Shooting broadheads and building confidence

[moleman]

There was a time long ago when the thought of practicing yr, round with broadheads scared me to death for fear of losing them, breaking them, dulling them, ETC. but I got over that a long,long time ago, now I practice with them yr. round.
I have found that practicing and shooting broadheads not only shows you how your arrows will perform under hunting situations, but is a huge confidence builder when you are shooting them well.
For me this is a mental game more so than physical, and confidence in shooting broadheads well is huge when it comes to success in the field, when your confident in your abilities your averages go WAYYYY up when it comes to a great shot.
Any other year round broadhead shooters?

[ChrisM]

[wasapt]

what do you use for a target?

[ChrisM]

I shoot them while stumping.  Just shoot them into something with a dirt backstop.  If a broadhead won't hold up to some stumpin then I will not use them.

[onewhohasfun]

Yeah, I am smelling what you're stepping in.
Agree with the confidence thing. I used to shoot BH's year round and I think its a good thing. I shot a lot of Zwickeys till the spot welds broke. Since stump shooting is about all I do ,I should get back into it. I was a better shot back then.

[Pat B.]

For a hunter, stump shooting period is about the best practice you can do.. I use Ace Hex blunts of the same weight as my broadheads..  I try to shoot broadheads as often as possible -- into a critter, grin..

[Dave Lay]

I shoot broadheads quite a bit in the off season, we have a local range with dirt mounds, so that helps, i dont feel a bow is fully tuned untill perfect broadhead flight is achieved,

[katman]

Rainy day here today and spent the morning researching back yard sand box broadhead target, got the price worked up for supplies right around $100 for lumber and sand. Should last VERY long.

Plan is to shoot broadheads more by making it easy. Stumping is also great practice.

[Knawbone]

I always keep a couple BH's for practice. The same arrows I will be hunting with of course. Practice with them well before hunt time. All year round might be stretching it a bit.My practice arrows are always the same set up however.Same field point weight as the BH's, same fletchings, length, weight and spine.

[sticksnstones]

I usually shoot one per week through the winter, kind of a "this is it, only one chance..." sort of thinking.

I do plan to shoot several BH courses this year and I have setup a batch of arrows just for it. First one comes up in about a month and it's unlimited rounds for 3 days including the broadhead course!

Someday I'll have one of those classy sandbox stops in my backyard and then I'll shoot them all the time.
Thom

[Bjorn]

I think you need to shoot them enough so you don't even think about it. Rhinehart targets take them well-I use the pig, include BH's in practice and just to make sure they are flying the same.

[wasapt]

Thanks. Please post pics of that sandbox target when finished

[Shawn Leonard]

Makes no difference to me, if the arrows are tuned both field points and broadheads shoot exactly the same for me.Shawn

[ChrisM]

For me I struggled with this weird target panic.  When I would shoot a BH I would short draw throw my bow arm and do all sorts of weird stuff.  After stumpin with BHs the problem went away.  So I keep it up.

[katman]

I agree with Shawn if tuned shoot the same, However depending on your style of broadhead, mounting orientation, aiming style and arrow length your sight picture is different especially with a wide two or three blade in peripheral vision. So practice with broadheads gets you accustomed to the sight picture.

I don't practice with my broadheads much,but.......I am very confident in my setup, and know what it will do!

All you said about being confident upping your percentage is very true. If you ever draw back on an animal wondering if you can make the shot.........you will probably mess that shot up before you loose the string!

Bisch

[LookMomNoSights]

broadhead shooter here.....I shoot them year round.  I have a half dozen old crapped out foam targets around the house from old 3-D's to blocks.  I walk the property and take one shot here,  another there.....
I remember when having the razor out over my finger knuckles was a formidable distraction.  Putting it there much more often over the years has forced my mind right through that obstacle.

[will_hunt]

This where I find "one arrow" practice most beneficial. Take one arrow and just shoot it alone. Rove around and find stumps or stand in different locations, at different angles to your 3D target. Real confidence booster. Your mind wanders less because shooting a tight wad of arrows (way over rated in true instinctive shooting) becomes less important to your manhood. And, lets face it, you rarely if ever get more than one shot alone.