Slump Busters

During an October hunt in the mid-'90s, I shot right under a great eight-pointer just 15 yards away as he stood freshening a scrape. It still embarrasses me. I took careful aim, but I never saw the arrow flash through my sight picture as I had expected. Instead, it thunked into the ground just under the buck's brisket. I couldn't believe it.

Back at camp, I took a few shots at the target to see what had gone wrong. At 20 yards my arrows were hitting six inches low! My rest had moved. I must have bumped it at some point after I last shot the bow two days earlier.

That heartbreak taught me an important lesson: In-season practice is an overlooked but critical part of keeping everything--from shooting form to accessories--working properly. If you don't make an effort to stay sharp during the season, you're bound for a slump.

I've come across problems during the season (bad wheel timing, loose string servings, loose screws, broken sight pins, loose cable guard rods) that could have eventually cost me game had I not examined my bow and fixed them. While daily inspections are important, there is nothing better than actually shooting a bow to determine that it is still on target.

It is a good idea to shoot practice arrows every day. You can either shoot a few extra arrows into the ground from your tree stand in the direction you'll be walking when you leave, or keep a small target in your vehicle so you can take a few shots before heading out to hunt.

A friend of mine says that just knowing he's going to take a shot from his stand (even if it is only at a leaf) is enough to put him in a more aggressive frame of mind while he waits for a deer. He feels that this mental priming reduces the shock that usually hits when a nice buck finally appears.

You should also reserve a few minutes each evening to shoot several arrows at an indoor range or under the yard light. My dad likes to shoot half a dozen arrows every morning inside his shed before he goes out to hunt. He says it loosens up stiff muscles and is a good way to tell if anything shifted on his bow during the previous day of hunting. This is an excellent habit.

Examination and a couple of daily practice shots will keep you one step ahead of equipment trouble, but regular extended practice sessions are also important. Most bowhunters shoot every chance they get during the days leading up to the season. Once it arrives, however, they become much less enthused about practice and spend all their free time hunting. The result is neglect of their shooting form. Little by little, even the best technique will erode if you don't take the time to work on it.