I'm just starting to shoot a recurve after about 20 years of bowhunting with a compound. Would someone tell me the technique for aiming without a sight? I am left-handed...

It's the same technique as throwing a ball. Look at the spot you want to hit, draw, anchorand release. Start at 10 yards, when your groups get in danger of tearing feathers or splitting nocks move back to 15 yards and so on. Remember form,form,form, practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. I would suggest getting a copy of G. Fred Asbell's book "Instinctive Shooting".
Pretty soon you'll be worrying about this happening.[:@]

Brian Sorrell has a book out that I believe if one follows his method, they will become proficient faster than any other program. Its basically a regimen where you start at 3 yards, and shoot every night, and do not move back until you are hitting a 2" spot every time, and then move back 2 yards and repeat. When you get to 15, start mixing it up a little

Good info there bigc!

When I started out I just shot and shot and really didn't care if I hit my spot I was looking at or not. All I cared about was a consistent anchor point and a good release and form. When I got that figured out I just looked at where I wanted my arrow to go and let it go. It was ugly at first but as time went on it became allot easier and allot more natural.

I think my style is Instinctive but people will argue that one to no end being they think the only Instinctive shot you take is your very 1st one. Call it what you want but whatever works for you is what you should do. When I shoot I look at my spot and concentrate like a SOB and when I pull my recurve back and hit my anchor point I let the arrow go. My eyes are always on the spot I'm looking at where I want that arrow to go to, I don't even acknowledge my arrow when I'm drawing back. It works for me. There's many other methods as well.

Good luck!!

Looks like you'll get a variety of answers. As you can see there is no one way. What I would suggest doing first is working on form and not worry about aiming. Get real close to the target. If you have a way to video yourself it may also be helpful. Then start aiming using a gap method. I think Bob Wesley's book is a good read which describes it pretty well. I think he provides a wallet sized card which keeps your gaps for a particular bow and arrow setup for distinct yardages. After using the gap, you maysubconsciously move to a split vision type methedand then a conditioned instinctive method. Or you may just want to stay with a Gap.

I will second on Brian Sorrell's book on "A Beginner's Guide to Traditional Archery". Follow the practice excercises exactly as stated in the book. As Bob and others may have stated, there are different aiming methods. "Instinctive", Point On, and Gap. I don't pretend to be any one of them myself. I use components of all three depending on distance, the targetand situation.

I just ordered the Sorrel's book on Ebay tonight....

There's going to be a video coming out before long (due out mid-winter) called "Masters of the Barebow, Volume III" that I think will fill a niche that's long needed filling. Two world champion archers will go into detail about their shooting techniques.

I haven't read it (yet), but Rick McKinney's "The Simple Art of Winning" gets good reviews from some top archers as well.

My opinion is learning to shoot with some sort of referance (sight) is easiest, then as was mentioned you may progress to "instinctive" later--actually your aiming becomes second nature after a while, so you don't really think about it, you just do it.

As far as that goes, you won't be breaking any sacred law by putting a sight pin of some sort (a taped-on match stick would work) on your bow until you get the feel for it, although it wouldn't be the most reliable thing.

First thing to do is learn to shoot--develop proper form--then learn to be accurate. It takes time to get proficient--start close, take your time, and have fun.

Chad