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Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming #3699328
06/28/22 08:40 PM
06/28/22 08:40 PM
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
R
redgineer Offline OP
8 point
redgineer  Offline OP
8 point
R
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
I've been shooting for a couple of months using instinctive aiming. I haven't seen any improvement for a few weeks, so today I tried gap shooting. I was all over the place initially, but by the end of my shooting session I cut my group size in half. I also quit getting the occasional wild shot I usually have.

I'm going to stick with gap shooting for now. Hopefully today wasn't a fluke. I'll probably still use instinctive aiming for bow fishing.

Last edited by redgineer; 06/28/22 08:48 PM.
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3699798
06/29/22 04:01 PM
06/29/22 04:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 8,387
A
Atoler Offline
14 point
Atoler  Offline
14 point
A
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 8,387
IMO, very few people truly shoot instinctive. They have a reference point of some sort, whether its the arrow tip, riser, etc. Plenty of ways to skin the cat, as long as you have consistent form. I personally wouldn't gap shoot or string walk for hunting, but just shooting targets at known distance can be very accurate.

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3700192
06/30/22 07:43 AM
06/30/22 07:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 55
NE Alabama
Sixpointholler Offline
spike
Sixpointholler  Offline
spike
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 55
NE Alabama
Atoler is right. The best thing that helped me was to ditch the block target and shoot at a 3D deer target at known distances. You'll eventually realize where you are holding and your mind will instinctively take over. Lots of repetition = muscle memory.

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3700442
06/30/22 02:24 PM
06/30/22 02:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,411
Boaz,AL
CarbonClimber1 Online content
14 point
CarbonClimber1  Online Content
14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,411
Boaz,AL
Im a split vision gap shooter..or at least thats what i think i am..i been doin this now for over a decade and i just have in the past couple years fojnd what i consider to be my most accurate method..and i think its the way alot of trad hunters shoot..instinctive and snap shooting is kinda silly..i have never seen anybody really be consistently accurate..some are an thats amazing..but most arent..i finally learned to basically understand exactly what i want to hunt with weight wise..thne tht arra til it flies perfect..then start backin up and find exactly where the point on is versus the tip of my arra..and scoot in..after awhile..your mind starts to adjust the gap for you..subconsciously I suppose..its like a cross between gap and instinctive i guess..where you know exactly what your arra is gonna do flight wise..you focus on what you wanna hit..and your mind kinda fills in the gap..its weird..and i cant hit didly past 25yds..but under that..realistic hunting distances..im pretty accurate.


"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701023
07/01/22 01:36 PM
07/01/22 01:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 952
Vance, Al
clarkdeer Offline
6 point
clarkdeer  Offline
6 point
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 952
Vance, Al
I just recently got into traditional archery. I’m using a fixed crawl. YouTube has helped me a bunch. I got the fixed crawl idea from The Push on YouTube.



Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701140
07/01/22 05:12 PM
07/01/22 05:12 PM
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
R
redgineer Offline OP
8 point
redgineer  Offline OP
8 point
R
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
The other day wasn't a fluke. This has done more to improve my shooting than anything else I've done. I probably won't deer hunt with a trad bow next season, but that is the ultimate goal.

I was always using my arrow tip as a reference point while "instinctive shooting", but now I focus on it and use it to help guide my shot. I'm not using a well defined gap, so there is still some instinctiveness involved. I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to put in the time and find what works for my eyes and my brain. I'll spend the next few months playing with different methods and see what works best.

I plan on setting up some 3D targets on my land, but I just bought the property and probably won't get around to it this year. Does anyone how well 3D targets work as decoys during the rut? I'm hoping those things serve two roles.

Another thing that needs work is my release. The only thing that has worked for me so far is to not think about it. Do the fancy gloves offer much benefit? I've just been using a mechanix glove, since that is the glove I prefer to wear while deer hunting.

Last edited by redgineer; 07/01/22 05:14 PM.
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701154
07/01/22 06:04 PM
07/01/22 06:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 8,387
A
Atoler Offline
14 point
Atoler  Offline
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A
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 8,387
Originally Posted by redgineer
The other day wasn't a fluke. This has done more to improve my shooting than anything else I've done. I probably won't deer hunt with a trad bow next season, but that is the ultimate goal.

I was always using my arrow tip as a reference point while "instinctive shooting", but now I focus on it and use it to help guide my shot. I'm not using a well defined gap, so there is still some instinctiveness involved. I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to put in the time and find what works for my eyes and my brain. I'll spend the next few months playing with different methods and see what works best.

I plan on setting up some 3D targets on my land, but I just bought the property and probably won't get around to it this year. Does anyone how well 3D targets work as decoys during the rut? I'm hoping those things serve two roles.

Another thing that needs work is my release. The only thing that has worked for me so far is to not think about it. Do the fancy gloves offer much benefit? I've just been using a mechanix glove, since that is the glove I prefer to wear while deer hunting.


IMO a tab makes it easier to have a clean release than gloves.

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701277
07/01/22 09:11 PM
07/01/22 09:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,411
Boaz,AL
CarbonClimber1 Online content
14 point
CarbonClimber1  Online Content
14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,411
Boaz,AL
Ill tell you..i thought my release was the issue for a long time..i tried tabs and gloves..i finally figured out that a poorly tuned arrow was my problem..i still have bad releases with my glove..but only when i shoot too much..somethin to chew on in the smorgasbord of trad bow piddlin


"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701286
07/01/22 09:28 PM
07/01/22 09:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,411
Boaz,AL
CarbonClimber1 Online content
14 point
CarbonClimber1  Online Content
14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,411
Boaz,AL
I did like the tab too tho..and i think alot of people like to hunt with a tab


"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701332
07/01/22 11:41 PM
07/01/22 11:41 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,616
Montgomery, AL
F
Forrestgump1 Offline
10 point
Forrestgump1  Offline
10 point
F
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,616
Montgomery, AL
Instinctive shooting takes thousands and thousands of arrows and everyday type practice. It is such a thing, but it happens without you even knowing it. Just about everybody uses something as reference. I used my arrow tip for the longest, but obviously the tip isn’t pointing at full draw where your arrow will hit. Once you get a feel for where your arrow hits in relation to the point, then you begin to only see the point in your peripheral and you’ll solely be focused on the target. Later that can translate into full on instinctive, but no body just picks up a bow as a newbie and hits where their eyes are looking.

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701515
07/02/22 01:20 PM
07/02/22 01:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
R
redgineer Offline OP
8 point
redgineer  Offline OP
8 point
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
Thanks for all the feedback guys. Very good advice above

I think I'll try a finger tab. Looks more convenient for hunting than those bulky gloves do. I have nerve damage in my right middle finger from a previous injury, so I should stop using a mechanix glove, especially when I have the 50lb limbs on. I don't shoot the 50lb limbs often yet, but I put them on occasionally just to see how it feels.

I haven't noticed any issues with my release yet, but I find it hard to believe that I'm doing right without any training.

My bow is poorly tuned lol. I just eyeballed the nocking point and arrow rest placement. I plan on getting a bow square in the near future.

If my mind is in the right place, I can consistently hit a 4" circle at 12 yards. I still need to improve a lot before I'm ready to deer hunt, but I feel like that's pretty good for someone who drew a bow for the first time a couple of months ago. I've definitely been putting in the time. It's actually becoming a problem, chores are not getting done lol.

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3701518
07/02/22 01:28 PM
07/02/22 01:28 PM
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
R
redgineer Offline OP
8 point
redgineer  Offline OP
8 point
R
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,912
Madison
I've been thinking about paying for lessons, and should probably do it soon before bad habits set in. Any recommendations for one in the Huntsville area?

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3724692
08/10/22 07:20 AM
08/10/22 07:20 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 437
Montgomery
L
loprofile Offline
4 point
loprofile  Offline
4 point
L
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 437
Montgomery
I killed my first deer with a recurve in 1976 and have shot them ever since. I had never heard of a fixed crawl until a couple of years ago but I swear by it now, regardless of your aiming method

Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3733105
08/24/22 12:55 PM
08/24/22 12:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,863
Tuscaloosa
Booger Offline
Picker
Booger  Offline
Picker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,863
Tuscaloosa
I shoot purely instinctive. No reference points or anything. I stare a whole through the spot I’m shooting for, draw, and release. I started shoot’n traditional in the 90’s. I like the ability to pick a spot then shooting it without aiming. To me, it’s like throwing a baseball or football.


Pick'n and a grin'n
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3733132
08/24/22 02:03 PM
08/24/22 02:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 16,806
Banana Republic
jb20 Offline
Old Mossy Horns
jb20  Offline
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 16,806
Banana Republic
I used to could shoot my red rider from the hip and hit 2 liter bottles up to 30 yards every time lol...I thought about trying with my bow but I ain't got that much time anymore I have to use a reference just to land on the block...I just stick with sights for hunting


They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Ben Franklin
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3734379
08/26/22 03:06 PM
08/26/22 03:06 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,613
Moulton,AL
Snuffy Online content
14 point
Snuffy  Online Content
14 point
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,613
Moulton,AL
As some of you know. I’ve decided to try and put the fun and excitement back into deer hunting. I broke my old 50 plus year old recurve back out in hopes of killing a buck with it. I was attempting to gap shoot and my group was all over the place. I’m 65 years old and have never heard of a fixed crawl till I read this post. It has made a huge difference in my accuracy. I’m still not Fred Bear but I’m sure looking forward to bow season for the first time in years. Any buck in my 15 to 20 yard range limit will be an exciting challenge.


If you always do what you've always done you always get what you've always got
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3734606
08/26/22 11:13 PM
08/26/22 11:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,534
Elmore County
T
treemydog Offline
8 point
treemydog  Offline
8 point
T
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,534
Elmore County
I shot semi instinctive for several years. Shot well some days and stunk it up on others. Was way too inconsistent and missed a pile of deer. Started shooting a gap with 3-under and it took a bit but, I was way better and even on off days I was way more consistent.


You gonna pull them pistols, or whistle Dixie?
Re: Trad Bow: Gap Shooting vs Instintcive Aiming [Re: redgineer] #3758177
10/03/22 08:44 PM
10/03/22 08:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 388
Mobile,Al
C
Chorn Offline
4 point
Chorn  Offline
4 point
C
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 388
Mobile,Al
I would suggest that you go with what works for you.

In the 70s a lot of guys used sights on their recurves.
I look where I want to hit and shoot. Good form is the foundation of accuracy regardless of what method you use.

Check your eye dominance...my brother is right handed but is left eye dominant, he switched to shooting left handed.


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