Ouch

[Elmo]

This is what bad shooting form gets you huh?  Look like I would need a bigger arm guard.

[steve863]

Wow that smarts!  I don't know if I have good shooting form or not, but I have never used an armguard while shooting, even with short sleeves.  Never had a problem, and I have hairy arms also and have never shaved a hair off them.  Go figure!

[Doc]

Keep that elbow cranked out. If you're hitting your bare arm, imagine what's going to happen in November when you have all that cold-weather gear on. This is a good time to work that problem out.

[ny hunter]

You are letting your shoulder go foward.Draw your bow back you well see that your shoulder is out keep your shoulder back.I was doing the same thing,the pro shop noticed it when I was getting mt bow set up.I have never hit my arm since.

[Elmo]

Thanks for the tips.

That was actually from last weekend.  The color just started to really set in the last few days.  First time with the bow.  Most of the damage was done at the end when I was starting to tire a little and had also switched over to the recurve.  I really enjoyed it.  Will definitely buy a compound in the future just to shoot at the range, etc at first.  I won't hunt with a bow until I'm good enough to gaurantee a clean and ethical kill.

[ny hunter]

We have been there,LOL....

[WNYBuckHunter]

I won't hunt with a bow until I'm good enough to gaurantee a clean and ethical kill.

You cant guarantee anything, especially with hunting, and bow hunting in particular. Bad shots come with the territory and can happen for many reasons that are way out of your control.

What Im trying to say is dont be too hard on yourself, put in your practice time and youll be ready before you know it. I shot for 2 years before I hunted with a bow.

Oh, and dont lock your elbow on your bow arm. If you need to to get your bow drawn completely, your draw length might be set too long.

[ELMER J. FUDD]

Are you using a D-loop and or a wrist strap release? You can reduce the required draw by eliminating the d-loop but even more by using a t-handle thumb release. Last year I was hitting my forearm whenever I had all my gear on and no arm guard. Or just reduce your draw length on the bow.

D-loop helps keep shot quiet though.

[Elmo]

The compound had a d loop and wrist strap release.  The recurve I shot with fingers.  I don't really have my own bow so I was using the rental ones at the range.  I kept locking my elbows a lot especially towards the end of the day when I was getting tired.  From 10 yards out, I would get 3 out of 4 arrows into a one and half inch grouping.  The fourth arrow was all over the place.  My form isn't consistent enough yet, I don't think.

[ny hunter]

The point is to have fun and enjoy your self,If you try and practice you well be ready to hunt you well know.Guys that hunt for years still miss and flub shots my self included.

[wztirem]

We have been there,LOL....

Me too, yikes.

Getting a black eye from your scope is painful too!

[ny hunter]

OH yes scope eye remember it well LOL.

[fasteddie]

I only use an arm guard when I am hunting just to keep my shirt sleeve snug . Havn't had any arm rash in several years (knock on wood) .

[Karpteach]

We have been there,LOL....

Me too, yikes.

Getting a black eye from your scope is painful too!

Yea, me too. I have not done either for a while. However, you never know. Torun what's your draw length?

[Elmo]

Yea, me too. I have not done either for a while. However, you never know. Torun what's your draw length?

28" as measured in a pro-shop.  They said I can even go to 27.5 ideally.

[Karpteach]

Too bad! I have an older bow just sitting in the garage. It's a 30.5" reach.

[erussell]

I bought a realease one time that was missing the tension adjustment screw. I sent it back to the manufacturer and they returned it with one. I thought I had tightened it down enough and took it out to the back yard to give it a whirl. I got the bow pulled about half way back and the string released and caught me in front of my arm gaurd and my whole forearm turned a deep purple. Probably lucky I didn't die from a blood clot. 

[RangerClay]

I did that once.  I tried a bow that was an inch longer than my draw length.  Had my arm straight to get the full draw.  Have someone take a picture of you at full draw and we could critique your form.

[Elmo]

Too bad! I have an older bow just sitting in the garage. It's a 30.5" reach.

Thanks for the offer.  I pulled an old bow out of my brothers garage.  It's over 20 years old and it's at 29.5".  I had it touched up and re-strung.  Haven't actually taken it out to shoot yet.

I think what happens is that my form is fine when I'm focused.  If I'm taking my time on every shot, I don't have a porblem.  But once I get into a flow and I stop thinking about it, I start to lock my elbows.  Next time at the range, I'll see if I can record myself.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Too bad! I have an older bow just sitting in the garage. It's a 30.5" reach.

Thanks for the offer.  I pulled an old bow out of my brothers garage.  It's over 20 years old and it's at 29.5".  I had it touched up and re-strung.  Haven't actually taken it out to shoot yet.

I think what happens is that my form is fine when I'm focused.  If I'm taking my time on every shot, I don't have a porblem.  But once I get into a flow and I stop thinking about it, I start to lock my elbows.  Next time at the range, I'll see if I can record myself.

Have you been fitted yet? You should be getting your draw length measured and your bow set accordingly.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Shoot, I just saw where you said you did. If you are shooting a bow with the wrong DL, your form will not be ideal and will cause you issues, such as black and blue arms 

[cbx46]

I roll my wrist out it brings your forearm away and allows you to keep your elbow straight