I'm currently at that stage of regaining my former hunting form, after a few years of struggling to regain the strength and overcome the "yips" that have sent many arrows into places where they'll never be found due to a nervous breakdown in anticipation of the release. Finally getting locked on target again, and holding long enough to usually touch and squeeze, but only if the hold has been short. Working on a mental regimen of slowly counting to three while holding on the spot. If I knew a shortcut, I'd sure tell you about it, but I suspect the hard truth is that it just takes lots of practice.
Might as well, ‘cuz what’s the difference?
Seriously, though.... Whatever happened to learning when to draw your bow as an essential skill for Bowhunters?
Holding at the shooting position will tire your muscles far quicker than holding the bow drawn at a lower height.
Having to draw in the presence of game is part of what makes bowhunting hard. Bowhunting being hard is part of what makes it satisfying.
Clearly there is no situation in the field that can not be planned and accounted for by experts and novices alike that would result in being drawn with no shot to take and too big a risk to let down.
Bowboy's Link
Lower weights are easier to get used to holding right above your let-off. One more reason not to shoot a high-poundage bow.
Certainly helps to practice holding as it can strengthen the necessary muscles. And also necessary to use a low enough draw weight to be able to slowly, smoothly draw the bow from ANY position with little movement. Should be able to sit flat on your butt with your legs straight out and smoothly get to full draw and shoot without any contortion. (watch that lower limb for clearance though..... =D)
Lemme ask you this...
If you can’t judge whether he’s going to take a step sometime in the next 30 seconds or so, how can you guess whether he’s going to take a step in the next 2-3 seconds?
Because when you take a longer shot, you’re betting the farm that he's NOT going to budge ‘til the arrow gets there.
I haven’t done it in years, but I used to be able to hold for 45-60 seconds and still hit into the old pie-plate standard at 20 yards.
But I really prefer drawing when their vitals are exposed and their eyes are not. Sometimes you have to let down and you get busted in the process. Part of the game is accepting that getting within range doesn’t guarantee you a shot.
If that isn’t what you want, buy a rifle.
missing is part of the game .......no need to work to minimize the chances of it. embrace it.
if you want to eliminate all risk just use a gun (because people never carry an unfilled tag at the end of a gun hunt)...no need to work to minimize the chances of it. embrace it.
why replace a worn string, using archery equipment brings about inherent risks and breaking a string is one of them. if you can't deal with the fact that bows are more fragile just pick up a gun........no need to work to minimize the chances of it. embrace it.
etc. etc.
to say why learn more about how to handle a real in-field scenario like being drawn and having the animal do something animalish just deal with it and write off the opportunity to bowhunting is silly.
"Sometimes you have to let down and you get busted in the process."................exactly and this is about how tominimize that chance. if you were not trying to minimize getting busted you would not hunt out of trees, try to control scent and play the wind, stay still in the presence of game, stay quiet when animals are around, etc. etc.
isn't hunting about trying not to get busted............................
that's all this thread is about............finding tips on how to minimize risk of one particular in field obstacle (having to hold longer than normal for an ethical shot) getting in the way of a shot opportunity. to say live with it or hang up the bow is missing the point.
Do have to be careful with resting the bottom cam if you go that route - I've seen guys suck up pieces of loose clothing up in their cam and derail....
"If you can’t judge whether he’s going to take a step sometime in the next 30 seconds or so, how can you guess whether he’s going to take a step in the next 2-3 seconds?"
You can't. As others have pointed out, there are some ways you can try to extend being at full draw. My original post was in response to your ridiculous inference that if an animal stops before presenting a shot as expected, it's because said hunter somehow didn't have the "skill" to predict if that animal would stop.
"Because when you take a longer shot, you’re betting the farm that he's NOT going to budge ‘til the arrow gets there."
WTH does shot distance have to do with how long you may have to hold at full draw?! In contrast to the point you tried to make, the closer the shot, the greater the odds you may have to hold longer than you want.
"I haven't done it in years, but I used to be able to hold for 45-60 seconds and still hit into the old pie-plate standard at 20 yards."
Don't know who's "standard" you're referring to, but that old pie-plate is what, 9-10"? That's pretty piss-poor shooting in my book. Depending on where you're aiming, that's shoulder blade or gut territory. Don't think I'd be bragging about that.
"But I really prefer drawing when their vitals are exposed and their eyes are not. Sometimes you have to let down and you get busted in the process. Part of the game is accepting that getting within range doesn’t guarantee you a shot."
No shit, Sherlock. Don't know or care where you hunt, but I, and many others, hunt where it's thick. Shots are normally close, with few shooting lanes. If you wait till their vitals are exposed, so are their eyes. Typically, you have to anticipate where the shot will come, draw, then wait for them to clear all the clutter. On the good days they do, on the bad days, they stop. When you're calling and hunting solo, the odds go up they will stop. If they stop in the wrong spot, and stop too long, they win. Doesn't make it any less frustrating, but yeah, most of us understand, and accept, that it's "part of the game".
"If that isn’t what you want, buy a rifle."
At least your condescending comments are consistent, but I think I'll stick with my bow. I've done pretty well, thank you.
I never knew somebody could hold a bow for this long, till I watched my buddy hold on this bull for well over a minute, maybe a minute and a half...he eventually lowered the cam into his thigh to take some pressure off. Finally, realizing he had no shot, I raked the ground, and the bull took a step. 37 yard shot... It worked out!
On an Elk, that’s pretty tolerable accuracy. And 45 seconds is a pretty long time at full draw.
