Archery 365

As the final days peel off the calendar in the 2016 whitetail season, an unimaginable fate looms for countless compound bows. The bow case. Far too many bows are tucked away at season's’ end, not to see the light of day until school busses crowd the streets and antlers are neatly wrapped in velvet. I, for one, cannot imagine going 8 months without shooting my bow. I find it therapeutic.  Every shot taken while practicing brings me 1 shot closer to making an ethical shot when the moment of truth presents itself in the fall. If that’s not reason enough, how about the fact that we all enjoy hunting, don’t we all enjoy shooting as well? Here’s a few ways to keep your bow active when you are not able to chase those monster bucks.

Join a League

Some diehard bowhunters will scoff at the idea of lining up elbow to elbow with “target archers” to fling three arrows 20 yards down range, wait for it, indoors. I get it, we do not hunt indoors, but an indoor spot league has its advantages. With a lack of daylight and much of the country engulfed in the icy grip of Old Man Winter, I seek refuge at my local archery clubs indoor range. Most leagues are cheap (about $10 a week) and run from January till April. I find it a great way to work on my shot mechanics, form, and develop more muscle memory. Plus, you can always pick up some pointers from other archers that may help you in the woods. The friendly competition and camaraderie of a spot league is a sure fire way to navigate through the winter doldrums.  

Shoot 3-D

I am lucky enough to live in an area where I can shoot a 3-D archery course every Sunday from March till November. The mistake I see made by most bowhunters is that they wait until August to dust off their bows. Bows are not bears. They do not need to hibernate. As soon as the local clubs open their outdoor courses I am there. After being cooped up for the last few months it feels great to walk through the woods again. Most courses consist of 30 foam targets laid out at varying distances. It is a great way to practice kill shots on life like animal targets, while shooting at different intervals, elevations, and terrain. If it is competition that drives you, than you may want to check out organized IBO or ASA shoot to test your skills against your fellow bowhunter. Either way, I cannot think of a better cure for cabin fever.

Techno Hunt

Still too cold outside and the thought of punching paper targets is sacrilegious? Find a Techno Hunt to have the comfort of the indoors, with the adrenaline rush of a true hunting experience. Most of these hunting simulators will place you in a dark room with a projector screen at the opposite end. A computer will load countless images of game animals walking through their natural habitat. You are provided mushroom blunt tips for your arrows that you fire at the screen. After the shot, the screen will inform you if your shot hit vitals, was non-lethal, or a clean miss. Some archery shops also offer Techno Hunts leagues if you are up for the challenge.

Turkey Hunting

Half way between the completion and the opening of whitetail season lies a magical time of year known as turkey season. Although most hunters will take their shotgun into the woods, why not take your bow instead? Some will say the challenge involved with harvesting a spring gobbler with a bow is second to none. The keen eyesight of a turkey makes drawing on a bird a feat in its own right. Plus, with the decreased range of a bow compared to a shotgun, it forces you to wait for a close encounter. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we crave as bowhunters?       

There are also less organized reasons to get out and shoot your bow. I have shot my bow because; it’s Tuesday, I don’t want to go grocery shopping, I fixed the faucet last week, or there is nothing on TV. The point being is that everything can become a reason to shoot your bow. Shooting year round gives you a more intimate feel for your bows’ overall performance and tuning. As bowhunters, we place a season’s worth of goals and anticipation on a single shot. Wouldn’t you want to be 100% confident that you can make it?