Many bowhunters struggle to find the time to prepare properly for the bow season. Between family and work they are stretched thin. They’d love to have the problem of practicing too much. There is no question that you need to make the time to shoot regularly, but I also know many others that shoot dozens of arrows every day without improving their skills. In fact, they are actually making it less likely that they will improve. Their problem is not one of shooting too little. They are guilty of shooting too much.

My definition of “too much” practice is the sloppy form that occurs when you start slinging arrows without focusing on each step of every single shot. Every good shot requires both 100% physical and 100% mental involvement. When the archer starts to get lazy it is all too easy to begin coasting mentally. It is a big mistake that will only lead to bad habits.

WHAT IS SLOPPY SHOOTING

People have varying degrees of mental discipline. Some can concentrate effectively on demand for hours while others will begin drifting after only a few minutes. But, regardless of discipline, everyone has a breaking point. It’s important that you stop shooting when you reach yours.

Before you can tell when you’ve reached your mental limit you need to first know what it feels like to be fully engaged in the shot. That way you’ll be able to tell when you’re not.

Every good shot requires that you concentrate on three things in order. First, assess the physical conditions of the shot. These include wind speed and direction, shot distance, changes in elevation and whether or not you’ve got a clear shot to the target. These should be a part of every shot you take whether hunting or standing on the range. You need repetition to build a habit of gauging these factors on every shot. To stay fresh you can always change positions on the range so that you have a new set of variables to consider.

The second mental hurdle is a step-by-step process of making sure your form is correct. There are literally dozens of things you could consider here, but focus on just the three or four that you have the most trouble with. For example, you may say to yourself, “Make sure the grip is contacting my hand in the right place. Keep the left shoulder low. Squeeze through the shot.” Every bowhunter should have their own list based on what they need to do to shoot well.

If you focus on good form as a part of every shot you take when practicing it should be a part your muscle memory by the time you draw on a buck. Besides, there are usually so many other decisions that need to be made when shooting at game that thinking of your shooting form can actually be distracting.

The mental task is to lock in on the spot you want to hit. This is the hardest part of the shot and is where you will first notice a lapse in concentration. If any other thought invades your mind at this point it will distract you from shooting your best. Give your mind completely to the spot. To stay locked on you may choose a mental exercise like trying to pick out the exact shape of an old arrow hole or the outline of a slight contour in the target in the exact spot you are trying to hit. If you will do that you will be amazed at how the shot takes care of itself and you begin shooting tighter groups with greater consistency. You will also find it much easier to focus on a hair or slight discoloration on an animal’s side when hunting.

TOO MUCH SHOOTING CAN MAKE YOU WORSE

Archery has many things in common with golf - another game of precision. On those rare occasions when I’ve watched golfers on a driving range I’ve noticed a common trait: they casually knock out shot after shot without any apparent routine or focus. It is the archery equivalent of shooting through your quiver without giving any thought to the shots. All you are doing is reinforcing bad habits that will actually make it much harder to ever improve.

I don’t shoot hundreds of arrows each week because I know the value of staying fresh. I shoot only as many as I can (usually no more than 20 to 30 at a time) while giving each one total effort. It is mentally taxing work to shoot each arrow like it is the only one you’ll shoot that day, but there is no other way you can replace bad habits with good ones.

When you draw on the biggest buck you’ve seen all season there is nothing you will need more than mental discipline and focus. By making these qualities a top priority during practice sessions they will quickly become an important part of your technique while hunting.

Don’t let your mind get lazy or all that practice time will only go to making you worse. Work hard to control your mind. When, despite your best efforts, it starts to drift you know it’s time to take a break. From this day forward never again take a shot, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, without giving it every ounce of your mental energy.