Spring training for the author
The weather is warming, the flowers are blooming, and pollen is in the air. The fields are full of clover and lush green grass. Whitetail deer fawns are becoming more visible and bucks are beginning to grow their antlers back with renewed vigor. Spring is well under way and what better time than now to report to archery spring training.
Despite the baseball metaphor, there are over 200,000 archery deer hunters in Illinois and unfortunately many of them will not even look at a bow much before the season starts. Come October (earlier for some states), many hunters will climb into a stand or blind without ever taking the necessary time to shoot, sight, or fine tune their bows. I realize the season is over five months away, but the time to start preparing is now!
Doesn’t matter if you are an avid hunter, competitive shooter, or new to archery, it’s never to early to start checking your equipment, adding accessories, and practicing for the upcoming bow season.
Make sure your bow is in tune. An out of tune bow can shoot very erratically and inconsistently. Make sure your bow string has not been weakened or frayed. Most major manufacturers recommend bow strings be replaced any time signs of wear are seen or every two years. Carefully inspect all of your arrows. Check for straightness and cracks and replace any damaged fletching and nocks. If you shoot with a release, make sure your release is functioning properly. Make sure your broadheads are sharp. You owe it to the animal you are shooting at!
If you have acquired new accessories, now is the time to add them and start using them. Adding new accessories such as sights, arrow rests, and stabilizers can completely change the accuracy of your bow from the previous season. Don’t wait until opening day to hunt with your new parts and expect the same results.
Practice! Practice! Practice! Accuracy matters! Shoot as often as you possibly can. A few arrows a day will build your muscle memory back up and help eliminate any bad habits you may have gained. When opening day arrives and you draw your bow on that first deer, your practice during spring training and over the course of the summer will pay off! You owe it to the deer to make the shot as swift and painless as possible.
Report to spring training now before it’s too late.
#Wired4Backstraps