Bow hunting can be a rewarding and enjoyable activity for many people, but with all of the required gear, it may feel intimidating to start.
Practice makes perfect, and practicing can help you hone your accuracy and gain confidence in using your gear.
Practice
As a beginner archer, it’s essential to practice regularly. Doing so will make you more accurate with the bow shoot and increase your chances of successfully harvesting the game.
Begin practicing months in advance for the season opener and continue practicing year-round to hone your skills. Doing this will prepare you for any stress that comes your way during hunting season and make it easier to recover from a bad shot.
Start with a fundamental drill to become familiar with shooting your bow and target. Set up a treestand in your backyard or an open area and practice aiming at the same height and angle you would while hunting, so that you can practice different arrow angles and assess how they affect arrow flight.
You can also practice arrow placement with a blind. If you use a ground blind, try practicing from inside it for an idea of what to look for when hunting from one. This will give you valuable feedback on where your arrows should be aimed for optimal accuracy and allow you to adjust their positions accordingly for the best results.
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, practice at various distances to boost your confidence. Doing so will enable you to make more accurate shots when bowhunting at long ranges.
To practice at longer ranges, double your 25- to 40-yard comfort range. For instance, if you can consistently shoot a 3-inch group from 25 yards, try shooting a 6-inch group from 50 yards.
One of the best ways to practice draw and limb coordination, as well as your bow’s release technique, is by shooting targets with them. If you can’t draw properly, aiming and executing shots will become challenging.
With practice and patience, you will become adept at holding your bow at full draw for extended periods. It takes some strength to achieve this, so begin practicing as soon as possible and gradually increase the duration of each shot until you can sustain this weight without feeling strained or out of shape.
Sights
Bow sights provide a target to aim your arrow at, offering a convenient reference point. Prices for bow sights range from $20 plastic models to machined aluminum units featuring premium features like 2nd/3rd axis adjustments, levels, aiming rings, and fiber optics – plus you get to pick which option best fits your budget!
Most hunting sights feature multiple pins that enable hunters to take shots from various distances. These multi-pin sights compensate for any yardage difference between where a hunter sets their sight and where their target lies, making it easier for them to make the accurate shot placement.
When you first receive your new bow, it is wise to do some sighting in. This will help you become acquainted with the bow and also improve accuracy.
To sight in your bow, shoot a bullseye at 10 yards using your top pin as the aiming reference. Note where the arrow hits the target and adjust your bow sight accordingly.
Once you have a consistent grouping, shoot groups of arrows until it looks consistent. When this is achieved, move your top pin to that spot (known as gang adjustment). If the arrows are hitting at varying distances, individual pin adjustments may be needed.
Once your sight body has been properly adjusted, you can begin adjusting each pin individually, keeping the anchor pin in the center and gradually increasing each pin’s distance until you achieve your desired range. This should give you enough clearance to shoot arrows from 10-50 yards or whatever distance is desired.
You can adjust your bow sight housing up, down, left, or right by moving each pin individually. Depending on which brand of sight you use, some may require a specialized key or Allen wrench for adjustment; others can be adjusted without any tools at all.
To properly sight in your bow, it is best to follow a systematic, step-by-step procedure. If you experience muscle fatigue in your arms and chest, break up the sighting process over several sessions; this will prevent fatigue from disrupting your aim form and leading to missed arrows.
Arrows
When selecting arrows for your hunting bow, there are several factors to take into account. Weight, point weight, and spine (the bend that the arrow travels through) all need to be taken into account.
First, determine your draw length and then choose an arrow that’s at least several inches longer than that. This will guarantee the arrow won’t fall off of a rest or shelf, nor shoot into your hand when released.
Next, opt for arrows with a strong spine. This bend in the arrow’s trajectory determines its penetration rate and impact energy.
A proper arrow should have a spine that is symmetrical, meaning both sides of the arrow point in the same direction. This helps ensure the stability and accuracy of the arrow while traveling through an animal.
Deflecting an arrow away from an animal’s spine or ribs helps avoid deflection that could alter its flight path and reduce penetration power. You can check out arrow spines on manufacturer websites or ask a pro shop worker at your local archery store for guidance on correct usage.
No matter which arrow type you select, it’s wise to practice with different ones for a while before making your final choice. Experiment with different weights, tips, and spines until you find one that works best with your bow.
As a general guideline, arrows should weigh 5-6 grains for target practice arrows and 6-8 grains when hunting arrows. Lighter arrows tend to travel in a straight line while heavier ones have more energy on impact which helps penetrate animals better. It’s also wise to add weight at the front of the point so that it penetrates more deeply.
Hunting Gear
A quality hunting bow can make all the difference in the field. It helps you get up close to your target, stay mobile, and boosts your chances of spotting wildlife. A quality bow should be comfortable, easy to shoot, and accurate for optimal effectiveness.
Before purchasing a bow, take it out for a test run in the shop or at home. This will let you determine how well the balance of the bow feels in your hands, how accurately it lands on target, and if its grip is too thin.
For many hunters, this is the most critical factor when using their bow. It determines how hard or soft the stop feels at full draw and what leeway you have when drawing back.
Some bows feature steep, narrow valleys that pull your arm forward when relaxed; others boast wide valleys which offer more leeway. Hunters tend to favor the latter option, so it’s wise to spend some time testing out different bows to find one that feels most comfortable and secure.
Another crucial consideration when selecting a bow is weight. Lighter bows will be easier to draw and shoot, as well as be more efficient – meaning they generate more kinetic energy.
Finding the ideal bow for you requires testing it out in a shop. Most archery shops will let you shoot several bows so that you can determine which one works best for your shooting style and needs.
When purchasing a bow, the quality of the company should also be taken into account; this can indicate how long it will last. Many top brands have been around for decades and are known for producing top-notch bows.
PSE Archery has been providing precision shooting equipment since 1970 and specializes in compound bows designed for accuracy and a variety of bow sports. Their bows are constructed out of carbon, and available in an assortment of shapes and sizes.
