I have to sit down to shoot…

[lyagooshka]

#4589

OK, don’t judge me. 😆 😆 😆 The title pretty much says it all, but let me explain. I have had my new longbow (hybrid actually) for a month or so. I just received some custom arrows and have been getting great advice from the forums here at TBM. I did not think I would be ready to try out my first season of trad hunting this year, but after sticking to it, I feel I am ready for a 10-yard attempt if one should arise. I have actually had so much fun just learning the ropes with my bow that I have not even picked up the compound all summer.

Here is another issue I am facing during practice, so I thought I would open it up to the experts for some more advice. I practice shooting from many different positions. I do most of my shooting standing, but I also practice off a bench, kneeling and sitting. Since the place I hope to hunt will not offer me anything over 10 yards, I do most of my practice there. I use the 20 and 30 yard targets, but only to “fool around”. I will get farther with time, but for now, baby steps. So, long story short {too late, I know}, I can get a vitals-sized area about 50% from most positions, but when sitting an interesting thing happens. I consistently (>90%) hit the vitals-sized area of the target, and to be honest, I am 8, 9 &10 ring most of the time. I find that sitting I don’t even aim as much as I just “point and shoot”. I try to duplicate this accuracy in other positions, but cannot. And therein lies my question. The area I plan to hunt, I will probably be in my ASAT with my back up against a tree, so this suits me well, but one never knows what opportunity will present itself. The best I can figure, I came up with the following reasons:

1) When shooting from a seated position, my left arm is straight out to the side (I am shooting completely perpendicular to my body, or my body is perpendicular to the target). Because of this, my sight picture is different. When shooting standing, I have both eyes open. I see two arrows, and I adjust (I am right-eye dominant, I have tested this many times). When seated, I see one arrow and one right side of my nose.

2) The fact that I am shooting straight (or even at a slight up angle to the target) makes a difference in my sight picture from when I am shooting from above since I stood at a slight down angle at the target.

Sorry to ramble, but any ideas? I understand that this is like a doctor trying to diagnose some one over the phone, but I am open to ideas. I am wondering why the difference and how I can adjust my other shooting positions to increase my accuracy to that of sitting. Thanks all.

Alex

😕

[gobbler716]

#32570

Hold your fist out to the left as if you are holding your bow. How many fists do you see with both eyes open, two correct? I am the same way and I prefer to shoot sitting down or on my knees….I am too fat to shoot with one leg out and one under me….so I have to use my knees on heels for a long hike. Just keep practicing and let muscle memory take over. Depending on circumstances, I shoot with only one eye open.

[skifrk]

#32625

I must be an oddball since if I try as suggested by gobbler i only see one fist not two. I think what maybe happening is while you are sitting Alex that you are not thinking about your shot as much as in the other positions so it delivers a more accurate result if that makes sense. The other alternative is that while sitting you are not running through your shot but taking your time which is allowing you to focus more on the shot which provides a better result.

[gobbler716]

#32746

I apologize, I meant to write that I was zeroing in on my target, therefore looking past my “bow.” OR maybe I am just cockeyed. You’re not an oddball.:oops:

[Wexbow]

#32818

Alex, are you canting the bow more in the seated position? I discovered recently that while kneeling my accuracy improved and I worked out it was because I was increasing the cant to clear the ground and was getting better sighting down the arrow using split vision aiming. Could be happening to you?

To counteract “double vision” try closing your non-dominant eye for a while during practice. You can start using both eyes after a while and it usually resolves the issue, again figured this through my own trial and error!

[gobbler716]

#32822

I am not trying to hijack this thread, but that’s a terrific point!!!!

[lyagooshka]

#32893

Thank you all for the advice. Wexbow, I didn’t even think about the cant of the bow. I will have to pay attention to that next time at the range. All in all, I think I may actually have a shot this year (pun intended). I’ll let you know. Thanks again.

Alex

😀

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