Bow Shooting Tips for a Successful Hunt

Get ready for the hunts with a few Bow Shooting Tips for a successful hunt Q&A

Q. Recently I was in the market for a new bow. While I was at the Pro Shop, they measured me for a 29-inch draw. I have always shot 30-inch bows, and I am afraid that my speed and/or performance will suffer if I shoot the shorter bow. What do you think?
John Fitzgerald - CO

A. John, The industry over the last few years has discovered that most people shoot bows that are too heavy, and too long. I think it is some kind of macho thing. For instance, I started out with a 75-pound compound bow set at 30-inch draw. For years I used this same setup. Now I have graduated to a 65-pound bow set at 28 inches. This move has increased my accuracy ten fold, while my harvest rate has improved immeasurably. Modern compound bows are so much more efficient than their predecessors! It really is not necessary to shoot really heavy or long equipment. With the shorter draw, your bow arm will be slightly bent, giving more string clearance and more arm spring to absorb the shock of the shot. This allows the arrow to escape the bow without as much interference. With lighter weights, you can hold at full draw longer when the buck of a lifetime hangs up behind that bush. Also, you can draw when in an awkward position. I love the shorter draw idea.

Q. My sight pins are all the way out to the left, and no matter what changes in tuning I make, the pins stay way to the left. I am right handed, shoot a 72-pound bow at 29 inches. I use Easton's carbon arrows with 125-grain broadhead. My setup shoots at about 310 feet per second. How can I get my sight pins to line up properly?
Dale Easterly - Wisconsin

A. Dale, this is a fairly common problem. It usually results from the "need for speed". Typically, arrow weight is dropped to attain the HyperSpeeds that are so popular now. The problem is that when the mass weight of the arrow gets too low, the arrows start to drift to the left for right handed shooters. You might try a lighter head to stiffen up your arrow, but you probably will end up with a heavier arrow shaft. This will be a little slower, but will result in much improved accuracy, which should be the most important goal anyway. For help, check with a reputable Pro Shop in your area for help in testing different arrow shaft sizes, and if needed, in tuning your bow to those new arrows.

Q. Next year I am going to use a treestand to hunt in the archery season. I know the trail that the deer use, but where should I put the stand?
Clay Christensen - UT

A. Clay, Knowing the pattern and trail that deer are commonly taking gives you a great advantage. Wind direction is the most important for both morning and evening. I suggest placing you stand near your trail and sit your stand as much as possible. Each area has traditional wind, or thermal patterns. Once you learn which direction the wind normally comes set you stand down wind from the direction the deer most frequently travel. Normally the breeze draws down the canyons in the morning and mid- morning thermals draw up the canyons as the temperature rises. Each area you hunt will have different wind patterns.

Q. What is the best broadhead for a woman hunter to use?
Jean Moore – MT

A. Jean, I love to see women bow hunters. They are an inspiration to me. I have found that women typically shoot a little lighter equipment than men do. However, they do not want nor should they have inferior equipment. Because of the lighter equipment and smaller shafted arrows, the broadheads should be in the 75- to 100-grain range. They should have an extremely strong tip with very strong vented blades. The women in my life all shoot 85 grain Thunderheads by NAP, but there are good ones from Rocky Mountain, Wasp, and a slew of others.? Remember that you need to tune your bow with the broadhead attached, for the very best accuracy you can squeeze out of your equipment.