I've been bowhunting since I was twelve years old. Last season I developed a problem I can best describe as jumping the string. I use a Keller pendulum sight and practice off my roof. As Im bringing the pin up to the target I slow down before I get there and the bow just kinda hangs maybe 6-12" below the dot, then I jerk the bow and release at the same time. Usually its pretty accurate, but I know its a VERY bad habit that I cant control. Ive tried focusing on the target and bringing the pin up to it but I still cant get the pin on the dot. Ive even tried to aim the bow for a period of time while a friend releases the trigger at random to "surprise" me. None of it has worked.... I know the bow is dead accurate but that dont mean jack if Im not, and Im hesitant to shoot at a deer because of this. Ive shot a few groundhogs on stand since the problem started but I never had the nerve to release on a deer. Im just afraid Ill do the same thing as in practice and not get a good shot.....Any ideas???

 

You are not "jumping the string", you are flinching and you've got to break yourself of the habit ASAP. That means not doing it any more, ever. Deer "jump the string" by dropping down as soon as they hear the bow go off and I've seen deer hit their chest on the ground they drop so hard. I used to hunt on an Army base that was archery only, those deer only knew bow hunting and they got pretty good at ducking arrows. They also looked up all the time, that was the only place I ever saw deer looking up into the trees. It was challenging but there were some good bucks there.

To overcome your new bad habit, get down off the roof and stand close to your target. Close your eyes after you draw the bow empty and concentrate on raising the bow up and down (a little, not sky high) smoothly. Don't shoot an arrow until you are sure you know what it feels like to raise the bow up and down without flinching. Keep your eyes closed and concentrate hard, don't let your finger hit the release button. It may take a few days without shooting a single arrow, that's OK. When you are sure you can control the bow and your finger, load an arrow and open your eye(s). DO NOT PULL THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR PIN IS ON THE BULLSEYE. If you can't control your finger, back to an empty bow and closed eyes. You are going to have to decide that you will never flinch again and once you have made that decision, never allow yourself to shoot sloppy again. Every shot has to be controlled or you will slip back to flinching, it's going to take some mental effort but you can do it if you put your mind to it. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.