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Finger shooting compound, anyone?

USMC5831

Active Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2018
Messages
154
Location
Georgetown, KY
I got my old 2006 Hoyt Protec given back to me, after I loaned it to an old hunting buddy, to get him back into bow hunting. He got a new elite, and I got my old rig back.
Been threatening to set her up for finger shooting, but haven’t shot fingers since I was 9 or 10 years old.
kind of looking forward to having an old friend back in the tree with me, something new, and a little nogistalia to boot.
anybody else shoot long ata rigs with fingers like ole Chuck Adams?
Or am I just a weirdo??!?
 
I had a Martin bow that I shot using finger long time ago. It was a long ata.
 
I got my old 2006 Hoyt Protec given back to me, after I loaned it to an old hunting buddy, to get him back into bow hunting. He got a new elite, and I got my old rig back.
Been threatening to set her up for finger shooting, but haven’t shot fingers since I was 9 or 10 years old.
kind of looking forward to having an old friend back in the tree with me, something new, and a little nogistalia to boot.
anybody else shoot long ata rigs with fingers like ole Chuck Adams?
Or am I just a weirdo??!?
totally a weirdo. Fingers are not trendy, hip, and less accurate. How dare you try to have fun while hunting doing what you want. The hunting community tells you what you like..

Sorry couldn't resist. But if you can put arrows accurately down range that way, awesome! Do it!
 
I shot fingers with an old compound years ago and never knew it wouldn't work, lol. Only when I came back to archery about 12 years ago did I start using a release. On a long ATA bow I don't see any reason not too if you can make accurate hits. Give it a try and see how it works.
 
Come to think of it, I shot my first compound bow with fingers. I remember when I first saw a release and had to have it explained to me. That was probably 1989 or 1990. Thanks for helping me remember that!
 
It's not such a stretch for me since I still shoot fingers with my Hill style longbows. I use a Hill style glove, not a tab. I used a similar glove all those years ago when I was shooting a compound, almost exclusively for targets and fun. That was about 1990 also.
 
I shot fingers growing up and as the bows got stronger and shorter I developed nerve damage in my middle finger. Release aid from then on out
 
When I had a compound, I shot fingers. But that was technically a lever bow from Oneida, just like a recurve but shorter, since then still shooting with finger on my recurve! Just make sure to use a good glove...
 
You just have to be careful to not roll the string and have it come off the cam with the newer bows. Watch some Youtube videos and you will see many slipping the string. I don't think I would do it, just not worth it to me and feel like I am much more accurate with a release and holding back when you get spotted and have to hold for a long time.
 
its instinctive, no looking, just grab and shoot. been done that way from the beginning of time.
Right....but compound bow has only been around 50 years...

Im genuinely curious...is there a benefit or just a preference. I got pretty tough hands but I would think at full draw for 3 minutes waiting on the animal to move that would be a little painful.
 
Nothing wrong with fingers! When's the last time you left your fingers back at the truck or dropped your fingers out of the tree? When was the last time you had your fingers accidently release an arrow before you were ready? The simpler you can keep things the better.
 
Right....but compound bow has only been around 50 years...

Im genuinely curious...is there a benefit or just a preference. I got pretty tough hands but I would think at full draw for 3 minutes waiting on the animal to move that would be a little painful.
Why do some people still shoot muzzleloaders?
It’s just something fun and different that I already have at my disposal.
I bought that bow in college and shot 3-d tournaments all over with it.
I left the 3-d world, and only hunt now.
it’ll be fun playing around at the range, and if effective out to 30, tote it on a few hunts this fall.
I can’t not see the point.
 
Give it a try.
I have a Caribou that I tried to shoot with fingers and could not shoot it as accurate as my recurve. But I never shot a compound well.
 
So, for guys shooting fingers with trad gear, tab or glove? If tab, hair or cordova, and why?
I prefer glove. Glove I use is bison leather and the finger pads are a slick nylon. Been using this glove for 2 years and love it. I like a glove because I put it on when I get my bow off my shelf and don’t take it off until I put the bow back in my closet. No way to lose it and it doesn’t affect climbing at all. Also shooting with fingers allows/encourages instinctive shooting and that really helps with aerial targets which is one of my favorite things to do. Peoples faces when you smash an aerial target is usually complete disbelief.

But then again I’ve never done it with a compound. Here is an idea. You should come to the trad side!
 
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