Problem when shooting at game

[hunt or be hunted]

hey guys

i have noticed when im shooting at rabbits i dont really pick a spot on its chest or head, i seem to just float my pin in that general area and hope for the best when i release. i have found this worked for a while and 3-4 out of 5 shots were spot on when shooting at bunnys. but tonight i went out and although bunnys were everywhere and each shot i took wasn't much further then 20m and i missed everytime! its really getting annoying and i want to be able to hold my pin on its shoulder/head release and connect. i know not every shot is going to connect but at that distance i should of atleast taken one.
im thinking maybe a stabilizer will help?

what do you think the problem might be?

any help would be great.

thanks dan.

[fulton]

this happend to me when shooting targets i couldent stay on the 1 spot so i got a heavy stabilizer that did the job for me. try and get your hands on a stabilizer and see if that dose the job

[rossy]

simply mate. pick a spot on your game.don't be complacent that, because the targets in the peep that ,that is where you arrow will hit;). you may also be rushing the shot, which can come back to, pick a spot and don't look at the animal.
hope this helps D!ckie

[HareSplitter]

i used to do the same thing to mate, then i just beat it into myself to take my time, make sure the pin is just behind the shoulder and DO NOT RELEASE until it is, it seemed to help, but when the bunny is onto me sometimes i just do it to quickly and hope for the best,
cheers,
jono

[rudy]

Aim small, miss small. When you practice at home, try aiming at something the size of a 5 cent peice, this can help you concentrate on a small spot.

[hunt or be hunted]

Aim small, miss small. When you practice at home, try aiming at something the size of a 5 cent peice, this can help you concentrate on a small spot.

yeah mate, i usually shoot at something the size of a 20cent coin or smaller.

dan.

[rudy]

Do you have any trouble hitting the target at home when you practice? Or is it only when you are shooting at game?
Sounds like a bit of a concentrating problem. Or maybe you might have a small problem in your shooting routine. Just a thought.

[robvic]

hey guys

i have noticed when im shooting at rabbits i dont really pick a spot on its chest or head, i seem to just float my pin in that general area and hope for the best when i release. i have found this worked for a while and 3-4 out of 5 shots were spot on when shooting at bunnys. but tonight i went out and although bunnys were everywhere and each shot i took wasn't much further then 20m and i missed everytime! its really getting annoying and i want to be able to hold my pin on its shoulder/head release and connect. i know not every shot is going to connect but at that distance i should of atleast taken one.
im thinking maybe a stabilizer will help?

what do you think the problem might be?

any help would be great.

thanks dan.

Mate, you and me should go hunting together. We sound like a good match!!!
I do roughly the same thing. I just aim directly into the middle of the rabbit, and normally miss either too high or too low!! A few go either side, but usually too high or too low.
Im pretty sure my problem is judging distances. I need to learn to judge distances.....or buy a rangefinder!!!

[TOWER*2007]

sound like a bit of buck fever, anticipation. I agree with several posts, take your time, concentrate on where the pin is otherwise everything fades into the outer edges and you tend to pull and hope for the best. Sometimes that works, alot of the time it wont. Buck fever is usually what makes the diff between a top hunters shot and others, it is hard to consistently do.

[nev]

breath in breath out breath in let half out hold aim loose.

[Blakey_boi]

I cant remember who it was but someone on the site has a sticker on their sight with a word that stand for something to do with what process they should go through when shooting. That might be a good idea as it would bring you back to reality and help you to concentrate.

And shoot at rabbit targets if you dont already... you could try and find a rabbit pic on the net and print it off and then put a little mark on it where it's vitals are.

[brett c]

Hi Dan pick a target within your target it could be a different coloured patch of fur a crease behind the sholder or anything like that, just something to realy concentrate on.Good luck with it.

[EcoMuse]

And shoot at rabbit targets if you dont already... you could try and find a rabbit pic on the net and print it off and then put a little mark on it where it's vitals are.


http://www.targetz.com/game01.htm

[Mullac]

Sounds like what already has been said and thats "buck feaver" or even you might have a case of target panic. For the love of god i hope you dont have target panic as its the most annoying thing ever! :mad:

Do you have any trouble when shooting at targets?

[jindydiver]

I made some little targets to help me concentrate on a spot when shooting rabbits
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/jindydiver/2008/foamyevilbunny.jpg
It is just mattress foam. My daughter couldn't help herself and had to put faces on them :D

[woodstoka]

dan a stabiliser is not what you are after i found myself doing the exact same thing your talking about and i found that i was getting to excited and not concerntrating on the shot and was to worried bout what the bunny was doin
when ever you go out next.draw back nice and slow. breath out breath in and just sit the pin were u wont to hit the buny and relax as if it was a target shot and just slowly realese and you will be suprised how mutch more shots connect.you will get use to doing it it helps alot
jesse

[hunt or be hunted]

finally i nailed a buuny tonight! it feels good after a decent break. anyway i know its not buck fever as my heart doesn't start thumping and i dont get the shakes or anything like that. i think it might be a consentration thing like someone else said. i have the day off school tomorrow so i will get out in the yard and put a few of your ideas to the test and see how they go. when i was shooting tonight before the hunt i was shooting shocking. first shot was about 6 inches low next shot half an inch to the right but perfectly high with the dot and then next shot about 4inches low and then the next shot was about high and to the left:confused:. it was getting really annoying. i just cant hold the pin on one spot and release, it doesn't seem possible and sometimes when i target shoot i get a weird gut feeling and just punch off the release and its usually a really bad shot.

anymore help would be great, im starting to think maybe shooting a recurve is the best way to go...

dan.

[Mullac]

finally i nailed a buuny tonight! it feels good after a decent break. anyway i know its not buck fever as my heart doesn't start thumping and i dont get the shakes or anything like that. i think it might be a consentration thing like someone else said. i have the day off school tomorrow so i will get out in the yard and put a few of your ideas to the test and see how they go. when i was shooting tonight before the hunt i was shooting shocking. first shot was about 6 inches low next shot half an inch to the right but perfectly high with the dot and then next shot about 4inches low and then the next shot was about high and to the left:confused:. it was getting really annoying. i just cant hold the pin on one spot and release, it doesn't seem possible and sometimes when i target shoot i get a weird gut feeling and just punch off the release and its usually a really bad shot.

anymore help would be great, im starting to think maybe shooting a recurve is the best way to go...




dan.

Mate I hate to say it but I think you have the dreaded target panic.

I strongly suggest you stop trying to force the shot as this will only buries into you sub conscious mind and make things worse.

I brought this book from the states called the “mental mechanics of archery” and it has helped me a lot and it works but like most things you have to stick to it.

Try before you shoot tomorrow breathing in and out slowly counting 1 2 3 when breathing in then slowly breathing out until you feel some kinda rhythm. Do this with your eyes shut it a quite place laying down. Try and relax.

Once your relaxed try and shoot while using a breathing rhythm that makes you feel comfortable. Breathe in while drawing then exhale while squeezing the trigger using back tension.

If you get the feeling in the gut I know all too well stop shooting and go back to the breathing and relaxing.

If it IS target panic you have send me a pm and ill help you out and save you buying this book as I know how much of a pain it is. I’ve had it for 4 years I can only shoot out to 20meters MAX before it kicks in.

The recurve idea might work short term but I made the mistake of spending 500 bucks on one thinking this but I cant even pull the freaking thing back, not that im over bowed its that my mind wont let me lol. So annoying but im slowly beating it!

Hope this helps

[hunt or be hunted]

Mullac, i will give your idea a workout tomorrow. and i damn well hope that its not target panic as it sounds really frustrating.

thank you for your help.

dan.

[hunt or be hunted]

i tried a few things and am making progress:D

thanks for all your help.

dan.