Aiming without a Mechanical Sight

dogghr

Well-Known Member
I had to look up an old youtube video to post on another thread and thot I'd share it here for those that might be interested in learning a different technique of aiming a bow. While every one has their preferred method, this video does a nice walk thru of using what is called a" fixed crawl" aiming method for finger shooter. Directed mainly toward trad shooters, it gives great description of the technique that I've used for several years now after converting from so called instinctive aiming that I've done for more decades than I care to say.
Fun, well made video to watch for any archer, compound or trad. Enjoy.
 
Good video. A lot of good information for someone wanting to start or go back to primitive archery. I shot many 3-D tournaments many years ago, like in the 60's and 70's, shooting in the bowhunter barebow division. We weren't allowed to walk the string, no adjustable rests, no stabilizers and a little later no compounds. I got myself banned because I complained that most of their "Top Shooters" were walking the string as soon as they got out of site of the starters. I din't care that they used the method, but an instinctive shooter cannot compete against a walker. If I ever go back to a recurve, I still have three of them, I'll give this method a try for hunting purposes. These 70 year old eyes ain't what they used to be. :)
 
Great video dogghr. I've always shot instinctive and pretty darn good to 12 yds but struggled beyond that. Can't wait to give this a try.
 
I picked up on this a few years ago when I was struggling with some shoulder issues. Just couldn't shoot enough each day to keep in practice. With this I could shoot much less. I knew how to gap shoot but always hated that technique especially for hunting. And like he said classic string creep is tricky for hunting.
Funny tho, last year after shoulder had healed, I went back to instinctive and it had made me an even better shooter much how he alluded past gap shooting had improved his. I shot doe and buck last year with instinctive tech. But I did shoot over the back of a nice buck at easy 20 yds that made me cuss, even tho I shot another just an hour later. I'm not sure what I'll do this year, been shooting instinctive so far but may revert back. My compound is gathering dust last couple years.
Great video I thot for any archer, very well done and good explainations. Even compound guys can pick up some tips on form. Shoulder shooters, maybe not so much.:)
 
Yep. Just sent Brooks this link to watch. I only started trad hunting in 2014. And honestly, I've only killed one freakin' deer with my recurve. Several pigs but their easier to stalk. I've missed at least 6 since my first deer and all have been beyond 15 yds and all shots high. I think the critters may be jumping the string, particularly at the 20 yd mark cause most every miss has been high. This technique is certainly worth a try to me. In my mind, If I could set dead on at 20 yds I'd simply have to aim a couple inches low at 15 and maybe at the bottom of the brisket at 10 or less. Will post my results after i give this a try.
 
There are a couple reasons I don’t like methods other than instinctive shooting for a couple reasons. First I think string crawling of any type it jst gives more to think about when moment comes if you are thinking up/down as there is already enough going on in a persons mind at that time. But it does require lots of practice is the drawback.
The other point I do nt like is focusing on the arrow tip and target. Especially for 40+ yo eyes. Focusing on those objects at same time gets tricky beyond that year. Shooting for me is jst simpler w any weapon if I can just co concentrate on target and let mind subconsciously place alignment of crosshairs, bead, or arrow where it need to be and release or pull of trigger when the mind deems it is ready
I also think practicing at long ranges with any weapon makes one much better shot. Even tho I do t care for long shots w bow or gun. Just my thots.
Here’s a few from tonight. Second day of shooting since last Dec. Somethings just stay embedded over time.
15 yds
374a142e3a983519938865eeeee29c12.jpg


25 yds
592aa0c121157881acca7e12e1b482c9.jpg


30 yds Low and left but not bad group for early year. And eventually will practice elevated shooting. I show these not to brag but hopefully to inspire some to try something new and fun. Trust me It’s addicting even if you don’t hunt this way. And I assure that no. Offer smile will ever creep across your face than stalking to within yds of a deer and taking w a non compound.
41fcff08e6396bb19fcbccff3201045d.jpg

69ce14c03452521beef4e5beeb116cd7.jpg

e5f8a7df8da939dff7b27093189b915e.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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There are a couple reasons I don’t like methods other than instinctive shooting for a couple reasons. First I think string crawling of any type it jst gives more to think about when moment comes if you are thinking up/down as there is already enough going on in a persons mind at that time. But it does require lots of practice is the drawback.
The other point I do nt like is focusing on the arrow tip and target. Especially for 40+ yo eyes. Focusing on those objects at same time gets tricky beyond that year. Shooting for me is jst simpler w any weapon if I can just co concentrate on target and let mind subconsciously place alignment of crosshairs, bead, or arrow where it need to be and release or pull of trigger when the mind deems it is ready
I also think practicing at long ranges with any weapon makes one much better shot. Even tho I do t care for long shots w bow or gun. Just my thots.
Here’s a few from tonight. Second day of shooting since last Dec. Somethings just stay embedded over time.
15 yds
374a142e3a983519938865eeeee29c12.jpg


25 yds
592aa0c121157881acca7e12e1b482c9.jpg


30 yds Low and left but not bad group for early year. And eventually will practice elevated shooting. I show these not to brag but hopefully to inspire some to try something new and fun. Trust me It’s addicting even if you don’t hunt this way. And I assure that no. Offer smile will ever creep across your face than stalking to within yds of a deer and taking w a non compound.
41fcff08e6396bb19fcbccff3201045d.jpg

69ce14c03452521beef4e5beeb116cd7.jpg

e5f8a7df8da939dff7b27093189b915e.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree with everything you said. My biggest goal with instinctive shooting was being able to shoot out of position. Any game isn't going to sit around and wait for you to get in the proper posture and form. I used to sit, stand, bend and twist around while practicing. I also loved walking around the pasture beside my house and just taking random shots at small targets like leaves, flowers, small stumps and even the occasional chipmunk. I can't imagine the walking technique would be very easy to master while standing below your target on a side slope while trying to shoot around a small tree right in front of you.
 
Well...I gave this a try while at the farm this weekend. I didn't like it. It does work. Having a single gap set at a certain distance allows for one to place the point of the arrow on the target and adjust either up or down based on the yardage from the set gap. But, I found myself focusing so much on the arrow tip and making sure it was on bullseye that I found myself holding at full draw for way too long. It reminded me of shooting wheely bows where you would often get a bit of target panic on trying to keep the pin on target. So, after about 30 minutes of experimenting with this technique, I went back to instinctive at 10 yds and like times of old, the arrow went to the target the second I reached full draw. No hesitation...just focus on target, draw and release.

dogghr...I admire your accuracy at distances beyond 10 yds. The second I dropped back to 15 yds, my groups began to wander over the target. It got worse at 20. I've shot so much at 10 yds that it seems so easy to draw and release and know where the arrow is going to impact. Just goes to show I need to practice a whole lot more than I do, especially beyond 10 yds.
 
I agree with what you are saying Triple. I think like anything if given time you would adapt but more a tech for someone switching from compound to trad to give them more a feel. If you think about it, any sight takes some getting used to and allowing to become second nature.
Couple problems I had was one, since your fingers are lower on string, especially since I typically shoot split finger otherwise, the bottom limb is more preloaded, and in addition to reach your anchor point you are increasing your draw length which increases poundage of bow. These days I'm maxed at my 50# trad weight so I would need to decrease limbs with longer string, or weaker limbs if I continued method.
The other I didn't like, for whatever reason my bow did not shoot as quietly and I'm sure if I was doing this long term, I could correct that.
Anyways, impatient like you, I'm back with a healthy shoulder , and back to instinctive. As for good shooting, I can kill a target all day long, but a deer I certainly can miss without any effort!! But that's the fun of it and certainly allows more bucks to pass into the next year by way of need for close range and accuracy. And shooting trad really improves accuracy with a compound if that is picked back up. Thanks for your review.
 
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