Life is busy, but carving out a few minutes here and there to make time for arrow-slinging isn’t too difficult if you heed the to-come tips.
by Kyle S. Lipke
Finding time to practice shooting your bow can be difficult. There are job demands, family obligations, home projects to complete, bills to pay, etc., not to mention finding time for things like the occasional date night or social hour with friends. Having the time to shoot your bow in preparation for archery season is one of the many things that gets pushed to the back burner for many people. I hear it every summer: “Man, I wish I had practiced more, but I just don’t have time to shoot.”
Inevitably, many don’t bend back their bow until two weeks before the season opener, which is too late to build bowhunting confidence or sufficiency. Finding extra minutes in our fast-paced lives to shoot will simply slip away without some intentionality. Despite maintaining a full calendar, consider the following ways to fit time in your week to shoot your bow.
Easy Access
The saying, ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ applies to your bow, too. You will be far less likely to take the time to shoot your bow if it is locked away in its case and buried in the back of your closet. Keeping your bow where it is often visible and easily accessible will surely increase your practice sessions. I keep mine hung on the wall in my home office. I understand this is not something everyone may want to do, but the point is to keep your bow out somewhere you are often reminded of and grab it quickly to shoot a handful of arrows at a moment’s notice.
Have a Place to Shoot
A hurdle to making time to shoot is not having a place to practice. If you must drive across town just to get to a place with archery targets, this will limit how often you shoot. You can save tremendous time by not having to travel to practice. You don’t need an extravagant range with multiple high-end targets. All you need to get repetitions in is an inexpensive bag or block-style target and a safe backstop.
Even if you don’t have an extended backyard where you can shoot, you can likely set up a reasonable space to practice in your garage or basement. Shooting at just 5 or 10 yards still equates to increased muscle memory and practice executing your shot sequence.
Set Goals For Yourself
Setting goals for yourself can also influence the time you spend shooting your bow. For instance, writing down a goal of shooting your bow at least four days a week for 15 minutes and then checking it off on your calendar can help give you a visual for ensuring you get it done. I like to write down how many arrows I shoot each day to provide a quantitative measurement of how much I shoot.
Setting goals for your season, such as killing your first archery bull or arrowing a 150-class Pope and Young buck, can help keep you motivated to shoot more. With such goals in place, the odds are that you will be more creative in making time to practice, such as waking up a bit earlier in the morning or planning a time to meet friends at the archery range for an after-work shooting session.
While I prefer to track the number of arrows I shoot, it’s not essential. Shooting a dozen purposeful arrows with perfect form is better than aimlessly slinging carbon.
A Well-Tuned Bow Is Fun To Shoot
Shooting a bow that is out of tune is frustrating and a headache. You’ll be less likely to shoot if you can’t accurately hit the target or know your arrows aren’t flying straight. Conversely, a bow that shoots bullet holes through paper and is dialed in is a joy. If you don’t know how to tune your equipment, having your bow inspected by your local pro shop to ensure any inconsistencies are out of the equation will also make you shoot more.
Involve Family And Friends
As previously mentioned, our time is precious, and life gets busy. However, if you can get your family or friends involved in archery, you can spend time shooting with them. A two-for-one deal that will help you get in more practice for bow season. Case in point: I have introduced my wife to archery, and we look forward to frequently getting together with our friend group to shoot bows.
It Takes Less Time Than You Think
An all-or-none mindset isn’t necessary for your bow shooting sessions. This means you don’t have to shoot dozens of arrows every day to prepare for hunting season. Shooting just a handful of arrows a few times a week throughout the summer can adequately prepare you for a shot during bow season. Shooting a small amount with consistency goes a long way. This takes less time than you think. I can walk to my backyard and shoot a quiver full of arrows in five minutes or less. That’s likely less time than you spend checking emails or scrolling Instagram daily.
Final Thoughts
In many states, archery season is two months away or less. Now is the time to increase shooting repetitions to gain confidence and accuracy with your bow setup. If you are struggling to make time to shoot your bow this summer, consider implementing the previously mentioned tips. Even with a busy day-to-day life, you can make more time to shoot your bow, preparing you for those dream bowhunting opportunities that are not far off in the future.
