How To Shoot a Traditional Bow and Arrow

For thousands of years, humans have used the bow and arrow for hunting and warfare. Today, you can buy bows equipped with devices and sights to help you aim accurately and hit a bull’s-eye almost every time they’re drawn. For example, with a fixed pin sight, an archer has a guide that shows how to adjust his aim to ensure he hits the target no matter the distance.

But ancient archers had to learn how to aim without sights. This skill — called instinctive shooting — requires years of trial and...