As days get shorter and the weather colder, practicing your archery skills becomes more difficult since the workday often ends in darkness and weekends are spent doing what you enjoy most — hunting. Kip Adams, of Quality Deer Management Association, shares one of his favorite tips for keeping sharp, and it works particularly well if you hunt with a friend or from a camp where other archers are present. Your practice will soon turn to friendly competition and lots of laughs, all the while honing your skills.
Do you like to bow hunt? Me too. I enjoy everything about archery hunting; the challenge, early seasons, close-range encounters with deer, and the preparation. I believe every hunter should be extremely proficient with the weapon they go afield with, so I shoot my bow a lot. My Big Green Target is full of holes, and I know many guys and gals who can consistently hit the 10-ring on targets in their backyard or at the range from 30, 50 and even 70 yards. This shooting is important, and I routinely practice at distances greater than I’d shoot a deer from. Long-range shooting is excellent for developing and maintaining proper form. However, if you’d like to enhance your bow “hunting” abilities, then I have a new practice technique for you.
In addition to accurate shooting, one of the most important skills you can have as a bowhunter is the ability to consistently judge the distance to your target. I know everyone has a rangefinder, myself included, but if you hunt much you’ll find yourself in situations where you have to quickly judge distance without your electronic friend…
