The off season might have you feeling like the previous bowhunting season is a distant, fond memory and next season seems impossibly far away, but the off-season is a prime opportunity to sharpen your skills, fine-tune your gear and maintain your strength for a successful fall season. Remember, success in the field begins long before opening day, so don’t wait—start practicing now to get a head start on your fall deer hunting season.
One of the most important things you can do is improve your form. Check your notes from last year. What worked well, and where did you struggle? Analyze your wins and losses from last season and practice accordingly.
Did you struggle with shot placement at a certain yardage? If so, start close. Focus on 20 yards until you’re consistently hitting the 10-ring and/or vital area on a 3D target. Once you’re confident about your shot placement, move back to 30 and do it again, then 40, and so on, until your groups are tight. Consistent grouping is key. It ensures you’re ready to make a clean, ethical harvest when the time comes this fall.
Did you have trouble keeping your sight steady? Practice mindfulness techniques like repeating a mantra to clear your mind and visualize your shot. If your draw weight is too high, temporarily reduce your draw weight while you build strength. Remember, a wobbly or shaky aim can often be addressed by focusing on slow, steady movements.
Hit the range to increase your distance, improve your form and check your equipment. Photo Credit: BU
And make sure your grip is correct. Sometimes archers and bowhunters have the tendency to grip the bow too tightly. Let the grip settle lightly between the lifeline point on your hand, the line that starts in the space between your thumb and first finger and curves down the middle of your hand, and your thumb pad. Your knuckles should be at a 45-degree angle from the bow. If you feel a noticeable difference when you focus on this step, you’ve likely been gripping the bow too tightly up until now.
Pick a consistent anchor point. If you rotate between different anchor points, take the off season to pick one, whether that’s the corner of your mouth, your nose or your jaw, and stick with it. Consistency is key with archery, so pick the anchor point that feels most natural to build muscle memory and increase accuracy.
Replicate real conditions. For example, if you traditionally hunt from a ground blind, pull a chair up to the shooting line at your range and practice from a seated position. The same goes for a tree stand. Practicing real-world scenarios will help create muscle memory and make it easier for your mind and body to connect and remember what to do when it’s time for full draw in the field.
While you’re practicing at the range, determine if you need to replace worn parts and make sure your bow is tuned. Check your bowstrings for fraying. A frayed bowstring could snap during a hunt and cause damage to the bow and possibly injure you. To have your bow tuned, visit your local archery shop to make sure it’s in the best shape possible for the upcoming season. While there, the shop can also check your cams and other components of your bow to make sure everything is in peak condition.
Thinking about increasing your draw weight or switching to a new bow? The off season is the perfect time to make adjustments, giving you time to get comfortable with your new equipment before you’re in the woods. Visit our store locator at bowhuntersunited.com/find-store to locate a shop near you.
Bowhunting requires more than practice at the range, it also requires strength and endurance. Stay active during the off season with exercises that target your traps, deltoids and triceps. Stretch bands, dumbbells or even bodyweight exercises will keep your muscles engaged, ensuring you’re ready to hold at full draw when your record buck comes into range.
A successful season starts with preparation. Consistent practice, proper gear maintenance and physical conditioning will ensure you’re ready to make your next hunt one to remember. We all know the adage “practice makes perfect” and it applies as much to bowhunting as it does to any other aspect of life.
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