“I know that there is probably some odd reason shooting in the dark will ruin my form or something”
Just my two cents but I feel shooting in the dark does the opposite for me.
“Form”, I feel, should come naturally and not “checked” by eyesight and being natural it will be the most consistant for me. This is for MY hunting purposes. I imagine target archery has better methods.
SOME say my draw is too short being the same as the “norm” for decades (still a bit lost on that one) at 28 inches or just under depending on the grip style of the bow. It is however very consistant and is of a length normally without issues of catching my coat in it when hunting, but there have been times it did so something I check and recheck in the stand. (I dont need any help messing up shots LOL)
This, and my anchor, should “feel” the same and it isnt unusual to see this ol codger standing with his eyes closed, drawing and anchoring……and holding…….then letting up before each hunt.
Hey…….I never said I WAS normal. 😆
I used to shoot in the dark a lot, should do it more now.
I had a fairly large bale that I could make out the outline in the dead of night……and only that. It was a fine way for ME to visualize a spot on the bale that I couldnt SEE but groups got better and better as time went by. I feel that, again for me, NOT seeing detail on the “target” increases my ability to “make one” through concentration.
I’ve always felt that this practice has helped me and when things seem to be going to pot I will return to it, even if only “refinding” my consistant anchor with my eyes closed.
Regardless if labeled “muscle memory” or “feel” or whatever it is mandatory that I reach my draw without using a visual aide and sometimes I fall back into looking at something while drawing other than the target…………not good, for me anyway.
While not a target archer nor get the groups many do with much better form and style……I get by ok and am confident in my abilities on the average so this is offered only as food for thought for those tossing it around in their heads as you are.
God Bless
Steve Sr.
Only “ex” wife story Ill share 🙄 is the hissy fit one threw finding (smelling? it was the rut. 😉 ) an 8 point buck laying in the back of our 3 day old van. (HEY I USED A TARP………GEEZ. GET A GRIP! WHY did you think I wanted a van anyway? 😕 )
