Archery Practice Advice/Tips

[CurlyTail]

I am shooting my bow daily now and my groups are getting better and better.

But I know that target shooting on the range bears little resemblance to hunting. So I am shooting from angles, practicing holding at full draw for a long time before shooting, and taking quick snap shots from closer range. Shooting with my binocular harness and range finder on, with a diaphram in my mouth. Giving a Nervous Grunt prior to shots etc.

And advice or tips for more effective practice on the range?

[twinkieman]

I also shoot kneeling, sitting, and on side hills. Other than that, you are doing the same as I do.

[ElkNut1]

I also start doing the above about now until hunting season starts. I also only shoot broadheads at this time. I like your Nervous Grunt idea, very cool!

ElkNut1

[Ryan Conkle]

Sounds like you are doing great things'...don't hesitate to shoot longer range shots, even if it is at a distance that you do not plan on taking an animal at. I say this because these longer range shots are a great way to improve proper form and tighten up your groups at closer ranges.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

Shooting with a pack and the weight you will be hunting with. I also like to shoot right after a run while my heart rate is up.

[twinkieman]

Shooting with a pack and the weight you will be hunting with.

Thanks for noting that, I do also practice with my pack and hunting weight.

[redtop]

That is great idea about the nervous grunt. I'll add that you need to shoot at a 3D target. Doesn't have to be a $1000 elk target any deer target works great. Broad heads will tear it up quickly but you need to practice with your hunting arrow setup.
I believe in the first shot practice. Put your 3D target out, walk around and shoot from different aspects with one arrow. You only get one shot at each shot sequence. It's great to practice with a friend and you take turns imagining the shot that happens.

[cohunter]

Both the elevated heart rate and long range shots are excellent! It's one thing to shoot down a steep hill at rest, quite another with your heart pounding! Also, I won't be shooting an elk even close to 60 yards away, but spending a lot of time on long-range shots really improves the muscle memory necessary to hold a bow steady. Shooting a good group at 60 yards makes an even better group at 20!

[Wyo67]

Agree with all that you're doing. Recommend some jumping jacks/pushups before your shot in order to get the heart and breathing rates up.

[WapitiTalk1]

Back in the day, before carbon arrows (that cost 1/2 a paycheck for a dozen, lol), we used to do a lot of stump shooting at unknown distances with judo points. That was a great exercise for estimating ranges and the considering fact that you're shooting at dead stumps, you're in the woods shooting up/down, in between trees, over the top of bushes, etc. Yep, I do as mentioned above and practice from many positions (mostly standing and kneeling), being winded during some practice sessions, practice borderline snap shooting (only holding arrow on target for a second or two before releasing), and, I always try to wear similar clothes that I would when hunting including long sleeve shirts.

[CurlyTail]

Thanks for the ideas so far.

I need to try a bit of exertion prior to shooting - great idea

I have a life sized corrugated plastic elk silhouette decoy that I really like

I think I will try shooting out of my helionox ground chair, as I may be sitting a pass or two this season.

I am finding that lighted nocks make my practice sessions more fun as arrow flight and location are much easier to see.

Good idea to shoot Broadheads more. I have determined that my broadheads hit at the same spot as my field tips, so I feel good about that.

[Old school]

All good tips stated above. I try to imagine any possible encounter that I'd have in the woods and then duplicate it. Holding draw, snap shooting, kneeling, seated and turning right, left. Also with obstacles between you and the target. High heart rate, only shooting one arrow and then moving to another unknown distance. Also practice holding your bow like you're going to be walking through the woods and simulate seeing an elk stand up - practice quickly knocking an arrow and going through your shot sequence.

--Mitch

[Heartwood]

All great ideas. Also, practice drawing and then walking a short distance for and angle at target then shooting. We see opportunities to do this in hunting situations every year.

[82ndreddevil]

I like doing circuits of push ups, squat thrusts, and sprints between shot groups to get my heart rate up and sweat in my eyes

[Elksniper1]

Practicing holding your draw and makeing a good shot,as that's what happens more often to me than anything else. By doing this I have found an amount of shake /tired muscles that I know I can't ethically release on close shots and I've found the point where I need to let down for longer yardage. But that only comes with experimenting at home.

[slick trick]

here is a little trick I use I draw my bow with my eyes closed.. and then I give myself about 2 seconds to get a shot off once I open them. this will stop all your target panic, but one thing you need to make sure you don't do is punch the release, If you start slapping that trigger give your self more time like a 3 to 4 count. When you first start this your groups will be kind of open but after a week or two it will start to shrink- it takes about that long for your eyes ,muscles, and reactions to synch and come together. If you have ever went bowfishing with just a naked bow this is how you snap shoot except you have eyes open, really good practice for when you need to draw and get on target and shoot a animal

[welka]

Lots of good tips already. Another is to hold for 30 or 45 seconds, let down, mew, redraw and shoot within 3-4 seconds. Mimicks a hold on a bull coming in, getting spooked, you stopping him and killing him!

[bald9eagle]

I take the blades out of my broadheads and shoot them like field points. The Wac'em are great for this. The only problem is that the 125gr cutter tips penetrated so well that I shot through my target and lost an arrow at 20 yds.