In these days of limited hunting seasons and restricted bag limits, it is impracticable for an archer to acquire profi ciency in the use of the bow in the actual hunt. A shot gun pat tern allows for a reasonable margin of error when pointing at game; so that we habitually lay the gun away at the end of the hunting season and may not shoot it again until another season rolls around. Even so, we account for a reasonable and satis factory share of the game which we flush. The archer is in an entirely different category he has no margin of error when he hunts with the bow. The arrow must fly true to the mark, and there is no short cut to accuracy. Practice is essential, and the number of hits recorded in the hunting field is directly proportional to the hours of practice on the field course and the target range. The maxim, “It is the man behind the bow who scores the hits,” is one that every archer should remember. Too many novices attempt to buy accuracy by the purchase of high priced equipment. There is also the prevailing but er roneous impression among beginners that a heavy hunting bow 45 to 60 pounds drawing weight, or more will make up for lack of marksmanship. It is unfortunate that some of us, in fact, too many of us have to learn the hard way strained muscles and sore fingers are the inevitable result of attempting to learn to shoot with a heavy bow.

If during the past hunting season you got within bow range of a nice buck, and then were unable to score a hit, it is time to sit down and take stock of the situation. It does not matter what series of circumstances lead to that miss. One thing should be evident. An archer has to be a marksman, if he is to measure his success in the hunting field by the kill. Enough records have been compiled to warrant the assertion that the average distance at which deer are shot with the bow is slightly under thirty yards. It is not too difficult to attain accuracy at short distances, and this should be the aim of the bowman. Archery Equipment - Read More.