Practice to hunt

[GANGGREEN]

Newbie question here.  I've owned and shot a recurve for 5 or 6 years but I've never been supremely confident with it until this year.  Although I've hunted with it a bit before, I've always passed on any shots that I've had because they weren't the deer I wanted or because they were a bit too far.  This year I've absolutely committed to ONLY taking the recurve and I rather think that I'll never shoot a wheel bow again.  I've shot the recurve about 10 times as much as I ever had previously and I'm getting reasonably comfortable with it.

Next year I'm thinking about heading west for elk, deer, bear, etc. and have a question about practicing for that trip.  My present go to bow is a 52 pounder and I know that's capable of killing any big game.  I'm considering adding a slightly heavier bow to increase my "point blank" by a few yards, maybe a 57, 58 or 60 pound bow.  The fact is that I can handle that weight but presently couldn't shoot anywhere near the number of shots that I take with my 52, my wife's 40 or my son's 45.  I've been shooting those bows a lot this summer and it's a real joy shooting the lighter weights.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, here's my question (finally).  How important is it for all of you to practice with the bow you intend to use to hunt with versus just getting general practice with any traditional bow.  For instance, could I spend the whole summer taking 50, 60 or 80 shots a day with the lighter weight bows and just shoot 20 shots a day with the heavier bow during the month preceding the trip?  I recognize that ideally I'd shoot the heavier bow all summer for 80 or 100 shots a day but I just don't know at this point whether I can manage and whether the practice would be as much fun.

I'm anxious to hear from those of you that have far more experience in these matters than I do.  Thanks in advance.

[excelpoint]

Personally I would be practicing with the bow I intend to hunt with as much as possible in order to be 100% comfortable with the bow in all hunting conditions from wind, rain, standing, kneeling and even laying down.

[Ben Maher]

practice with the bow your going to take in the field....

[GANGGREEN]

OK guys, thanks for the advice.  It's really what I expected to hear but thought I'd ask anyway.  For instance, this summer I've probably shot my wife's and my son's bows at least as much as I've shot mine and my form and release have definitely gotten better.  Shooting their bows has made me shoot my bow better as well.  That said, I don't think it's actually the poundage of the bows that makes me want to pick up one of them more than another, I guess I just have to find a heavier bow that I really like to shoot or decide to use my lighter bows even if I end up hunting out west for elk or something.

[Hattrick]

I`m a one bow guy, i truly believe shooting less arrows with the heaver bow won`t hurt you. 20-30 good arrows is better than 100 ok arrows. Perfect practice is where its at. It has help me alot just shooting 1-2 arrows at a time. Shoot 2 walk up grab them walk back shoot again it gives ur arm time to rest an makes you focus more.. good luck

[ron w]

I think you can shoot lighter bows for the summer, but tright about now I would move to the bow I'm going to hunt with and stick with it till the season is over. It's easy when you only have one or two bows...lol. As my father always said "Do as I say, not as I do". .....have fun!!!

[BigArcher]

I make my own bows and so shoot quite afew different weights and types of bow throughout the year.  I choose the bow I am going to hunt with and use it most leading up to the hunt.  What you want to happen in a hunting situation is for the shot to be automatic.  Your mind will use what it knows best  and so you want it to know your hunting bow the best.
Shoot long, short, kneeling, stop and turn and any other type of shot you can come up with safely with your hunting bow. So when your ready to shoot at an animal all you have to do is pick a spot.
Use the other bows for fun and lots of short range form pratice.
That's what I do anyway.

BigArcher

[GingivitisKahn]

For me, it's vitally important but then I only own the one bow.  If I'm practicing with something else, my son or daughter will hunt me down and start asking awkward questions about why I have their bows.  :-p

[Don Stokes]

I shoot different bows until about now, a month from the season, and then I concentrate on the one I will hunt with, and shoot my broadheads a lot. On trips, I take a backup bow, but only one that shoots exactly the same as my primary bow. Most of my hunting practice is with a single judo arrow, roving and shooting random distances. That tunes me up better than anything else.

[Pat B]

I shoot many bows each year because I make lots and shoot them all(selfbows). Most are similar weight at my draw. A month before the season I pick my hunting bow and shoot nothing else(except for a back-up bow) for the rest of the season.

[maineac]

I think if you practiced witht he heavier bow over the summer you would find that it bacame eaier and easier to draw, as you built up your muscles.  I just got some #65 limbs for my riser.  With the current limbs at my draw length is draws at about #53.  at first I found it hard to shoot much with the heavier limbs, and could feel it afterwards.  It has become increasingly easy to draw and hold te #65 limbs.  Arrow speed, and energy at the target are impressively greater with the #12 increase.

[GANGGREEN]

I'm sure you're right about growing into the heavier draw weight.  It's not an ego thing but I don't want anyone to think that I'm a weakling that's having trouble drawing my bows.  I manage my 52 pounder very well and I imagine that I could shoot 58 or 60 pounds relatively easily, particularly after a few weeks as you've pointed out.  At this point, it simply seems more pleasant to shoot the lighter bows.  Maybe it's more design rather than draw weight and I just happen to have some really smooth lighter weight bows.  I just got two new bows to play with today, a 45 pound Shakespeare and a 49 pound Herters, so I'm going to be shooting them for a week or so and then decide which bow I'll use for hunting season and put all the others aside.

Thanks for all the input and advice guys.

[fisherick]

I have two Bob Lee T/D recurve bows, one a 54# and the other a 43#. As long as I shoot arrows that are 10 grains per pound bow weight they shoot the same. I pratice year round with the light bow and switch to the heavy bow the last month before the hunt.

[BobCo 1965]

I maybe against the grain, but during the off season, I would suggest using the lighter bow and shooting a higher quantity of quality shots (heck I use therabands all year to perfect form). Consider using the hunting bow to do some SPT's during the year to keep your strength and endurance up. As the season comes near, use your hunting bow more.