Summer Work That Pays Off in Bow Season
Summer Work That Pays Off in Bow Season
Early mornings in the turkey woods are beginning to give way to graduation celebrations, long afternoons on the lawn mower, gardens, and ball parks for yours truly. I would like to think that this “season” of life that falls between springtime gobblers and fall whitetails would be a great time to get some chores done. However, life always comes fast and furiously, and things remain busy. Where we once were camped out in the serenity of the timber, we are now hustling and bustling back and forth between work, practices, church, and other necessary obligations.
Success Starts Now
If your life is like mine, it can be easy to get hyper-distracted from the task of remaining sharp when it comes to our shooting habits. However, the more that you can pour into your practice during the summer, the more steadfast your resolve will be when the moments of truth come in the field this fall.
As far as a routine goes, I like to remain as active as possible with archery tackle. For me, this looks like getting out in my yard at least once a week to go through a few arrows. While this might not seem like much to some, it may seem like a whole heap to others. To each their own, but I find that if I keep my “bow” muscles in shape all throughout the summer, then it is much easier to hone in during the late summer and early fall in preparation for deer season.
My afternoon summer sessions involve taking a few warm-up shots at 20 yards before moving back to 30, 40, 50, and 60 while firing five shots at each. Once those shots have been taken, I fire another 5-shot repetition at 60, 50, 40, 30, and 20. This gives me around 50 arrows a week and ensures I don’t completely fall off the wagon. If your life is set in such a way to accomplish this more often, then I believe more is better. Mine is not, so I am thankful for the time that I get to spend with my bow and arrows.
Upgrades & Changes Should Happen Now
Maybe you have a deeper desire to grow your archery skills. Summer is a wonderful time to deep dive into technique, new equipment, and possibly even a whole new set-up. I highly encourage anyone who is planning to obtain a new bow to do so during the Spring or Summer months in order to give yourself time to get acclimated to that bow and get it properly sighted in.
It is my experience that most bow manufacturers release their newest models in late Fall through early winter, so the best and newest models should be available if that is your desire. Do not be afraid, though, to check your local archery shop for used gear as well. One thing that I love about archery is that it has a fairly low barrier to entry, but it can get as deep as you would ever want.
Also, the spring and summer months are a wonderful time to get your equipment in tip-top shape by taking it to your local archery shop. It has been my experience that archery technicians are far less busy during the spring and summer than they are two weeks before the deer opener, and would prefer to spend their time working on your bow without the rush. It has also been my experience that those folks who work as archery technicians often genuinely enjoy talking about archery and can be an invaluable asset when it comes to helping you with tips and tricks of the trade.
3D and Tournaments
3D archery tournaments are also an incredible way to hone your archery skills further. What better way to put yourself as close to the heat of the moment of a hunt than with a little friendly competition? While nothing ever compares to having a target buck in range, the novelty of being able to shoot under some form of pressure really increases our ability to go through our pre-shot routine with something on the line.
Speaking of a pre-shot routine, get one! Every year after deer season, I take a really long and hard look at myself. In particular, I like to think back through the things that I did really well, but I try to be honest enough with myself in recognizing the things that I did wrong. For instance, I am transparent enough to say that the first buck that I shot this year with archery equipment was with an ill-advised shot. I got so excited, and I rushed the shot. I did not pick a spot on the buck and just shot in a general location behind the shoulder. The result was an arrow that found the mark further back towards the liver.
Fortunately, the buck died quickly, and there was need to track and worry. However, it made me realize that my pre-shot routine was flawed and I needed to shore it up. Summertime is a phenomenal time to install a routine and then go through it to the point that you could accomplish it in your sleep. This will cause so much less panic in the deer woods and give you something to strive toward.
With all this being said, I would encourage you to do what you can when you can. It might be early summer, but we’ll be looking for velvet before long, and then it will be game on all over again!
My best advice: stay ready so you don’t have to get ready!
May 2026
By Noel Gandy
