I also shoot instinctive. I tried gap after shooting 30 years and got target panic terribly. Before the target panic I shot really good gap shooting. I went back to instinctive and shoot plenty good with no panic. I can focus on a spot better than I can aim at it. Great video.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Best line ive hear in a while. " I can focus on a spot better than aim at it"! Thats spot on!

When i started shooting i shot instinctively . Then switched to stringwalking , did that for three years, then started getting major target panic , and always thinking about form and am I doing it right. Now gone back to instinctive . Just grip it and rip it. I'm happy with my shooting again. Don't over think it and enjoy.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Well said. Target panic can be brutal for sure. Glad you beat it and are back in the groove

I have been shooting the same Kodiak Magnum bow for 54 years.....always instinctive. Your explanation is perfectly on point. Just relax, focus your eyes on a small spot on the target, draw, and release. Smooth draw, smooth release but always keeping your eyes focused on the target. That's all instinctive shooing is all about. For me, that works very well up to about 25 yards. While I would rarely take a shot beyond that distance, unless for 3D or just practicing, if I do try a longer shot then I tend to check the arrow position that my mind has determined instinctively by looking at the gap. It's still instinctive that put the bow and arrow into the correct position but I cross check to verify that the gap above the target is about right for the estimated distance. The beauty of instinctive shooting is that it is awesome for dusk or other low light conditions. If you can simply see the target, you can shoot and hit it. Even just seeing the outline of a deer at dusk is enough as with practice your mind will still instinctively put the arrow into the vital area. People shooting compounds with lighted sights just can't duplicate that feat. Obviously, if you can't even see the target, you won't be taking any shot! Here's a tip for instinctive shooters. Practice at the extremes. Shoot when it is nearly dark and you are squinting to see the target. Shoot from longer distances than you would regularly shoot from. Shoot from odd angles, such as from one knee. Do anything and everything that you can to give your mind the challenge to still hit the target under difficult conditions. You never know when the deer you are shooting at might be 30 feet below you drinking water in the bottom of a creek while you are on the top of the bank. I'm not advocating taking poor shots at animals. But we all know when the trophy buck of your life happens to step out you ARE going to try a shot no matter what. Better to have practiced it first! The more you stretch your practice sessions in this way the more you will increase your overall skills. Great video!

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Amazing explanation! Not much I can add to that. Perfectly said! And appreciate you taking the time to write it.

@STICKBOW-STEVE

9 ай бұрын

Awesome info. Luv it! 👍

I have been shooting instinctive for 35 years just started trying gap lm going through my instinctive technique then just glance at my gap up to 20 yards it's working really good but still work in progress thanks for your chanel really learn lots and enjoy it

@SamkoTradBow

Жыл бұрын

Glad you're enjoying the videos.

I always explained instinctive shooting to the compound guys. Do you use a site to throw a baseball at the catchers mitt or hit the guy in the chest with a football at 20 yards? No your arm is instinctively throwing to the correct target and distance your mind just calculates it. Just comes with practice just like any sport.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Perfect example. We'll said

@STICKBOW-STEVE

9 ай бұрын

Yes, I pitched a little in college... You stare at catcher's mitt and then you hit it! 👍 When I bought my recurve this past January the arrow shop guy used the analogy of shooting hoops. Me? The baseball thing made most sense as I never played around with basketball. All this info is great stuff! 😁

Traditional for life! Thank you for your content Jason. Can’t wait to get after them Whitetails and Black Bear here in Arkansas.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! season is right around the corner!

Very good tutorial about instinctive archery/traditional archery 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@SamkoTradBow

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Absolutely brilliant. I shoot instinctive and based in UK. Nice video . Good explanation on gap vs instinctive. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos

@SamkoTradBow

7 ай бұрын

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it

It's amazing how complicated people want to make things at times.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Agree. And why complicate a stick and a string

Nicely done Jason.👍

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Appreciate it.

im a instinctive archer and for fun i put some sights on my recurve, when i started shooting my group size tripled, it took about a month before the group shrunk down to where i was previously. a lot of the time the back of the brain will out-think the front and i could absolutely tell the difference on the ease of shooting in varying conditions without the sights once i took them back off. the sights added more complexity to an already potentially overwhelming situation if done consciously. been keeping it simple for a while now with form, focus, and follow through.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Great points! When you clog you mind down it struggles. Simply looking at and focusing on only the target is a great way to clear the mind and let the body do the rest. Love how you tried different ways to find what worked best for you. There is not a perfect way to shoot a bow or a right way. Find whats best for you. And you are doing that!

Great video Jason. I go back and forth between gap and instinctive. As you say, I think I have morphed into “gapstinctive”; I don’t consciously calculate the gap anymore. It just looks right and I let go.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

That's a beautiful way to shoot and works perfect

Great stuff Jason

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

A fine video, thank you for your knowledge

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

This video hits home for me. I'm fairly new to trad archery and started shooting instinctive and did fairly well right out of the gate. However, some days I just couldn't dial it in, which led me to try gap shooting. I could never grasp the gap concept. I tried using the tip of my arrow to aim but never established a gap. My arrows would still go near the target and not above the target. I'm assuming I was subconsciously bringing the arrow back to an instinctive method. I'm back to shooting 100% instinctive and having more fun. My hope is to get good enough so I can hunt with confidence. Thanks so much for the video. I'm a new fan and subscriber. Keep up the great work!!

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Yep many many many of us suffer from the same thing. If we try ro gap shoot or think about aiming we fall apart. Glad you are having so much fun with traditional archery and bowhunting

Excellent presentation.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it

I thought I was instinctive, but I learned I’m a split vision. I look in my peripheral vision at the arrow for left and right quick. Very good video.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

That works perfect!

Well done. My point exactly! :-) All the best

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

Well explained. I am not sure I could shoot in no light but, low light no problem.

@SamkoTradBow

10 ай бұрын

Low light is all that matters!

@UncleDanBand64

10 ай бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow exactly got to see what you are shooting at.

Nice video!!

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

For me, I find this to work best. 15yd and under, I’m inherently more accurate while just like you, look, draw and anchor, control-- thud. It hits the x every time. If I try to gap shoot 15yd or less it’s terrible accuracy. But if I try to shoot instinctive at 20 and 25, yikes groups are large but still groups. Even though I’m point on at 25 and only 4” gap at 20. I think with a few more years time put in with the same setup not changing anything drastically I may end up completely instinctive. I also feel for me in a pitch black room I probably wouldn’t hit a dang thing, as I believe I’ve just trained myself to subconsciously gap shoot using peripheral vision, so not quite true instinctive, or conscious gap shooting. Something in between. Traditional archery has certainly made for some intriguing things to try. Also, thank you for all the work on podcasts and otherwise you put out. It’s awesome stuff!

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Thats a fantastic system! a lot of great shooters do similar and start using point on at longer distances And it sounds like it working great for you. Your right traditional archery sure is excited and we never really get to reach the point of best we can be. Always room for improvement. Thats why we love it so much.

I've found for myself instinctive shooting has evolved into instinctive/snap hybrid. Consistency of draw and anchor while keeping eye on the aim spot. Works well Excellent vid👍

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

That's a fantastic system. Many many great archers and bowhunters shit the same way.

@johngschwend

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow 🤣

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

@@johngschwend hahaha. I ment shoot. Lol

Snap shooting is the most instinctive way of shooting. Even though we don't snap shot we have a mental sight picture we focus on. They're both instinctive because neither method is aiming

@SamkoTradBow

Жыл бұрын

100% correct

As an instinctive archer... I agree gap shooting might be the best place to start for the neophyte as they will get better results faster - far faster and that creates positive reinforcement to continue. Once you master that, then going to instinctive is the joy of being more natural. Natural in that for example you don't a baseball player, a football player or basketball player doing anything but instinctive, they don't do some form of gap, same holds true for archery... instinctive is natural. With that said, snap shooting feels like the most natural... but at least for me is not consistent enough to base my hunting on, but it is fun.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Well said. Nothing wrong with aiming and most people do. But shooting instinctively lets all my focus go straight to the spot I want to hit. Agree with you 100%

@jake4194

2 жыл бұрын

Oooooop. oòput

Yes, My brother is snap basically split vision in that it takes him so little to aim due to his amazing eye sight. I do Split vison and always kind of had even before I got the book in 2021, Howard Hills Method of shooting the bow and arrow. I also did some with a summer rec kids program up to 6th grade that was target sight but that since they were old and just an open metal pin, I used split and kept the sight out of my way, fit more for the other left hand archer in the class who was bigger then me. I also go to lowest part of my ear with upper finger touching that ear canal ridge to get a draw of 24 inches otherwise I am 21--22 inches with corner of mouth. I have also found when doing this I am closing the gap of when I miss by just a bit more then 3 feet to about no more then 27 maybe 30 inches if I messed up.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you have a great method all dialed in.

@caseysmith544

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow Yep and the last parts to the ear came as a teen came about when I stopped growing in the 10th grade.

I started out shooting like that and split finger but found that a lot of days i would get careless and shoot horribly. I started playing around and eventually found that shooting 3 fingers under and really seeing my arrow and my target at the same time forced me to pay attention every time i shoot and caused me to shoot a lot more consistantly. I never really measured gaps or anything like that but its been working well for me for a couple years now

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

That works perfectly. Gap shooting is a fantastic system so is 3 under! I think more people shoot 3 under that spit these days

@jeremylong6229

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow I really cant call myself a gap shooter. real gap shooters got a lot more going through their head during the shot than me. I use more of a split vision style i guess is what they call it. im aware of my arrow and see it clearly but dont focus on it nor have any idea what the gap is that portion is still somewhat instinctive. if everything looks right the arrow flies if not then it doesn't. The negative to this is i have to really pay attention when clocking my broadheads. if one of them is canted just a little bit differently the shot never looks right and it will really mess me up

Got 2 beautiful Northern mist bows and I am right handed and left eye dominate for the life of me after years of practice I cannot get good enough to feel ethical hunting deer with them. I am looking across the arrow my elevation is usually solid but my left and right is horrible

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

I am left handed and left eye dominant. I shot a compound bow right handed, gold right handed, bat right handed etc. Smartest thing I ever did was switch to shooting left handed to match my dominant eye. Only rook a couple weeks to develop the muscle and memory to shoot that way. Was well worth it.

Love you content Can you please make a video showing how pull back with three under or split on exact correct way how to grab the string...I think that's where I'm having a issue with inconsistentency I only shoot three under

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

I have a couple release videos on the channel in the traditional bowhunt Playlist. I don't do too many on release as my release is horrible. It's the one thing I just can't get right. So I dont talk about it much🤣🤣

@greekmaster1001

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow no problem I am really pleased I just started shooting trad and thanks to you and one other KZreadr I started shooting instinctively and I love it Thank you

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

@@greekmaster1001 glad you are enjoying the traditional bow!

The other method that works is a Fixed Gap archer and Fixed Crawl where they use a second nock as a __ for the peak but then this requires the exact same set of arrows where 0% is different from one arrow to the next to be more precise with this. I do think this method is less effective then Instinctive or gap instinctive even Split Vison a Dual arrow and spot style of shooting where I see both in the line of arming at the same time doing sort of a Gap style with that.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Yep many different forms and ways to shoot a bow. My advise is try them all and see what works best but keep it as simple as possible.

Instinctively i can fire 10 arrows as tight as a man's chest, but if I gap, I can confidently shoot at least 3 arrows in a palm size group

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Uts great that you tried both and find what works best for you

How consistent are you with a pure instinctive style? I’ve heard others, (ie Clay Hayes) talk about his overall consistency going up when utilizing an aiming method. I basically use what Howard hill describes as Split vision where he’s focused on his target but he is also seeing the arrow tip in his peripheral vision and can adjust as necessary. I’m really accurate out to 20 yards and it drops off pretty quick after that - granted I don’t practice longer ranges enough to be proficient.

@SamkoTradBow

Жыл бұрын

I jave done both gap shooting and instinctive. I naturally gravitated to instinctive. I did not plan it. But I think I shoot the best I can with what works best for me. When I try to aim my groups open up. When I just focus hard on the spot I want to hit I usually do better

At farther distances does the tip of the arrow "get in the way"? Say at your max of 25 yards or so.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Yes. And it's annoying. But since you are locked focus on the spot you want to hit already, when the point does get in the way you just look "through it" as if it wasn't there.

Thank you for your video. I am just a beginner. Because for my case I don't have time to aim, instinctive shooting is my only option. Would you kindly tell me how long it takes to get 4-INCH group at 20 yards for instinctive shooting? Thank you very much.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

There is no answer on time it takes for accuracy and group size. I know people that have been shooting 20 years and can not consistently shoot a 4 in his group at 20 yards. Myself included in that. That would be like hitting a cell phone everytime at 20 yards.

@matthewyu3531

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow Thank you.

Most of the time the reason people "over complicate" traditional archery is because they move from compound and cant accept the fact that its going to take LOTS of time before they are as good as they want to be. So they move to gap, then 3 under, then stringwalking. Those are all techniques that work great if being accurate fast is what matters to you...I enjoy the challenge. I also enjoy when the hours of work pays off. Thats why I moved from compound to trad.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

This is perfect and perfectly said. There is no cheating the learning curve in traditional bowhunting. And the learning curve is half the fun!

@jarridcarter5001

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow thanks buddy. Not knocking those other techniques by no means,thats just my opinion. I want everyone to shoot straight, I just enjoy the hard road lol

I thik you're talking about clay hayes🤠

@SamkoTradBow

Жыл бұрын

Was not. There are many people that shoot that way. I actually dont know how clay shoots.

Can you not see the arrow point in your lower peripheral vision even when focusing on the target? It’s my belief that many instinctive shooters are unconsciously using the tip as a reference point. Thoughts?

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

When you shoot instinctively you are so focused on the spot you want to hit you actually do not see the arrow. It's there but you don't see or remeber it. I used to do proof of instinctive back in the day at an archery range that was I doors with no windows. We would point a red Lazer pointer at the backstop and then turn all the lights off. Pitch black. I would shoot 6 arrows and all would be a super tight group on that dot. Some will say and argue " you can not avoid seeing the arrow as its right there". When you shoot instinctively the arrow is not actually there as your focus and sight is 100% down range at the point you want to hit.

It’s easier to improve by adapting an aiming system. Instinctive success requires continuous practice and the right mindset. Even investing the effort doesn’t ensure success, only a limited few ever really get excellent. For most archers, better to invest in a good aiming style.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Nothing wrong with aiming. But I don't share the same thoughts on how hard it is to shoot well instinctive. For myself and many people I know the freedom of not aiming or thinking about any of that stuff, just pure focus on the spot is a fantastic way to hunt. Now keep in mind I also don't care one bit about target archery or long distance etc. I'm 110% a bowhunter at close distances. Would never shoot at any animal beyond 25 yards ever under any circumstances. So take my opinion as exactly what it is. My opinion.

@woodsmith8439

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow understood. I’m an “under 20” believer too. Now that I’m mid 70’s, my real animals have changed to foam ones. 3d is all I can handle. My guru has always been Jeff Kavanaugh, and I consider him as an example of what can be accomplished. My style, not my accuracy, mimics his. Nothing like 3d to bring out the “discussions” though, and seeing what guys can do with stringwalking, gapping, fixed crawl, and whatever the latest thing is, convinces me that “aiming” is better overall for getting a trophy. Ain’t gonna go that route. I’m happy doing what I do. All I ever needed was a pie plate at 20, kneeling, sideways, or whatever, and I’ve got dinner. I’d like the quarter at 20, but I never had the skill.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

@@woodsmith8439 very well said. Yep lots of different aiming methods out there and that's a good thing! Gives people ideas and options to find what works best for them!

How much does your accuracy change from shooting in a stand, compared to in the ground? Just your experience… using instinctive shooting

@SamkoTradBow

Жыл бұрын

Not much difference as long as you practice from a stand as well. No matter what aiming method shooting from a stand requires practice.

you should grow that beard out. awesome vid. thanks jason.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Tina puts a limit on my beard🤣🤣

Exactly how I shoot. But I shoot everyday. 25 arrows. 12 15 20yrds. I also when hunting season gets close like now shoot one bow only. Same uncut GT 500s. Just keep ir Simple.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

I wish I could shoot everyday. I shoot about 3 times a week in the off-season and about mid August start shooting 5 days a week. 2 days a week I'm out of town still. I definitely find my shooting improves tremendously when September 15th or so rolls around and I've been shooting 5 days a week for a month straight.

I love to do instinctive shooting but I always look at my tip and screw it up. 😂

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣 same here. If I look at my arrow I will screw up the shot. I will see thw arrow and then argue with my mind on where I should hold it. My mind is always the smarter one of us and when I try ro take over I fail🤣

Jason I have tried twice to use the patreon link you give, and it doesn't take me anywhere that I can become a patreon....

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Patreon.com/tradbowpodcast is my channel. You might have to go to patreon and set up your username and email and payment info. If you still have problems hit me up directly jason@tbwpodcast.com

Jim Johnson bow?

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Northernmistlongbows.com Made by steve turay.

@shane4176

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow oh nice my dad has several of his bows.

I have found that I am far far more accurate if I am stump shooting at random distance whilst walking through the bush than I am if I am shooting at a target. I am so bad at a target face that I get discouraged .....then I take myself out in the bush and I am deadly???

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

That's better than the inverse of only being good on targets! I'd much rather be deadly in the woods than only good on the range!

@dash4177

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow Yeah but I just dont know why its like that ............its odd

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

@@dash4177 but it works

Do same thing everytime and you can become consistent! Many overthink it, unfortunately thats human nature.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

Very true and so many people want to te create the wheel when the wheel works perfect already.

I'm curious why you say snap shooting is not instinctive shooting. Wouldn't it be the purest form of instinctive shooting.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

I never said or intended to say snap shooting was not instinctive. It 100% can be and some of the best instinctive shooters I know are snap shooters. So if I did say that it was a mistake Nd my words got crossed

@Andy.E5454

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamkoTradBow Gotcha, I figured it might have been just a terminology kind of thing.

@SamkoTradBow

2 жыл бұрын

@@Andy.E5454 yep it must of been. Snap shooting is purist form of instinctive shooting.

Hi This is Auxbeam marketing agent kiki,Do you need some great free lighting for your car to help you better driving, off-road. we're looking for sponsorship!

Fuck sake. I'm UK and been shooting bows without sights for 30 plus years. The Longbow was invented in "Britain" after all. Check out Henry 8 longbows.

@SamkoTradBow

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for commenting