Fall bow season is just around the corner. I hope you`ve been practicing, if not get started now. There are e few ways to practice that will not only improve your skills, but are alot of fun as well. More and more clubs and businesses are setting up outdoor walk through 3D archery courses, these courses provide shoots of varying distance and difficulty and most have anywhere from 20 to forty targets. All the work has been done for you the lanes are cut the targets are set, all you need to do is walk and shoot, and maybe find an occasional arrow that has missed its mark, the courses will generally take a couple hours to complete and you get the added benefit of?the exercise just from walking.?Being out in the woods, walking these courses and shooting at the 3D targets can be really enjoyable especially if you share the experience with some friends.

Another way my friends and I like to practice is by playing a game we call "buck". We usually have at least five 3D target set up at different yardages and positions. The first guy shoots and if he hits the heart, lung area, then the second shooter must?stand in the same spot and make the shot. Each shooter must take a turn at this shot, anyone who misses gets a "B". Then it is?the second shooters turn to pick a shot, if he makes it then all the other shooters must make the shot as well. The first person to spell out "Buck" is out.?The game continues until there is only one shooter left making them the winner. We switch it up by shooting off the roof top, from behind trees, kneeling, etc.,??when September rolls around we use nothing but broadheads. Give it a try it`s really alot of fun and the friendly competition helps too.

I shoot a pendulum sight becuase it automatically compensates for shooting from an elevated position, but I also know at what yardage my pin is dead on when shooting from the ground. This is very important because you never know when you might bump into deer while still hunting into your stand. It is important to know your equipment like you know yourself, consider your equipment an extension of yourself. When your bow is really tuned, when you are shooting the best groups possible and when it feels comfortable while your shooting, take a few minutes and make some notes on some critical measurements.

Write down your brace height ( the distance between the grip and the string), the tiller measurement (where limb meets riser to string), the kisser button setting, the peep site placement, and your noch setting. Once I have everything right where I want it I usually put a little drop of super glue on my noch and kisser button. If your string stretches, or something breaks, or if something becomes loose you will have these measurements to reset your bow to where it was shooting best and minimize down time. Because we all know if something is going to break it will be during the season and you want to have to spend as little of that precious hunting season time getting your equipment back into top notch shape as possible.

Spend time getting to know your bow and how to adjust it, there are only a few really good archery pro-shop techs and being able to make minor adjustments yourself may help you avoid some bad advice or worse yet a bad adjustment from someone who really doesn`t nkow what they`re doing. Don`t be afraid to make little adjustments to your equipment just to see how it will effect your down range performance, just don`t do it the week before the season opener. Demand the best performance from your equipment as well as from yourself. Good enough never is! We owe it to the game we hunt to hone our skills to their sharpest. If you find yourself with a problem that is beyond your ability to overcome, ask other archers you know or go to your nearest archery club. You will find a wealth of knowledge and information as well as many who will be very willing to help you.

Keep practicing, if you bowhunt you belong in the United Bowhunters of New Jersey, and support your local chapter of the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmens Clubs.

NJ-Hunter.com Pro-Staff
DougBrown