Archery Tips

 

With bow season coming up in a few short months from now, It is time to be diligent about practicing to prepare for the hunt. Most bowhunters start shooting in the backyard during the summer and others may start shooting 3d tournaments to get ready for hunting season.  No matter how much you practice, you are not completely ready to head afield until you change from practice mode to hunt mode.

 

 

To help hunters make the switch from summer practice to fall success, we offer these excellent tips to be more effective in the field this season.

 

It Starts With Good Form

Good form is what will get you to shoot your bow better and be more accurate. So practice the following until it becomes natural for you.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and perpendicular to the target. A lot of guys like to turn their lead toe open a bit for better stability and balance.

Maintain a consistent anchor point. Find where your release hand meets your face comfortably at full draw and put it in the same spot every time. And because two anchor points are better than one, drop your nose down on the string or use a kisser button.

Don’t grip the bow handle like it’s a hammer, which introduces torque. Instead, turn your palm up and rest the bow’s grip against the your palm’s heel, between the fleshy pads. Lower your fingers safely under the shelf, but leave your hand relaxed and open as you shoot.

At full draw, continuously push toward the target with your bow arm and pull away with your string arm as you squeeze the trigger. Follow through smoothly. Try not to move your head, drop your bow arm, or grip the handle.

 

Realistic Archery Target Practice

While any target practice is good, realistic 3D targets offer a better visual of your intended target. They will help you with shot angles and get a better feel for shooting at the vitals.

With so many manufacturers producing these targets they have come down in price and are affordable. Set up a few to create your own mini 3D course, to practice different angles and distance to better prepare for the hunting environment this season.

 

Field Position Shooting Practice

All too often bowhunters practice only from a standing, upright position. While working on your form this is not a bad idea at all but to better prepare for the real deal in the field you should practice like your in the woods hunting.

To be more effective during the hunting season, hunters should practice for every shot that may present itself. This includes sitting, kneeling and crouching as well as shooting from elevated positions and through small openings in the brush.

The opportunities to shoot deer from an upright position over a perfectly flat, obstruction-free, manicured lawn are not the same as sitting twenty feet up in a treestand.

 

Be Sure To Shoot Your Broadheads

You will be surprised how many people practice shooting for months and never once shoot a broadhead until hunting season. Well don’t make this mistake, most fixed blade broadheads will fly much different on your setup than field points.

The main causes for the difference in flight are the large surface area of broadheads compared to field points and the different balance point of the arrow. Of these factors, broadhead wind resistance is by far the largest cause of inaccurate shots.

If your broadheads are not hitting where your field tips are then you need to broadhead tune your bow. It is a simple process, watch this video to learn how to broadhead tune a compound bow.

 

Practice At Random Ranges

So your shooting good groups at 20,30,40 and 50 yards. Well, try shooting 36 yards or how about 7 yards. A big mature buck might cruise through from any direction and at any distance. When he does, you need to be ready to range him and shoot with confidence.

Try moving your targets to random distances to help you prepare for this situation. Practice until your confident throughout your maximum shooting range.

 

 

 

Keep practicing and your groups will improve along with your confidence. These tips will help you become a better bowhunter.

 

 

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