OFF SEASON ARCHERY
For many bowhunters, the archery season is in the rear view mirror. The bow is hanging in the closet and won’t see the light of day until spring arrives. If that sounds familiar, consider joining a winter archery league at a local archery pro shop or archery club. One pro shop owner who offers a winter league is John Schaffer from Schaffer Performance Archery in Burnsville, MN. According to him, if a bowhunter wants to fine tune their archery skills, the winter is the best time of year to do it. “Many of us don’t have as much going on in the winter as we do the rest of the year so winter is a great time to hone your archery skills and compete in a local league.”
SPOT LEAGUE/TECHNO HUNT
Schaffer Performance Archery offers a spot league and a techno hunt league. Many pro shops offer a techno hunt league which is extremely popular with bowhunters. “A techno hunt offers realistic shooting situations that bowhunters would find in the field,” Schaffer said. “I like it because guys have only a limited amount of time to take the shot before the animal leaves the screen, so it is very similar to being in the woods.”
COMPETITION IS A GOOD THING
Most winter leagues are competitive which is good for bowhunters trying to keep their skills sharp. “When bowhunters are in the field and getting ready to take a shot at a real animal, they are under a lot of pressure,” Schaffer said. “When competing in a league, there is a lot of pressure as well. Competition can help bowhunters shoot better under pressure.”
SHOOT IN A GARAGE OR BACKYARD
Bowhunters who don’t live near a pro shop or don’t want to spend money on a league should consider shooting a few arrows a week in their garage or outside during the winter. “I live in Minnesota and even though the weather is super cold for months at a time, I often step outside when it is super cold and shoot an arrow or two before leaving for work,” Schaffer explained. “This helps keep my archery skills sharp and when I am bowhunting, the weather is often cold. Shooting outside in the winter is a great way to simulate a real hunting situation.”
Just because it is winter doesn’t mean you should hang your bow up until spring. Join a league or shoot outside this winter. You will be glad you did.
