Practice makes perfect, practice how you perform, the 5 P’s-perfect practice prevents poor performance, we have all heard some variation of these sayings ever since we could walk whether it be for school, sports, or some other activity. As repetitive and old as they might be, they are undoubtedly true and the world of bowhunting is no exception.

All of us have spent those summer days in the back yard flinging arrows at a target 20 yards away. There is nothing wrong with this what so ever. In fact, it is very important to do this to establish proper form and technique. It is however, where a lot of hunters fall short. Many hunters believe if they shoot all summer long in their shorts and t-shirts they will be ready for that moment of truth come fall. Now I know a few people who practice like this every year and still kill a good buck, but I know far more that are successful who use situational practicing to prepare for the season.

To me, situational practicing is the key. When you use situational practicing to prepare for your season the only thing that isn’t there is the deer. Granted the deer plays a pretty critical role in deer hunting, but I think you know what I mean.

Shot Angles- Because I shoot a lot of 3-D I get good practice at varying distances. One of the things I am always sure to remember though, is a shot at a deer is almost never like shooting 3-D. In most cases on a 3-D course the targets will be set at various distances, but will often be broadside. As you all know, that just isn’t the way bowhunting works. So when you are in the back yard, practice shooting at different angles. Turn the target so it offers a quartering away shot and slightly toward you so you have a slightly quartering to shot. Now normally I do not advise a quartering to shot, but if it is only a slight angle and the deer is calm, it is a shot I am comfortable taking.

Incorporate shooting from a tree stand when practicing your shot angles. This is key, often times when shooting at a deer from a tree stand it is better to aim slightly lower than where you actually intend to hit. This allows for the angle of the shot, especially at close range, as well as the deer “jumping the string”, which means if the deer hears the vibration or the sound of the arrow being released it will drop sometimes up to over a foot before it begins its forward movement. Although it is becoming less of an issue due to the advancements in bow technology, it is still a good habit to get into.

“Uncomfortable” Shooting- Many bowhunters know often times the only shot opportunity is presented by leaning around a tree, kneeling down, leaning out to avoid a limb, etc. Even though many hunters will agree, few actually practice these shots. Many stand shoulder width a part watching arrows stick nicely into the center of their mark from 20, 30, 40 yards, and so on. They make the mistake of being too comfortable shooting with a nice wide stance at a target in the wide open.

In my practice sessions, I try to use everything that might present a challenge for a realistic shot. I will crouch behind a shrub or bush and practice leaning out and shooting from my knees or a crouched position. I will practice leaning both forwards and backwards around a tree. I practice shooting with my feet close together a lot because it simulates the length and width of a platform on a tree stand. From a tree stand, I practice a lot sitting down, this is important because there isn’t always time to stand up. I also shoot from my tip toes as if I were avoiding a small limb.

I make sure to wear my face mask, gloves and safety harness to train my body to what it will feel like once the season starts and I’m wearing them. It is amazing how differently your anchor points will feel through the fabric of gloves and a face mask. These are just some of the ways I keep sharp so that when the moment of truth presents itself I will be ready for just about any shot opportunity.

Although it is good to practice these types of shots often, try not to practice them for many consecutive shots in a row. Continuously practicing these shots can result in forming bad shooting habits because with the different shifts of weight in different positions your body uses different muscles. So what I usually do to avoid this is shoot each challenging shot only three to five times, taking a short break in between while I fetch arrows and re-situate my target. I try not to practice for more than an hour at a time so I don’t get too tired and develop bad shooting habits caused by fatigue. At the end of each practice session I will shoot 10 arrows from 40 yards in the open and perfectly broadside to my target. For these shots, I pay particular attention to my form and technique just to be sure I kept good form throughout the session.

That being said, the biggest and most helpful suggestion I can make, is to have fun. The reason why we practice and hunt is because it is a blast to do. Involve family and friends and have a great time enjoying the outdoors. Hopefully you can incorporate some of my practice techniques with your own routine to prepare yourself as much as possible for this upcoming season.

Alex Gyllstrom
Scent-Lok Technologies

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