sureshot
The Hunt Never Ends....
Target panic is a scary thing, and those who have never had it will never understand how bad it really is. I remember back in 2005 I had it so bad that I didn't even want to pick up my bow. Everytime I tried to bring my pin down on the target, I couldn't. Luckily, my hunting partner had it a few years before, and spoke with a lot of knowledgeable guys on how to 'cure' it.
He wrote an article on the TrophyPursuit website that I feel you should check out. I think you will learn a thing or two on how to defeat it. Just remember, be patient and consistent.
http://trophypursuit.com/blake/2012/07/19/fixing-target-panic/
He wrote an article on the TrophyPursuit website that I feel you should check out. I think you will learn a thing or two on how to defeat it. Just remember, be patient and consistent.
http://trophypursuit.com/blake/2012/07/19/fixing-target-panic/
AIRASSAULT
PMA Member
I get a case of it every now and then..when i feel it develop, i pull my bow back with my finger behind the trigger and settle the pin on the bullseye and hold it for 5-10 seconds... then i very gently ease my finger to the front of the trigger and squeeze the shot off.. helps me
I had a mild case a few years ago, here's a few things I did that got rid of it. Got rid of my hair trigger release aid, quit shooting at targets for awhile and just shot judos at grass clumps, stumps, whatever. Also bought a back tension release that didn't allow me to anticipate the shot and shot it for a few weeks. Finally, bought an index finger release for hunting that I could adjust to a heavier trigger and hooked the trigger deeper into my finger and use back tension to release it.
sureshot
The Hunt Never Ends....
That's exactly what I did. I purchased a Carter IIshot.....very heavy trigger....haven't had a case of it since....but I also don't nearly as much as I used too. DON'T PUNCH THE TRIGGER EITHER!
Liv4Rut
Active Member
I just picture the target in its underwear. Seems to help me..... Someone once told me to just grab the bow and shoot into something like a haybale at night when you cant see from like 10 feet. Just focus on anchoring settling in and releasing. I have never had it luckfully.
Daver
PMA Member
Another good one!! Who needs Johnny Carson, the comics are out tonight on IW!! :way:BTW..."luckfully"?!?!?!?
Killing me here! What helped me avoid target panic was shooting a bunch of does over a period of a few years. So practice I guess.
LYON
PMA Member
I have not had a case of target panic luckily, but I am amazed at what our minds can conjure up and do to us. I can totally see how it would happen but if you talked to someone who has never shot a bow they'd think we're all a bunch of morons for even talking about something like target panic....
I've had it for the last 3 years and have yet to conquer it. Ted nudgent has battled with it as well, so you are not alone. It made me want to quit bow hunting at one point. I have just determined that it is one more challenge to bow hunting and just work everyday to get passed it. Some days it is worse than others, and makes me want to cut my trigger finger off.
MO-APE
Member
I was told by an Olympic archer (female by the way) to go to a target 5 yards away and aim dead center then close your eyes. Concentrate on your back tension, breathe deep and slow and release your arrow while your eyes are still shut. Do this repeatedly and concentrate on your release, not the bullseye. You'll get back on track quickly. Good luck!
SEIowaDeerslayer
Well-Known Member
I did, tried everything and couldn't cure it. I went to a backtension release and haven't looked back. I shot my two turkeys this spring using a backtension release and can't wait to hunt deer with it this fall.
203ntyp
PMA Member
That's what I did when I had it when I shot traditional equipment and it helped a lot. I also stump shot like mentioned and didn't shoot at a target for a while, I heard back tension releases also help a lot. Good luck, I feel your frustration...
I've had it the last couple of years and it annoys me terribly. I first tried putting my index finger behind the trigger so I wouldn't slap the release and all that did is make me hand move when I moved to the trigger and still punched it.
Now, I bought a Trufire thumb release (very heavy trigger) and this allows me to slowly move my thumb to the trigger once pin is floating on target. It has helped a ton. Im not cured, but I think it'll always be a mental thing to deal with.
I've read and researched a ton - it's very common and is why back tension relases were developed in the first place. Randy Ulmer has 3 of the same back tension releases set at different trigger weights so he can't anticipate when it will go off.
Good luck!
Now, I bought a Trufire thumb release (very heavy trigger) and this allows me to slowly move my thumb to the trigger once pin is floating on target. It has helped a ton. Im not cured, but I think it'll always be a mental thing to deal with.
I've read and researched a ton - it's very common and is why back tension relases were developed in the first place. Randy Ulmer has 3 of the same back tension releases set at different trigger weights so he can't anticipate when it will go off.
Good luck!
What helps me is to stop shooting at circle targets. Once I get my bow sighted in I just focus on a 3-D target and hitting a kill shot. I used to put those small orange dots on the circle targets and it just about drove me crazy. Once I get a good grouping, I just focus on life size targets.
I practice shooting to hunt. I know many people like to keep score and do 3-d which is also fun.
I went through the same thing this summer when I changed the limbs on my bow everything had to be reset and I became obsessed about hitting the orange dot. I switched back to shooting a 3-D target and my groups really tightened up and I started relaxing again.
Good Luck! I know it can be frustrating.
I practice shooting to hunt. I know many people like to keep score and do 3-d which is also fun.
I went through the same thing this summer when I changed the limbs on my bow everything had to be reset and I became obsessed about hitting the orange dot. I switched back to shooting a 3-D target and my groups really tightened up and I started relaxing again.
Good Luck! I know it can be frustrating.
NWBuck
PMA Member
I wouldn't call it "target panic", but during the last month or so of shooting in the back yard, I've been calling myself a "chicken of the kill zone", which was a way of saying I had developed a habit of holding just a bit low of a perfect shot. Shooting a bunch of shots at 12-15 yards has really helped, and keeping my trigger finger behind the trigger until I've settled in has also made a big difference.
On a related note, I've been doing a lot of shooting at 35-45 yards this summer, and although I don't see myself shooting at a deer at this range, it has really tightened up my 20-25 yard groups.
NWBuck
On a related note, I've been doing a lot of shooting at 35-45 yards this summer, and although I don't see myself shooting at a deer at this range, it has really tightened up my 20-25 yard groups.
NWBuck
sep0667
Land of the Whitetail
Well shot a bit in the yard this evening. Better quit before I loose any arrows. Seems like its getting worse and at times just want to quit. Sounds like a lot of people have had and I have overcome it. I don't know why I am just now developing it over the past year, seems like something someone just starting would have trouble with. Read a few suggestions of getting a heavier trigger release, maybe I'll give that a try.
