I see how often practice is referenced in bowhunting discussions, but how important is it? Some stress it as the most important part of bowhunting. But is it the same for everyone, especially with today's bows? I think it depends on the person's equipment and ability. Lets use sports as an example, and one specifically where you also "shoot". In basketball, some guys are great shooters, and some are poor. The poor shooters can practice daily, and still not become a great shooter. By practicing often, they can become a good shooter. Some great shooters can go months without picking up a basketball, and still be a great shooter. Does the same apply to bowhunting? I think it does. I believe you should practice enough to become proficient with your bow. That isn't going to be the same for everyone. There are poor shooters, great shooters, and everything in between. Some require frequent practice, and others do not.
Ill bite.....Now are you talking practice during season or out of season? I think it's about confidence....in you and your equipment.
I shot my bow Monday for the first time since this past November. Our season opened before but life has kept me to busy to get out hunting. I basically shot my bow to make sure everything was in tune and sites set. I dont consider myself the best archer around, but I'm confident I will still make a lethal shot as long as my bow is set.I will also say that I would have preferred to shoot more if I was able to but I'm ok with the circumstances.
I will give this thread a day and a half tops before it is locked down. I do agree with Vito actually... If your bow is tuned and you are allready a great shot I don't see the need of a long practice session. I do however feel that at least 10 shots should be taken agian before you enter the woods just to make sure the bow is still sighted in like you remember. But I don't consider that practice session.... more of a dust off session
Haha I remember that ...good stuff. In the preseason ill shoot just about every weekend do I need to ? Prolly not. But me and my friends get together and sling some maybe even get a little competitive. During the season ill shoot a few here and there to make sure nothing has been bumped etc... In the end I just like to shoot so I do it often not because I am a poor shooter but because I enjoy it. The bottom line is there is always room for improvement.
Yep definitely agree with you on that one. I was a good ball player in high school and college. I can go months without picking up a ball and still knock down shots like I never have left the court. I can pick apart peoples form like no ones business as well. Sometimes I just go the parks to help kids out with their shots. Usually their parents are amazed with how I can get them shooting so well with just minimal time with them. Bows for me are a different story. I pretty much have to shoot everyday or I lose it. Bugs me a lot because I was alway so good at dissecting my problems when playing ball. If I had an off day I could take a shot and automatically now exactly what I needed to correct. Then just do it at will. I haven't gotten to this point with a bow yet. I need someone to dissect my form and release the same way I would dissect my own and other peoples on the court. Then I may get to that point. I think next spring I may take a few lessons and really focus on fixing/learning my issues.
Hmmm. I see the point you're trying to make with the video, but to me Iverson is missing the point. Sure, maybe the practice won't make him a better player "personally" but his is a "team" sport, and the practices are held to hone the skills of the "team" and help them to play better as a "team", not necessarily to improve the abilities of the individual player. I'm a firm believer in keeping in practice with my bow. Could I put it down at then end of the season and pick it up the week before the next season and be good enough to kill deer with it? Yes, I believe so. I very much prefer, however, to keep in practice and keep the necessary muscles toned so that I can draw more smoothly, hold at full draw more steadily and for a longer period of time, settle the pin more easily and have every aspect of the shot be absolutely second-nature - almost instinctual. In my mind, that's the benefit of constant practice. If someone asks my opinion, it will always be to practice, practice, practice. That, of course, is just my opinion, as always. Everyone is free to do as they see fit. I mean c'mon - we're talkin' 'bout practice here - not the game.
I practice often not only to get better with my bow but I enjoy shooting. I played basketball for years and didn't develop a great shot until I was in college. I thought I was good in highschool but when you shoot everyday even if its a few shots its amazing at the muscle memory you develop and can then do it blind folded. I keep the same theory for my bow and hope it works. But am sure if you have shot enough over the years it probably doesn't take much for you to get "game" ready for hunting with little practice.
I agree with what you're saying but for me shooting is just plain fun. So I'm "practicing" all the time. I do put forth an effort to better myself at this. Also, I think even for the most expereinced shooter it's important to reafirm there zero on there sights from time to time.
I understand that shooting a bow is fun. I think so too, and will shoot my bow just because it is fun. I also understand that you need to check your equipment. I also do this. Both of these things are different that what I was referring to. You will see practice cited over and over again on bowhunting forums. To drill the point home, people will often use the word in succession. Practice, practice, practice. My point is though, not everyone is the same. Some require more practice than others to be a proficient archer. I don't believe its as important for all archers, as many seem to believe.
I don't think that 95% of the people out there should try and do this, but there are some that can certainly get away with it. There is absolutely a small percentage of people out there that don't need the practice to be a well above average shooter. These are typically the guys that have shot competitively for years, and the backyard guys that have learned proper shot execution, and done LOTS of shooting but maybe burned out and put it down for a while. It's been 4 years or so since I was serious about shooting competitively. I burned out I guess you could say. While I doubt I'm going to clean any 3D courses from the open stakes or shoot a perfect 60x indoor game right now, with less than 100 arrows of practice over the last two weeks I'd be 100% confident in shooting a whitetail out to 40 yards this year assuming I was able to set the shot up right and had time to range it. I will literally have 5 practice sessions in with my bow this year before NY's southern zone opening day. I wrecked 3 arrows last weekend on the 40 yard target butt practicing........I'm pretty sure I can get it done anywhere I need within normal whitetail range. I watched one of my good buddies last year on the first night of an indoor paper league shoot a perfect 300-60x the first time he picked up the bow in over 18 months. He had to stop halfway through the game so I could loan him my lens cloth, he could barely see through the dust in his scope he said.
I agree. Practice can be highly over rated. Some people need tons and even that doesn't help. Others can shoot a few & be good to go. I've always been of the mindset that in bowhunting your goal is to take shots that are so easy you don't need to be a good archer to make them. With todays equipment, how much practice is needed to take a 15-18 yard shot?
i always believed in the 10,000 rule. by using that method it breaks down to 3 hours of practice a day for 10 years to become an expert in whatever you do. someone who is considered a "natural" at something does not mean they are automatically good at it, just that they possess better physical or mental skills. they still had to practice what they were doing (basketball, shooting, music, etc) to master it. the more you practice, the better you get. what is the old saying "practice makes perfect"?
I would say shooting for fun with friends is my practice. The main three things always in my head when shooting are focus on my anchors, a smooth release, and not tourqing after the shot.
I don't practice nearly has much as I used to. I shoot enough to be confident when I'm out hunting though and do check my equipment thoroughly. I agree with Vito that everyone has varying abilities and needs as far as how much practice they require. Some people are great shots but poor hunters...others are great hunters and average shooters. I think there are many who may be better served spending more time scouting for some bucks and less in the back yard shooting their bow.
Does it though? Does shooting at a stationary target, with no pressure, really make someone "perfect" in a bowhunting situation? I'm not talking about someone being an "expert". I'm talking about archers being proficient bowhunters. I'm not saying practice isn't necessary, I'm just saying I don't believe its as necessary as some make it out to be. I'll use RJ as an example since he chimed in. If he tells me he has only shot a few arrows before the season began, and from what I know about him, I believe he will be more than capable of making a killing shot on a deer. I'm not naive enough to think my abilities are the same as all archers. Instead of citing "practice, practice, practice", wouldn't we be better to instruct new bowhunters to become proficient with their bow? After all, practice does not make perfect, if its bad practice. "Perfect practice" can help prepare you for hunting situations.
Compounders, I could see not needing to shoot all the time. Traditional bow hunters, different story. But It's not just about being a good shot for reasons to practice. When you practice every now and then you KNOW If there's something wrong with your equipment that you wouldn't of known prior If you wouldn't have practiced. Practicing Is never a bad thing. Not practicing much could be.
Which is why I stated it depends on the person's ability and equipment. The old compounds certainly aren't as shooter friendly as the newer models. And in that same token, if someone has shot the same bow for years, they may not require as much practice because the bow is so familiar/comfortable to them. Even with traditional bows, wouldn't it be fair to say some archers require more practice than others to be a proficient bowhunter?
Definitely. Reasons a person can be proficient with a traditional bow Is having your muscles In tune. Holding 100% of your draw weight Is tough. Thus why a traditional hunter has to practice more, keep your muscles toned.
Sounds to me like two different ways of saying the same thing. How else are you going to become proficient at anything new unless you practice? True. Practice does not make perfect. It's just an old saying. Perfection is an unattainable goal, therefore "perfect practice" isn't possible. All one can do is practice to the best of their ability. If you or anyone else feels that you don't need to practice then good for you or them and I wish you all the best of luck.
