"Five tips on starting to hunt with traditional equipment"
- Practice as often as you can. Even if you are only able to shoot 30 arrows a day that helps dramatically with your consistency and performance. That equates to 5 minutes of shooting. To test yourself to make sure you are ready to hunt make sure you are able to shoot 5 arrows in a row into a paper plate at 15 yards,
- Shoot a 3-D course. Find a local club and hit the range. Simulating actual hunting situations will take a bit of the edge of a high pressure situation when the time comes. Try and make one of these courses a month. It’s much more fun if you have a few buddies to go with.
- Hunt small game pre-season. Take advantage of hunting the small critters before deer season starts. Usually this doubles as scouting new areas to deer hunt as well as sharpen your accuracy aiming at smaller targets. I enjoy a good squirrel hunt here in Illinois the month before deer season. I recommend a few flu flu feathered arrows for squirrels in the trees.
- Think positive. There is nothing that ruins a shot like a bad attitude. Build a shooting zone in your mind; were the deer has to walk before you take the shot. When the scenario starts to unfold you will be ready for the shot. Think positive and stay focused.
- Stick with it. Don’t be discouraged if you miss or wound an animal. I have had my fair share of disappointments in my career but the success is that much sweeter. Keep practicing and keep trying to get closer shots.
By: Chris Reatherford
