I’m not “sage” but sent you a PM. To me, it’s all in HOW you practice, not how MUCH you shoot.

See if any of it makes sense and then RELAX!

This isn’t work, its to be FUN.

Been there like you and have the t-shirt. Takes time to build confidence, but practicing the right way, like it’s the hunt, helps me.

My 2 cents here…just enjoy it all. Don’t worry about confidence in the shot. Until you have some confidence ,just enjoy the outdoors. It does not have to be an ordeal. Until then, practice with what you have and handle the bows that feel and look good to you at your own pace. Through some sort of osmosis, you’ll find your place. Give yourself a break basically:D

Brother, we all go through this at various stages on the journey. You’ve gotten some great advice already, and in the end, I think all you can do is stick with it and keep it fun.

The usual cause of my shooting game falling apart isn’t my gear, it’s me, and it’s usually because I’m overthinking it and/or my head is somewhere else rather than in that beautiful Zen state of thinking/not-thinking when it all just flows. At these times, the best thing I’ve found is to grab a fistful of stumping arrows, go for a hike and just remember the joy of flinging arrows, and get that troublesome thing between my ears out of the way for a while.

Jason

Good advice here. Grab some stumping arrows and come on down next week end:You shoot pretty good at them flowers.

Been there done that. More with fly fishing than archery, but it is all the same. You are taking it FAR too serious. After all this is NOT life threatening. You are alone out there, don’t have to share the mistakes till you are ready. If you don’t make the mistakes you will not learn.

I am going through a similar “funk” if you will. two seasons ago I took a shot that I felt 100% confident in and at the release, I “peeked” like in golf, and the resulting shot was not good. I did not recover a wounded deer. On opening night last week, I had a doe almost in my shooting lane and I suddenly felt like i wouldn’t be able to make the shot. I thoroughly enjoy trad gear and have passed on numerous less than perfect shots since and I am still waiting to take my first trad whitetail. Having a deer in bow range, even without getting a shot, is the ultimate adrenaline rush. Anytime you don’t feel confident enough to shoot, just hang your bow up and enjoy being in the woods until the confidence comes back.:wink:

Hey Wojo,

I’m only shooting again for a few years and when I read your post it seemed very familiar. When I first started, I was hitting really well. Then as I studied to improve, it all fell apart. Just a guess, but I bet others went through the same thing. Your only shooting for several months and that’s only hundreds of arrows. Once you have been working on your form and have cast into the thousands of arrows you’ll see things even out more. Your bad days get closer to your good days. It’s easy to advise to back out a little and just enjoy, but it’s easier said than done. It means a lot to you to do well. I appreciate that you let that deer walk. That shows a lot of confidence, actually. It shows you believe enough to do the right thing. You’ll get it. best, dwc

I’ve let many deer walk away without shooting if I felt I couldn’t make a killing shot. I don’t regret a single one of them. It’s happened when I was shooting good, and not so good. Don’t ever worry because you did not make a lousy shot.

All good stuff here. And I second some stump shooting with Mike. I expect that would be good medicine. Don’t worry that deer isn’t going anywhere. The way I see it, you are keeping it fresh. They start going bad once you shoot them 😀

If you buy too much into the traditional bowhunter lore, then it can become almost impossible to act. Everyone makes bad shots. It’s not just you, it’s everyone. And if they won’t admit to a bad shot, they are lying.

Don’t forget the deer has something to say about it too. You can make a perfect shot in a perfect situation, and it can still not work out. You have to have a lot of spine to hunt with traditional gear, and learn to be comfortable with the unknown. There are no guarantee’s.

But in the end when you have killed this way, there is no greater feeling.

About a 2 years ago I bought the Master of the Barebow dvd collection after I got into a shooting slump. I took some pointers from a few of the archers that resembled my style of shooting and took it to the field. I added a few of the tips to my form and sure enough with alot of practice I slowly watching my shots improve each time I shot my bow. Even if you do not agree with all the types of shooting some of the pros on the dvd show you, you will be able to take at least 1 tip from each of them to help you!

I laugh now when one day I can shoot perfectly no matter what I do, then I go out the following day and can barely get my arrows to hit the target! All I can do is go out again and practice some more!

I’m just as new to this, maybe even more new.

I’ve also been very busy and stressed with work and a new home purchase. I have definitely not had nearly enough practice to be happy, but then again I probably never will.

I went out hunting with my bow twice last weekend for the first time ever.

After that second day I knew I was hooked. I hadn’t even shot a deer. I had only seen one, and it was so far away there wasn’t a chance for pursuit.

Archery doesn’t have to be a means to an end. I was perfectly happy learning how to hunt by playing the wind, reading the terrain, scouting, and following tracks.

A deer would obviously be a huge plus. And I’m absolutely going to keep trying. But this hunting season will not have been wasted at all if I don’t get a deer.

Finding an excuse to hike around in the outdoors has made me happy enough.

I realize this isn’t the case for everyone.

If you feel you are still lacking in shot confidence maybe you would benefit from a few instructional sessions.

Clad

Well said, you have broken the code or as Steve Graff would say “be happy go hunting”:D

Mike

Everyone goes thru the bottom of the wave at some point. I had a confidence meltdown myself just last week ( complete with an emotionally charged Campfire Forum post :D) and I’ve been shooting traditional for 10 years, five with the same bow same arrows!!:? So keep doing it! And I hope you find “The” bow for you!!

I have my moments too. Two years ago, my target panic was so bad, it didn’t keep me from hunting, but I passed up an “easy” 15 yard shot, for fear I would blow it. I’m sure I would’ve blown it. Bow wise, I don’t believe there is a such thing as “the right bow”. Especially when you’re just starting out. Just shoot what you’ve got for a year or so. Once you get fairly proficient with it, you’ll be in a better place to recognize what you like and dislike about your bow, so that IF you decide to get another bow, you’ll be better informed.