Few things are as exciting in the world of bowhunting as witnessing a well-orchestrated plan come together. Weeks of planning, untold time scouting and countless hours slinking through the autumn woods in hopes of creating that one defining moment when a razor-tipped arrow is finally released at fur and bone is exhilarating. Getting that one opportunity, that one chance when all the hard work comes together, is the pinnacle.
Nearly two decades ago, that pinnacle was feeding toward an opening just 43-yards away, and as each second passed, my heart thumped with anticipation. By Colorado standards he was not a monster muley, but for a bowhunter bearing down on his first muley buck, his bread-n-butter velvety 4x4 rack easily met my rookie standards.
I had located this buck and his 3x3 companion before they bedded on a brush-choked bench earlier that morning. After spending the next couple hours dissecting their choice bedding area with my 10X42s and waiting for the capricious mountain breeze to stabilize, I determined that they were in a perfect spot for a willing bowhunter to sneak from above.
Everything was going as planned; the wind was staying true and the nearby creek offered just enough noise to muffle any missteps. The screen of brush was high enough to hide my movements and the bucks were still snoozing, unaware of my intentions. All I had to do was seep a few yards closer and wait for them to make the next move.
As if on cue, both bucks stood and began feeding toward the opening. As their racks bobbed above the brush, I knew a shot was imminent and nervously prepared for the release. The 3x3 eased through the opening first, and even though I was at full-draw, my greed for bone kept the arrow on the string. From my crouched position, I held for more-than-a-minute waiting on his larger companion to appear, and when he did my 40-yard pin floated wildly across his chest. Partially exhaling one last breath, I steadied the pin and released.
Before the arrow hit its mark, I knew the shot was off, and my high anticipation of the release quickly turned as fast as the buck disappeared over the ridge. Although I had bowhunted for only a few years at that point, and had killed a couple quality animals, I knew that I had made a rookie mistake the moment I released the arrow. My only hope was that my cut-on-contact broadhead did enough damage to the gut shot buck that he would die by day’s end.
The shot is perhaps the most critical aspect to a successful fall regardless of the weapon of choice. Time and time again I hear about hunters who pick their bows up for the first time a few weeks before the season, sling a few dozen arrows to make sure everything is “still dialed-in” and then head to the woods. Ashamedly, I have acted is this regard on a few occasions myself and it has cost me nearly every time.
Find the Correct Draw Length
As bowhunters, there are many things in our control that we can use to enhance our success: scout more, learn to read sign, have a better understanding of animal behavior, plan better, be an overall better woodsman and the list goes on. However, without question the road to consistent success is making the shot, regardless of the situation. Putting a little time and effort behind the bow before the season and making a few tweaks along the way in the process will give you the confidence to hit the 10-ring when the opportunity arises.
Besides a regimented practice plan before the season, one of the first things bowhunters can do to improve their accuracy, in many cases, is to shorten their draw length by a half-inch. In today’s near manic need-for-speed mentality, many bowhunters unknowingly are overdrawing their bows in an effort to enhance their power stroke. Even though slightly more arrow speed is achieved, it really is negligible compared to the accuracy lost.
One of the first things I did to improve my accuracy was shorten my draw length from 32 to 31 inches. One of the biggest advantages I learned in doing this was the ability to hit the back-wall with every shot cycle, regardless of the shooting position I found myself in. Most shots in hunting situations are not ideal, especially in stressful situations. A slightly shorter draw is not only easier to hold at full draw for longer periods, but it also allows the hunter to shoot more consistently at steep angles or while dealing with torqued body positions. Slack can develop on the bowstring when the back-wall isn’t engaged, which alters the arrow’s position, flight and overall accuracy. At the end of the day, arrow speed should not trump accuracy, and with today’s fast bows there is really no need to seek more speed.
