By Holly Overman
In preparation for bow season, there are many things to do. This includes things like scouting, studying the land, checking trail cams, and getting your stands up. However, it’s also important to shoot the bow as well. Now whether you’re experienced or just starting out, there’s something here for everyone. So let’s dive right into what I use and why.
I shoot the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro because it’s lightweight, versatile, and has the best draw weight range. Seriously, 5-70 lbs is a great range to work with. Especially if you’re striving to build up your strength as you go along. Regardless, you should try out a few different styles to see which one best fits you.
My broadheads are Afflictor Broadheads. Using two different kinds, one being the K2-Minis and the other is Ultra Violets. Don’t let the color or size fool you, they’re deadly and accurate to field points.
My arrows are Carbon Express Maxima Hunters, my release is from Tru-Fire, and my bowsight is an IQ with the Retina Lock System. The IQ has really helped my accuracy because it lets you know if you’re torquing your bow or not.
When out shooting or bow hunting, I always have a rangefinder because my judgement on ranges isn’t that perfect. However, many professional hunters carry one too so it’s all good. The target I use is a Morrell Target because it’s durable and dependable. Let’s face it, nothing beats Morrell.
Last but not least, when out hunting or enjoying the late afternoon, I must have my Thermacell. It keeps all the blood-sucking critters away. I mean really, who likes getting attacked by mosquitos and black flies? No one! So this thing is awesome…
When I was pregnant, I became more aware of how I drew my bow. Drawing a bow doesn’t really harm the baby, as long as it’s done right. All I changed was lowering the poundage some and I leaned forward a bit to pull back. I sure didn’t need to overexert myself or even accidentally hit my belly.
Shooting from many angles or positions can help. It’s also good to shoot as if you’re hunting. For instance, practice with your gear on, a coat and gloves, or whatever. You can also shoot through obstacles because there might be a limb or something in your way while on stand.
I also like to shoot with the baby on my back because he’s unpredictable with movement and it challenges my abilities to overcome that unpredictability. He even adds a little extra weight which helps improve my strength and endurance.
Another way I found that helps build up strength to sustain and even gain poundage is push-ups, pull-ups, and planks. I also do lifts with the baby which definitely helps too.
When sighting in your bow, if you’re shooting low, drop the pin that you’re using. If you’re shooting high, then raise it. If you’re shooting left or right, then move your sight accordingly. A peep sight helps you line up your pin to the target a lot easier.
Here are some tips to accurate shooting:
- Always draw back to the same anchor point. That’s where your hand comes to between your jaw and ear. If that point is off, then your shots won’t be as accurate.
- If you’re using a kisser button, that’ll come to the corner of your mouth.
- Be sure to keep your arm bent some because it can mess you up and even hurt your arm. We call it getting strawberried.
- Tight grips can sometimes torque your bow. I like to have a slightly loose grip, not enough to drop it of course.
- Also, be sure to follow through every shot. That’s basically not lowering the bow until the arrow hits the target.
Remember, don’t get discouraged if you miss a lot. It happens to all of us. So get out, shoot often, because practice always makes perfect.
