Tips For Better Archery Shooting | Transitioning From Target Practice to a Hunting Scenario
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Before taking to the field, it is the duty of every hunter to make sure they are as deadly as possible with their weapon of choice. As bow hunters, learning how to properly shoot a compound bow and how to shoot a bow accurately is not only our right, but our responsibility. Put your time in practicing the basics of shooting a compound bow and applying those acquired skills to situations similar to those you will face in the field before putting yourself in a hunting situation and better archery shooting and bow hunting success are sure to follow.
Archery Shooting Form
The single most important thing to remember when it comes to proper compound bow shooting technique is form. Archery shooting form pertains to everything from the way the archer holds the bow in their hand, to the positioning of their elbows, to the direction their feet are facing in relation to the target they intend to hit. Perfect form yields a perfect shot every time. Perfect form…Perfect shot…Get it?
Starting with the base of the shot, and archer’s feet should be shoulder width apart, toes directly perpendicular to the target. Starting from this position, the spacing between the feet may be spread wider apart or closer together depending on what is more comfortable for the shooter. Keep in mind that the wider an archer’s feet are spread apart, the sturdier they will be. Western hunters and those who prefer still-hunting often have a variety of options when it comes to foot placement, including shooting from a kneeling position. Where as the Eastern or Midwestern whitetail hunters who, because of small tree stand platforms, are often have limited footing options while preparing for a shot. As a happy medium, practicing with your feet shoulder width apart offers plenty of stability during the shot while keeping you within the confines of a tree stand platform. As a general rule, consider the position from which you will most likely making make a shot in the field and practice accordingly.
In regards to hand and elbow placement, there are several archery shooting techniques that can make or break your shot; one of the most important being the archer’s non-dominant hand. This hand is used the hold the bow, and coincidently has a tremendous influence on the accuracy of the shot. There are several issues that can be caused by this point of contact and all of them involve torque. Basically, any kind of pressure that is put on the bow that is not directly on the center point of the riser causes torque, which negatively influences the movement of the string in relation to the position of the bow, decreasing the accuracy of the shot. The more torque caused by the shooter, the more inaccurate the shot will be. In the same way, different methods of causing torque like inconsistent hand placement will cause inconstant arrow groupings, and an extremely irritated archer in most cases.
The best way to eliminate torque caused by the non-dominant hand is to make as little contact with the bow as possible. Ideally, the bow grip will rest in your hand where the thumb meets the center of your palm, uninfluenced by any other point on the hand. This is the point of least mobility in you hand and offers the least interference with the natural firing sequence of the bow. Some archers have a tendency to grip the bow with their hand. This may cause torque on the bow because you are not allowing it to rest naturally at its center most point. Be mindful of finger positioning and tense muscles in your hand that may negatively affect your shot. Certain bow grips are also available to decrease bow to hand contact, decreasing torque imposed on the bow, and increasing shooting accuracy. The bow is a machine. It will fire in exactly the same way every single time. The archer, in this case, is the only thing that can interfere. Remove as much human contact with the bow as possible and it will continue to fire in exactly the same way every single time.
In conjunction with non-dominant hand positioning, elbow placement plays an important role in how to shoot a bow accurately. The elbow on your non-dominant side should be stiff and slightly bent to avoid interference with the string and potentially a world of pain. You know who you are… The elbow on your dominant side should be positioned in such a way that your forearm as directly parallel with the arrow. This minimizes torque by facilitating a clean break between your release and the D-loop or string itself depending on your setup. There are also releases available on the market today that help minimize torque caused by human error.
With feet planted, elbows in position, and hands relaxed, hopefully you have a solid understanding of the proper way to shoot a compound bow. Now we can focus on actually firing the bow.
There are several bad habits that can develop as a result of practicing poor form. These poor shooting habits can get worse over time and are often amplified in hunting situations. Fortunately, they can be remedied and avoided altogether by practicing correct compound bow shooting techniques. By understanding and practicing with perfect shooting form, you will be less likely to develop negative shooting habits.
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