Florida's archery season opens in the state's Central Zone Sept.20, and if you haven't tuned your hunting gear it's time you did. Simulating hunting conditions in practice greatly increases your chances this bow season.
Target shooting is great, and every bowhunter should be shooting daily.
Chucking field points at a paper target is good to work out the kinks, but to really get a feel for how your bow, arrows, clothing and other gear will perform opening day, it's time to practice with it all.
If you have practice gear on your bow - arrow rest, sights, string, stabilizers and quiver - replace it with the gear you use to hunt. There should be only hunting equipment on your bow to begin with, as changing accessories from target gear to hunting gear leads to confusion and second guessing.
Make sure all your arrows are ready. Either spin each shaft on an arrow-straightening lathe or eyeball the shaft to make sure they're not warped or bent. Arrows in question should be replaced. Check the feathers or vanes to verify they're not peeling or damaged, and check that the nocks aren't loose or misaligned. After you're positive the arrows are in good condition, it's time to inspect the broadheads.
Broadheads are expensive for practice, and you might lose one or two practicing. But broadheads fly differently than field points, and when that 10-point buck appears you can't be worried about arrow flight. Broadheads with broken ferules or blades should be repaired or replaced. Make sure the heads are tight by using a broadhead wrench. Never check broadheads with your fingers.
Before you start shooting with hunting heads, find a target butt that accepts razor heads. There are plenty of broadhead target butts on the market, or you can purchase a 24x24 plastic foam cube. Leave the expensive foam 3-D animal targets until later.
Number your hunting arrows to keep track of them. Use a felt-tip marker to number the shafts or vanes.
Begin by shooting each arrow from ground level at varying distances. Keep track of how each flies, and write down the information to use when making adjustments and eliminating imperfect arrows.
After you have your hunting arrows assembled, start shooting under hunting conditions. Complete hunting clothes should be worn: boots, mask, arm guard, gloves, hat. Whatever it takes, practice exactly like you're hunting. Nothing is more frustrating than missing a buck because the bowstring hit your sleeve or you couldn't see through your peep sight because the brim of your new hat was in the way.
Your practice should simulate your hunting style. If you're going to hunt out of a tree stand, shoot from there. If you hunt from a ground blind, shoot from there. Practice how you hunt.
After you are confident in your ability, take it two steps further. Use a lifesize 3-D animal target to provide realistic hits and misses. And practice with a one-shot rule, allowing yourself one shot per day, hit or miss.
Most times you get just one shot at an animal. The first shot has to count. The psychological effect from the one-shot rule is tremendous: If you miss your shot, you know you wasted the day's only opportunity.
- Rick Frazier is an accomplished bowhunter. He runs Lucky Dawg Fishing Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at 727 510-4376 or e-mail captrick@luckydawg.com
