Once you turn loose an arrow you can't get it back to do over. How many times have you had an easy shot at an animal and in the excitement rushed the shot?
Let the excitement work in your favor because its part of the game! It starts now, just before season! Let your practice sessions be good practice. I have relived the shot on the caribou pictured with me a thousand times since I made the shot, but more importantly a thousand times before the shot.
People ask me all the time about how I shoot in a hunting situation. Once you have the basic form and muscle memory and ability to shoot a given weight, the rest is 90% a mental exercise, and I mean that 100%. When you practice for a hunt get one arrow and practice with that one only! I go through a series of steps to prepare for a hunting shot while target shooting at home.
Step's are
1 Proper and consistent form is a must! All hunting situations are different in the field but if you practice different angles and obstacles its all the same. That proper forms starts at the grip, to the glove or tab as well as the feet. I get my shoulder pointed at the target, then tap my glove on my side to get it the same every time, then feel the bow grip to know that it is where it always should be.
2 TOTAL FOCUS on the exact spot that you want to hit. I drill a spot through the spot and picture the arrow exiting where it should at the start of the shot process. And you need to mean it, don't just hope your going to hit it know that your going to hit it. Imagine the excitement at the time of a hunting shot each time in your head and picture yourself making the shot. Don't rush it in the excitement because you only get one chance to make it right.
3 Shot process and follow through. I pick a spot and imagine a line from the tip of my arrow to my bow hand to my anchor point. It must be like a laser, a perfect line in all those three points before releasing the arrow. When its all good draw through and follow through with the shot! Don't be tempted in the excitement to give in at the shot and peek to see where you hit. That last second of the shot is as important as the first tension on the string! You must draw through and follow through all the while staying focused on the spot. If you do all that the arrow will magically appear there.
4 Perfect practice in simulating a hunting situation in your mind each and every time will make it almost automatic at the time of a hunting shot. Your mind MUST be used to the feelings and excitement of the situation before it happens or in most cases you will blow it in one way or another. That's where the one arrow helps in practice and for years after the 4th of July I shoot nothing but an arrow with a broadhead that I will be hunting with. You need to be used to that being in your sight picture as well!
5 Once you get the steps down its ALL about total focus. Nothing on your mind but making the shot and hitting the exact spot that you want to hit. To prepare for that I don't put a dot or spot on the target. Once you have shot a target a few times there will be a tear, a dark spot or something. Train yourself to pick those different spots to focus on. Its easy to focus on a bright dot and shoot at it but focus on a spot that's almost not even there and think of it as your chance of a lifetime at the trophy animal you want. One shot at a time and change angles every shot and your in the game.
6 ALWAYS shoot each arrow out of the bow that you will be hunting with and the head that will be used. All the above means nothing if you get to the shot and an arrow flies crazy!
Topic: Mental Target Practice (Read 1573 times)
