I took my camera out for a stump shoot. I stump shoot often, and I try to emulate hunting scenarios. It is good practice and a chance for me to use my imagination and act like a little kid. Hope you enjoy the video (no adds and no money being made here just sharing my little bits of information) . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zEbrbbk06Q
I went to a 3-D years ago that I shot SOOO horribly at I considered giving it up entirely on the drive home. I mean, I was flinging arrows above, below, and to the sides of what I was trying to hit regardless of how close I was. The more I shot the worse it got. I was plucking, collapsing....you name it. Then I got home.
I went into my back field and picked out a Queen Anne's Lace weedhead at about 25 yards, drew my bow and decapitated it. I then spent the next 20 minutes walking around and drilling everything I shot at. The only thing I was able to conclude from this experience was the next time I went to a 3-D I needed to LEAVE MY BRAIN AT HOME!!!!
If your form is solid then DON'T THINK, JUST SHOOT!
"Don't think, just shoot". I believe a spirited thread could be created with this phrase. It rings true in many ways concerning 3D. The competition and pressure at a shoot can get pretty intense even after realizing you are not taking home the trophy. I wish for the mental calmness on game shots that I experience during a stumping session. Yep, guess it's all in the head. Matthew
thanks for sharing,, I like to stump shoot,, it reallly helps get me in tune for shooting the unexpected hunting shot,,also in thick covder,,, drawing the bow with little movement is very good practice,,
John Schulz told me, some people do not perform as well when being watched, like some cannot hit a nail with a hammer when someone is looking over their shoulder watching. He suggested that if 3d events were aggravating me enough to effect my shooting that I would better off shooting in a more pleasant surrounding like roving through the woods with my bow. He was correct the better frame of mind with a little tip from another allowed me to rid myself of TP and make shooting fun with the rewards of being in better control and more game killing accuracy. For many archery is a social event, for others it is a lone personal quest.
Since 1970 all of our practice has been stump shooting in the woods. Using judos and a sliding stopper behind our field points. I won't practice any other way. Enjoyed the video
Treepasser you nailed it. Same here in Hawaii. Climbing mountains or going through thick jungle to stump shoot is just as hard as it is when getting after pig and spanish goat. Great point. I love this stuff.
""If a hunter can't shoot with someone watching how will he perform when hunting. That is a lot more stressful""
Let me be the first one to disagree with that statement. As someone who has competed quite a bit in a previous century, I never had issues with being comfortable in the hunting woods. Hell we were raised there pretty much. Hunting is you and the game and only one person to deal with. I take it you never competed much JR. Totally different feeling, in a totally different environment than the woods. And the fact is you don't have three other guys watching you shoot, then scoring your shots. Just sayin.
Shooting well with others watching can be stressful and requires a lot of concentration, but IMO it's a different kind of stress than hunting is.
With hunting I have found that when a shot opportunity at game is offered I go on autopilot and actually remember very little about the shot itself as I'm totally focused on the animal and what is unfolding at the moment. That's why having EVERYTHING about your shot sequence ingrained in your muscle memory is so important.
I try and do this when I'm shooting with others and in some ways it's much harder to do because I'm not near as focused as I am when hunting. In fact, there's nothing else in my life where I get into that kind of mindset that I do hunting.
That may be one of the reasons why I love it so much!
I have never competed in any kind of archery contest, other than the "i bet you a dollar I can hit that can" kind of deal. I get distracted by conversation and friendly ribbing when shooting 3d for fun. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shooting 3d as well, I just don't consider it hunting training or preparation. Like others have said it has a different feel, and focus level. The setting is far different as well and I always feel rushed, so no stalking practice or anything like that at my local range.
"If a hunter can't shoot with someone watching how will he perform when hunting. That is a lot more stressful"
Does not even feel the same to me at all. Two totally different situations and feelings inside. I do fine shooting paper alone. Performance is affected when others are with me and I need to really concentrate and relax.
A shot while hunting is not stressful to me... I feel quite the opposite in fact...kind of like the moment of truth and I go into "the groove."
But on to the Msturm's post.
That is a great video that mirrors what I do when I stump. I practice hunting, not just shooting.
i dont feel like anyone is watching when I shoot at game,, if I miss no need to tell anyone if I dont want,,there is no score etc,, the deer makes no comments on a bad shot,,,,, just bounds away feeling lucky,, its just different for some,, some not,, I love stump shooting,, 3ds are more stressful cause I want to win,, stump shooting everybody wins,,,, I have blown some easy shots at game,, and made some great shots,, thats all part of it,, stump shooting I think will up your odds,,
I've competed a lot George. But lots of guys say they are great in the deer woods but never kill any deer. I think hunting is harder than shokting targets. But that's just me.
In fact george I used to shoot a lot for money. Me against another shooter for cash. That will tighten your butthole up. No cheating then on your score cards for a tin trophy
JR, then you know there is a pucker factor, especially in regional and state shoots where the competition is pretty solid. Yeah, I can say it doesn't bother me but I would be lying. I tried not to let it affect my shooting but nonetheless, there is an aura that is totally different.
As far as guys who don't kill deer, I don't think I've ever been privy to someone else's success in the field. That is their business and if they are good hunters, they are likely good bow hunters....regardless of who is or who isn't watching. And of course the outcome isn't posted on a board at the clubhouse, and you aren't trying to impress anyone...especially yourself. How you to those things is basically your concern.
Hunting shots for many certainly can be very stressful. At least based on the number of threads every fall about "dang missed at 7(etc) yards - many with multiple misses - strongly suggests there are more than a few who feel stress at go time. Stress that isn't there walking in the woods shooting randomly but may show at different levels of comp/3D.
First I want to compliment you on your accuracy, very good shooting. You make some excellent points, shooting alone and working on your stalking skills is something most people never do, excellent demonstration and explanation. Last point, I don't know where you are, but wearing shorts in all the brush, you must not have any ticks there. Do that in Alabama and you would be picking off ticks and scratching chigger bites for weeks! Great video.
I learn more of where I am at from the opener of squirrel and rabbit season, than I do from the rest of the year. I go stump/hunting with a quiver load of blunts and hammerheads. The first year I used nothing but a bow for our dove season was a real test. shooting at a clay pigeon tossed with a hand thrower is not the same as shooting at a flying dove. They fly a lot faster and in straighter lines than a clay pigeon tossed from a hand thrower, but that all changes when an arrow is coming at them. The doves can tell better than me if the shot was going to be anywhere near close, they can change directions as fast as a bumble bee, just to make my shot look bad. All but one of my dove hits were either landed or nearly landed. The one that was in full flight doesn't count, it was not the dove I was shooting at. Just like my first out of the air quail, I know I missed, I saw that I missed, but my German short hair brought me a freshly killed quail. I didn't even see the hit. I cannot hardly wait for my new Sunset Hill, it is going out and wasting some woods come September with some serious fun of small game/stump shooting.
