The Total Bowhunting Manual: 261 Essential Skills (Field & Stream)

by Scott Bestul

SHOOT BLIND Follow the blank bale practice regimen (see item 94), which removes the target face and therefore eliminates the fear of missing. GET UP CLOSE After shooting blank bale, take a single arrow and stand 10 feet from a target. Focusing on the perfect form, drill bull’s-eye. Take several shots and end on a good one—it’s very important to finish on a positive note. TAKE BABY STEPS When 10 yards becomes easy, step back, but only 5 feet at a time and over the course of a few days. Don’t shoot more than a couple dozen arrows per day. Even a little shooting fatigue can wreak havoc. FLOAT THE PIN Many panic-stricken archers seize up because they’re trying to lock the pin on the bull. Forget this. Remember to float the pin on—or trace little circles around—the bull as you execute a smooth release. PULL SMOOTHLY If you’re still having trouble, try a no-punch release such as the Golden Key Futura Answer. This model will simply not fire unless you are squeezing the trigger smoothly. It’ll be maddening at first, but it’s an excellent teaching tool.

Shooting Drills