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Bow Accuracy Tips and Shoulder Health
May 06, 2019

This edition of our newsletter contains the following:

1. How to Shoot a Compound Bow More Accurately: Do you know how to "mind your own business" when it comes to shooting?

2. Great Price On Portable Bear Food Fences

3. Shoulder Problems: I see many archers who have shoulder problems, so I wanted to share something that appears to be a non-invasive treatment that has great success without surgery.

4. Lastly, a project we're working on.

Improve Your Accuracy with a Bow

Set Up You Bow Properly

There are some simple things we can do as shooters to shoot more accurately with a compound bow. First, though, we need to have a bow that is set up properly for ourselves. Here are some things that need to be right on the bow.

Draw Length:

If the draw length is too long or short, it can definitely decrease accuracy. One way to tell if your draw length is not right is the alignment of your body at full draw. Your spine should be straight with no lean from the waist forward or back to hold your bow in a drawn position. A lean back, too long of a draw. A lean forward, too short of a draw length.

Peep Sight:

If the peep isn't right where it should be, it will affect accuracy. If you "anchor" your draw hand on the same place on your face consistently, you will need to have the peep come right in front of your eye at that point.

Drop-Away Rest:

A drop-away rest goes a long way to improving consistency of arrow flight by not allowing the arrow to touch the rest as it is released.

Properly Tuned Bow:

The bow should be tuned, which includes squaring everything up, making sure the draw stop(s) touch at the right time, and cams are not leaning improperly. Some slight lean might be OK with some bows.

I leave all that up to our great shop technician. If you want him to do that, you can ship to us and we'll work with your measurements and photos over the phone to set it up. 406-431-0876

Shooting Tips

Multiple Anchors

Anchor, anchor, anchor! The more consistent, solid anchors you have the more consistent your shooting will be. Where you rest your draw hand on your face is one anchor. There should be a precise way to feel that your draw hand is touching your face in exactly the same way everytime.

Once you have established that, then you can have your peep sight installed to match that consistent anchor. The peep sight will become another anchor. The round peep will match the round ring around your sight. That is yet another anchor.

Draw your bow with your eyes closed. Anchor your hand where you always will. Open your eyes. If your peep sight is not perectly lined up between your eye and the sight ring, it needs to be moved so that it is, and retied.

Let's back up a bit. Another anchor that is often skipped is touching the string to the tip of your nose and the corner of the mouth. It won't hurt your nose, because it will move away from it upon release.

If your draw length is too long, the string will touch your face on the side of or behind your nose. The string touching the nose tip will be another great anchor. Draw length is more accurate for most if it is slightly short, with a very slight bend in the front elbow when the string touches the nose.

Precision and Contortions

Target shooters are very precise from foot to head. Hunters should practice precision, too, but remember that a hunting situation might require odd shooting positions and even some contortion. Practice shooting from a normal standing position, as well as on your knees and twisting at the waist.

I once killed a bull elk at five yards, because I needed to wait until the vitals were more to my side, since he was coming almost straight on. That put me in quite a twisted bind, since he was to my left and I shoot left-handed. Also, check out our page on setting up a calling situation. Consider which way you face to avoid having to twist to your "weak side", as described above.

The Release

The release of the arrow is very critical. Practice not moving your bow hand at all after the release. The bow hand should just be pushing forward. The hand should cradle the handle loosely.

Fingers and thumb should all be RELAXED. When the bow goes off, it's not going anywhere. Let it rock around in the cradle provided by your relaxed hand, without contracting your fingers at all.

Follow Through

After the release, let your draw hand continue to glide back behind your head, as it naturally moves. Maintain position of your bow arm until well after the arrow arrives at the target.

Practice these things a few feet away from your target with your eyes closed. Take several shots focusing on nothing but form, without concerning yourself with aim. See how that improves your technique.

Become a Machine

When your target is aquired and your pin is where you want it, nothing else in the world should involve you. You need to become a precise machine that does nothing but perform the shot perfectly. Determine not to shoot until it feels perfect. If it doesn't start over.

Mind Your Own Business!

Once eveything is aligned, focus on where you want your pin. Forget about the arrow. That's no longer any of your business. Release the string when your pin is floating tightly near the spot you are focused on.

The string and bow will send the arrow. Not you! "That's none of your business." Just be a machine and gently release the string when the pins are doing a slow dance on the right spot. Let the release surprise you. That's your responsibility! Let everything else just happen.

When you shoot a gun, the bullet getting hit by the firing pin and being sent down the barrel through the air is also none of your business. The gun does it. Let your bow limbs and string do their job. Practice doing your part until you can relax and do it like a machine.

UDAP Bear Food Fence

We have a few of UDAP's Bear Food Fences available at a great price! ($300, free shipping). Put your food and wild game carcass inside the portable fence and stop worrying about it. No more climbing trees! This page is password protected, because we don't have that many of these at this price.

Click on the link below and enter the password "fence". UDAP Bear Food Fence

Shoulder Problems

In my archery shop, I see a lot of people with shoulder problems that is affecting, even preventing, shooting a bow. Now, I am no expert on this topic. I just wanted to share something with you that appears to have great merit.

It's called Prolotherapy. "Prolotherapy is a non-toxic injection treatment for pain and joint repair that is an effective alternative to surgery." They claim to have a very high success ratio, even with rotator cuffs that have been targeted for surgical intervention. Many are avoiding surgeries with this non-invasive technique.

It involves a series of injections of saline solution into the affected area triggering a localized immune system response to rebuild ligaments, tendons and cartilage.

An athlete in our family is having it done on his knee and is seeing good results! I am scheduled to have it done on my shoulder a week from this writing.

I have been unable to shoot my bow for several months because of shoulder pain. I am told my injured shoulder will feel better (less popping, etc.) than my other shoulder. (Both shoulders are 62 years old!)

If you or someone you know are having shoulder trouble, or other joint pain, consider Prolotherapy first. Here is some information: What is Prolotherapy?


Does Ths Interest You?

I'd like to get your opinion about a project we're working on. I am working on something with the owner of ASAT Camouflage that has nothing to do with hunting. Check it out here and then text or call with your comments or questions. 1-406-431-0876

As always, feel free to contact me here .


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The springtime view of the mountains near our home in Garrison, MT


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