"HOW
TO SHOOT YOUR BOW BETTER"
Shoot Short and Light, and Choose Quality Accessories
with Allen Conners
EDITOR'S NOTE: Allen Conners of Gadsden, Alabama, the
winner of the title of
World Champion Target Archer numerous times, the Archery
Shooters Association Shooter of the Year award, the
Cabela’s Championship and the Buckmasters World
Championship, Conners also loves to bowhunt. He originally
became a target archer to improve his bowhunting skills
and shoots target archery when he can't go bowhunting,
his first and foremost priority. Hunting with a bow
requires a great amount of precision. To make an accurate
bow shot, you have to have your bow, arrows, broadheads
and shooting skills all finely-tuned, as John Stiff
mentioned yesterday. Conners says that over the years
he’s learned that the little things, the forgotten
or overlooked aspects of bowhunting, often cause archers
to miss their shots when they have bucks in front of
their broadheads.
Shoot Short and Light:
I
believe the two-most important factors in shooting a
bow more effectively include shooting a draw length
shorter than you normally shoot and shooting less weight
than you actually can pull. You'll have a much better
chance of getting off a good shot when you shoot a bow
with a shorter draw length rather than a longer draw
length. Even if you shoot with your normal draw length,
when you have on bulky clothes in the winter months,
you'll have a much greater chance of having your bowstring
hit your clothing and throw your shot off than if you
shoot with a slightly shorter draw length. Remember
that when you shoot from a tree stand or a ground blind,
many times you won't shoot from the same position you
shoot from in your backyard. When you have to bend,
twist or turn to get off the shot and have on bulkier
clothes than you do when you practice in your backyard,
your string is much more likely to hit your clothing.
If you normally shoot a 29-inch draw length, I suggest
you shorten that draw length to 28-3/4-inches when you
hunt. By shortening your draw length only 1/4-inch,
you'll reduce the chance of your string hitting your
clothes when you take a shot at a buck. I hunt with
a bow that has a 1/2-inch shorter draw length than the
bow I shoot in tournament archery.
Too,
most bowhunters tend to pull the maximum amount of weight
they can shoot. When you shoot in your backyard, pulling
the maximum amount of weight doesn't present a problem.
However, you must remember what happens to your body
when it gets cold and remains immobile for many hours
while you sit in a tree stand. You won't have an opportunity
to get your muscles warm, stretched and prepared to
take a shot when a deer appears. If you shoot a lighter
draw weight when you hunt than you generally do, you
should draw smoother and get off the shot more easily
and cleaner than if you have to struggle with the bow
to pull it back. How much weight you can pull back won't
matter if you spook or miss the deer. By lowering the
draw weight of the bow, you reduce your chances of spooking
the deer, and you'll get a cleaner and more accurate
shot than if you try to pull your maximum draw weight.
Choose Quality Accessories:
I never understand why an archer will buy a high-quality
bow and put inexpensive accessories on his bow and arrows.
When you choose accessories for your bow like arrow
rests, sights, stabilizers, broadheads and quivers,
remember that each of these accessories in some way
influences how well and how quiet the bow shoots.
Always
select tried-and-true quality accessories that have
a history of good performance in the field. Don't pick
the cheapest, no-name accessories you can find and expect
them to perform as well as good equipment does. Also
consider the environment in which you'll put your accessories.
Often you'll hunt in the rain and in the cold. Your
bow may get banged against the side of the tree as you
pull it up or put it down. You may fall down as you
walk and climb in the woods. Your bow will be subject
to extreme vibrations if you use an ATV to get to your
hunting sites. Even if you travel to your hunting site
in a car, and especially if you travel to your hunting
location in an airplane, your equipment will get knocked
around some. Make sure you purchase accessories that
can stand up to the torture of bowhunting. If you save
$5 or $10 on an arrow rest and miss a buck, will that
extra $5 you've saved make your hunt enjoyable?
TOMORROW: CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT
BEFORE YOU HUNT, AND LINE UP YOUR PEEP SIGHT FOR ALL
TYPES OF SHOOTING
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