Stay focused

Taking a big buck like this one shot by David Hale is a matter of staying focused

 

Shooting a whitetail buck is easy. Actually, the more deer a hunter shoots with a bow, the easier and more focused the hunter becomes.
People ask what my secret to shooting is. One of these days I may write a book and share all of my secrets, but maintaining our focus from beginning to end of the shooting process is a major item and there is no way to shortcut this process.
It must be stated that being very familiar with the bow, and knowing where the arrow will hit on each and every shot, is a must. People who have no clue where the arrow will hit will not be very proficient.

Focus on total concentration and making arrow contact with the proper location

 

Hunters who have the ability to concentrate are the ones who make wise decisions, don't get overly excited, have the ability to stay focused and not lose their cool, and they end up making a good shot.

Practice at shooting from various angles and heights will help. Shooting often enough to make a smooth and easy draw and releasae is important, and it's of the utmost importance to maintain a constant anchor point. Allow your anchor point to creep forward while aiming will not lead to consistent arrow placement.

Focus on just one point on the deer. Don't focus on the entire deer. Once you decide the buck has antlers, and they are what you want, forget about the bone growing out of the buck's head. If your mind stays focused on the antlers, the chances of hitting the deer in the antlers is not very good.
Forget about the antlers. Instead, watch the deer closely and be prepared to draw, aim and shoot on a moments notice. Wait for the deer to turn and offer a high-percentage shot. I've lectured on this many times, and it continues to bear repeating: wait for a high-percentage shot. Don't take a marginal or low-percentage shot.

Wait, and when the buck turns to offer the ideal shot, begin the draw. Make it smooth, and concentrate on nothing else but where the arrow must go to kill the deer.

A smooth draw, and arrow release, is the result to staying focused at all times

 

I tell people to pick a precise spot. Behind the front shoulder is the standard advice people give other hunters. That is fine, up to a point, but concentrate on a precise spot. If your vision is keen, pick out a specific hair and aim to hit that hair at the right point behind the shoulder. Good things will happen when you do it right.

People must guard against losing their focus. They get to thinking so much about the fact that here is a deer, a buck with fine antlers and it is standing in front of them, they go through the motions of aiming at the proper spot to kill that deer, but they loose focus. If they are not careful, it's very possible that the arrow could hit several inches from where they want it to go. Go after that precise spot like that deer owes you money and the only way to collect is to shoot the animal.

We've all seen these sorry situations. A hunter shoots a deer, and when asked where it hit the animal, they almost always say in the heart or lungs. It's where they think they were aiming, but upon recovery after a lengthy trailing job, they find the deer.

It was hit through the intestines, and may have traveled a mile before succumbing. The reason for the arrow hit in that location was because the hunter lost his focus.

Like all things, accurately shooting a bow is a matter of total concentration

 

This is some pretty heady stuff, this shooting of deer, and the great anticipation, adrenaline rush, the heavy breathing, the jerk-back-and-shoot philosophy often takes over, and the buck is wounded. The hunter can't understand why it was hit there when they were aiming right behind the front shoulder.

Somewhere between the bow being drawn, and the shot being taken, the hunter forgot what he was doing. A lack of total concentration and focus make it nearly impossible to accurately place an arrow.

Some hunters, on thinking back on the shot, were thinking of the bragging rights they would have over their hunting buddies. Some were already viewing the mounted rack on their den wall. They went into the hunt with everything in their favor, and came away from the hunt knowing full well they messed up a golden opportunity.

Concentration is a so critical to success. I can tell you what to do, but I can't crawl inside your skin and make you do it right. This is where self-training becomes so important, and only you can do that.

Focus, concentrate on maintaining your focus, and with luck and a newly acquired skill, when that shot comes this fall, you will be willing and able to do it right.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors