RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Being I shoot a recurve I pick my spot and stare that spot down until the arrow is released and in the animal. Its pretty simple logic but allot of times people have a tough time with this though. To often hunters are looking at the deer or the area they want to hit instead of aiming concentrating at the spot.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Steve you ever play soft tip darts? If you are good when you are picking your spot/hole on the soft tip board you never really see the dart until it is in the air, You know what I mean? So focused on your targe.

T

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

You make VERY little sense, sometimes, Fraley...:eek:

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Big time RESPECT from the Dinko ;)

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

i pick the general area of the lungs and let the arrow fly, if i concentrate to hard either I choke or the deer sense me concentratingand take off

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

nevermind.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I just picked a spot and think im going to set in it and drink a beer while reading the rest of this tread. Too much saw dust in my britches, been out carving bows. So I guess ill be picking atsome other spots aswell.:D

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Picking a spot= location,location, location.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Do you only shoot at broadside deer?

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Of course you want the arrow to fly where the pin is, that's why we sight in our bows no? But my pin is not the spot I'm AIMING at.....it's my sight.

Also, gun sights and bow sights are two very different beasts. Witha gun sight, younever coverthe target. Your bead is NOT your spot. After a sight picture is obtained you place the impact point (your spot) just above the sight like the graphic below.



If you happen to be shooting an older shotgun with a single bead (like a bird gun) you still employ the same method as mentioned above it's just there isn't a second point of alignment. Newer shotguns with two beads, one in the middle and one at the end of the barrel should be "stacked" and your "spot" placed on top of the beads (like the pic above).

Now a bow sight is different and it's sighted differently too. First off, when I draw, I'm not even thinking about my anchor points....That's what practice and repetition is for....muscle memory. No, I'm looking at my target, my "spot" I place the correct yardage pin on that spot. At this time I am so focused on that minute impact point my pin is almost a blur. I'm concentrating solely on my "spot".

I think Fraley said this as well. I'm not thinking about my pin because I know it's lined up with my lineof sight and I'm staring right at my tuft of hair, muscle crease, scar, burr, or whatever it may be. Then, when the time is right, I release my arrow.

Jeff, answer this if you would....If you're not aiming at a specific point, then what are you aiming at?

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Actually I throw in a dart league Tony, I understand exactly what your saying! Good point.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

John....you know me. The only problem I have with what you guys are saying is......I don't buy that as many people that SAY they "pick a spot" .....actually do that in the field. It sounds good and all......but I'm a realist.

To answer your question......I sorta look at the bow shot as I'm firing a laser......and my pin is my laser pointer. Deer takes a step to his right (qtring away).....I move my laser pointer. I've even had them trun their head RIGHT before I shot.....and I've altered my point of entry due to their body shifting....and them never moving from the spot they're standing in.

Do you realize how much time it would take to do what you guys are saying? First of all.....you'd have to have a discernable "spot" in the exact "spot" you need your arrow to impact. OK.....assuming you are the luckiest hunter in the world.....and that animal has a tuft of hair at EXACTLY the spot you need........now....what pin are you gonna use? Do you need to gap it? Uh oh.....he's moved his back right leg.....dropping it back 6". He's now quartering away a HAIR....and the last spot is no good, anymore (please don't tell me you're still gonna shoot him in the same spot). What do you do now? No discernable tuft or mark on the deer?

I guess he walks for being too clean.

Come on, guys.....it's really not worth arguing about. If it makes you feel better.....I aim at a spot, too. The one right behind my pin......and I can change mine in an instant (if need be).

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Spot, hair, crease, fold, shadow, tuft of hair.... something. I burn a hole in it and the arrow goes off all by itself.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Few more years of experience under your belt and you will understand Frieda.
Sorry forgot the word EXPERIENCE for ya.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

LOL, Fraley....how many years of not killin nothing do I need to catch up?:D

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

1 ;) I learned it way back in 84

But if it works for you why change IMO.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

So what some of you are saying is that you only shoot at scraggley deer with "bed hair" right? Clean smooth coats get to walk? ;)

Kidding aside, I've never been able to see a tuft of hair on a deer at 20yds in broad daylight and I have 20/25 vision. 30 yards is even harder obviously.Nobody's answered the question of where you aim at when it's almost dusk and there are no spots visible to focus on. What I think and I may be wrong is that what some people call "picking a spot" is just an over-glorified way of doing what most hunters do anyway. They pick a "LOCATION" on the deer that they want to hit and they just continue focusing on that particular location.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

;)See Jeff location is everything.:D

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I find picking a spot is tuff when its all brown .....I settle my pin in on the boiler room and let her rip!

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

What takes concentration is aiming at something with no discernable marks. A new 3D target is a good example (and if you say you're aiming at the 10 ring....you can't see that from 20 yds....trust me). A deer is another.

It takes concentration.....but there is NO spot to aim at. I would have to assume that a deer with no tuft or discerbale mark would get a free pass form a lot of you guys.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I getthe pin where it needs to be an say thats about right an let it go. Seems to work good.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I would have to say my spot is 2 inches. Not broken down to a hair or tuft. When I practice I have a paper plate on the target and aim right smack in the middle and that is my spot and no markings or
anything. I just focus on that. Pretty much a paper plate is the kill size area on a deer and if I am off just a bit I am ok. 6-8 inches.
But like I stated what works for me might not for you and by your recent kills it is also working.
Enjoy your day, time for my son's basketball games.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I'm a percentage type of guy. I like my percentage of arrows released and deer dead on the ground.Isn't that what really matters? I keep that percentage up by concentrating on the spot I want that arrow to hit, I can change that spot and it doesn't have to be a tuff of hair etc. Doesn't take any time at all.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I hear ya, Charlie...and I agree.

I'm done. I'm heading to the shop to shoot. I promise to come to a complete stop at all stop signs on the way. I always do.;)

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I can look at a white wall ornew 3-d target and say "I want to hit right there" take my shot and know if I did it or not. It isn't that difficult.

Jeff what the big deal about how someone else explains something?

Ok your right, feel better?

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

you lost me with that one.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Hey Charlie....Take a pill. I agree with you. You can be right.:eek:

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

It is actually time for a pill. Thanks for reminding me. Vicodin for everyone bartender.;)

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

CharlieP, I think most of this thread is a moot argument. If it matters I'm with you;)I really can't imagine shooting a deer, bear, elk, etc. without picking a spot. It doesn't have to be red, orange, a crease, a shadow, a tuft of hair, etc., but it does need to be a spot;)

Dan

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I don't think I've ever "picked a spot" while hunting. Practice is a different story. I think most peoples hunting shots become almost instinctive after they get a few under their belt. Don't get me wrong, I use my pin, but it just kind of automatically settles on the vitals. I'd say 95% of my broadside shots ended up within the same 4" area. I don't "pick" this spot...it just seems to pick me.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Jeff,


All I'm trying to tell you is that before I trip the release I'm aiming at a SPECIFIC spot on the deer. It really doesn't matter what it is and it could evenbe nothing but a one inch brown spot. The point I'm making is, I don't look at my pin. I put the pin on the spot I want to hit then from that moment on Iconcentrate on that spot......WHATEVER it may be.If the deer moves, obviously so does my spot and I will start the whole process over again, It takes only buta second to find my spot, place the correct pin on it then concentrate on that small spot. The pin is visible but it'sNOT my focal point, the deer is and specifically the exact spot I'm trying to hit.

What I don't do and recommend others don't as well is simply put my pin behind the shoulder and trip the release. Are the vitals there? Sure but I still want to be as accurate as I can. That's all I'm trying to say, I want to pick a spot and aim for it NOT just simply place my pin behind the shoulder and "let her fly".

So which one do you do, try to hit a precise spot, or just float the pin behind the shoulder and shoot?

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

You got that right Steve!!!!!!! OVERanalyzing everything...... ;):D:D:D:D

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I am going to make this simple. If you want to be successful you better pick a spot. the more you focus your aim, the more acurate your shot will be. more acurate shots = more deer on the ground. Another important aspect to doing this is it will always help with " buck fever". If you are focusing on a spot you are not focusing on the deer. You must practice this before hunting. It is best to use a 3-d target of what you intend to hunt. Try it and you will become a believer.It will also help with your follow through. Which makes you more accurate.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I obviously aim at the kill zone and barring any rush I try to hone in with my pin atthe smallest spot in that area.Ishoot with thementallity aim small, miss small.That being said I like all others have had some shots I wish I coulddo over.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

Call me silly and a beginner if you want, but I see the spot.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

David:

I shot a 3D tournament yesterday. I'm looking through 10x42 Leuopold binos to help discern "something" for me to aim at. Sometimes picking that spot takes a while....even with the binos. Sometimes (3D) I have to pick a crease in the foam and just say....."I need to be 3" right and 2" up from there". When that happens....there is no "spot" where I need to be. I just know I need to be there.

It's no different than what I've been saying this whole thread. I know where my arrow needs to go....and I put my pin there.

We're saying the same thing.....pick the place you want your arrow to enter.......carefully. But if you can pick an exact spot on a deer's hide at 20 yards.....you see a helluva lot better than I do.....even with binos.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I must confess.... I am a spot picker [8D]. I dont' know how, why, or what I'm looking for most of the time. But at the moment of truth I'm looking at a hair, tuft, wrinkle, shadow, discolorment, etc...... I narrow it down to a little point on the deer itself. I like the dart analogy. I used to play a lot of darts. When I got good I would aim for a specific hole instead of the area of the number I'm trying to hit. Aim small.... miss small.

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

I left work Friday and this thread was around 5 pages which was alot for what I felt was a simple topic, now on Monday am, it's on page 12!!! I can't refrain any longer ...

MY OPINION ONLY: If you are consistently putting double lung or liver/lung (on quartering shots) on your prey and recoveringthe animalwithin a reasoable distance then whatever you are doing works, period. Whether you say you are picking a spot or not is just "rhetoric", as was said 7 or 8 pages ago. What's next? - "Do you put on your right boot first or the left?"

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

First off... Binos on a 3D course???? PFfffffffft

Second, being a great shooter and becoming the arrow are not necessarily the same thing. ;):D

RE: How many actually pick a spot?
 

David....

I think you and I would agree we do the same thing in about 2 minutes of shooting together.;)