My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I'm new here and I've got a question... okay, this is my second real day at attempting to learn to shoot a compound bow. What are my reasons for learning it? Okay, I'll be honest here... the main reason I want to shoot a bow is simply so I can stretch deer season from 2 weeks to 3 months...
yeah, pretty petty I know but I'm being honest.
Okay, my "getting started" with the bow consisted of this... I went to dad's house and "borrowed" an old compound bow and some arrows that he got from some guy in a trade about 15 to 20 years ago.... I think dad tried the bow hunting experience a few times and gave it up. Seeing that most of the arrows were equipped with broad points and the practice arrows looked shoddy I went to Walmarts and bought shafts and practice points of nearly equal type... well, he had some old Easton 30 inchers and I moved up to 31.... the bow is a 30" length, 50lb. Timberwolf Indian... black arms, silver gray colored hand piece (whatever you call it)....
Well, having the weekend off and actually (to my surprise) learning I can actually make an arrow travel more than 20' I began to... uhm... practice. Oh, I also bought a burlap target that I used along with some other supplies to make a crude standing target.
Okay, I've kinda gotten into this basically because I simply like to shoot stuff and after practicing for an hour or so yesterday and around 3 to 4 hours today I'm starting to get the basics..... or so I hope.

Here's my question... do I stand a chance to become a bow hunter or should I quit now and save myself some cash and time? At this point I'm standing about 100 feet from my stationary target and firing three arrows at a time (after which learning the art of walking exercise and arrow retrieval). Out of 10 shots I'm hitting the target only 2 times... around 8 out of 10 shots I'm actually in the center of the target (or very near it) in the horizontal (x-axis?) sense but most of the time I'm either firing too low or a bit too high (usually too low).... I know I've got those sighting pins but honestly I've come to hate them.. I shoot off to the side if I concentrate on looking at them and I've found I can negotiate the arch (I think you call it) a bit better for the time being if I manually raise or lower my aim by casual glance....
I feel I've gotten alot better since yesterday (where I was trying to shoot at about 60 yards and mostly messing up) but I'm wondering if I'll be decent enough to hunt by October... the area I hunt at is woodsy/brushy and the deer are usually within the 100 foot distance but I'm wondering that even with 10 or more hours of practice a week if I will be good enough by then.....

(or does this second day horror story sound too pathetic to carry on?)

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Just about anyone can be a bow hunter just have to work hard and practice like me you dont even have to spend a a lot

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Well, though certainly not impossible, it sounds to me like you're in need of an equipment upgrade. I've only got a few years experience under my belt myself, so I'll let someone else give you a more thorough evaluation. That's just what jumps out at me right away. I will say this, with a little firsthand help from a friend who knows what they're doing and the proper equipment, it can certainly be done with PLENTY of time to hunt this year. YouARE using a peepor some form of rear sight along with the pins, aren't you?

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

oh good gawd ..........

go to EBAY, buy a nice, 3-5 year old decked out compound for $300 shipped, strap on a release and get the right arrows and you'll be shooting 6" groups in a single day.

yes, its that easy

That bow you have belongs on a museum wall IMO - just being honest. Stretch the deer season is fine, do it responsibily and get good equipment that will allow you to be a proficient hunter.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I agree on the equipment... truthfully I really don't even know much about the bow... its kinda, <grin>... third-hand, if you know what I mean. I have a friend I work with who's younger than I am but has numerous more years of experience bow hunting... the same friend has been pretty much the support I've needed to even bother to pick up the bow... we both share the same interest in hunting and he respects my big overall kick for the outdoors in general (I've kinda got him into looking at fungi and mushrooms now in the woods... after he actually came across a amanita virosa (aka Destroying Angel) Travis has been all about looking for toxic, deadly shrooms... now if I can just interest him in the more beneficial ones...

so I do have the real world help... he's offered for me to use one of his bows and I've also spotted several reasonably priced bows at yard sales and all that I could have tuned up at the local sporting good store... but I may try to get this one polished up for the fall and then start hinting about "a little something extra" under the tree this Christmas...;)

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I'm actually curious as to how old the dinosaur actually is....
I mean, its not even camo'd out.....[:'(]

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

First off, if you are standing 100 feet away from the target move up! Get about 15 yards away to start. Seems like it helps when people start off close and then gradually move back once you can make groups gloser. Second, anybody can bowhunt, so if you are serious about wanting to hunt for 3 months instead of 2 weeks, you should go out and get a decent bow for under 400$ or 500$. There is a good selection for that price out there sey up professionally to fit you at a pro shop. Once you get that bow home and start shooting at 15 yds, 20 yds, or 25 yds, you should be making decent groups in a few days. Just take it easy on shooting too much a day because you will tire your arm out and start moving too much when you are drawed back. Then the more you shoot the more built up your arm will get and you will be able to many more arrows and not get tired out. Well, all this talking about shooting bows makes me want to go out and shoot mine for a while. Take care, and I hope you become a great bowhunter :) .
-Kyle Colburn

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Whether or not you want to upgrade your equipment you can spend minimal dollars to go to a pro shop and have them fit the bow to you a little more. By that I mean getting them to set the bow to your draw length. Get your arrows cut to your size. Then put on a peep sight, kisser button (I recommend the kisser but some don't use one), a new sight, and rest.

What you need to do to start hitting more consistently is to get more consistent about how you draw, hold, aim, and release the arrow.

Get to a pro shop and tell them you'd like help setting this bow up to you. I recommend at least the items I mentioned above with a nock for the arrow on your string and a string loop to use with a release aid of some sort.

All the terms and what you need is overwhelming at first. (It was to me) Unless you have a buddy that bowhunts I recommend getting to the pro shop for help.

I am fairly new to this to and that is all I can think of. Good luck. :)

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Kyle,
Thanks for the advice. I'm actually looking to get something better but I'm waiting (with fingers crossed) for a bit of massive overtime at work before deer season in order for that to happen... as I work as a psychiatric aide (new term for the older term of orderly) at a state mental hospital that might actually play out... we are getting overloaded with admissions right now so mandated overtime (or aka volunteer so someone can go home) may come into play.....
what do you recommend for the beginner, by the way? The bow I'm using, as stated above, is a 50lb. deal but I think I could honestly use something a wee bit stronger... perhaps a 60 to 70lb. pull? I don't exactly want to go out and buy the most expensive thing on the market but I realize myself that my equipment is at best borrowed....

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Saxman...
thanks for the info.
Until I can afford better I'll keep this in mind as a step up... we have a really good all around hunting pro-shop within 15 miles... Crouse's (in Chilhowie, VA to be exact), and I'm sure they can help me with this.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Don't go to ebay, dont borrow equipment, don't buy from a yardsale.

If you're serious about getting into archery and archery hunting, go to your local pro shop and have them fit you with a bow. You're going to frustrate yourself to no end trying to learn this sport with equipment that isn't fitted to you.

If you can't afford brand new equipment, you can purchase used stuff from your pro shop. Just go have yourself fitted so you know exactly what you need.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I would recommend a PSE bow. They are a great bow for their price. You could check your local pro shop to see what they have and even test them out. For the draw weight. I would shoot for somewhere around 65. 60 is great and 70 is great, but your arm might get a little bit more tired shooting at 70 right away. Remember, you can always increase the poundage as you go on. I am currently pulling 65lbs and it is perfect for me. You will have to go into the pro shop and find what works for you. Hopefully you will pick up some overtime and get a nice bow :) Can't wait to hear what happens.
-Kyle Colburn

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I'm new also, your story is exactly the same as my 2nd day of shooting, which was just a few months ago. Now everyone here is gonna talk smack for me saying this but here goes: Just shoot, you'll learn as you go. Check the forums, you'll learn a little about getting your bow set up and proper form, which is helpful. Then you'll hear guys bragging on their nice expensive equipment, telling you how good a shot they are, how you should just spend some money on goodgear, they shootin the bullseye every time etc. Then you realize these guys are shooting from 15 or 20 yards! Walk up that close and try it. I don't care if you're shooting an african blow gun, throwing a boomerang or just trying to hit it with the farts you light up, how can you miss at that range? Try shooting at 80-100 yards (at a target, don't try to shoot an animal that far). When you get to where you have some odds of hitting a paper plate, move back in to 35. It will feel like you're right on top of the target. This is completely opposite to anything else you'll see here, but it has worked for me.
Remember, mankind has hunted with bow and arrow since the beginning of time, only over the past 20-30 years has it gotten so technical, but there's really no need to make it difficult for yourself. Just shoot, you'll get the feel for it.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Drew,
Thanks for the info as well... though I'm taking it all in... including the advice to get better gear I appreciate also your insights. So you had a similiar first day of practice? How did it go on the third?
An experienced friend of mine suggests 15 minutes a day... I can't always make each day so I try to get 1-4 hours on the days that I can.... I guess I over force myself... truthfully I did start shooting at 15 feet or so the first day as well as attempts to distance shoot...
people would gasp at this point on the board but I was shooting 10 to 20 feet into trees, wooden crates, a cow skull (a COW SKULL!?!), the side of a storage building.... my trailer.... (accidental)... etc....
dad had some bent arse old arrows and I knew I was going into town to buy more at Walmart so I thought why not!?!.... I even shot ones so damaged by my "practice" that they no longer had a tip per say... but rather a jagged end of a shaft... ironically it was one such arrow shaft that went straight through aluminum siding only to jag into the "flesh" of sheet rock...
naturally I've taken a wee bit more care with the shafts and tips that I've bought for "official" practice... okay, a wee bit more.... :eek:

In a sense I knew the first day I would suck so I demanded to myself that I would exercise on grab, pull, aim..... grab, pull, aim... destroy the old arrows, buy new ones, and work on more of technique the next.... basically I wanted to kill the intimidation of me and the bow....
but today I actually worked on techinque. And saved on arrow life though the fletchings are now looking a bit rough.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

PSE... 65... will definitely check out. Thanks!
This does indeed help... with the stream of crap of information that the net spits out these days, a straight, forward piece of advice is well accepted and well appreciated.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

you will shoot a lot better if you dont start at 60 yards. try 15 then 20 then 30

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Dave i will sell you my martin phantom magnum comes with sight arrows wb rest which i reccomend for beginners and 4 arrows just fletched set at 60 lbs. i will throw in three broadheads too. 100 dollars wo shipping:Dgood buy and it wont last long at this price

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Whoa!!! 1-4 hours a day?????

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Cool! Let me check my resources though first..... that's the bad part of this, its the middle to end of the month and I just paid out most of the bills (yes, its that bad... I have about enough cash for gas and groceries at this point.... with savings mostly tied up at the moment).... I may get back with you on this.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Yeah, I was pretty sore yesterday but I pushed myself... got in around 3 hours...
granted, half of that was walking to the end of the yard, looking for stray arrows (a lesson in itself) and walking back up to shooting position.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

ok first off where are you from? If it is close enough I would take a day and drive and help you set up the bow properly and get your shooting form set up properly. I hate to sound like a broken record but you need your rig set up for you and shown the proper way to anchor, aim and release. Yes bowhunting been around for hundreds of yrs but you can't just pick up a old bow and expect to be good enough to kill a deer eithicly in a couple months. With properly tune and set up equiment of todays standerds yes you can be a fairly good shooter in well under a month but thats only with proper setup.

Trytan

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I appreciate it but its not necessary... I've got a friend of mine who's helping me either set up my bow or is going to rig me up with one of his older ones... why not, I think he had something like 6 last count.....
:eek:

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!
Okay, I know now why you don't practice for more than 1 hour each day!!!
My shoulder is fine but my fingers burnt like hell when I went to pull the string back... but I did so anyways... and found out when you are that stiff and sore you can't aim worth a crap!!!!
Okay, a shooting glove is the next thing I'm getting.....

Crap! ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch.....

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Your shooting with fingers? You should get a release loop on your string and get a release. It is much easier than the fingers, more accurate, and it doesn't hurt at all :D. And like you said when you are that sore you can't aim worth a crap and that is when you will start to get frustrated because you are shooting like crap. Also, remember to always anchor at the same point. If you don't your shooting won't be getting better.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Yes... ouch (again :D)... with my fingers...

ahhh hah... so that's what those release thingys at the shop were for.....

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I found a pair of thin goat skin work gloves helps out while your learning, but I'm at the point where I need to get a shooting glove also. I don't need itoften, but I want an arm guard too, because, well, you'll see- LOL!
Overall, you sound like you're looking at this from a similar point of view as my own: I'm not going to go out and spend $1000 to try it out and see whether it's something I'm interested in. One of the most appealing aspects of archery (as with most other things in life) is the challenge of learning it and building up skills. If I'm not having fun with it I won't continue pursuing it.
So basically, like I said before, just shoot and enjoy for now. Personally, I like long range shooting. Also, if you have the space, I would recomend moving around- trying shooting you target from different distances and angle, or try shooting different targets. Usually I'll set up and shoot for about 15-20 minutes, then leave the bow in the yard and keep going out to shoot a few every halfhour or hour or so. I've also found that taking a day or two off, every several days, gives your muscle a chance to rest and lets the experience sink in, I'll come back after the break shooting a little better.
Most importantly, find what you enjoy, and just do it! You'll have time later to hone your skills in for hunting!

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Keep it up dave, you will get better. I am 40 years old and i also will be learning the bow this year, i bought 1 off off ebay new, for about 400.00. Also did i mention, the real trick for me is i am a ground hunter, never been in a stand never will. At least 80% of the deer i ever killed were at least 30 yards from me anyway. And i like you is that i just want to get in the woods more. I only missed 4 days of black powder and shotgun last year. This year I am going for everyday in the woods that i can use a gun and gonna try and get a few weeks of bow hunting in.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

always good for anyone to get into the sport, keep it up and you'll be addicted in no time.. Everyone here has givven you some great advise. What I would do is head on down to your local sport shop and spend a few hours learning. Shoot some of there bows, and get some tips, advise, whatever they are willing to offer. Even if your not buying let them know you are new and possibly looking into a purchase in the near future. Ask them what your draw length is.. very important when buying a bow.. From there you I think you could get a 5'ish year old bow all set up for under 300.00 that will do everything and more you are looking for. ..Remember, start w/ the basics, learn the lingo, and have fun... hope it all works out well for ya.. good luck

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

I am in the same boat as you,Gouing to start bowhunting for the first time this year.I have been practicing 2 hrs a day for the past three days,I bought a Pro Sport Attack One[Used to be Champion Bows out of Canada] and everything that I needed to practice and hunt with for $60.00.It evenn included a hard case. Look around you can find some deals,Take it to a pro shop and have it fitted to you and enjoy. I think in all I have about $85.00 bucks in mine,with the price of having it tuned,I really have had fun the last few days learning to shoot. I started out at 20 yds. When I feel comfortable shooting at 20 I will work more at 30 yds. Hopes this helps.

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

or, do like i did, i'm not as strong as i wish i was so i'm afraid i'm not going to be able to pull the bow back when the deer comes by. especially the huge buck i'm after this year. if you go to gander mountian or any large outdoor shop you go back to the archery section and pick up a crossbow. crossbows are not guns and great to get you started in bowhunting. i'm probbaly looking into a mathews or bowtech in the future. just get a crossbow with some 2219 bolts, 100 gr. practice heads (if your shooting 150lb) and go get a bag target and shoot. just get the red dot on and your nock busting in days. it's really easy. you can always go back to vert. bows. go to the crossbow section and ask a few questions we'd be happy to answer them. crossbows arent any more expensive as a bowtech rigged out. just think about it.


now all you vert guys tear me up for recomending this:D;)[8D]

RE: My Second Day At It... Bows
 

Hi Dave.
One other thing. I know you picked up some arrows that may have been like the ones that came with the bow but you really need to be careful.

Choosing the proper arrow spine (stiffness)for your setup is not only needed to shoot consistantly but is is needed for safety.
An arrow that is not meant to shoot out of your setup could possibly injure you. There have been pictures posted in this forum showing a snapped arrow going through a persons hand. Additionally if you keep missing your target you may be causing damage to the shaft also rendering the arrow unsafe to shoot.

Good luck and be safe