Range Time/Archery Form Issues

Tonight was the first time I have been able to shoot my compound bow in two months. I had a two month hiatus due to an injury to my right shoulder. I am slowly getting better and back into my groove. I immediately found out that I have lost the accuracy that I once took for granted. The more I shot, the more I was frustrated with my shooting. I stopped and sat down for a while. I thought through every aspect of the shot. If you never shot a bow before then you do not realize what goes into every shot. Every step is critical and keeping your form consistent is imperative on every single shot. Tonight I tweaked the location of my release hand and how it anchors the shot. The new placement messed up everything for me. So essentially, I started my form from scratch. I stepped up to line to take a 20 yard shot. My feet were shorter than shoulder width apart and I had a slight bend at the knees. I became aware of how I pulled my bow back, pulling the bow with my back muscles instead of having all the pressure on my release hand. Then I became conscious of how I held the bow with my bow hand. I didn't grip it tight but sort of relaxed so I wouldn't torque my shots left or right. Next, I kept my bow arm at a slight bend, keeping my chest open, anchoring my release hand, and not punching the trigger when I lined up the shot.  Finally, following through with your shot is extremely important. The goal is to see the arrow travel from the bow sight to the target. Now imagine, trying to think about all of this when a big buck is 15 yards away from you. Not easy my friends. So I went through the routine and made myself aware of everything I had to do, and I hit slightly high. I took another shot and boom, I hit right on the X. After that, I slowly regained my confidence and stayed consistent with my form. That resulted in being consistent with my shot placement. It always amazes me that I learn something about myself every time I go to the range to shoot my bow. There is always something you can do to make yourself a better or worse archer. So, always strive to be consistent with your form, do not rush your shot, and have fun with it!

The Beginning

This is my first post and I am excited to find a venue to share my stories and expertise. I do not have all the answers but I am willing to learn and put the work into something I do not fully understand. That being said, being consistent and learning from your mistakes will make you a better overall hunter. I have made many mistakes so far in my bowhunting/hunting career but I am glad I had for the learning experiences. I started this blog for many reasons. I will reveal the reasons and my future ambitions as time goes on. My main obsession is bow hunting whitetails. This is a common theme in the world of hunting but I simply can not help it. It is in my blood and I will continue to pursue whitetails as long as I am able. I do enjoy using a rifle and muzzleloader but it does not give me the same feeling that hunting with a bow does. That's all for today and stay tuned for my next post. Oklahoma Spring turkey season is around the corner and I am going to continue my pursuit of finding antler sheds.