Muscle memory, stability, and group size?

Pcjr21 · Apr 29, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Apr-29-17 AT 09:37PM (MST)[p]I recently got back into bow hunting after about 10 years. I got a Mathews No cam bow and I shoot 50-100 arrows a day for the last 4 weeks. I'm hooked and I love doing it, can't wait for my first deer hunt. Blacktail deer in July.....

Other than my ability to draw the Bow better, I don't feel like I'm any more stable with the bow than when I started.

Will stability come with muscle memory? What helps with stability? I feel it's much worse when I'm tired.

What is a reasonable arrow group to be out hunting?

1" per 10 yards? For Example (6" group at 60 yards)?

Any help is appreciated!

MQ1_4_LIFE · Apr 30, 2017

When you say that you are not any more stable, do you feel like you are not stable when fully rested, say, when you take your first shot of the day?

Stability will come as a product of strength and experience. The more you practice, in theory, the more stable you should become. All archers lose accuracy when fatigued.

Personally, I am happiest when my arrow groups are all within the 10 ring. I never cut myself any slack for increased arrow group spread at increased distances, but then again, I would never shoot at a live animal past 50 yards.

blazingsaddle · May 3, 2017

Stability also comes from proper form. Make sure your shooting form is on point.

As far as group size. That's a scary question to ask on the internet. Some say 1" for every 10 yards. If you can shoot that well, you have nothing to worry about. I wager there are not a lot of archers that are that good consistently. Just keep shooting and you will learn your comfortable distance for a hunting situation. If you really want to compare yourself to others, find a summer 3D league and see how you stack up.

Elkslayer1125 · May 4, 2017

Along with what everyone else said I would look at a longer stabilizer. This year I went from a 4 inch to a 12 inch and I cannot believe how much steadier I am on target even at extended distances.

MQ1_4_LIFE · May 5, 2017

Good point about the stabilizer. When I first got into archery, I used a practice stabilizer that was 12" and very heavy. Then for hunting I used the sims 4" limb saver stabilizer. Practicing with the heavier setup also helped me train for hunting scenarios where you are carrying your bow all day.

I also ended up buying a second hand hoyt that I could crank up to 80 lbs. I used to practice with that a lot to increase my strength at full draw. Came in pretty handy when I was hunting with my 70lb set up and had to wait at full draw for over 4 minutes. I doubt I could have done it without the strength training.

Weiserbucks · May 5, 2017

Full draw for 4 minutes? I'm calling B.S.

MQ1_4_LIFE · May 6, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-06-17 AT 08:32AM (MST)[p]haha. OK. Call B.S.

But facts are facts. I was at full draw for over 4 minutes, while a bull was staring me down in the dark timber. His body was covered by a lot of brush and trees, I could only see his left eye and ear. Before he even got to that point I was at full draw. I drew back after I called him in to 30 yards, and he slinked his way through the dark timber. When he got even in elevation with me, he caught my scent.

He was less than 5 yards from me and I did not have a shot until he finally decided he had enough of that situation. He took one step to his left and I let the arrow go. Went right through his heart and the broached got buried in his shoulder on the opposite side. He took 4 steps and fell over dead.

But yeah, I am sure you are right about calling B.S. I am sure that the pinnacle of my archery hunting experience is all some sort of made up story. People like you are why I stayed away from posting on forums.

Like I said, I practiced with an 80lb set up. For hunting I was at 70lbs. Once you get proficient at a higher weight, when you drop the poundage it is significantly easier to stay at full draw.

Weiserbucks · May 6, 2017

I'm not saying that your encounter didn't happen, congratulations on your success .

I'm sure the excitement of the situation made it feel like you were at full draw for much longer than you were . I doubt you timed it , 4 minutes is an eternity regardless of practicing with heavier weight.

If you're going to be a member of any forum , you'd better get thick skin quickly.

MQ1_4_LIFE · May 6, 2017

>I'm not saying that your encounter
>didn't happen, congratulations on your
>success .
>
>I'm sure the excitement of the
>situation made it feel like
>you were at full draw
>for much longer than you
>were . I doubt you
>timed it , 4 minutes
>is an eternity regardless of
>practicing with heavier weight.
>
>If you're going to be a
>member of any forum ,
>you'd better get thick skin
>quickly.

Fair enough. But if you are going to ask for novice advice on an internet forum, you might try listening to the advice before "calling B.S." Just because you haven't tried something, or are not capable of it, does not mean that others can't do it.

Servehim · May 6, 2017

My thoughts are that first and foremost get good form down and force yourself to do a mental check on that prior to every shot ( muscle memory) Next lots of repetion to build your strenght, you must be strong enough or you'll never feel stable. Much of accuracy is mental, sounds weird but you must get confident that that arrow will hit where you want. Just my thoughts

Pcjr21 · May 7, 2017

>My thoughts are that first and
>foremost get good form down
>and force yourself to do
>a mental check on that
>prior to every shot (
>muscle memory) Next lots of
>repetion to build your strenght,
>you must be strong enough
>or you'll never feel stable.
>Much of accuracy is mental,
>sounds weird but you must
>get confident that that arrow
>will hit where you want.
>Just my thoughts

Thanks,
this week I really worked on the mental part and It made a big difference. I started doing some worm up shots where I would not over focus on the bullseye and just shoot and I realized how good I could group when I was only trying to keep it on the target!

I definitely understand the confidence thing. When you hot your hot!!

Thanks everyone for all the help