What bad habits to avoid for new bow hunter?

[PNW1]

Hey guys,

I went on my first deer hunt last  year on the last weekend of modern. I’m planning to get a bow and start practicing here soon. Since I am brand new and haven’t formed any bad habitats/made any mistakes…I want to hear from the experienced, what things you would have done differently when you started. - Shooting form, things to buy, things not to buy, etc.

Also - I’m a simple guy and don’t need the fanciest compound bow with all the bells and whistles…so what’s the best value bow out there that won’t leave me feeling like I need an upgrade the following year.

Thanks in advance!

[huntnnw]

go to a good archery shop and get your draw length measured and draw length set. Do not get set that you need a 70lb draw weight or whatever it may be. Start with something comfortable and work up in weight if needed. Learn proper grip. theres lots of good youtube videos out there now to really help narrow down your approach. Elkshape recently has put out quite a few vids on shooting, grip, draw etc.

[Iveexcaped3]

Last year was my first year I got a diamond edge 320 and like it a lot especially for the price point it was at. Be prepared to spend about another $200 on top of your bow just to shoot it. I started my pull at #30 until I got the fundamentals down, this allowed me to work on form, muscle building, and rhythm’s without the pressure of being at 70#.
 “If you have it you need to master it, if you don’t have it you better learn it quickly and learn to master it, it is called patience.” That’s be best advice I could give you.

[carlyoungs]

When I first started shooting a bow I took lessons at my local archery shop. I think I did 5 or 6 of them. It is a little bit of money up front but tought me a lot right at the beginning. I didn't start with any bad habits and that is a big plus.
I'm sure you have read it several times but practice and more practice. Shoot 20 - 30 arrows a day and you will be surprised how accurate you can get. If you are shooting bad one day and are all over the place on the target just stop for the day and start fresh the next day. Also the aim small miss small slogan is really accurate. One day I switched it up and placed an apple propped up in front of my target. I was surprisingly accurate even at long distances hitting an apple.
The last thing that helped me is to try and shoot with someone every once in a while who is a lot better than you are. You can pick their brain and they can teach you little tweaks that will help you improve your shooting.

[92xj]

You will get target panic. 
Figured out how to beat it.
I’d suggest using a back tension style release. 
When you tell yourself and maybe others that you don’t have target panic, that is when you do.  Accept it and beat the mental game.  It’s fun and frustrating. 
Back tension releases do wonders for shooters. 

[PNW1]

Good stuff, I appreciate all the tips!

[KFhunter]

Shooting too much poundage, it's not macho to jack your bow to 70 then shoot 10 times with bad form and target panic.

Target panic comes at heavier weights, like flinch with magnum rifles

[Wolfdog2314]

Dont set your pins until your anchor point is established. (Of course you can, but keep this in mind)

I chased myself over and over when I first taught myself to shoot a bow. I was so excited to shoot beyond 20 and get my pins set up, so I did. And I would shoot great for the session.

The very next day id go to shoot and my “site was way off”. So I’d adjust my pins to be accurate again.

Little did I know I was adjusting to my ever changing anchor point.

Find a comfortable anchor point that works for you. Everyone is a little different. String to nose and corner of the mouth. My first knuckle rests where the lobe of my ear attaches to my head. However it is for you, do it the same every time.

[elkchaser54]

Your bow is 110% more accurate then you are.  Trust that the bow is accurate and it's your form that's off.  Like the missed anchor point discussed earlier your bow grip is just as important. 

[carpsniperg2]

Don't start with to much weight. I see way to many people do this and that alone starts a ton of bad habbits. Sky drawing, rushing shots, slapping the release etc. Ancor is huge. I shoot a ton of different bows during the year. So on my hunting bow I shoot a kisser button to make sure I am always the exact same ancor.

[h20hunter]

I've not read all replys...reply....

Go slow

Then go slower.

Imo focus on the last hour of light. Put yourself in a doe legal area. Go slower still.

Listen then go slower.

Badda Bing there she is. Draw, breathe,  release....whoosh thwack hit. Stop. Assess, wait then wait some more. Track.

[NorseNW]

I would definitely suggest taking a class at your local archery shop.  I archery hunted several years, put the bow down for a couple decades and decided to get back into it.  Learned a good bit in the classes I took.  The place I went to had three instructors on the line and twenty or so students.  Worked out decent and it was affordable. 
Good to hear you don't need the newest bow and all the bells and whistles.  I chased that for the first five years I got back into archery.  As was already mentioned most bows are more accurate than I am.  That didn't stop me from trying to buy my way into accuracy for a few years. 

Get the basics down and practice them.  Enjoy the journey.

[pianoman9701]

When I first started shooting a bow I took lessons at my local archery shop. I think I did 5 or 6 of them. It is a little bit of money up front but tought me a lot right at the beginning. I didn't start with any bad habits and that is a big plus.
I'm sure you have read it several times but practice and more practice. Shoot 20 - 30 arrows a day and you will be surprised how accurate you can get. If you are shooting bad one day and are all over the place on the target just stop for the day and start fresh the next day. Also the aim small miss small slogan is really accurate. One day I switched it up and placed an apple propped up in front of my target. I was surprisingly accurate even at long distances hitting an apple.
The last thing that helped me is to try and shoot with someone every once in a while who is a lot better than you are. You can pick their brain and they can teach you little tweaks that will help you improve your shooting.

All great advice, especially the proshop and lessons. Form and strength (which maintains form) can be established by a good teacher. I highly recommend Archery World.

[MIKEXRAY]

If I could do it over, I would start day one with a good quality captive drop away rest instead of the whisker biscuit the shop recommended.  For me the drop away was so much more forgiving and way more accurate. I struggled with a shoot through rest for two years. The arrow / broadhead is the only thing that contacts the animal , I would get a better quality arrow as well. Good luck.

[haus]

Fit or improper fit. Draw length, release length/size, and peep location all contribute to fit. Some of it is pronounced, but can be subtle. Regardless, it fundamentally effects your consistency from shot to shot. Also what the others said about draw weight, even if your a ape, starting at 60 or less would be a good approach. There are cost and equipment considerations to factor in if you start low and intend to reach 70lb though.

[highside74]

Don't get on your knees unless it's the only way to make the shot. It limits your ability to adjust quietly and quickly.

[GWP]

Read "Bows On The Little Delta" by Glenn St Charles. He was buddy's with Fred Bear and they were the grandfathers of modern archery. Not sure it will make you a better hunter, but it is a wonderful read with stories about both of them.
Since so much has been covered well here I will toss this out there.
I switched from a 'facial anchor point' to an 'Anchor Point' sight, and never regretted it. Once you set it, you glance up at it and verify the bow is in the proper position, so 'out of position' shots were much easier to do accurately. It works like a peep sight basically, except you do not look through it, and it is not attached to the string.
There are MANY good used compounds and bows in general out there. I would suggest hitting some shops to check for used bows. Most 'should' have a range on site and will let you shoot to try it out.
Keep your shooting range short until you get a bunch of shooting under your belt. Get good arrows. I had 'play' arrows, that were cheaper for 'plinking', and hunting arrows that were high quality.
Try using fingers, even on a compound, depending on the length. While a release can be nice, there were times I did not like having more crap to deal with, and preferred fingers. There are rubbers you can put on the string to make it roll off easier, and eliminate using a shooting glove.
If you use the same arrow for both hunting and target/practice, get field points that are the same weight as the broadheads to practice with, then switch and shoot a few broadheads to verify the accuracy stays the same before you hit the field.
Get as big a target as you can afford, and comfortably store/get it out to shoot.
There will ALWAYS be someone that insists you need a 'high power' bow. Ignore them. Shoot what you are accurate, comfortable with and enjoy shooting. That in itself will make you want to get it out more.
Have fun!
Addendum:
Try bowfishing if you get a chance. It is, addictive. Different animal than regular bow shooting, but crazy fun.

[buckfvr]

If you can, never end a practice session with bad shots.  Force yourself to make 3 last good shots even if you have to move up to 20 yards to do it.  Quit on a high note and carry that confidence to the next practice. 

[Blacktail Sniper]

Biggest and hardest to get out of trap I fell in was raising my head slightly to watch the arrow's flight which would cause me to slightly drop my bow arm a small amount. 

It was happening at the time of release and before the arrow had completely cleared the bow at times, which would send the arrow low, very low depending on target distance. 

I had to force myself to remain frozen in the shooting position after release and until the arrow hit, and it was struggle to overcome the habit I had formed. 

[fishngamereaper]

Test drive multi bows...not all are created equal and will work for everyone. Some bows I just don't shoot well. And 70lbs these days is not the same as 70lbs ten years ago. Don't talk yourself out of a bells and whistles bow...buy once cry once.  Some people buy crap bows to start and can't figure out why they shoot like crap.

As for habit's...
Anchor point consistentancy and breathing.

[Caveman123]

Archery is like golf. It’s all about replicating the same motion. Find what’s comfortable and repeatable before sighting in. I put my knuckle in the divot behind my ear, nose and lip touch the string everytime. They make a gadget called a kisser button to help achieve this. Shoot field tips until right before your hunt and then sight in broadheads if there is any difference in point of impact. Broadheads will eat your target and you can break them easily is you are shooting groups.