, but I sure would like to use the recure to hunt with. The wild pitch is what scares me.
Is a wild pitch normal?

Oct.1

[bishs]

Had one of those today! I know the feeling I switched over to traditional about 5 years ago and had similar results. I think its so frustrating because we relied on those darn sights, which made it to easy.

Now you are comparing yourself to the past. Just keep practicing, try to relax and have fun, that is the secret. I limited my distance pretty close the first year, until I was more comfortable. My first buck with my recurve was my biggest ever.

After a period of time your brain will remember from repetition, all you will have to do is concentrate on that spot on your target. Good Luck

[Joe Archer]

Even the experienced instinctive hunters I know seem to throw many more arrows than a good compound shooter. But, it is hard to really concentrate that hard shot after shot after shot...But I am with you. I dont know if I am ready to hunt with the recurve yet, but really want to. <----<<<

Only the first arrow is the one that counts.
a) concentration is highest,
b) your muscles are in the "hunting condition"
c) Bambi only hangs around (if lucky) for the first.
Set the target out by the back door, everytime you go out that door take just one shot. Leave the arrows in the target for a coulpe of days accumulation if you can. After several 1 shot shoots you'll really know if your ready for "Bambi slaying".
Like the others mentioned, concentration shot after shot is tough. I find that after the first shot it's either Wow, good shot, now how'd I do that? what was the form? draw? release? wind? sun? Always something that tugs at total concentration / focus.

[Jumpshootin']

The next time that you have an arrow go wild on you, try marking it to determine if the same one is going wild. If so, get rid of it. If that isn't the case, check your anchor and release. The more you shoot, the better the feel you'll get for the string on your finger tips, and the quicker/smoother realease you'll get. You can get errant shots if you release the string before you're set at your anchor point.
I always try to remember 3 steps:
1) Keep my chin tucked down behind the shoulder.
2) Hit the same anchor point.
3) Release as soon as I hit anchor and count "1".
------------------
Take a Kid Hunting!

[This message has been edited by Jumpshootin' (edited 10-06-2000).]

[Oct.1]

Just re-read this old post.
Thanks for the confidence.
I took both the compound, and the recurve with me up north last week. Used the compond while sitting, but after bad windy, rainy, slush snowy days, and no deer, I decieded to change to the old Kodiac and go hunting.
Monday about 9am I flushed two partridge.
Got the first one in flight with the recurve.
May not ever do that again but it sure boosts the ego.
Next trip I may see horns.

[Steve]

Wow, now that is quite a shot.

[bishs]

Wow great shot! A group of us hunt rabbits in the winter with our recurves and long bows, it is amazing how many we hit running.

It seems the small target concentrates your mind, and you are able to follow movement and release. It is similar to a quarter back throwing a football into the arms of a dashing reciever.
MTB has a great rabbit shoot in the winter, its a blast!
Good Luck