Bow Hunting Practice Tips

Here are some bow hunting practice tips that hunters can be use to assure that they are ready for opening day. The time to prepare is before season starts so that all the problems are worked out and the hunter is ready to make that one important shot when it presents itself.

Wear Hunting Clothes

While it is too hot during the summer to wear your full hunting clothes while practicing putting them on now and then and shooting a quiver or two of arrows can help a hunter to work out problems before they occur in the field. Drawing and releasing an arrow in bulky hunting clothes is different than shooting in a tee shirt and this difference needs worked out before a deer is in front of you.

Use Broadheads

While most hunters do practice with target points that are weighted the same as their broadheads, actually using the broadheads at targets is the only way to be certain that the bow is properly sighted in. Spending the majority of practice time with target points is certainly recommended, but hunters should fire at least a few shots at various ranges with the actual hunting broadhead.

Make One Shot Count

Bow hunters should practice making one shot count. When possible, leaving a bow by the back door and occasionally stepping outside and making one shot is a good way to practice this. Combine this approach with the next tip for best results.

Shoot While Breathing Hard

It is hard to simulate the excitement of a trophy buck walking under your stand and presenting a momentary shot, but one way is to practice taking shots while breathing hard. One way to do this is to walk back about 50 yards from your bow, sprint forward, pick up the bow and shoot. Jumping jacks and other exercises can be used in limited space to increase breathing rate.

Shoot in Bad Weather

Many hunters underestimate the effects of wind, rain, snow, and cold weather in general on the bow and the arrow's flight as well as the body's response to it. The only way to learn how your body and the equipment will react is to practice in these conditions. That heavy draw weight that is manageable in the summer might feel much heavier after sitting for hours in the cold.