Heath Wood
Archery practice isn’t just flinging arrows; it’s training with intention. I like to compare it to a professional football player’s preseason. June and July are for building fundamentals, but when August 1st hits, it’s time to prove you’re ready for game day. Every shot should mimic the situations you’ll face in the fall. This is when you fine-tune broadheads, lock in your form, and sharpen your mental focus so that when a buck steps into your lane, you’re more than ready to take the shot.
Fine-Tune Your Setup
It all starts with your bow. Even if your draw weight or length hasn’t changed in months, now’s the time to double-check. Living in a small rural town in southern Missouri, we get plenty of those “only in a small town” moments, especially at work. The back of our storage and break room could easily pass for a bow shop. Four bows hang on the wall, and the table that usually serves as a workbench now holds a bag target with a paper tuning setup spread across it. Over a few days, three coworkers and I check draw weights, paper tune, and make final tweaks, all to ensure we’re dialed in and hunt ready when September 15th, the opening day of our season, arrives.
Besides making those last-minute adjustments, summer heat and storage conditions can subtly affect string tension or peep sight alignment. It is necessary to inspect your strings and cables, apply wax, and look for fraying or wear. It might be too late for a full re-string, but it’s much better than risking failure in the field. Confirm your rest timing, center shot, and sight level, making small micro-adjustments as needed. And if you’re shooting fixed-blade broadheads, keep track of which arrow pairs best with which head; minor inconsistencies can make a difference. Once everything’s dialed in, it’s time to shoot and then shoot some more.
Field Ready
Broadhead tuning is often overlooked, yet it is important. Begin by shooting broadheads and field points side-by-side at varying distances, 20, 30, and 40 yards. If your broadheads are hitting low or wide, don’t assume it’s bad form; a minor rest adjustment of even 1/32 of an inch can correct grouping issues. Always move your rest toward the direction you want your broadhead groups to go. Test multiple broadheads to confirm your setup is truly dialed in and not just masking a flaw in the head itself. This is one of the most common mistakes bowhunters make. They spend the summer shooting field points, tuning their gear to match that setup, and then, come hunting season, screw on broadheads that fly completely differently. The last place you want to discover that difference is in a real hunting scenario. Skipping broadhead practice can mean missing a shot at a trophy buck, or worse, wounding an animal due to poor arrow flight.
Real Hunt Scenarios
Once your equipment is ready, practice in ways that simulate hunting conditions. Flat-range bullseyes are fine, but real hunts involve awkward angles, obstacles, and adrenaline. Shoot from elevated positions, bending at the waist to keep proper form and consistent anchoring. Wear your early-season hunting gear, including your harness, so you get used to the feel. Add realism to your practice by creating challenges, shooting through small gaps, around brush, or under time pressure, just as you would when a deer steps out unexpectedly. Work in “first shot” drills; step up, take one cold shot, and walk away. In the field, that single arrow is the one that matters most. Also, practice from a treestand platform or your tree saddle to replicate the exact angles and conditions you’ll face while hunting.
Mental Reps
Equally important is training your mind. Before every shot, visualize the hunt: the deer stepping out, the wind direction, and the distance. Picture the arrow’s path and then execute. Add pressure to your practice by inviting a friend for friendly shooting competitions, anything that mimics the nerves you’ll feel when the moment of truth arrives. Recently, with the same co-workers, we gathered at each other's houses for a friendly night of shooting our bows. We used different 3D targets and played games to see who could get closest to the twelve ring, as well as playing P.I.G., with the same rules as the traditional basketball game. The competition fosters concentration and the desire to make the best shot each time. By practicing controlled breathing, slowly inhaling and exhaling, and drawing your bow on the exhale to keep your shot steady, you can not only beat your hunting buddies but also make better shots under pressure while hunting. Another great drill to help make your shot count is the one-shot-at-a-time method. I keep a target setup in the backyard all month. When I walk out in the yard, I pick up my bow and take one shot. After running or exercising early in the mornings, I shoot one arrow when I get back. The one-shot method makes you aware of making that shot count, and can help when taking a shot at a mature buck this fall.
August should also focus on building consistency. Prioritize quality over quantity; ten perfectly executed shots will benefit your season more than a hundred rushed ones. Record yourself shooting to identify flaws you might not notice in the moment, like a shifting anchor point or uneven follow-through. Check your confidence level: if you’re second-guessing your setup or ability, address it now, not on opening day. There’s a big difference between being “good enough” and truly being ready. Every effort you put in now could be what makes your arrow fly true when a velvet-racked buck steps out at 25 yards this fall. Tighten your groups, trust your process, and shoot as if it’s already September, because in just a few weeks, it will be.
