Becoming a Better Archer

[BSeals71]

I know there are a lot experienced bow-hunters on here with some great knowledge. Thought I'd open this up to help everyone improve their archery skills.

My question is: What has made you become a better archer / bow-hunter?

Was it shooting more 3D, personal coaching, better equipment, or judging yardage.... ?
I understand we all come from different backgrounds. For some it may have been just fighting target panic or learning more about an animal to get closer for a kill.

 

[littlebuf]

i guess i see two questions there, one of a better archer and one of a better archery hunter. the single biggest leap i took in being an improved archer was when it clicked in my head on not moving my head, and i mean at all. it was a while ago now but making it automatic to never take my eye off the target and watch my arrow through the pin all the way to the point of aim no matter what was going on around me or with my bow, or my form was the turning point for me. everything else just kinda fell into place after that and ive been shooting that way for years now. as far as hunting goes i would say work ethic and year round dedication has made me what i am today as a hunter regardless of what weapon im carrying. ive been successful with all three main hunting weapons by applying the same approach.

 

[boom]

when i bought my bow, i got some free coaching lessons. what huge diff!! i am much better of an archer.

 

[Tilzbow]

After 25 years of shooting I read Bernie Pellerite's book "Idiot Proof Archery" this year and followed his program to develop a surprise release with a trigger release. I've been done with the six week program for about a month now and my accuracy is getting better every day. By reading the book and following the program I've also gotten over punching, flinching, a small case of anxiety and "drive by shooting" (all forms of target panic) while shooting. I'm now able to calmly draw, acquire the target start back tension and then continually increase concentrating on aiming until the shot goes off on its own. If the shot doesn't go off within a certain amount of time I'm able to let down, rest and start the shot over.

 

[justinspicher]

I shoot a recurve so form is a huge deal to me. Shooting in the garage at 10yds with one arrow to perfect my form has been critical. I still do it as I am not perfect. I also started to carry a range finder with me everywhere. I will pick out an object and determine the range to it. I always try to be within a couple of yards. After I "guess" my yardage I use the rangefinder to determine how far off I was. I do this in drive through lines, out my office window or when I am waiting on my wife or kids somewhere.

 

[tipsntails7]

Shoot a suprised shot and trust that it will work. It took me hundreds of hours to even start to feel comfortable shooting this way. I still cannot do it all the time but when I do I am a much much better archer. As far as a hunter I started taking chances that people would probably call bad moves. If an elk hangs up I'm going to him, I've drawn on turkey's looking right at me. Stuff like that. I'm not gonna say it always works but since being more aggressive I've killed more animals and gotten much closer to them doing it.

 

[Outwest]

I am by no means an accomplished archer or bowhunter, I am still learning and I hope I never stop learning about the sport. I'm always open to listen to any advice any archer has to give. Part of the reason I have enjoy forums such as this one is because of the enormous amount of combined experience from everyone on the site.

I first picked up a compound bow when I was 13 and I was hooked. I was fortunate enough to have some great, accomplished archers mentor me throughout my teen years. I think this is the biggest factor that has lead me to become a better archer. They never let bad habits form and kept me honest with myself. I was taught how to learn, if that makes sense. Recently, I have been working on focusing on the target/arrow rather than the sight/bow like littlebuf said. This has improved my accuracy and consistency greatly.

As far as bowhunting goes, I was also fortunate enough to have a ton of hunters in my home unit mentor me and take me hunting every chance they got. I learned a lot about the animals and the mountain through the experiences of others before I ever had an archery tag in my pocket.
I think reading, experimenting, and listening to the advice of other archers makes me a better archer.

 

[SDHNTR]

Taking up traditional archery made me a better Bowhunter. Made me more patient and a better decision maker. IMO, you cannot appreciate the true difficulty of bowhunting when you have the ability to easily and accurately shoot 50-60 yards or more, and when you can hold at draw for long periods. I'm by no means a purist as I hunt with a compound mostly, heck even a rifle sometimes, but trad really gave me a greater appreciation for woodsmanship and honed my skills.

 

[Coyote Commander]

Getting back into traditional shooting helped my compound accuracy TREMENDOUSLY.

I re-learned true back tension, which steadied my aiming, cured my form of "target panic" where I was shooting a moving pin. Once I knew what TRUE back tension felt like, it was easy to teach myself to use it with a trigger release on the compound.

Not to mention, stick bows are just infintely more fun than modern "point and click" compound shooting. Getting bored with compounds was the best thing to happen to my archery shooting in the last ten years.

 

[Evan Williams]

I've IMMERSED myself in the industry. Putting myself with some of the best archers not only in the state but in the country.

I'm a relative new comer to the sport of archery, in my eyes, not picking up my first bow to hunt until Nov 2006.

But with a background in competitive shooting it was a matter of shooting and shooting a LOT. Winter leagues, local tournaments and state/national ones when I could.

Mentally preparing for the shot and truly aiming for a spot not just "sending an arrow at vitals". That has made me a better archer.

Transforming from a rifle hunter to a Bowhunter took longer. I was hooked the second I picked up a bow and harvested my first animal in Nov 06 but it took me 4 more years to develop the skill and consistency.

Something happened...things just clicked...

I had put myself in situation after situation. I knew how to stalk, track, move, and shoot I just had to put everything together.

I set goals and stuck to them in 2008 I set this one: my first archery mule deer wouldn't be UNDER 180" GROSS.

I studied pictures, books, looking at animals to know what I was looking for and I stuck to my goal. I ate tag soup for 2 yrs sticking to my goal.

In 2010 I picked out a buck in July and began my focus. Every time I saw a buck in a stalkable position I went for him. 16/16 on stalks inside 20 yds. And when I finally went for him in his bed that Nov I made it 17/17 and nearly 190" gross.

Goals have helped me focus and move in a positive direction towards something not just wandering directionless or aimlessly.

It has helped me to be aggressive or passive in the moment. They have kept me persistent and focused on specific aspects of MY game and turning the tables in my favor and taught me how to make to best out of ANY situation.

 

[Slim Jim]

I practice almost everyday with 40+ arrows. I shoot close, long, 3d, target course, extreme up/downhill and from my knees. Recently I have been journaling my form and what works on each shot. I've also paid a lot of attention from experienced bow hunters on this site and others. Maybe by the time I die I'll have it all figured out

 

[MattB]

One thing to keep in mind is that the better you practice, the better you will become. I think it was Ulmer who said "practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." The point here being, if you are going through the motions or your form starts to slip while practicing - stop. Otherwise you will reinforce bad habits.

 

[OR Archer]

One thing to keep in mind is that the better you practice, the better you will become. I think it was Ulmer who said "practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." The point here being, if you are going through the motions or your form starts to slip while practicing - stop. Otherwise you will reinforce bad habits.

^^this!!

And if you think you are doing something wrong ask someone to help you out.

 

[Arbutusbucks]

I am trying to keep my practice shooting 70-110 yards for the month of April, which is LR for me. I am not sure how if it will work but my theory is my groups should improve a bunch at hunting distances. I can tell already my hold is getting a little steadier.

 

[a3dhunter]

When having inconsistency in shooting, taking a picture or video of the shot that you can analyze will allow you to see any form issues or bad habits you may have. That alone has helped me improve my shooting accuracy.
Putting myself in the elk woods for longer periods of time have helped me have the patience needed to be a better hunter.

 

[5MilesBack]

For me, I'm getting worse not better. Me eyes are my worst enemy to good shooting. Had Lasik in 1999 and was wonderful not having to wear glasses or contacts for awhile, and was shooting extremely well. But in 2008 I was back to contacts and my shooting has suffered ever since. With the Lasik, the contacts don't fit perfectly over the "now flat cornea" and every blink or wind or whatever causes a blur. If I could see clearly 100% of the time, I'd still be shooting well. I still shoot long range all the time and do pretty good, but it could be better.

 

[Cdana]

I took a class a couple of semesters ago, sports psychology, that really help me improve my confidence in shooting. My professor had touched base on the subject of mental imagery. He had the class close their eyes and create a sport related action; putting, pitching, archery. We were instructed to imagine every aspect of performing that action perfectly. Our homework was to take eight minutes to do one action, and create scenarios that would hinder us from performing perfectly; like wind or mental pressure. Despite the distractions we were to overcome them in our exercise and visualize a perfect execution. I was amazed to see how calm and precise my mechanics performed after a little mental practice.

 

[trkyslr]

a lot of great things said above, which are true. one i don't think was mentioned yet was being accountable for every shot and executing every shot like its the only one you get. make it count! more of a mental thing as most can make a good shot but how many can execute it when under pressure with other variables to drift your thought process. this was ingrained into me from LE shooting marksmanship schools where a miss is unacceptable. this has helped me execute more lethal shots on game.

 

[Nick Muche]

I've always loved to bow hunt and have since I was of legal age. I had a good teacher, when it came to hunting....not shooting. My dad shoots fingers, 20 yards and less, never more than that (very good at it too). Growing up, that was how far all my shots were (whitetails). After I started hunting other species I realized that while a 20 yard shot is nice, 40-50 yard accuracy sure opens up some options out west. I also realized that better gear, more practice sessions and a release aid made all the difference in the world.

When I got to Idaho I started shooting 3D, again I was never very good at it... I could hold my own, but I just drew back and shot; never really thought much about it. After that first year I realized that shooting 3D was a good thing. Judging yardage was the key and executing a perfect shot every time was the goal. I got better, started placing at a few shoots and overall just had a great time. It helped my hunting (shooting/judging yardage) a lot.

While all of that is important, nothing can replicate shooting animals... I was fortunate enough to shoot several deer a season back east when I was younger and "being there" time and time again sure made things easier for me down the road. I don't really get nervous any more when I take a shot or am about to take a shot. I feel it, but I don't allow it to take over me. Whereas my wife, who has only shot a few animals with her bow totally comes unglued when it's time to shoot! I have seen others do the same thing. Most haven't had the opportunity to really fine tune their skills on live animals under hunting situations and I feel that the more you are exposed to that, the better off you will be.

Do I still miss? You bet, I also have been known to make a bad shot or two now and again... Lately it's been due to being impatient and nothing to do with anything else... I know that to be the case so I am constantly telling myself it during a stalk or before a shot. It has helped.

Everyone has room for improvement and that is why I practice as much as I can.

 

[BSeals71]

Lots of great advice! Thank you guys!