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by Joe Bell; photos by Russell Graves
All of your effort ahead of a hunt is for nothing if you can't make
the shot. And yet, so many bowhunters fall apart once a deer is finally
in range. Here’s a look at five in-range
bowhunting mistakes
Adrenaline pumps at the moment of truth. Create a pre-shot sequence while you're practicing that becomes second-nature.
It
happens all the time. Jimmy The Bowhunter climbs into his treestand,
completely confident of his ability. He's been drilling silver dollars
at 20 yards all summer long. Then a nice buck pops into view. Suddenly,
his pulse quickens, and he readies for the shot. The drawing of his bow,
the aim, exactly where the deer is standing – it all becomes a blur.
Jimmy fires the arrow and hears nothing but a loud clattering of carbon
zinging through limbs and leaves. A clean miss. And Jimmy The Bowhunter
is baffled.
This story captures what so many bowhunters go
through every fall. A feeling of confidence one moment and utter
disappointment the next. Why the sad outcome? Well, there are several
potential reasons. But here's a look at five of the most common reasons
bowhunters miss.
1. POOR SIGHT PICTURE
You
need to have a good sight picture. It helps to be holding your bow in
the right hand, too. This guy is about to miss whatever it is he's
shooting at. In the midst of
adrenaline and excitement,
we try our best to echo the phrase, "pick a spot." Surely this is a
good thing to do, but it shouldn't take over our complete thought
process until we've stepped our way through other key elements. And one
of the biggest elements is acquiring the right sight picture and placing
the pin exactly where it needs to go.
Align the peep sight
correctly, either by centering the pin within it or by aligning it with
your sight's guard (this is why pin guards on most modern sights are
round). The same goes for the anchor. Be sure to feel a light pressure
of the hand against your cheek, nothing more. If you don't consciously
think about these things, you can easily foul up the shot. Take the
extra second or two to do this and you'll get to
follow more blood trails.
Also,
when aligning the peep sight, be sure to take a quick glance at your
sight's level bubble. Train yourself to do this in a split second, so
you're holding the bow perfectly plum for top accuracy.
If your
sight's fiber-optic pins seem hazy during lowlight shooting, you may
want to experiment with different aiming beads to enhance the shooting
experience. This alone could cause a blown attempt. Larger peeps, such
as one with a 3/16-inch orifice, are ideal for whitetail hunting, as are
peeps with special light-enhancing coatings.
The same goes for
sight pin size. Don't go too small, such as .019-inch size, which is
best suited for long range shooting in good light. Larger beads like
.029 or .039-inch are easier to see since they create more fiber
illumination during that critical dusk/dawn period.
2. POOR FORM
Shooting from a treestand can lead to poor form. Remember to bend at the waist. Regardless
of the situation you face, your basic shooting form should stay
consistent. This means bending at the waist and keeping your torso
perpendicular to your arms, which is known as using proper "T-Form."
Doing this will help you maintain correct posture and deadly shooting.
To do this when shooting from a treestand, it's best to first draw your
bow level with the treestand's platform, then slowly bend at the waist
until you acquire the target. (
This story clearly illustrates good treestand shooting form vs. poor treestand shooting form).
Most
bowhunters still mess it up. They swing their bow-arm and bow downward,
then pull the bow back to shoot when the sight it close to the target.
This places the bow hand close to the leg and twists the torso
incorrectly, jeopardizing accuracy.
The same technique is
critical for extreme up- and downhill shots, like those encountered out
West. However, these scenarios are even more challenging due to uneven
terrain where you must position your feet when shooting. To execute
these shots well, experiment ahead of time with various shooting stances
and determine what position works best for maintaining accuracy.
In
many cases, depending on the severity of the shooting angle, you may
need to bend your uphill or downhill knee to maintain proper stability
and comfort of your body.
3. BAD SHOOTING LANE
Maybe that buck's close enough, but is the shooting lane really clear? "Is
the shot clear?" That's the first thing every bowhunter must think
about before pulling the string back. It’s much harder to tell once
you’re at full draw.
Assess your best shooting lanes long before
a buck appears, and also visualize possible secondary shooting spots.
These shot windows may not be as "wide open" as others, but deer will
often stop just shy of the best shooting areas, leaving you with the
possibility of threading the needle, which may or may not be wise to do.
Since it's harder to think well when adrenaline is clouding the
brain, it's recommended to visualize all shooting possibilities ahead
of time so you can act more decisively when the moment of truth comes.
This
is critical because certain shooting lanes may look good with a quick
glance, but actually contain lots of tiny obstructions that appear fuzzy
when viewed with a binocular downrange. If this is the case, check it
off your list as a zone to shoot through. Look for better possibilities
and wait for the right shot.
4. TOO BULKED UP
Do you practice at home while wearing all that bulky clothing? A
common problem in the bowhunting world is poor practice technique,
particularly during the months and weeks leading up to opening day.
Often, bowhunters who are dedicated to the sport practice excessively,
to the point where hitting their target at all yardages is second
nature. That’s great. But this confidence revolves heavily around
shooting upright, in their backyard, while wearing normal street
clothes. And that’s not how it happens in the woods.
Very few
bowhunters actually practice in the clothes they intend to hunt with, or
at the start of dawn, when weather is damp and chilly. Yet, out
hunting, these are standard conditions.
Beyond shooting in
normal layered or insulated hunting garments, be sure to shoot with thin
gloves, face mask and your normal bowhunting hat. Do this at least once
a week or twice a week during the two months leading up to opening day.
If accuracy problems arise during these drills, then a few
wardrobe changes may be in order. In this case, overly bulky clothes are
usually the problem. If so, then go with thinner fabrics that can be
layered or use an extra-long arm guard and chest protector to streamline
those sections of your bow arm and chest where the bowstring travels
5. RUSHING ITCertainly,
this is the biggest error in bowhunting. Rushing isn't necessarily a
bad thing, but it becomes a major evil when it begins overriding other
crucial phases in the shooting process. The key is to slow down and to
systematically check your way through the shooting procedure.
This
means, when a deer pops into view, you should certainly rush to get the
bow in your hand and body in position without alerting the deer. But
once you’re set, take time to remember the basics. Tell yourself, "OK,
time to think about step A, step B," and so on.
This is where a
good pre-shot checklist is crucial. Your list should begin with simple
questions like, "Is the shot clear?" "Is the deer at a good angle?" "Are
the animal's eyes obscured enough to safely draw the bow?" and so
forth. Once a good shot is determined, next is to check off the other
critical factors, such as obtaining exact shooting distance, ensuring a
clear path for the arrow's arc, anchoring solidly and aligning the
peep/sight, relaxing the bow hand, picking a spot and aiming and aiming
until the arrow hits.
Details are a large part of successful
bowhunting. The more attentive you are to them, the better off you'll
be. The formula to success really isn't all that complicated. Basically,
it boils down to good shooting form, a realistic practice routine
(simulating hunting conditions), visualizing possible arrow-path
problems, adopting a proven pre-shot checklist, and learning the art of
patience. Do this and you'll prevent simple shooting mistakes from
ruining your next chance.