Fingers v's Release, Sights, Peeps etc etc

[BanG]

Now Im a finger shooter. Been out of the game for a while. Three kids will do that. But now im getting back to what I know, everyone seems to be shooting with some sort add on. Nothing wrong with this but im feeling left behind? or are there still compound instinctives out there? Ive tried release aids but cant "feel the shot" when I release, seems all too mechanical to me. Any tips???? or keep doing what im doing...... I would like to here from people who shot instinctive and now shoot with release aids/sights and see if their success rate on game in the field has improved.
Thanks and great forum for discussion.........

[Neix]

G'day champ welcome back into the game.
I was shooting finger release for some time before recently converting to a Tru Ball release aid, simply strap around wrist draw back and pull trigger, this is so much better, your more relaxed, your bow movement is minimized and the shot is consistant.
I would highly recomment getting a release aid.

[BanG]

Cheers for the feedback. are you grouping tighter? what about judging distance when hunting as i know i cant! is this an important factor when shooting release and if so, what about those quick shots we have all had. does a release slow you down????

[Neix]

Release Doesn't slow you down, your shot becomes stedier, and its like how do i put it... you may let the string go at minimal seconds with each finger causing a different release. As with the release aid, you are always releasing it at the same nock point hense the D loop, your shots group better and its MUCH EASIER to sight your pins in :) there are differnt release aids around but i mainkly love the bracelet one with the claw on it, it can pull anywhere from 0lb -100lbs and is terrific on my 60-70lb Relfex Bighorn Hunter.

Its recomended you get a drop away arrow rest or a whiskerbisciuit so your arrows will just sit there when awaiting fireing. how ever when this comes you will need diffrent fletches on your arrow sto allow the fletch to pass through the arrow rest, or do what i did and just turn the knocks around :)

[cougerking]

hey i havnt shot compound instinctive...but a bloke at our archery range does...and i admire his talent...i would also shoot instinctive if i had the patience!..lol....however if you do go to release aid and sights...and are going to change you rest...i would reccommend drop away for sure....the whisker biscut is unreliable and un consistant....unless you had major buckfever...then a whisker biscut would be better as the arrow wont falloff the rest...

check out this clip of the drop away...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U33842-D81Q

and this one of the whisker biscuit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwTizMtvKwI&mode=related&search=




cheers,

ck

[GREG D]

I, like you have picked up the bow after a long break.

I used to shoot compound bare bow. Then I decided that practice time and hunt time are too short, so lets improve the odds. I put on a 3 pin hunting sight. It improved things heaps. Even with little practice I could hit my target. I have only just recently added a peep into the equation and man what a difference, I previously used to line the pins up with the side of the string, now with the peep I have consistent sighting and even better accuracy. I am still shooting fingers ATM but have been doing a lot of reading on release aids and am thinking of getting one soon. Just to get that consistent release.

BUT to keep myself honest I shoot a 60# long bow as well, just to keep the instinctive skills up.

[XTfreak]

It is true that a release aid, peep and sight will make most people more accurate. But there are still heaps of people that shoot compounds instinctivley and they shoot just as well as people with all the bells and whistles.
Bill

[Rock Steady]

Cougerking

I shot a compound for over 15 years with just sights and fingers, no peep and no release and over the last 4 years I have changed my set up slightly and now use an Ity Bitty Goose release and a peep on my compound with a Whisker Biscuit rest. I mostly use my bow for hunting with the occasional club shoot.

Use what ever gives you the most confidence, I do not have the time I used to to practice with fingers so I changed to release and Peep and I can go a month without picking my bow up and then slice flights off with the first group of shots. This gives me more time to be out there hunting.

I have used the Whisker Biscuit for the last 3-4 years and have had no problems with it, if I am in tight scrub or have to crawl the arrow stays on the rest, this weekend I took a mate away who was using a finger type rest and when he drew back on a couple of boars his arrow dropped of the rest twice. Another mate late last year came to draw on a dingo only to find the string on his drop away was cut so all he could do was tell the dingo it was his lucky day. My son also uses WB and its costing me a fortune in arrows as he robin hoods them on a regular basis so anyone who says you can not get a tight group with a WB may have other problems. They do cause slight flight damage after a while but that is the only real drawback.

The cons of using this set-up are that I know I can not get that shot away as quickly as when I shoot fingers and instinctive if I need to. But if you take your time in the bush you should have plenty of time to place your first arrow in the sweet spot. Also you can not forget your fingers when you go hunting, I have seen plenty of people walk high into the mountains and then realise their release aid is back at the car (myself included).

Judging distance, well I only have one fiber optic pin on my sights which I find simple to use, I set it up for on the dot at 15 meters and in the field aim slightly higher for long shots ( 1 -2 inches) and still pretty well dead on for closer shots. I do not like to take a first shot out beyond 20 meters on bigger game such as boars etc, I find a 500 grain arrow shot out of a 70 pound bow between 15 meters to 30 meters will not drop a lot so this helps if your distance judging is not the greatest. Just aim for the top of the Kill Zone at 30 meters and your arrow should drop into the kill zone every time.

The transition from Finger/instinctive to Mechanical release/peep/sights can be painful at first but if you have a club near they may be able to show you the finer points, once it all comes together you should be pretty happy and confident with the results you get.

This is only my opinion and more experienced BowHunters may be able to give you better advice, the main thing is to feel confident with whatever gear you take hunting, we owe this to the game we chase.

[maxy]

BanG,

I've been in the game 13 odd years and for the first half of that i was a compound barebow shooter that swore he would never go to sights. Back then i was at school and had the time to shoot 5 or 6 days a week, be it hunting or target, and was shooting well, consistently knocking over rabbits and goats etc.

The change to sights/peep/release aid came because of two factors. 1 - i didnt have as much time to shoot anymore, so strapping the sights on meant i could pick my bow up after 2 weeks of not shooting and be on the money as long as my distance judgement was OK (which it normally is). The second reason was that i was starting to hunt deer more seriously and with that came longer shots. There is little doubt that for most blokes, using sights and especially release aid with get your groups on target and make them smaller.

The question i would ask myself if i were you is; do i have the time to practice barebow to keep myself shooting as accuratly as i want? If yes, then stick with the barebow, if no then try the sights thing. Distance judgement is critical when you strap the sights on, so this may be a problem initially if your not so good. But with practice it becomes easier, and you could also go down the rangfinder raod if you wanted to.

If your keen, then strap the sights on and see how you like it - you can always take them off if its not your cup of tea.

Maxy

[howie]

I shot instinctive for decades. Saw a guy at the archery range one day just punching arrows into tight groups. I eventually got the release and sights, and after much trial and error started to tighten my groups ups. I would not go back to compound bare bow. I am much more accurate and confident with the bells and whistles and as I hunt quite alot, (too much the wife says) I believe I owe it - not only to myself but to the animals I hunt.
That said, if you are confident and happy with barebow - keep with it.
Transfering to release/sights does take time and I would suggest asking someone with experience to help guide you along. Either way, keep hunting. Howie

[BanG]

Seems to me some good advice on sights/release etc when we dont get the time to shoot as much. Like Maxy said, I too back in school was shooting most of the week with much success barebow. But these days, kids & jobs have slowed me down. As much as I thought I would never do it, i'll give it a go and let you know if i can still hit the mark!! but first, does any one know of a good archery shop up this way. In coffs the only place i know of is a camping store with very limited stock. Also, what about clubs up this way where I can get out and talk to some people with different set-ups. I know, lots of questions but all feedback is much appreciated and a great forum to learn more through others experiences. Moved up from south oz only 2 months ago.

ps, might also take up your advice Greg.D and grab myself a recurve one day for those instinctive shooting bunny hunts as like Rock Steady mentioned, im the bloke who would leave the release behind!!

[Scott]

Contact this fella at coffs mate, he might be able to help you out.
If he cant I am sure there will be someone in the club that can. cheers

Coffs Coast Archery Club- 3DAAA
Contact Peter Mcdonald
66553939 or 0427517366

[huddo0312]

[

you will need diffrent fletches on your arrows to allow the fletch to pass through the arrow rest, or do what i did and just turn the knocks around :)[/QUOTE]

G'day Neix

Why the need for diffreent fletches for a drop- away rest? Is this the reason I'm hitting the target on a slight angle? Are the fletches fouling on the rest on the way through?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Dave

[Warlocke]

Mate, you don't need different fletching for a drop-away rest.

I have had all makes of drop-aways and never had a problem once setup properly.

Just make sure that he rest doesn't come to full height before the last 1-2" of the draw and that the arrow is level with the Burger hole, with the rest at full height, and at right angles to the string.

Ross bows need the height of the rest about 1/2 hole higher.

With this setup it doesn't matter what fletching or orientation you use as the rest is out of the way before they get to it.

[bigwal_123]

hey BanG, my dad used to shoot instictive compound. last year he bought himself a set of sword apex twilight hunter sights. his groupings really improved with the sights. he only recently (around easter) bought a release aid and his groups have improved even more. hope this helps...

Wal

[Dartonian]

Greg D,
I shoot a compound barebow, instintive... with the occassional swap to a trad bow.

I think the best advice is just examine your own motivation for shooting.

I have accepted the mechanical advantage offerred by a compound, but at this point cannot take the next step to sights & release aid. Somehow, they dont fit my romantic notions of archery & bowhunting. I dont have a doubt that my group size & accuracy would improve, but my motivation is currently to be the best instinctive shooter that I can be.

Cheers
Dartonian