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stealthycat

Mike - Good for me is climing into my treestand, no warmups, no practice, and putting my first arrow into the heart area of my 3D Delta target set at 18-20 steps.

As for shooting groups - thats not a good judge of shooting - I've changed my opinion on that. Stump shooting really brings out the best in people. I shot swinging cans the other day with a Black Widow buddy - we hit them more often then you'd think.

To answer your question - if I can shoot 5 arrows in a 4-6 inch spot at 20 yards, thats good for me. Some days better, some days worse (some days a LOT worse <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>)
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Muddler

This is a very interesting thread for me. I’m new to the sport and have been shooting a recurve for about 3 weeks. In retrospect starting traditional archery only a few weeks before general bow season probably wasn’t the brightest idea I've ever had. Every time I visit the archery range the place is swarming with guys shooting ping-pong size groups at 60 yards with their compound bows and I feel lucky when I get a 12” group at 20 yards. Needless to say, it’s been pretty intimidating and I’ve taken to rising early in the morning so I can take a few shots before the regulars take over. My question is how long does it take, on average, to hone your instinctive senses to the point where you don’t feel embarrassed in front of the precision shooting crowd and you feel reasonably confident you can kill an animal at 20-30 yards without wounding it – assuming that you practice regularly. I’m hoping it won’t take more than a year, as I would like to try my hand at deer hunting next year. But I’m willing pay my dues whatever it takes. I’ve encountered one traditional shooter since I started and he was putting arrows in a small circle at 40 yards with a long bow. It was one of the most graceful and mesmerizing things I’ve ever seen – someday I'd like to be able to do that…

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JRW

It's really impossible for me to quantify it. I like to shoot groups...LOTS of groups. Probably 95% of my shooting is in the back yard, shooting spots at 20 yards. When I go to the archery club I like to shoot from 20 yards to 90 meters depending on who's there and what targets are available.

The other day I was shooting broadheads at a McKenzie strut turkey at 40 yards. It was one of my &quot;on&quot; days where everything seems to click just right. Kid of the exception, and not the rule (usually I'd opt for a bigger target).

I've let down on broadside deer at 10 or so yards because that little voice in my head said &quot;this don't feel good&quot;...and I've double-lunged them at yardages that'd make some people cringe.

Good shooting for me? I don't know. I went out back today and put the first two broadheads through a cigarette box at 20 yards. Felt pretty good. Could I do that with the first two arrows of the day every day? Nope. Wish I could though.

As far as how long it takes to be proficient at 20-30 yards...

I've known guys who, after a month or two with a trad bow in their hands, were there. I've seen others who've shot for 40+ years and can't do it. It's a personaly thing. Keep plugging away at it and have fun. That's the whole purpose.

What you should <font color=red>never</font id=red> do is judge your shooting based on someone else's abilities. Everyone's different. Case in point...there's two instinctive recurve shooters from around here that are just flat-out frightening to watch. Truth be known, if I could have consistently shot as well as they do I'd have never switched to gap shooting. Split those two guys up and they'll each shoot TALL scores. Put them together and one of them cracks every time. He's told himself that the other guy's better than him for so long that, mentally, he won't let himself win.

JRW

Edited by - jrw on 08/15/2002 21:31:44

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Strongbow

A good day for me is putting 6 arrows in a 4&quot; to 6&quot; group at my foam
target at 20 paces while standing or kneeling. I like to stump shoot as well and try to duplicate situations in the field as described by Fred Asbell in some of his articles about shooting. I wish I could be more consistent and group like that every day. To err is human.

COB

I don't try to shoot groups. Bust to many arrows that way. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Yea, right! Good shooting to me is being able to place the arrow with in 2&quot; of where I am looking no matter what the distance. 1&quot; or hitting the spot is even better. Look at the spot and get within 2&quot; of the spot will drop any animal unless your shooting at chipmunks.

Ted A. Young AKA COB