Bowhunters Benefits from Competitive Archery

Bowhunters Benefit from Competitive Archery

By: Jackie Holbrook

Bowhunters wait all year for hunting season and it never seems to last long enough. But you’re in luck. Many bowhunters have found that competing in NFAA tournaments is a great way to scratch the archery itch. Another big bonus is that competition will improve your bowhunting skills in multiple ways.

DEVELOP MUSCLE MEMORY

Finding bowhunting success and competing in NFAA tournaments both require plenty of practice. Attending even one or two tournaments will give you the motivation and extra practice you need to be polished before hunting season starts.

“Competition helps you develop muscle memory so you can concentrate on making the shot,” says Brandon Higley, the NFAA State Director for Idaho. “You’ll develop a subconscious shot sequence so your entire focus can be on the animal, giving you the most accurate and ethical shot possible.”

ENJOY THE ELEMENTS

The NFAA hosts indoor and outdoor tournaments year-round. Indoor tournaments give archers the opportunity to keep shooting even when the weather isn’t cooperating. Outdoor competitions mimic bowhunting scenarios, giving you practice shooting in all the elements Mother Nature has to offer.

“When you shoot field for example you can really figure out how your equipment performs in different weather conditions, angles, slopes and lighting,” Higley noted.

PRACTICE PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE

Some bowhunters suffer from buck fever, a sensation similar to what competitive archers call target panic. These nervous feelings often produce bad shots. Shooting under the pressure of competition is a great way to practice managing those nerves so you are better able to perform at crunch time.

“I get butterflies and nervous whenever I shoot a tournament,” Higley said. “Whenever I put hard work into what I’m doing that day, I get nervous so it [hunting] teaches me how to perform under high stress situations.”

LEARN WHERE TO AIM ON ANIMALS

NFAA 3D tournaments give archers the opportunity to aim on large, foam animal targets. The scoring rings on most of the targets are meant to overlay the animal’s vitals. Aiming on an animal form as opposed to a paper target provides great practice for the real deal.

FIND NEW FRIENDS

Competing in archery tournaments improves your skills, abilities and confidence, but one of the most valuable benefits to come from competition might be the friendships.

“Especially if you are new to an area, come to the 3D shoots, you’ll meet a lot of people,” Higley emphasized. “You’ll start talking about hunting and you’ll make some friends.”

Fellow bowhunters are a great resource for information. They might stop short of sharing the GPS coordinates to their go-to hunting spot, but most people are willing to swap knowledge, especially if you’re new to the sport. And you should definitely be prepared to hear some hunting stories.

“It’s a close-knit community,” remarks Higley. “I’ll be traveling with people to a tournament and we’ll talk hunting the entire way there and back, even if it’s a Spring archery shoot.”

NFAA competitions will not only improve your performance and introduce you to other bowhunters, but all time spent with a bow in your hand gives you an edge in the field.

As Higley relayed, “You and your bow are a team, so if you’re not practiced up, you can’t work together like you need to.”