Starting From Scratch

“Out for delivery”, three words anyone loves seeing, especially if it’s a new bow in that truck. Twice now I have ignored my own advice and switched bows late in the game. Last season I ended up scoring a great deal on a bow in late October, two weeks later I had an 8 point whitetail buck lying underneath that bow. This year I ended up making the switch ten days before a series of 3D events. In this article, I would like to cover how to learn a new bow, and how to prepare yourself to be lethal with that bow.

There is a massive difference between picking up your bow two weeks before a hunt after leaving it in the closet all year and switching bows close to a hunt. No matter which bow is in my hand, I am shooting at least 200 arrows per week all year long. My fundamentals are sound and my knowledge of equipment is adequate. From my time working in the archery department at a big outdoor store, I have seen my fair share of neglectful archery endeavors. One in particular sticks out in my memory. A guy walked up to the bow counter on September 1st, said “I just bought an archery tag and we’re going hunting in two days. I need a bow, this is my first ever bow.” As my heart sank and eyes likely rolled around inside my skull, I hesitantly began to offer my guidance. To clarify, the above example is not what I’m referring to when I speak of learning a new bow.

My buck I was able to take with a bow I owned for less than two weeks.

Upon the arrival of that much-anticipated delivery, I immediately inspect the bow, study the cams, the grip, the string and cables, and try to figure out how it all works. Typically with any new bow, I will replace the factory strings with a good aftermarket set, especially with a pre-owned bow. This ensures I am starting with a clean slate and any wear or stretch will be caused by my use, not the unknown of the previous owner. After the string swap, it’s time to tune. My process is very diligent and thorough, paper tune, bare shaft, and finally group tuning.

Shooting the new bow is of course the most important for learning it. The obvious answer is sending a LOT of arrows down range, but also being aware while you do so. How does the bow hold on target, where does your hand feel most natural on the grip, and how responsive is the back wall? This is all relatively high level information that you must first have a baseline for comparison, so in this instance, we are talking to archers with notable previous experience. Making the switch from a Hoyt to a Mathews was quite the change, especially on the tuning side. The draw cycle was different, the bow held differently, and the grip interfaces with my hand differently. In the ten days I have had my Mathews I have shot nearly 500 arrows, so I feel that I really have learned the basics of how to shoot it accurately, not to mention it took all of four arrows to get a perfect bullet hole through paper! Aside from the grip, the largest, most noticeable difference from one bow to another is often the back wall and valley. How dynamic does the wall allow you to be? I know the wall on the Mathews is considerably more solid than my previous Hoyt, so in order to pull through the shot, it requires a different level of resistance, with less feedback. These are the tiny details that you should be looking for.

As with anything, the more you do it, the better and more comfortable you will become. The name of the game is consistency here, and breaking in a new set of strings in three days was my motivation to shoot lots of arrows. Of course, it is always better to be fully in tune and familiar with your bow entering a hunt, but if for any reason you find yourself with an unfamiliar rig in your hand a couple weeks before the season, spend the time, put in the reps, and pay attention to the small stuff. You will be just as confident as you were with your old bow in no time.

The Blank Canvas

Last summer I found myself in a very stressful yet exciting time, Cutter Stabilizers was in its infancy and the stress of starting a business was weighing on me quite heavily. Having to borrow money from my girlfriend to invest in the business, purchase raw materials, and begin production was not something I was thrilled about. When the time came to pay her back, she uttered a phrase that made me incredibly happy: “why don’t you just use the money to put together a bow setup for me?”. I was thrilled, with a very generous budget, and an insatiable obsession with shopping for archery equipment, I was like a kid in a candy store. A few weeks later and she had a complete setup with top-tier accessories, including a stabilizer from the company she helped get going. In this article we will be discussing how her journey of learning archery differed from mine and the amazing opportunity she had starting with a “blank canvas”.

Back in 2003 I got my very first compound bow, my father had taught me to shoot, and it was off to the races. The standard was that once the bow was sighted in, it was okay to let it sit until a month or so before season started. Looking back, this was a massive hindrance to my archery improvement. I found that my maximum effective range was around 40 yards, and at that range my confidence was still not exceptional. The fall of 2004 was my first archery hunt, and it wasn’t until 2014 that I successfully filled a tag, not for a lack of trying, but simply for a lack of opportunities. My first shot opportunity was at 8 yards on a 6x6 bull elk. He expired quickly and after that, I was HOOKED! Diving down the rabbit hole of both archery and hunting, I found that I had developed several poor habits within my shooting form. Those habits took a very long time to overcome and correct, and finally I feel confident in my accuracy and shot mechanics. My effective range went from a shaky 40 yards to what is now, a confident 100+ yards. Had I invested in my practice and archery education, I would’ve been leaps and bounds ahead of where I am now. So when my girlfriend Heather said she wanted to learn archery, I was going to ensure she started out on the correct path, from the beginning!

A sunny day on the 3D archery range

The first thing to address was the fundamentals, a proper back tension release, and correct bow fit. The poundage of her bow started out light, her first release was a tension activated handheld release. The most critical element to developing proper shooting mechanics is learning that it is okay to let down on any shot that does not feel right. She learned this quickly, and along with the release she was shooting, there was no opportunity to develop target panic or shot anticipation. One of the most difficult problems to overcome is in fact, target panic, so forcing her to start with a release aid that eliminated that possibility was pivotal to her early success. Having a coach that is extremely diligent on proper mechanics was also a large advantage for her. Watching her shoot, I would look for any and every possible form issue she may be displaying, and if I found one, she would need to let down and start over. If you are just beginning your archery journey, the most valuable thing you can purchase is a lesson from a good coach.

As the weather began to warm this spring, we were able to get out and shoot some longer distance finally. Before this point, Heather had not shot further than 30 yards, and on this day, we were going to be shooting 60. A large backstop and a generous target face (8” circle) provided a forgiving and easier to acquire sight picture. Her first arrow sailed high right, I reminded her of the mechanics and necessity for perfection at longer ranges. The next two arrows hit the 2.5” orange circle in the center of the larger circle. I was so happy and proud! Throughout the following rounds of arrows, she hit the center on an average of 2 out of 3 shots, a spectacular feat for her first time ever shooting at that range. I recall, a handful of years ago when my father first got a pin for 60 yards, I was in awe of his ability to shoot that far and even hit the target. With the advances in both technology and my ability, 60 is a warm up, and soon, with practice, Heather will be warming up at long range as well.

Looking back at my beginning, I realize that technology has come a long way in 17 years. I also know that the cost of my first bow setup was approximately a third of Heather’s first setup. Having access to someone who had all of the tools and resources to tune and build an accurate bow is also a huge advantage for her. In order to get the best possible start in your archery journey, you need to be stringent on several non-negotiable principles. First, do not shoot a single shot that does not feel perfect. No matter how you “look” or no matter how “silly” you may feel at the public range, the advancement in your ability is worth being strict. Second, do not try to figure it all out on your own, hire a coach and LISTEN! Take notes so you can refer back to them later. Third, take more notes when you are shooting on your own, when a shot breaks and it feels great, immediately write down everything you can remember. What was your pin doing, how was your form, how was your breathing, which muscles did you feel were engaged, how long did the shot take to go off? In order to make the most of your “blank canvas”, you need to hold yourself accountable and accept the help of those qualified to help you, find a good pro shop and ask questions! By being honest with yourself and taking the time to develop your fundamentals, you will progress quickly and see the results down range. Happy shooting.

Heather and my current bow setups

Peaking For Primetime

Throughout the course of a year our involvement with archery changes with the seasons. From the hot summer months when daylight is long, to the winter months when temperatures plummet, to the golden days of fall when we set out with a tag in our pocket, the number of arrows we shoot changes. It cannot be argued that we want to shoot our best when our hunting season arrives to provide an ethical shot and honor the animals we love and respect so much, but how do we get to that point at the right time? In this article we will be addressing a strategic approach to off-season shooting that will result in your tightest groups occurring on opening day of archery season.

December 1st brings below freezing temperatures, snow, and holiday shopping to the forefront of our schedules. Shooting in these times often proves difficult with such limited daylight and free time, however, there are things we can do to stay acquainted with our bow. It is in the winter months after hunting season has come and gone that I assess my setup from top to bottom, addressing what equipment worked well and what left room for improvement. Once I decipher what will be changing, I begin shopping and researching other options. The shortcomings of your setup are fresh in your mind and the thoughts of failed shots or equipment malfunctions still sting. My archery season runs from mid August in CO for antelope, through late November for NE whitetail. December is a good time for me to hang the bow up and let my mind rest from archery entirely.

Usually by late January I am having severe archery withdrawals and just want to get out and shoot some arrows! My new equipment choices have likely been purchased by now and the eagerness to test them is overwhelming. February is the time to begin focusing on the fundamentals. I start at 20 yards, once a week, shooting a Vegas 3 spot target for score. It allows me a baseline for my shooting abilities and at 20 yards, the demand is not as great. Keeping detailed notes of shots, mental cues, and releases that “feel” good is crucial at this point. We are working towards perfection, and need something to reference.

Late March brings warmer temperatures and the opportunity to get outside in the afternoons to shoot longer distances. At this point I have shot 6-8 Vegas scoring rounds and began seeing improvements. I am fortunate enough to have several excellent 3D courses nearby. My new equipment is now familiar enough to start asking more from, so outside we go! Carrying over the fundamental notes and cues to longer distances, and being as strict with yourself as possible is crucial. This, in my opinion, is when you either make or break your year! If a shot feels wrong, LET DOWN AND DO NOT SHOOT IT! As the distances get longer, self control must become sharper. We are still developing perfect shooting technique as we progress back to top form and do not want to start practicing poor habits. Addressing any equipment conflicts now should also be part of your routine, since adding some distance may expose some shortcomings in your setup.

The first 3D outing of the year

Late April brings springtime and plenty of daylight to shoot in the evenings. At this point I am shooting long distance at or near my max effective distance and pushing past it when possible. For me, long distance means 80 yards or more, and in peak form, my max effective distance is 90-110 yards depending on whether I’m shooting fixed blades or mechanical broadheads. Establish your max effective distance based on your setup and abilities, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Being mindful of the correct fundamentals established in earlier months, it is crucial to not get caught up in dropping long bombs at the expense of proper technique. Anyone can hit the center once or twice at 100 yards, but doing so consistently takes perfect form, flawless shot execution, and a well tuned setup.

June brings summertime and all of the fun 3D events, such as TAC and Mountain Archery Fest. These events take 3D targets, incorporate challenging terrain, and real-world shot scenarios you may encounter while hunting. Steep uphill and downhill shots are a staple out west in the mountains that elk and mule deer call home, and knowing how to adapt your shot process and execution to find the center will vastly increase the likelihood of filling a tag come September! At these 3D events it is very common to encounter shots well past your max effective range. Three years ago at a Total Archery Challenge event in Utah, I recall a 35 degree downhill shot on a bighorn ram target at 73 yards, for those of you who are familiar with cut charts, that’s a whopping 95 yards line of sight. Anytime you are shooting up or downhill, your body’s natural tendency is to shorten itself and compensate with shoulder and arm positioning. Not only will this affect your anchor point, but it will also add bow torque to your front hand. Both of which do not heed well for accuracy. Come to full draw, aiming at something level with your body, then bend at the waist, up or down to the target. One new variable that is introduced in these types of events is the necessity to trust your sight bubble, I’ve mentioned it in previous articles, but in off camber shots, your top limb wants to fall to the downhill side. A good back bar stabilizer setup helps combat this, but will not fully solve the problem in extreme instances. Trusting your bubble level is crucial to not missing left or right on side hill shots, particularly at long distances.

July is a pivotal month in the journey of improving your shooting abilities. At this time, any variables in your setup, such as releases, arrows, stabilizers, or broadheads must be decided upon. For example, all offseason I shoot a hinge style release, but come July, I transition to my thumb trigger release since that’s what I like to hunt with. I will shoot it exclusively, along with the exact setup I intend to hunt with. Tinkering and experimenting with your setup needs to stop now, make adjustments to your sight, rest, and stabilizers to ensure they are all tuned to shoot the arrows you intend to hunt with and LEAVE YOUR BOW ALONE! Confidence in your equipment is paramount to success afield. Practice sessions in July should involve all distances, from close range fundamental intensive focused shooting, to long range accuracy shooting. Broadheads should be incorporated into your practice sessions now as well. A full 45 days of shooting them will reveal any tuning issues in your setup and allow you time to correct them before season. Shooting from awkward positions should also be added in, seated, kneeling, and standing on uneven surfaces are all important to practice since the the animals we will be pursuing do not live in well kept, flat archery ranges.

August, the days are long, the temperatures are hot, and hunting season is just around the corner. Practice sessions should not exceed 50 arrows in this time frame. I personally focus on 2/3 of my max effective range for the few short weeks before the season kicks off. For example, if my max range is 100, I will focus on shooting mainly 70 and in. This keeps confidence high and allows for the good habits we have worked so hard to establish a chance to sink into our subconscious. Long range shooting should not be neglected altogether either. Add in 10-15 arrows at or past your max range to ensure you are still proficient, WITH BROADHEADS! Continue to practice awkward shooting positions and even incorporate some “hunting scenarios” such as nocking an arrow quickly and executing your shot in seven seconds or less. Practice moving your bow at full draw onto the target to emulate following a walking animal. Raising up from a kneeling position, sitting on your feet to upright kneeling is another good exercise. The more prepared for various scenarios you can become, the lower the chances you have of losing sight of your fundamentals in the moment of truth.

Mid to late August means one thing for me, archery antelope hunting! I’ve written an entire article on the subject and it truly is my favorite hunt of the year. With the demand for max effective range being the highest of any hunt, it is important to stay brushed up on your shooting. At least twice a day while hunting I will stop, throw the target out at my max range and shoot 5-10 arrows. I always shoot 2-3 arrows first thing in the morning, and again at last light. The vital area of an antelope is roughly a 10” circle, and at the distances they often present you a shot from, that can get really small. Perfection is not an option, but a requirement!

A 110 yard group I shot while antelope hunting

Sweet September, the golden sea of aspen leaves illuminate the high country, crisp morning air fills the lungs. On my elk and deer hunts I shoot my bow once a day, usually mid day, for 10-20 arrows. Nothing crazy as far as distance goes here, just keeping the form tight and focusing on execution, 40% of max range is adequate.

November brings a transition to whitetail hunting, and new gear, clothing in particular. Throughout October it is important to practice in the clothing you will be wearing, typical whitetail gear is often bulkier than western clothing, so string slap and sleeve contact needs to be addressed. Gloves are another piece of clothing that may affect your anchor point, and the way your release feels in hand. “Cold bore” shooting is an element that I add in for whitetail hunting. Coming outside, and shooting a single arrow 2-3 times a day several hours apart at 30-40 yards is great practice for what you will likely encounter while hunting. There are no warm up shots in hunting so it is important to make the most of of that one single arrow.

The season comes and goes in what seems like a flash, memories made, tags filled, and freezers stocked up for the long year ahead. The journey through the months preceding hunting season should not be wasted, but systematically utilized to improve and adapt your shooting skill. Each month has different benefits and by following the steps outlined in this article, I am confident that you will be the most prepared, confident, and accurate you have ever been. Seize the opportunity to invest in your craft and become a student of the game, after all, hunting season is less than 5 months away!

The Perfect Shot

It is a feeling of triumph, a feat that we as archers strive for every single time our bow hits full draw, the perfect shot. The release breaks, the bow falls forward slowly towards the target, the arrow pierces the air in a precise arc directly into the center of the bullseye, whether it be paper, foam, or the vitals of a game animal. When it happens, we are reminded why we love archery so much, but often it doesn’t. This article will showcase several ideas and tips to make that perfect shot occur more frequently.

A shot process is the most crucial elements to repeatable and consistent accuracy with a bow. Performing the required actions precisely the same each time yields tight groups and notched tags. The initial element is finding a sequence of mental commands that help you as the archer accomplish the aforementioned task. No matter the situation, no matter the conditions, this sequence must be adhered to. In hunting scenarios, this becomes the most difficult.

September 25, 2018 was the sixth day of my Colorado archery elk hunt. The shadows were growing increasingly long, and with only one more day to hunt, the pressure was beginning to weigh heavy on my mind. As my father and I crested a small hill into a meadow surrounded by profoundly large aspen trees, that pressure turned to opportunity. My father saw the bull first, I saw only his two cows. The bull was to my left, around the corner behind a group of trees out of my view, feeding into the meadow. As soon as his chocolate brown antlers came into sight, the surge of adrenaline flooded my body. Snapping back into reality, I heard my dad say “42 yards”. As he fed into the middle of the meadow, quartering away from me, I began to run through my checklist while nocking an arrow. After dialing my sight to the correct yardage, I recited it in my head. “Feet. Grip. Draw. Anchor. Peep. Get on target. Pull. Pull. Pull. Pull.” The shot broke and I watched the green nock illuminate a trail through the gray evening atmosphere and disappear into the bull’s lungs. I distinctly remember how perfect the shot felt, the fall away of the bow towards the elk, the familiar feeling of my release hand thumb brushing my back shoulder after the shot broke, then I saw the bull bed down and expire 50 yards from where the arrow had made it’s initial impact.

During the off-season I shoot a LOT, it’s how my shot sequence becomes engrained in my mind in times when it otherwise would vanish into the black cloud of adrenaline. Stemming from “perfect archery form”, it is fundamentally sound. Feet are shoulder width apart, with the front foot turned slightly towards the target. Grip is light, with the bow sitting just inside the meaty part of the thumb. Draw is smooth, ensuring the front shoulder stays low, and allowing the string to gently come into the face once at full draw. Anchor point is the string touching the very tip of the nose, corner of the mouth, and release hand rests with the jaw bone between the index and middle finger for a handheld release, the index knuckle touches the sharp point on the back of the jaw. Peep alignment is established AFTER anchor point is acquired, perfectly eclipsing the bright yellow ring on my sight housing. The pin is then placed on the target, not slowly lifted up or down to it, but immediately placed on where I want to impact. It floats around, but my eyes stay focused on that spot. The slow pull of the release arm rearward, combined with increasing tension of the rhomboid and middle trapezius muscles of the back force the shot to break. Finally, the bow tips forward and I feel my release hand thumb brush my rear shoulder. This is how I know that the shot was executed correctly, the momentum of a proper tension activated shot will cause the release hand to travel straight back and behind the head towards the shoulder.

The smallest verbal or physical cue can be the deciding factor in establishing a shot sequence that can withstand distraction and adrenaline. At the end of every practice session I always finish at ten yards. Utilizing a baseball sized spot, I focus solely on execution of the shot, as my pin will remain on the spot throughout the duration of time at full draw. Ten arrows is adequate to leave the session by reaffirming good habits and proper adherence to your shot sequence. Blank bailing, or shooting at a blank target from very close range is not as effective due to the fact that in any accuracy dependent situation, you will always need to pick a spot to aim at.

Proper technique is paramount to building a good shot process, but the real “lightbulb moment” occurs when you learn to dissect those principles into steps that you can personally understand and adhere to. The most critical element is that you develop a process that works every single time you draw your bow back. It is very easy to simply shoot 50 arrows in a practice session, but how easy is it to shoot 50 PERFECT arrows? Next time you hit the range, focus on each individual arrow as if you had that public land bull in front of you on the last evening of the hunt. Attention to detail is what separates those of us eating backstraps from those eating tag soup, and I’ll tell you right now, backstraps taste exponentially better.