Connected!

[nimrodajh]

That's great! Can't imagine taking a shot like that, much less making it. Big Congrats!!

[Limbwalker]

Congrats!! The last few just make you appreciate this one that much more

Ain't that the truth! I was contemplating breaking out the c'pound soon. It was getting THAT BAD. LOL!

This buck is by no means a "trophy" to most folks, but he always will be to me just because of the quality of the shot and the feeling I got when I saw that arrow in the air. There's just nothing quite like it when it finally happens. You can't plan for it, or think about it. You just gotta get out of the way and let it happen. Still not sure what made me even raise my bow. I honestly have no idea.

[Limbwalker]

For those who've never attempted a shot with a traditional bow beyond 30 yards, I guess I'd encourage you to start taking longer shots in practice, and on smaller game. Looking back, I think that's what gave me the little inner voice that told me I could make that shot.

I can reflect back on shots I've made in the past 25 years with a recurve or longbow on dove, squirrels, rabbits, javelina and at least one deer, well beyond the 30 yard mark. The real confidence builders were the birds. I can remember one shot with my buddy standing right next to me, in about a 15 mph crosswind at 40 yards when I dead-centered a dove on a branch. He dared me to try it. I told him it was an impossible shot, but I'd try it anyway. Next thing we know, my arrow is arcing in, drifting on the wind (I aimed 2' upwind) and then -poof- a cloud of feathers! I think I was 19 at the time. After that, I'd take 30 and 40 yard shots at squirrels, rabbits and other small game. About 8 years ago, I shot a nice buck at 37 yards and watched him go down in less than 40. Just happened to know my point-on distance for that rig was 37 yards, and also had paced the distance previously to that particular tree he would walk under, so that was a calculated shot, but still.

Ya gotta loose some arrows at long range to build your confidence, and have a rig that's tuned well enough to fly true at those distances.

Not trying to sound like an expert here (remember, I did just miss two deer at 15 and 17 yards after all ! ha, ha) but I want to encourage folks to get outside that 17.3 yard "box" we often put ourselves in with this equipment.

Think back to the shots you saw Bear, Hill and Pearson take on film in the 50's and 60's. Those men were human too. With practice and confidence, it can happen.

[Chew]

Great shot and pretty buck! Congrats!

[SwampRabbit]

congrats!

[Caddo]

Nice, Congrats!

LD

[60 Deluxe]

Good job. I probably would have missed or gut shot him.

[Bowtech Lefty]

Nice buck Limbwalker, congrats!!! Do you shoot instinctively or do you gap aim?

[Oneway]

That is Fabulous!

[Loreva13]

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

[White Falcon]

Very nice!

[Bowtech1233]

Congrats! That has to be such a great feeling!

[Limbwalker]

Bowtech Lefty, that's a loaded question! ha, ha.

With my hunting bow, I'm aware of the arrow in my peripheral vision, but I don't consciously look for it or use it to aim. Not sure if it's what Hill called "split vision" or what, but my focus is 100% on the spot I want to hit, but I absolutely am aware of the relationship between the arrow and the target. Not sure how anyone couldn't be, I mean, it's right there in your sight picture! ha, ha.

There have been long, heated debates on line for well over a decade on whether anyone truly shoots "instinctively" or not, and I'm not at all interested in resurrecting those debates. And I'm not suggesting that's why you asked. I'm sure you were just curious. But that's the best I can tell you.

I shoot target barebow (NFAA traditional or NAA barebow) as well, and with those rigs, I do consciously aim and have very specific systems worked out for the target and round I'm shooting.

Best I can tell you is I think I follow Byron Ferguson's teachings most closely when it comes to shooting my hunting bow. I start out by learning a conscious gap at 25, 20, 15 and 10 yards, then just allow it over time to become subconscious. Eventually, my brain will have committed that trajectory to memory and my conscious focus will shift from where the arrow is to my target more and more, until eventually I'm able to just look at the target and let everything else happen automatically. That's where I am right now, with this bow, and these arrows. But I can't keep that program running forever if I don't practice often, or if I switch bows. Kinda like re-booting the computer every fall when I switch back from my target bows to my hunting bow.

Earlier this season, I had some marks taped on my riser for guides at 20 and 10 yards to help me if I needed it, as the program wasn't completely running yet. But over the past few weeks, with more arrows, I was shooting better subconsciously than by conscious aiming and I took those marks off my riser as they were becoming a distraction to the process.

Long winded explanation, I know, but I hope that helps some folks who shoot without sights.

John

[dfkoon]

Congrats

[chester12]

Congratulations, very nice deer.