3 Best tips for preparing yourself for that shot of a lifetime

[SIDEHILLARCHERY]

Here is my 3!

1. Be completely confident in your equipment!

2. Practice, Long range shoots, awkward shots, under pressure shots, any shots you might find yourself taking while hunting. Don't be surprised or uncomfortable during the hunt. Get it out of the way while before you've got that bull screaming in front of you.

3. If possible try to shoot 3D targets of animals you'll be hunting. it gives you that realization of hunting VS. just shooting dots. (absolutely nothing wrong with shooting dots). But make practice as real as possible.

 

[ktowncamo]

Of the animals I've shot or shot at, more of them have been from kneeling than standing so I end up shooting from kneeling quite a bit during practice.  I'll sometimes kneel on rocks and off canter hillsides in order to better mimic the hunt.


Something I've found that's easy in a backyard range is to get a 2x4 and then stand on it with your heels on it while shooting and then with one foot while shooting and then....you get the picture. Solid flat foot placement is the exception in most hunting scenarios.

 

[jamesctaylor17@gmail.com]

One thing that I like to practice is holding your bow at full draw for an extended period of time before taking a shot. This is meant to mimic when you draw your bow on an incoming bull and then he hangs up and you're forced to wait at full draw for a shot opportunity. You don't want to miss or have to let down at this point!
Now don't be risky with this! There's no need to fling an arrow in the wrong direction because you're shaking so bad. In practice just start in close. I usually do it at the end of my shooting session and do 5 arrows waiting at least 1 minute at full draw before taking a shot. This really forces you to focus on the shot and you can feel it. Once that becomes easy increase the wait time and shooting distance.
I'm not trying to suggest bad shooting habits, it's just a good prep for real hunting situations like those mentioned above! 

 

[RUTTIN]

I agree with all of the above, also make sure you are practicing those tough angle shots. Hard sidehill angles are the worst, sometimes I feel like I am canting my bow hard just trying to get the bow level. I think my number 1 would have to be confidence in your equipment.

 

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Pick a spot, pick a spot, pick a spot

 

[lang]

Pick a spot, pick a spot, and follow through.

 

[cowboystl1]

aim small miss small , run around the house as fast as i can grab my bow make a shot do it again , and shoot from every possible position and angle

 

[Snowcrest 6]

Confidence
Confidence
Don't over think it

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[montanaelk31]

Different angles and positions is important, as is aim small miss small. 
But I agree with JCT in feeling the most important thing is beating the bull to the draw. Draw early and hold.  When you can stay drawn for 5 min and shoot a baseball sized bull at 40 yards, you're ready.  I use my cell phone alarm. Good luck

 

[turbo1967]

I have seen it lots of times .all the practice in the world dosent help if you dont STAY CALM and breath , I know its tough when a bull elk is screaming in your face but just breath and stay calm. From there all the practice you did will work its magic.

 

[SIDEHILLARCHERY]

What a bunch of great advice!

 

[Banjosmith]

Good advice on all above!! Weather it's bow or gun, spend time shooting long distance to make the shorter shots a lot easier. Last year I was shooting 80yds with my bow. Not that I planned on shooting at an elk at that range,it just made those 40yd shots so much easier and confident! If I think an average shot with a gun might be at 100yds, I'm probably going to practice a lot at 350.

 

[KBar70]

I shoot BHs all the time (Slick Trick 125gr Magnums) and practice 'one shot groups', usually starting stone-cold from 60 yards, and then mixing up the distances, angles etc

 

[mlauber]

I practice what I call the three C's:

Stay Cool
Stay Calm
Stay Collective

Practice is the only thing that builds confidence.