Successful Trad Hunters: How do You Train? What are your Habits for Success?

[Beendare]

My Shot process will be different than someone else. Pick a couple key things that you need to focus on to execute a good shot. For example, I typically don't have a problem following through with a strong bow arm....so I don't include that. I know others that tend to peek- prematurely lowering their arm.

I haven't even shot at all this year. My shooting benefits from perfect alignment....and actually feeling back tension with little tension in my arm. My short/quick mantra is typically those two things....then bore in on the spot I want to hit.

I gap shoot so I judge the yardage and decide on a gap prior to drawing.
It's funny though, I shoot better when I focus on my form and let my peripheral vision and subconscious worry about the gap. When I focus on the gap at the arrow, I shoot a little worse for some reason.

 

[plentycoupe]

I haven’t read through all the other post but theirs is probably a ton of good advice.
Rabbit holes with trad archery go super DEEP!!

If your broadheads are shooting where your field points all I would not start trying to super tune anything. It can get expensive and frustrating. Start slow and just learn good fo before anything else!!
Again if your broadhead shoots where your field points shoot then focus on your form and shooting practice. Your arrow will do its job.

Keep your broad heads sharp.

Can get a treestand to practice elevated shots. Just move your target around below the stand and practice from it for down hill shots. Steep up hill can be a challenge if you don’t have elevation.

Extras that I carry.
1. String. Yes, shoot both of them so they are stretched and tuned correctly. Then put one in your pack and leave it there. Many have been cut by a broadhead and if you don’t have a backup your hunt is done.
2. Shooting glove or tab. Whatever you use. Shoot both so they are worn in.
3. Arm guard if you use one.
4. Bow stringer if you use one.

That’s pretty much the extras I carry.

I also by two inch elastic band material from Walmart and sew a couple to pull up and over my bicep area. If I have a baggy rain jacket on it will keep the extra material down.

I also use an arrow piggy back to carry an arrow with a judo on it for stump shooting/practice while I am hunting. And for grouse!!

 

[swampmountaineer]

I haven’t read through all the other post but theirs is probably a ton of good advice.
Rabbit holes with trad archery go super DEEP!!

There's been some great advice for sure, have been putting into practice what I've learned here and reading every new post. Stealing your extras list, good call on getting a second shooting glove ready as well. I'm taking more time to focus on form and shot process to avoid unnecessary time-suck from tuning arrows with subpar form. Got awesome info and material from a few tuning wizards on this thread to put into action when I feel like I'm good enough to warrant it.

The best and most straightforward advice for me so far has been to just go out and shoot/hunt in the field. I finally pushed myself to leave the shotgun at home this weekend and try for cottontail with the recurve. It took me less than an hour and I was more stoked on a harvest than I've been in a long time. The bunny presented me with a still, perfect broadside at 8 yards, so not an impressive shot by any metric. But I saw it, snapped into form and just ran my shot sequence without thinking about it and hit him at center mass right on the liver. I tend to paralysis by analysis and that one shot answered a lot of open questions like "well, what if the terrain is like this, or what if it's a close shot but at this angle, or what if I have to balance weird," because in the moment I didn't think of any of that and just shot my dang bow. I have a tendon/muscle thing in my back that creates a popping sensation when I'm at full draw, so I just drew back to the pop, checked my gap and let it go.

A long write up for a single little cottontail, but my first bow kill and huge learning experience. I save my skins/furs, so seeing how much cleaner an arrow kills compared to a shotgun is getting me pretty pumped to keep pursuing small game with a recurve.

Hope this keeps going, I know I'm not the only one reading all the awesome input.

 

[plentycoupe]

great job on the shot at the rabbit. It’s such a rewarding sport for sure!! And don’t discount the 8 yard distance. I have missed a fair amount up close when forgetting my shot process!!
I know how you feel about how cool it is to harvest with your bow. I killed a pig the other day with my Widow and some wooden arrows I put together. First time out with that bow and arrow setup and I was happy as could be!
Keep up the good work and congrats on having an internal psycho trigger(you popping back) hahaha

 

[swampmountaineer]

Thanks, right back at you for the pig! Yeah, it's really addictive, I'm giving it about 3 more months before I start making snide comments about hunting anything with a firearm

 

[Jbogg]

I was late to the Trad party, and just started shooting/hunting with trad gear at 59 years old. I’ve got a bum shoulder on my bow arm, which was surgically repaired years ago, but still presents some challenges with the recurve. As a result, I learned that less is more when it comes to shooting. When I started out. I was shooting 25 to 50 arrows in a shooting session, but soon realized that I was hitting the point of diminishing returns due to fatigue and lack of strength. These days I will typically shoot between 4 to 8 arrows a day, but I try to shoot every day year-round at various distances.

I ended up going the ILF route since I shoot, low poundage, but with a long draw. I was wanting to find a bow that I could shoot out of a saddle, without the length of the bow preventing me from taking those steeply angled, close-up shots. It took some trial and error, but I found a combination of riser and limbs that works great for me. Over three years I’ve got a handful ofWhitetail, and one bear with trad gear, and wish I had begun this journey much sooner.

 

[webhak]

I was late to the Trad party, and just started shooting/hunting with trad gear at 59 years old. I’ve got a bum shoulder on my bow arm, which was surgically repaired years ago, but still presents some challenges with the recurve. As a result, I learned that less is more when it comes to shooting. When I started out. I was shooting 25 to 50 arrows in a shooting session, but soon realized that I was hitting the point of diminishing returns due to fatigue and lack of strength. These days I will typically shoot between 4 to 8 arrows a day, but I try to shoot every day year-round at various distances.

I ended up going the ILF route since I shoot, low poundage, but with a long draw. I was wanting to find a bow that I could shoot out of a saddle, without the length of the bow preventing me from taking those steeply angled, close-up shots. It took some trial and error, but I found a combination of riser and limbs that works great for me. Over three years I’ve got a handful ofWhitetail, and one bear with trad gear, and wish I had begun this journey much sooner.

It's never too late!

I'm also coming off a year-long shoulder injury. I eased into a 25-lb recurve and focused on technique. I have a long history of snap shooting/target panic that I'm continuing to work on. It's going to take a lot of reps to recondition my brain and that means a lighter draw weight.

I'm now at the point of shooting the 43-lb long bow (not "heavy" for many) for two sessions and then going back to the 25-lb for the third session. Periodization...just like in the gym.

 

[Vaquero 45]

At 67 besides some great brainstorming and advice here . I exercise, eat truly healthy. Also like others have stated on serious big game hunt$ , I bring a set of extra limbs , premium string , rest parts if using riser with a springy. I also practice shots bare fingers on string in case I loose my tab . I like to be mentally and physically organized before I hit the field and not have major problems waiting for me at the office or home when I return. This single string passion to me is an extremely spiritual experience, and has to be to a major degree . If one is attempting to hunt quality fair chase game / free range , and know one must get within 30 yards depending on size of animal to be ethically successfully with your shot . None of my business what others do however Kemosabe me no hunt in cages even large ones or shoot fish in a barrel .

 

[SliverShooter]

A lot of really good advice in this thread, try the suggestions that interest you, then settle on the ones that become most comfortable for you and practice.

Addressing your specific questions, here is how I do or did it

- Shooting Angles: 35 years ago I put a ladder on the side of my garage and set several 3D targets around the backyard. For the next four months my brother, stepson, and I practiced elevated shooting for a couple hours of every weekday evening. On the weekends we went scouting in the mountains for elk and mule deer, stump shooting whenever a particular shot caught one of our eyes. Rolled rubber balls down a gravely/rocky road to practice moving targets (We were really fascinated by Uncle Barry’s running shots on deer.).

- Arrows: I started with wood, went to aluminum, then to carbon, and back to wood around 95, any critter I missed was on me, not the arrow. First, Tune your brace height to the quietest point with the least amount of hand shock. They are almost always the same. Next, find your preferred arrow and the adjust tip weights until you get good arrow flight. Now stick with your setup. AO Adcock has a great set of instructions on how to do it right, you should be able to find it by running s search. If not, send me a pm and I will send you the file. Once done, keep the same setup, make it your best friend instead of chasing the newest and greats bow or gadget.

Too many people spend their time trying for perfection rather than getting comfortable and familiar with a killing setup. I have shot 58# @ 28 1/2” selfbows with a 615-640 grain arrow since 1998.

- Fitness / Training: There is no substitute for hiking with your hunting gear or similar weight, in the same type of terrain you hunt. Scouting, along with stump shooting is a good start. For me, I feel the need to prepare for the toughest condition I foresee in the upcoming year and press myself press physically to be ready. Living in Montana, that means good enough shape to pack an elk out solo. I’m not a gym rat, so hiking the local M on the steep side starting in April with a 30# pack every other day, adding, 5-10# every few weeks. By the first part of August I have build up to a 105-115# pack, and then back off for the last 3 weeks before the season opens to 60-70#. On non hiking days I do several sets of pushups, sit ups, burpees, and balance exercises.
Shoot your bow daily, proper form will build the muscles you need. I shoot both right and left handed, you could try drawing your bow from both sides to keep balance on both side of the body. You do not have to shoot an arrow.

- Trad Tackle Maintenance, Protection and Repair in the Field: Been building my own bows for almost 30 years, I can fix/patch most anything that goes wrong. I do not bring a spare bow. My repair kit: Two spare strings (set up, shot in, and ready to use), a little bit of wax, ceramic rod and wet stone (also for my knifes), sinew, and supper glue.

Final thoughts:
It is not a matter of how many arrows one shoots, rather the quality of the arrows released.

 

[RandalH]

Ken Beck’s video also helped me tremendously.

 

[Kentucky]

I switch from light beer to heavy…

 

[Vaquero 45]

Anatoly is my secret strength coach . Money well spent ! ......