Bear with me, this might come off sounding nuts. You hear a lot of talk about back tension, surprise releases & all that jazz that goes into making really accurate shots on the target range. But is that really practical in a hunting situation? Deer dont usually sit there & give you all day for a shot. Now I'm not saying that one needs to rush a shot, but can being used to taking all the time you need, cause you to "rush" in a tense hunting situation?
That is when all of that practice pays off and you just go on autopilot and execute the shot the same as the thousands of the shots in the backyard. I honestly don't think about the shot when I'm shooting at a deer, it just happens, if that makes sense.
Exactly John. I know that I've done it a 1000 times prior to the moment of truth. It's like auto pilot and I've always said, I'm like a machine during the shot and then absolutely come unglued afterward. That's not bragging or patting myself on the back, it's reinforcing what your saying. The reason I think I come unglued is all the calm before the storm of emotions.
I don't think about my form or my release technique at all, as a matter of fact, I don't even think about what I am doing at all... once I make up my mind to take the shot I just do it... no thinking, no worrying... hell, most times I don't even remember aiming... I just do it!
The perfect release is the most critical aspect of the shot, target or animal. For me, in a target situation, if my release don't go off in 4 seconds, I let down and start the shot over. Obviously, in hunting situations you don't have that luxury but in a hunting situation I've never had that happen. The shot usually goes off as planned. I will admit that every great once in a while the shot is a tad rushed but not too often. The reason I use a caliper release for hunting instead of my 2-finger Stan or my Carter is for those times that I have to drive one through. However, all that practice using the perfect release with back tension is what gives my form the strength to still make a good shot in less than ideal conditions. So the answer is yes, surprise, back tension releases are not only practical, they are very beneficial in hunting situations. Especially at longer ranges.
I'm totally opposite of you Buck. I'm always telling myself before the moment of truth happens "pick your spot, hit your anchor point, don't peak after the shot". Were definitely all different In our approaches that's for sure, whatever works for ya Is what a person should do.
I am more like Schultzy. I try to eliminate all of the other stimulation before I shoot and focus on my technique. The biggest thing I focus on is following through and not dropping my bow to "peak" after the shot, especially on close shots.
Thats the beauty of it Steve, it really depends on the individual. If I think too much about something, I tend to worry about things going wrong, and that mentality just doesn't work for me. I have the same approach with fly-fishing, some of my buddies think about every motion of their cast, I just kinda go out and do it without ever thinking about what I am doing.
I use B/T and Thumb releases target shooting but I use a Finger trigger for hunting. Just a Confidence thing.
I think that its a lot of muscle memory just like us tying our shoes,driving,or anything else we do on a regular basis when its time to execute we just do no thoughts no questions just and action and then its all over.
I have been trying to "pick a spot" but I the only thing that gets me is once i have picked it by the time I get squared up on the shot it seems the deer has angled a bit more or walked away a little further. I think I shoot my best when I just pull back put it on, and not think about the small details.
i've always thought the key was to stay away from buck fever... staying calm allows you to focus on making the shot... not sayin you have to actively ~think~ about each step, you should have enough practice in by then to not have to think ~so~ much... but staying calm keeps you in the moment and keeps you from getting ahead of yourself like a golfer or baseball player pickin his head up to early to see where the ball went... I think everything up to the draw and after the shot is more important than the actual shot itself... again, stay calm, pick your draw moment skillfully, hold, make your shot when it is presented, and be ready for follow up after-shot stuff... staying calm keeps you from micro-analyzing your every nuance of each shot and really paying attention to the situation... anxiety about the shot (and the subsequent over-analyzing of it during the shot), imho, is your greatest enemy
It is going to be different for everyone. I'm a firearms instructor for the federal government, and in those types of situations most people don't remember going through all of thier usually motions like they do on the range as several of you have mentioned. But, if you've practiced enough, your muscle memory will take over and you will do exactly what you have trained or practiced to do in a tense or semi-stressful situation. No matter how many times you take a shot at a deer, there will always be some level of anxiety, some will have to practice more than others and rely more on that muscle memory. Again, everyone is different.
i totally agree that everyone is different... and 99% of my hunting experience is with a gun, i've yet to even see a deer while out with my bow, I just found thru my years of experience that this is what works for me... remaining calm... probably doesn't hurt that i've probably fired more rounds from guns than 90% of people in this country (spent 6yrs in the army, many of which was as an M60 machine gunner) so questions and anxiety about execution for me is more over shot placement than the mechanics of the shot itself... confidence i guess, I feel the same confidence in my bow shooting abilities even though I KNOW there are many that are more accurate shooters than I am doesn't mean I lack the confidence to make the shot I need/choose to... but I hear what you're saying and I agree with that as well...
When I practice, I work on all the fundametals, when I am hunting and I get a shot, I excute the shot.
All I think about during the shot is aiming whether it be on an animal or a spot, all the rest just happens. Isn't that what "proper shot execution" is all about?
I not only practice bt shots but I practice the command shot as well.My command shot is just a sped up bt release so imo,bt is crucial,even in a hunting situation. I can even do this command shot on walking animals and hit the spot I am aiming for. Never is a punch a good idea.Be it target or animal.Most of the hair trigger shooters I have seen utilize the punch and this just gets worse in the hunting world.
