Whether you’re new to bow hunting or you have been shooting a compound bow for years, it never hurts to learn a few new tips. When it comes to hunting, especially with a best compound bow, there is always something to learn. The experts always have new experiences and situations to share with fellow hunters. Here are some of our newest takeaways from our latest expeditions.
Tough two-finger release:
We like the two-finger release. After trying a bunch of different release techniques, the best tip we can give is to use the two-finger release because you can split the pressure between them, with about 75% of your power in the middle finger to hold the draw back. Of course, we recommend using a mechanical draw and release, but if you are old-school and you want to use your fingers, use two at the full point of the draw. Your middle finger becomes the anchor and your tops finger eventually drops off in release.
Compound Bow release
Get a good draw:
We do have another piece of advice for those who want to shoot without the help of draw accessories. If you are using your finger, use your finger, avoid using the tip of your finger. When you do this, you do not give the draw its full length. Get that trigger around the middle joint of your index finger. This not only allows you to fully draw the bow, but it also gives you more control to get a smooth trigger.
Use the proper angle:
Shooting from a tree stand can be tricky, and misses are tenaciously high. There are several reasons for it, but the most common is that most hunters shoot at the wrong angle. It is best to bend the body and still fire from the same arm angle. It’s kind of like swinging a bat, if you drop the angle of the bat, the ball tends to pop up. But, if you have the level swing, good things happen. Keep your bow at the same angle, but adjust your body with a bend at the waist rather than a drop of the bow arm.
Just breathe:
Another good tip for successful bowhunting is to slow down and relax. All too often, archers get stressed while they worry about all of the aspects of the hunt. Instead, relax. Breathe and let your ability take over. You know how to draw, how to aim, how to shoot. When the hunt is happening, trust your instincts and the time you spent in target practice. There is nothing you can do to adjust the way the animals react, so there is no need to stress about it.
Don’t stop practicing:
Speaking of practice, don’t stop doing it just because bow hunting season began. Even during the football season, players practice everyday. If you plan to be successful in the field, you should continue to practice. This is the time when you can learn about your successes and failures in-season rather than waiting until after the season if over. What you do well you can repeat in practice and what you do wrong, you can fix.
When you practice, make sure you do so in all lighting conditions, especially dawn or dusk. The odds are rather good that you will not be shooting at high noon when the sun beaming down on you. Instead, you will be taking your shots before and after the daylight hours. It is more difficult to shoot accurately in low lighting conditions, so take the time to learn how to adjust to get your best shot.
Add a follow-through for more accuracy:
Develop a follow-through with your shot. Those final moments with the bow can affect the trajectory and success of the shot. All too often, archers will drop their arms as soon as they release the bow. We recommend keeping your hand relaxed and on the bow until the target is punctured. That extra time on the bow will help the arrow reach its destination smoothly. Adding follow-through will not make a immense difference, but those fractions of inches can be the difference between a shot that hits the target or misses it.
Accuracy is more important than speed:
Concern yourself with accuracy before you worry about speed. It is better to slow down the shot if you cannot make the arrow hit the target. Again, likening archer to baseball, a fastball out of the zone isn’t effect. But, a changeup that hits the target is the money pitch. We are all about shooting with accuracy, because the goal is to hit the target, not send the arrow buzzing past it.
However, if you get the whole accuracy thing, then by all means, shoot a fast bow. The speediest bows will send arrows flatter than the slower bows. With a speedy bow, you do get to have a simple day in the field. You shoot, the arrow flies. If you can handle a speedy bow, you can try shooting heavier arrows which are more effective at piercing targets.
Shoot the arrow:
Get out of your head and shoot. The idea of waiting and waiting until the perfect shot comes along can actually make you miss your perfect shot. Hesitation can mess with your confidence and it can make you miss because you are too busy thinking. If this is the case with you, it is best to get out of your head and take the shot. You can’t hit the target or miss the target if the arrow is sitting on your bow. You have to shoot it to hit. In fact, the longest you should wait between aiming and firing is seven seconds, anything longer than that can affect your focus. Load, aim, and fire. Don’t wait around.
Accessories can help, especially the good ones:
Use the best accessories. Depending on the bow you have, you should add accessories that will help you shoot your best shot. Those accessories are usually sights and bubble sights are brilliant options because you can clearly see if your bow is at the proper angle and you can sight your target. When you add the accessories you need, you become a better shot.
Know your range:
Don’t shoot from too far away. If you try to shoot from too far away and you miss, you will miss big and probably lose expensive arrows in the process. It is best to know how far you can still shoot with accuracy and not extend that range. Just trying to shoot at an extended distance is a recipe for disaster.
Go low instead of high:
Our last bit of advice is to try shooting from a blind that is low to the ground. Tree stands aren’t
the only tools that will hide you from your target. You could even hide behind a tree to get a good shot. Also, there is nothing wrong with hiding out in a blind on the ground. Bring a stool, get a ghillie suit, and hide in the brush. Be sure you have your scent covered up and you remain as quiet as possible. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly deer and other creatures will come your way.
Mastering a compound bow is a lifelong journey. There is always something to learn. Improving accuracy, adding to speed, and making cleaner shots is something that every hunter wants to know how to do. We cannot guarantee that all of these tips will make massive changes to your performance in the woods or during target practice. But, it certainly cannot hurt to try. You might be pleasantly surprised.