Shoot Your Bow During Hunting Season

Most bowhunters use a hunting trip as an excuse to get a new bow, a new target, or new camo clothing. Once the dates are set and the gear is purchased, many bowhunters spend countless hours in the backyard shooting their bow. If it is a physically demanding hunt, many hunters will start lifting weights and hiking miles so their body is ready for the grueling task of climbing mountains.

There is one problem. Once the hunt has begun, many bowhunters do not shoot their bow again until a buck or bull is standing in front of them. One guy who knows this problem all too well is Doug Benefield, the Owner of Illinois Connection in Brown County, Illinois. “It is amazing to me how many hunters come here to have a chance at a big buck.  They leave their bow in the case most of the week,” Benefield explained. “I would say about 30% of hunters shoot their bow daily while they are here.”

It is no surprise that many hunters who go on guided hunts end up missing a buck when the moment of truth arrives. “Many hunters simply aren’t prepared for the buck fever that comes along with shooting at a monster buck,” Benefield said. “ I always suggest that hunters run in place before shooting their bow at a target. They need to get their heart rate up to simulate buck fever. If a hunter shoots his bow daily in camp and runs in place before shooting, I think they stand a better chance of making a good shot on a buck.”

Another reason to shoot daily while in camp is to make sure the sight hasn’t been bumped off. I have been on many hunts where someone's bow sight got bumped while hunting and they didn’t know it was shooting high or low or left or right slightly until after they miss a buck of a lifetime. Daily shooting at a target will greatly reduce the odds of this happening in the field.

For those who plan on bowhunting in the backcountry where there is no target, it is always best to bring an arrow or two that are equipped with a judo point. A judo point can be shot at a stump or a small game animal and it simply bounces off the target after the shot. Shooting at a stump while hunting in the backcountry is a great way to stay fine-tuned and ready for the moment of truth.