by Austin Delano
With the warmer months of summer approaching quickly, archery season for big game is starting to feel not so distant. Some states have whitetail, elk, and mule deer seasons that start as early as mid August. It’s a cliché statement that it’s never too early to begin some practice shooting but it’s the truth. I committed last year to start shooting in June in preparation for archery season and a mid November hunt in the Midwest. I fully believe the extra practice paid off as I had to make a difficult 46-yard shot on the last day of the hunt.
- Weekly practice doesn’t have to be a chore, shooting a few dozen arrows 2-3 days a week can really help you stay tuned in to your equipment and form.
- Confidence. I still get excited anytime I’m fixing to get a shot on a whitetail, plenty of practice ahead of time gives you the confidence you can make the shot even with some buck fever.
- Being comfortable with yardages. Consistent practice can help you in your distance judgment. There are also some great tools available like Leupold’s Vendetta bow mounted range finder that really take the guesswork out of it. The Vendetta even has a scan mode that allows you to range animals as they move for optimum accuracy.
- Consistent practice in the pre-season will keep you familiar with your equipment and anything that needs fixed or updated. The archery stores get really busy right before the season starts with people that just started shooting and discovered they needed a new string or other serious repair.
