New Mexico Wildlife magazine Conserving New Mexico's Wildlife for Future Generations
Although hunting season is over and the holidays have passed, you may want to think twice before packing away your bow. That’s a mistake a lot of bow hunters make; storing their bow until shortly before next fall’s hunting seasons.
For bow hunters, year-long practice is essential to success. Archery is all about form and physically making the shot the same way every time. If your form is off it will directly affect the flight of the arrow and even seasoned bow hunters can get a little rusty if they don’t regularly practice.
In order to maintain good form, bow hunters have a variety of options. Simply shooting at a bull’s eye or ‘block’ type target on a regular basis can help. Others prefer to shoot at 3D targets to help maintain good shooting form and shot placement. Both methods can be done in the backyard (where legal) or in any open field or empty lot.
The problem with just shooting at foam targets is that it can become mundane, boring and expensive.
Another method of staying in practice for bow hunting is called roving or stump shooting. Of course having stumps to shoot helps and tree stumps are in short supply in the desert southwest unless you’re fortunate enough to live in or near the mountains.
Instead of stump shooting, consider “salad shooting.” This involves using plants such as yuccas, cactus, small bushes, and even sunflowers as your intended target; hence the name ‘salad shooting.’
Not only are potential targets plentiful in the desert, but salad shooting allows the bow hunter to practice estimating distances to each target. Yardage estimation is a critical skill for a bow hunter and can make the difference between a successful hunt and a discouraging one. Pick a target, make the shot and then step off the distance or use a range finder to find the actual yardage.
Salad shooting, like target shooting, can take place in any open field or lot. Even better, salad shoot in the same area or terrain where you plan on hunting. Practice with the same bow and arrows you plan on hunting with and, if possible, wear the same clothes you use during a hunt.
Change out your expensive broadheads for cheap blunts or judos before you go. They are durable and won’t damage the vegetation.
Whether it be a compound, recurve, or longbow, salad shooting allows the bow hunter to practice shots at various yardages and shooting positions depending upon the terrain.
Experienced bow hunters learn to “pick a spot” when hunting; don’t aim for the entire animal or, in this case, plant. Focus on a small spot on your target and make the shot. And, honest salad shooters always “call the shot” before they shoot.
Ever try hitting a two-inch sunflower at 20 yards with a blunt-tipped arrow? Choosing an individual sunflower or prickly pear cactus fruit forces the bow hunter to focus on a small spot to make the shot. Remember the old adage “aim small, miss small.”
This year, instead of putting away that bow, try roving, stump shooting or salad shooting. You owe it to yourself and the animals you hunt to make every shot count.
Yearlong practice with your bow could make the difference when that shot of a lifetime presents itself.
