I got a really nice compound bow with a fancy sight. In no time at all, I was able to hit the target everytime, so off with the sight. Now I only put it on when shooting at night (it kind of glows, and without a moon or snow to reflect light, i can't tell where the arrow ends)
I find that the most important thing about intstinctive shooting (or shooting without a sight anyway) is that you have to hold the bow the same way, and hold the string at the same point every time.
I'm left handed, but shoot bows and slingshots righthanded (guns lefthanded). I'm also left-eye dominant.
When shooting, I usually just line up the point of the arrow with the target. After a bit of practice, you learn how to compensate for range, slope, and wind without trial and error.
I just realized that i don't have any measurements for my shooting range, but most shots are about thirty-five long paces. I'm able to consistently score centered hits on a humansized target from that range and a bit further.
Far more interesting though is shooting without thinking/aiming. I load the bow with it pointing down, and draw as I level the bow with the target. The instant I reach full draw (very easy to feel on a compound bow), I let go. With almost all shots this way I either don't have time to line up the shot, and more than half of the time, the bow isn't even up to where i'd normally hold it, and half of the time the bow is horizontal, always at an odd, but comfortable angle. From about thirty paces, usually more, this very inconsistent technique can hit a .5mx.5m target 7 out of 8 times mostly, sometimes 8 of 8 and occasionaly/rarely 6/8 or 5/8.
It took a bit of practice but it's still a bit shocking to me. The mind has to be in the right state though... it's kind of hard to explain, i suppose "zenlike" would be the best way to describe it. Although, the fast movements and rapid reloading go against the quiet and relaxed image conjured by the word zen. The mind isn't focused consciously, all though it's certainly not distracted. When in this state of mind it's also easy to knock arrows with frozen and wet fingers.
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I've tried shooting while running to very little success. Maybe I'll give it another shot (no pun intended) when the spring rolls around.
How do yall do it?