How many arrows per day?

[dreamunelk]

Bingo!  Well said.

[demontang]

I shoot a lot over the years ill put about 100 down range on a day that I have time to. I shoot everything at my hunting draw. Im still able to shoot when im tired and hold a good group at 65-67yds. Which is what I want to beable to do after a long hard hike. I think you need to beable to slowly draw and stop drawing before the wall if an animal moves to where it might see you not just barly get it back.

[Jellymon]

When I go out and shoot, my first shot of the session is the one that I put most stock in and believe is most telling.  When hunting you won't have 10 practice shots right before the real deal to get warmed up.

   I only shoot until I become tired. Fatigue can form bad habits quickly.

In the same note you want to shoot enough so that it becomes instinctive.  There is no way to simulate your nerves with a live animal in your sights and you want that shot to be automatic.

This is true. On my first elk I was so focused on his vitals that I dont even remember choosing my 35yd pin gap, a perfect shot just automatically happened. If I didnt practice a lot like I do the outcome may have been different.
Set the poundage where its comfortable, be honest with yourself, dont worry about speed and poundage numbers, and just have fun.

[earlmarne]

im not any kind of expert but i let my shooting tell me when ive shot enough.
sometimes i will shoot for an hour,sometimes more,and often less.
if i start pulling shots i pack it up.

[pianoman9701]

I shoot 100+ arrows per day, three times a week. I let my muscles recover with a day in between just like weight lifting. If I were just starting out, I would shoot three arrows at a time until I start to feel that I'm getting tired and then take a break for 15 minutes and do it again for two more sets. After about 2-4 weeks, I would shoot groups of four arrows and start doing 4 shooting sets. After two months, 5 arrows per group and 4 sets.

If you don't have access to a range with targets up to 60 yards or so, take your bow target to a field and use a range finder or pace off marked distances to get used to different yardages and make sure your bow is sighted for the correct yardages. To gain proficiency in judging distances in the woods, do as many 3-D shoots as possible before the season - at least 2 or 3. Be prepared to lose some arrows. You can also use a Judo tip to stump shoot while scouting.

Although I agree that shooting tired doesn't accomplish much if you're losing control, I also believe that you gain muscle memory and consistency through repetitious training. The more arrows you can shoot by the time the season comes around, the easier and more instinctive the shot will be when it's time to drop the string on an animal.

[boneaddict]

im not any kind of expert but i let my shooting tell me when ive shot enough.
sometimes i will shoot for an hour,sometimes more,and often less.
if i start pulling shots i pack it up.

   

[JamesK.]

What seems to be working well for me is shooting ballpark 25 arrows a day. I shoot 5 days a week and rely on shooting often to build muscle and good technique. I shoot 4 arrows from each 20,30,40,50, and 60 yards and focus on making every one count. If I'm having a day where everything is perfect and I can't do wrong I will shoot more but once I'm tired I stop. I hate shooing fatigued and making bad shots that lower my confidence. If I'm having an off day I always make sure to step up to 20 to slam a few in the bulls eye just to end on a good note. That's my two cents.

[Bean Counter]

20 to 30 arrows myself. I'm a good archery shot but for some reason not a good bow hunter 

I'd rather do 10 shots five times a week than 50 shots once a week. 

[bobcat]

Thanks for all the great advice. You all gave me a lot to think about. I think I will lighten the poundage up by a bit. I'd like to be able to shoot at least 40 arrows in a session. I've been shooting 5 at a time, and I do that 4 times, and I'm done. I don't feel like I'm getting enough practice that way.

I can shoot in my back yard, up to about 100 yards if I wanted. But I've only been shooting at 20 yards for now. I'll move it out to 40 yards max. Any further and I'll need a bigger target. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll lose some arrows.

Another question- what's a good, but cheap, broadhead target? I only have a target for field points. I've seen Cabelas has one fairly cheap. I think it's yellow and it was around $40. Is that one worth the money?

[h20hunter]

Here is a tip that I recently learned from D-Rock......I've had some lower back issues and I swear pulling arrows out of the target takes more energy out of me than shooting. D-Rock had an extra puck style arrow puller that basically allows me to grip the arrow over a larger surface area on both the arrow shaft and my palm. The result is I can expend much less energy, and strain, on the lower back pulling arrows out. I will never visit the practice range again without it.

[bobcat]

I've been using a can of "tire shine" on my arrows. I spray some on a rag and wipe my arrows down with it. They pull out of the target so much easier. When it wears off, wow! Pulling those arrows out an be really hard on the back! (It sucks getting old)

[Smossy]

I've been using a can of "tire shine" on my arrows. I spray some on a rag and wipe my arrows down with it. They pull out of the target so much easier. When it wears off, wow! Pulling those arrows out an be really hard on the back! (It sucks getting old)

I use a rubber arrow puller. It makes it muuuch easier. I have a hard time myself being able to grip arrows without bending them.

[h20hunter]

Yep.....probably similiar to what I have now. It is a little puck with a + cut out......just palm, grip, and pull.

[JLS]

wipe your arrows with silicon lube

[dreamingbig]

Another amen for quality over quantity.  Spend time to develop a repeatable shot sequence, be able to shoot from different positions, to shoot fast when needed and stop gripping that bow handle so hard!