Main Discussion Area > Shooting and Hunting
Just for the record books...
iowabow:
I think today was the first time I understood the difference between instinctive and gap shooting. Although I sight and focus both on the target and never on the tip. I will try to explain. If I pick a spot and draw carefully keeping the arrow pointed at the target the whole time then gapping works great but if I just don't think and pick a spot and don't gap I hit right where I am looking kinda. Crazy I did it like different every other time (switched between the methods) with good results. It is the first time I noticed an intuitive direction and I have been shooting for a year and a half. Now what do I do this this knowledge. Do I follow the intuitive or keep gapping. I have 20 day before deer season. Strange time to learn a cool new thing.
johnston:
Gap works best if you know the range. On targets that's cool, on game not so much.
Let the force be with you.
Lane
gstoneberg:
--- Quote from: iowabow on September 14, 2011, 02:28:14 am ---... Now what do I do this this knowledge. Do I follow the intuitive or keep gapping. I have 20 day before deer season. Strange time to learn a cool new thing.
--- End quote ---
The question isn't so much which is better. The question is which will you do when the chips are down and the adrenalin is flowing with a deer in range. I can't answer that for you, but for me I shoot instinctive. In fact I usually have no memory of drawing the bow or releasing the arrow. Once I commit to the shot the rest happens by itself. So, one second I'm focused on the spot I want to hit and the next the arrow is in flight. The only exception to this is if I see cover in the way. For some reason, having to shoot around or through cover changes my focus to the point that I can gap or what I refer to as "shooting the trajectory" where I envision the flight the arrow will take and shoot it down that path. I shoot well doing that, odd that I can't do it all the time. On the other hand, over time I've stopped trying to stop deer with a bleat the way the wheelie folks do. There's no need when shooting instinctively. If the deer is moving I just focus on the spot and when the arrow appears it has lead applied. This works much better as a stopped deer is alert and there's a good chance it'll jump the string. Lane is right, it's like the "force" in star wars. If you can shoot instinctive, it'll serve you well.
Don't over think your shooting. Be confident and practice enough to retain that confidence. If a deer comes in and you miss, it wasn't that deer's day to die. Nock another arrow and shoot the next one. Wild predators don't get every deer they try for and neither will we. You will get one this season.
George
iowabow:
This morning was great! 3 deer came in but locked up at 25 yards I really wanted a 20 or less shoot so I waited and it just did not come together they turned and walked back the direction which they came. I feel real good about how I reacted and deciding not to shoot at 25. I had a great opening and the deer was standing still and looking away. If it could have been 7 yards closer.
juniper junkie:
we have all been there, it is so hard to keep focused on a spot. I once called in a huge bull elk, when he crested the rise I waited until his chest cleared and picked a spot, as I drew my bow he looked at me, I looked at him and shot right between his antlers. I should have never took my eyes off the spot I wanted to hit, what made it worse is that I called him back in and did the exact same thing again :o
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