Archery practice while wearing a backpack

[Farmingdale's Finest]

So I am looking for advice as I prepare for my first elk hunt in September.

This past weekend I did a 3D shoot while wearing my MR backpack loaded with 50 pounds in it. I had shot in my yard prior and it had no effect on accuracy at home. On the course was another story! In most shoots I am one of the guys that will often be in the final shoot off. This weekend I shot one of the lowest scores I have shot in more than 10 years.

This leads me to my question of those with experience in archery elk hunting to ask how do you prepare for the season? Did I carry too much weight? Do you shoot with your pack on? Should I chalk this 3D season up and keep doing what I did this past weekend with the weighted pack and not worry about being competitive? I am at a loss of what would be the best way to prepare for my trip.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Gerard Marcaurele]

I’m in for responses. One thing I think people may want to know: are you going to be bivy hunting or spike camping with a day pack?

 

[young7.3]

You may have scored poorly, but were your shots in the vitals? That's all that counts. I know from the 3d targets near me, a lot of the 12 and 10 rings aren't really heart shots.


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[Farmingdale's Finest]

You may have scored poorly, but were your shots in the vitals? That's all that counts. I know from the 3d targets near me, a lot of the 12 and 10 rings aren't really heart shots.


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I missed 3x completely on a 30 target course. The rest of the shots would all have been killing shots but often the outer edge of of just being lethal. It was truly humbling.

I’m in for responses. One thing I think people may want to know: are you going to be bivy hunting or spike camping with a day pack?

I am bringing equipment for both. The plan is to spike camp and if we find a group of elk then bivy if the situation makes sense either due to distance or ruggedness of terrain.

 

[theleo91386]

Yeah, there's definitely a difference between shooting with your back pack on and shooting with your pack on after you've been moving and hiking with it.

 

[Wrench]

Make CERTAIN that you have all the loose everything tied up. You will end up shooting from a odd position and if a strap gets hooked up....game over.

 

[sodaksooner]

I do practice with it on but usually once camp is set up Ive got about 20 to 25 lbs worth. I can see how 50 would throw you off. But if that is what you expect to have on your back the entire time then shoot like that.

If I know I'll have time I try and dump my pack, but that isn't always the case. Biggest bull I ever had in range was a bang bang deal. Full draw 23 yards, needed one more step....I was confident even with my pack on, but alas the shot didn't happen.

 

[H2PVon]

50#? I only have 50# on my back if I'm moving a spike camp or if I ever shoot an elk.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

50#? I only have 50# on my back if I'm moving a spike camp or if I ever shoot an elk.

I figure while hunting I will have half of that or less but I wanted to get a work out to. I really didn’t expect it to be as big of a factor as it was since most of the course was flat with some rolling hills. The course length was just over 4 miles and took a little over 2 hours to complete. Even packing in with a full camp I wouldn’t expect my total weight to be more than 35 or so.

Ok it sounds like so far I should continue with the pack to get my mechanics down but cut the weight in half and see how that works out.


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[*zap*]

Not real sure why you would shoot a whole course like that after seeing it was screwing up your shooting, why not take the pack off to shoot? Hopefully you did not create some form issues. Maybe try this for a round of golf?

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

Not real sure why you would shoot a whole course like that after seeing it was screwing up your shooting, why not take the pack off to shoot? Hopefully you did not create some form issues. Maybe try this for a round of golf?

I would have walked off at the 1/2 way point but the way it was set up I would have had to cut a bunch of people and walk back. So I suffered through the frustration. Lol


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[Elkhntr08]

Ask yourself, how many days do you think you’ll be “hunting “ with a 50# pack? If it’s every day, I would suggest you take a look at what you’re packing around. My EXO K3500 in hunt mode weights in at 14#.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

Ask yourself, how many days do you think you’ll be “hunting “ with a 50# pack? If it’s every day, I would suggest you take a look at what you’re packing around. My EXO K3500 in hunt mode weights in at 14#.

What do you carry in your pack?

What I thought I would be carrying is a rain jacket, a puffy, watch cap, gloves, my first aid kit, water bladder, water filter and steri pen, kill kit, lighter, emergency blanket, head lamp and two days worth of food.

Looking for advise on this. Should I bring my sleeping bag and a tarp in addition to what I have above?

 

[5MilesBack]

I do 3D tourneys with my pack on filled with whatever water I normally take and a few other items........normally around 15-18lbs, and my quiver on the bow, and I still compete for the top spots. If it made that big of a difference to my shooting, I wouldn't do shoots with it on. And every elk I've shot except one was while wearing my pack. I'd reduce the weight to 15-20lbs.

 

[Southforkguy]

i like the idea of practicing with a pack on. it changes everything. you were able to see your proficiency drop even with a 3d target. its clear that youll need more practice (so will i of course) and that is a positive.

 

[87TT]

I'm up at the Northwest Mountain Challenge at Tamarack ID and wearing my EXO K2 3500 with my full hunting load of around 24 lbs. Doesn't seem to effect my shooting but then I'm just shooting for fun and not competing. I shot Hodoo a few weeks ago and did three course in one day with the same pack without issues. I think 50# may be a little too much if the pack doesn't fit just right. If you have too much weight on your shoulders and not adjusted right, it would throw you off.

 

[trophyhill]

I do 3D tourneys with my pack on filled with whatever water I normally take and a few other items........normally around 15-18lbs, and my quiver on the bow, and I still compete for the top spots. If it made that big of a difference to my shooting, I wouldn't do shoots with it on. And every elk I've shot except one was while wearing my pack. I'd reduce the weight to 15-20lbs.

Funny I was just thinking about this thread while on my first hike since January with my pack on. I think I'm gonna where my pack at next week's shoot. I was thinking 20-25# ought to be about right.

 

[the_bowhunter]

The old “practice doesn’t make perfect, only perfect practice does” saying applies here. The woods will throw many different situations at you. The more you practice these situations the more comfortable you’ll become.

I almost always shoot with me quiver off but I’ll still shoot a few arrows in practice with my quiver attached. I do this to just make a mental note that I can shoot accurately when the conditions are less than desirable. Last thing I want is to say “oh I had the bull at 40 yards broadside but I couldn’t get my quiver off to take the shot”

Every once in a while I play around and shoot a few arrows after I draw from a laying down position. I draw laying down and then sit up to release my arrow. I arrowed a nice buck in the high country doing this and luckily had practiced the scenario.

I just play around with different scenarios that might happen and have fun acting them out while slinging arrows. Nothing better!!


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[Jahvette20]

In my opinion if your gonna bivy hunt then keep shooting with your pack weighing the max you plan to carry while hunting. I just started shooting 3d for the purpose of practice for real wold type shots. I shoot with about 45 lbs on my back and a loaded quiver on my bow. At first my scores were low but to me that just meant I needed to keep practicing. I’m not worried about competing with anyone other than myself so I’m going to keep shooting with the my full hunting setup to be ready for that quick shot when my pack is on and loaded with camp and water. I’m still nowhere near as consistent as shooting my back yard but today’s score was a 294 and last week 305.

 

[Bow-hnt]

Jahvette, you are absolutely correct , i do the same. I shoot 3D Jamborees and never score myself.
I am a middle of the pack shooter , more concerned about good lung shots and making myself better.
But i do have a great time out there, make it fun!