Some great archers like Cameron Hanes, Fred Eichler and Gian Rossini get the opportunity to shoot everyday to keep their skills honed to a fine edge. Others, like most of us, dust off the bow and arrows a few months before the season starts for the well needed practice. Because of that, this limited practice is critical to gain the muscle and consistency to shoot accurately. Here is an outline of the routine I use to minimize the frustration and maximize the confidence I need to shoot big game:
1. Equipment:
It is important to start by checking one’s equipment; both the bow, the arrows, the release, the guard, and the clothing. All of these items could lead to inconsistent shooting. One should preform the required maintenance and add in the changes at the outset. Taking the time to deal with all of this now will help avoid inserting variables that may lead to inconsistency later in the practicing. Care should be taken to note the condition of the string, silencers, fletching, tuning, etc.
2. Strength and Form:
To start, one should shoot for three weeks to:
a. Establish good shooting form.
b. Build muscle groups.
c. Re-develop muscle memory.
The shooting is to be done as follows:
a. The bow to be set at the setting one will be using for hunting.
b. All shooting to be done at 20 yards maximum.
c. Other than major adjustments (such as if one replaced one’s site), as long as the arrows are hitting close, there is no need for one to make any adjustments.
The idea behind this three week period is that as muscle and muscle memory develop around the intense focus of proper shooting form, the arrows will continue to fly radically for a couple of weeks until one’s body settles down. As well, the short distance allows one to focus on very small spots (I suggest shooting sets of 5-10 arrows with 5-10 very small spots on the target to avoid “William Tell”-ing the arrows…….) while shooting a lot of arrows.
3. Accuracy:
After three weeks of shooting, and now feeling very comfortable with one’s form (because of muscle, memory and focus), it is time to get accurate with this routine:
a. Shoot ten arrows at 20 yards to loosen up each time one shoots.
b. Shoot the next ten at 40 yards.
c. Shoot the next ten at 30 yards.
d. Shoot the next ten at 20 yards.
e. Repeat this as much as desired.
f. Each week, add another ten yards into the mix (and therefore, at Week 8 one would be at 80 yards max, shooting ten arrows at 20, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, and 20 yards for a complete cycle).
Of course, adjust the number of arrows and the number of cycles according to one’s stamina. It is the objective to be the strongest at the beginning with the longer distances (as that is where consistency of accuracy will be noticed the most), and still be able to still finish the cycle with good form.
A good motto to have and practice to is: Aim Small, Hit Small. Adding this thought into one’s mind while shooting these cycles (even out at the great distances) will drastically improve one’s accuracy.
Another point to add into Step 3 is to number one’s arrows. This way, terrible flyers can be eliminated from the hunting pile.
I would like to recommend one try to shoot out 10-20 yards further than one ethically wants to shoot during the season at an animal. This will help with ones form, calmness, accuracy and confidence at one’s maximum hunting distance.
As one goes through the weeks, one should notice drastic improvement in accuracy out at the greater distances. The nearer distances will seem like a piece of cake! That is when the confidence will skyrocket. Then, when that huge buck or bull steps out at 42 yards, ones heart may be running, but the form and muscle memory will keep the mind at ease while making a smooth shoot.
4. Other Factors:
A few last points to consider that can affect ones confidence in making the perfect shot:
a. I have suggested full poundage, certain yardages, certain quantities of arrows, and timeframes. BUT, don’t overdo it. An injury is devastating, ruining or eliminating the hunt. Work up as one’s body can comfortably handle. A little pain during, and a few aches the next day are okay, but listen to one’s body for limits. And, then modify the plan as needed.
b. Problems/Repairs quite often happen before the season starts. However, I have found most bow shops have a person available to fix and RETURN the bow to the position one has been practicing at. If after a repair or a change, ones bow isn’t shooting the same way, take it back and ask questions. Hopefully the shop can help get it back to the same spot.
c. There can be bad arrows. Numbering them helps one to pick the four to six flyers out of the bunch for the hunting season.
d. Switching to broadheads can be a real mess. Do not wait for the last day to do this change. One needs the time to deal with the problems that may arise even when ones bow is properly tuned, the same weight practice tip and broadhead are used and when nothing else changes. If problems arise, again, refer to help from the archery shop. Hopefully they will be able to solve the issue without having to reset the bow.
e. Range finders are for me personally a must. Yardage estimations in the field on an animal make or break 95% of the shots. Back when I was shooting a 260-280 fps compound, the fact was that out past 37 yards, I could only be +/-1.7 yards to be in the kill zone of a mule deer (an eight inch pie plate). That example alone should make most people either carry and use a range finder, or have a 800 fps bow to eliminate the concern.
5. Final thought:
There are a lot of thoughts out there in the industry about how far out to shoot an animal with a bow. Equipment, of course, dictates a lot. But, in the end, it is all about each one’s ethics. But, was drives those ethics? It is the practice that one does that tells what that distance should be. I have a couple of stories to share:
My hunting partner and I saw one of our hunting friends in the campground we were driving through. We stopped and talked elk stories, with our excitement to get around to telling him about the 322 my partner had gotten the year before. The guy then proceeds to pull out a picture of the 368 he had shot the year before………..humbled again….. We asked about the story, and he mentioned he shot it at 102 yards! We were amazed, and inwardly thinking “Wow, that wasn’t right!” After talking some more, he said he practices out to 120 yards, accurately hitting the kill zone.
My hunting partner used to shoot a recurve. I was amazed at the shots he made whether at a shooting range, or just messing around in the woods. From 20 yard stump shooting, to a bird at 50 yards, to a barrel at 120 yards, he made them all. After a while, though, I started to notice that although he was good all the time, his second and third arrows were the really amazing ones. His first wasn’t always the best………
So, I say the following: Know the size of the kill zone of the hunted animal, determine the percentage of the arrows that must hit within that diameter every cycle of practice the final week or two, and set in one’s mind that that is one’s maximum yardage. Determine it while one practices—not out in the field. I have always said it is hard to say “NO” when I kind of think my maximum yardage is 50 or 60, and the 350 bull steps out at 75………………. That is the meaning of ethics.
I hope this will help your confidence in the field. Shoot straight.
Dave
