Archery In the Off-Season

Story & Photos by: Remi Warren

It was as if it had been planned out from the beginning. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, a mature antelope buck materialized in front of my blind, warily walking into the waterhole to grab a sip of water before a long day of chasing does drained all of his energy. I slowly reached for my bow fearing that the buck would catch the slightest movement inside my blind and bolt like lightning before ever having a chance to draw back.

As I got into position I focused on a single spot behind the shoulder drew back and then released… THUD. The arrow hit perfectly in the kill zone of my foam target. My imagination had been working in overdrive but I felt confident that had it been the real deal my arrow would have hit its mark.

Now, I know hunting foam archery targets may not have been the hunting story you were expecting, but realistic practice in the off-season may be the factor in determining how your real hunting story plays out next fall. The difference between bringing home a buck and just sailing another arrow over his back may come down to the type of practice you got during the off-season.

Looks real to me If it looks like an antelope and has horns like an antelope, well, it must be an antelope…right? Wrong, 3-D archery targets can offer you the opportunity to practice your shot placement in the off-season on targets that anatomically resemble the game you will be chasing. Of course practice on 3-D targets is no new idea, but some things never change. With a bow, shot placement is what counts. When you practice on foam targets you get a better idea of where the arrow should go, without having to shoot your neighbor’s goat.

Most people, including myself, miss game because they don’t pick a spot.

This can be one of the toughest things to learn how to do when you may only get one chance at a big game

animal next year. It is really easy to pick a spot on standard block targets that come with dots to shoot at. When you practice on 3-D targets you teach yourself to pick a spot on the animal and not just shoot for a bull’s-eye.

3-D shooting may not be identical to shooting at a real animal but it creates habits that will help you be more accurate when the moment of truth arrives.

In real life deer won’t give you five shots to get familiar with the kill zone. Some of the best 3-D practice comes not from repetitively shooting at your deer target over and over, but by placing it in varied terrain and taking only a few shots at each location or angle. When the target is in an area that resembles a true to life hunting situation external factors come into play. Things like the wind, hill angle, and brush obstruction make the practice more realistic. By only taking a few shots at the target in the new location you force yourself to focus on making the first shot count.

Want even more practice? 3-D tournaments and archery leagues can give you the added pressure that mimics the demands of real hunting.

It also allows you to shoot at different animal targets without having to fork out top dollar for targets of your own.

Some tournaments include shooting outdoor targets in different hunting scenarios. While others use indoor pop-up targets, which allow you compete one-on-one with another archer. Both scenarios provide valuable practice no matter your skill level.

Practice small to go for the big Shooting at 3-D targets is great practice, but nothing compares to the thrill of bona fide hunting. Real animals move, they present difficult shots and they are unpredictable.

After the big game season has come and gone, many small game seasons continue into the late winter month, with some even remaining open yearround. When you chase big game, you may only get a few shots a season, but when you practice on small game, you may get multiple shots in a single day.

Hunting small game with your bow can give you practice that you can’t get anywhere else. It provides a hunting experience that allows you to practice actual bow hunting.

Small game animals are unpredictable targets that can present difficult shots with the same pressure and excitement as if you were chasing deer or elk. From birds to rabbits to predators, any small game animal can be hunted to hone in your archery skills.

I have hunted quail, doves, chuckar, pheasant, ducks, geese, grouse, rabbits, and predators, just to name a few. Each providing the challenge and excitement that goes along with bow hunting, while giving you practice for big game at the same time.

Waterfowl is one of my favorite small game animals to chase with a bow. After the big game seasons have

Left: Remi shooting a pop-up 3-D tournament where he took first place at the RMEF National Convention in Reno, NV. The importance of shot placement in a competition setting mimics that of shot placement in the field. It prepares you to make your first shot count under pressure and with limited time.

Middle: Remi with a mixed bag of ducks taken by jump shooting creeks, rivers and ponds.

Right: Judo tips and blunt points work great for small game and help minimize arrow damage or loss. This Judo tip quickly brought down the two mallards seen in the background.

come and gone, I can still get my hunting fix by taking advantage of the duck and goose seasons during the winter months. Hunting ducks combines elements of stalking, quick shooting, shot placement and range estimation. Chasing ducks with my bow not only gives me practice to keep my skills sharp for big game season but keeps me hunting as well.

The nice thing about hunting ducks compared to other small game is that you can get a lot of shooting with little arrow loss if you are hunting on the water.

When hunting ducks on a body of water you get a lot of clear shots because there aren’t many obstructions on the waters surface however it makes stalking all the more difficult.

When jump shooting

the most important element is the stalk, you have to be able to sneak in and make your shot count before the birds fly away. If you miss a shot at a duck, unlike big game hunting, it is not a big deal because it often isn’t long before you get a chance to correct your mistakes. Hunting small game also provides much needed practice shooting at moving targets, something that may be extremely valuable when that monster bull elk comes in next fall and just won’t stop.

No matter what small game you end up chasing it is a blast to try it with your bow. The practice can be invaluable when it comes to honing in on a big game animal next season. Most archery hunting is serious trial and error. The lessons learned while chasing small game can carry over when it’s time to chase the big game. Every bow hunting experience, whether it is small game or foam targets is one more lesson that you take with you on your next excursion.

A lot of the success for archers comes down to two main things, practice and experience. By taking your practice outside the normal elements of standard shooting, you will gain experience that will help when it really counts. Archery season doesn’t

have to be limited to the fall; in fact it can be year round. Whether it is chasing foam 3-D targets in the backyard or small game in the field, each experience and outing makes you that much more prepared for the real deal.

When that real antelope steps out in front of your blind or that monster bull comes bugling in on the move, you will be ready because you will have been in that situation before... even if it was just in your backyard.

RHM

All the off-season practice paid off last year when Remi took three bucks in three states with his bow.

W

ith Father’s Day around the corner and budgets tightening up across the country, we at RHM have scoured the web for some awesome hunting gear that won’t break the bank.

Because you can’t leave dear ol’ dad hanging, we recommend 10 hunting essentials at the best prices possible. Our picks have something for every budget. It’s time to break out your paper route savings, and give back to the man in your life who introduced you to the outdoors.

Nikon Scope, Camera and Binocular Window Mount About the item: This tripod mounts safely onto your truck window with the help of the padded gripper. It has a standard tripod adjustable head and is able to accommodate a spotting scope, camera, or binoculars.

Price: $29.95 Regular price: $54.95 Where to find it: www.sierratradingpost.com search Item #1695A Comments: The window mount makes checking out those distant blobs with your spotting scope a cinch. It’s perfect for scouting and a must-have accessory for any vehicle.

The downside – road trips will now be twice as long because Dad will constantly be pulling over and putting the scope on distant antelope off the side of the road. I guess you can’t blame him, the window mount does make it easy.

Flambeau Canada Goose Masters Series Decoys About the item: This is a floating, weighted keel decoy with a flocked head and a feather detailed body. For the price, it comes with four of the full-sized decoys.

Guide Gear® Pro Series Pop - up Blind About the item: This water-resistant nylon-blend blind is the perfect concealment from those wary deer and elk. The patented blackout lining helps conceal Dad’s movement while controlling scent by blocking the wind. The blind has three ports and four windows for visibility. It features shootthrough fabric so you don’t spook the game while lowering the window. The blind’s pop-up feature makes setup a cinch and it collapses small enough to fit in a pack.

Price: $49.97 Regular price: $80.00 Where to find it: www.sportsmansguide. com enter WX2-119481 in the catalog quick order box.

Comments: nothing beats a blind that sets itself up, and for the price, you can’t go wrong.

The downside – Dad is going to be so excited to use his new blind that he will probably try it out in the living room, where it’s likely to stay for more than a month, as he watches all his favorite hunting DVDs and TV shows from the comfort of his easy chair, inside of his new blind.

Price: Talk about a steal. We found it on sale for $41.96 Regular price: $147.95 Where to find it: www.sierratradingpost. com ,search decoys and they will pop up or use Item #87274 Comments: By the time the geese figure out these decoys aren’t the real deal, it’s time to set down the shotgun and go pick them up.

The downside – you’ll probably have to keep reminding the old man that those were the decoys you set, so he doesn’t shoot them.

Traditions® Tracker™ 209 Slide Muzzleloader About the item: This muzzleloader has all the features of a top-of-the-line gun, at a fraction of the price. This .50 caliber synthetic stock muzzleloader comes with a 24-inch blued performance barrel. It is accurate out of the box and has an adjustable Lite Optic™ sight which helps in low light conditions. It uses a 209 primer that will ignite even in damp conditions.

Price: $139.97 Where to find it: www.sportsmansguide. com enter WX2-128927 in the catalog quick order box Comments: This is a great gift to possibly extend your dad’s time in the field. A lot of states have muzzleloader-only seasons, but he can’t take advantage of it if he doesn’t have the gun.

The downside – with this gift you will essentially be saying, “Look Dad, you are just too good of a hunter, way better than me for sure. The elk and deer don’t even stand a chance. I think it’s time you start hunting with a muzzleloader. I mean Jim Shockey’s got nothing on you.”

Parkers Perfect - Stops Fogging, Pre-Moistened Towelettes About the item: These wipes keep your eyewear, scopes, binoculars and even the inside surfaces of your vehicle’s windows clean and prevent them from fogging in all conditions. They are packaged a lot like the wet wipes you use after eating ribs, which makes them super convenient.

The package contains 100 pre-moistened towelettes.

Price: $5.88 Regular price: $19.99 Where to find it: www.cabelas.com bargain cave. Search Item:OG-712371 Comments: TDad won’t be able to give you the excuse that his scope was fogged up again with these wipes in his pack. This is one of the handiest products on the market for keeping your optics or eye glasses, clean and fog-free in the field. They store easily in your pack or pocket and they are light-weight so you can take them anywhere.

The downside – dear ol’ Dad may have to come up with a new set of excuses as to why he missed that monster buck.

Sceery Bad Attitude Bull Elk Bugle Kit Real Hunting Magazine About this item: About this Item: This is a bi-monthly hunting publication with unbeatable tips and tricks, gear reviews, gift guides, stories from hunters like you, youth sections, pictures, a chance to have your next hunting story told, poaching and wildlife updates, the list goes on and on…

About the item: This perfect pitch bugle makes it easy to produce all bull sounds from squeals, grunts and locating bugles to screams and roars of the herd bull. It comes with the bugle tube, latex reed, lanyard and a detailed 55-minute instructional video.

Price: $19.88 Regular price: $29.99

Price: $20 Regular price: $25.00

Where to find it: www.cabelas.com bargain cave. Search Item: OG-221913

Where to find it: In your hands or online at www.realhuntingmag.com

Comments: We guarantee your dad will not have a bad attitude when he sees this gift. The bugle is high quality and simple to use. It’s hard to find elk bugles for under $20 these days, so this is a great deal.

The instructional video is good and worth the money itself, provided you can find a VHS player to play it in.

The downside – you will have to endure dad’s seemingly endless practice period both in the house and in the car.

Comments: It is the gift that keeps on giving. Each issue is like Father’s Day all over again. Plus, buying him his own subscription will keep him from stealing your issue every month. For the price it can’t be beat, six gifts of outstanding hunting knowledge for less than the price of a shaver… HA… he will laugh at other fathers who get the shaver.

The downside – this gift will be near impossible to beat. Come Christmas, your father will constantly comment on how you out did yourself last Father’s Day. If you have siblings, you will be the envy of your father’s affection for at least a year – two, if you buy him the two-year subscription. Sibling jealousy will be most apparent at family gatherings like Thanksgiving, when you, the child who can do no wrong, is constantly bragged about for your generosity and gift-giving prowess.

Hot Shot Camo Hunting Gloves About the item: These are the perfect hunting gloves. They provide warmth as well as dexterity when you need it.

You can quickly and quietly get your itchy trigger fingers out when the moment of truth arrives. The gloves are as warm as it gets with 40g of Thinsulate and a zip pocket for a heater pack. They have fold-away mitts with a thin glove inside. The thumb can also come out for added dexterity. The palms also feature a grippy rubber material.

Price: We found these babies for $9.95 Regular price: $40.00 Where to find it: www.sierratrading post.com search the product name or Item #84485 Comments: The gloves are one gift dad is guaranteed to love. We have yet to meet someone who enjoys cold hands. Nothing is better than a glove that is warm and still allows you to use your hands without taking the glove off.

The downside – for that price, it almost feels like stealing. A feeling all too familiar with Sierra Trading Post’s shoppers.

Puma® 3-blade Knife About the item: This ultimate hunting knife has it all – a knife, gut hook, and bone/wood saw which all fold into the handle and fit perfectly into the included nylon belt sheath. All the blades are impressively made of 440 surgical stainless steel.

Price: $24.97 Regular price: $55.00 Where to find it: www.sportsmansguide. com enter WX2-156945 in the catalog quick order box Comments: This knife blows the standard Fathers Day Swiss Army knife out of the water. For an extra $5 you can get your pop’s initials engraved in the blade.

The downside – you will find yourself begging Dad to let you gut and skin his animals, just so you can try out his sweet knife.

A Hunt with your Child Coupon About this item: This coupon entitles your dad to one free hunt with his son and or daughter in the place of his choosing.

Price: Free Where to find it: On this page!

Comments: Nothing says, “I love you, Dad” more than asking him to go hunting with you, no matter your age.

Throw it in a handmade card and you are golden. For added pizzazz, comb ine it with a hunting picture of the two of you. Dads are notorious suckers for a good picture. The best part is, it costs nothing but the experience is priceless.

The downside – come on, there is no downside to getting out and hunting with dear ol’ dad.