Offseason Bowhunting Prep: Five Drills to Build Your Confidence

Why the Offseason Dictates Your Success

Many hunters treat their bow like a tool they only use at the archery range, starting in September and packing it away when they tag out. Real confidence is built during the offseason. The decisions you make during the summer dictate your success in the field.

Drill 1: Make Your Bow an Extension of Your Body

Purpose: Eliminate the friction of having to visit the range just to touch your bow.

How to Do It:

• Keep your bow and target nearby so you can practice drawing and holding whenever you have a few spare minutes. 

• Practice drawing daily to build muscle memory that will allow the movement to feel more natural. 

Expert Tip: If you don’t have access to a shooting field, you can use resistance bands to replicate the weight of your bow arm, draw arm, and off-hand to balance your muscles.

Related Expert Content: Types of Resistance Bands >

• Restructure Your Practice (Quality over Quantity)

• Repetitive, constant shooting can break your form and make your shoulders burn. This type of practice isn’t always beneficial, and often just ends in making yourself tired. Replicate a high-stress hunt by structuring your practice around high-quality, focused drills.

Drill 2: The One Arrow Drill

Purpose: Replicate the exact reality of a hunt--no warm-ups, just one cold shot.

How to Do It:

• Take your very first shot of the day completely cold, stiff, and shivering.

• Track where the arrow lands; this is your baseline to improve upon.

• Understand and own your limitations. If 20 yards is your maximum distance for a consistent group, then 20 yards is the range that you will operate the best in during an actual hunt.

Expert Tip: True confidence is knowing your exact limitations when the adrenaline hits.

Drill 3: Blank Bailing

Purpose: Remove the anxiety of aiming and focus your brain on the physical feeling of a clean release.

How to Do It:

• Stand exactly 3 feet from the target.

• Close your eyes, draw, anchor, and feel the surprise of the release.

• By removing your sight, you eliminate the fear of missing, and allow your brain to focus on proper form.

Drill 4: Practicing in Uncomfortable Positions

Purpose: Prepare for real-world hunting scenarios where you rarely get to stand perfectly flat on a range.

How to Do It:

• Practice shooting while kneeling, sitting, or from elevated positions.

• If you hunt from a tree stand, practice from a tree stand.

• If you hunt in thick cover, practice with tight shooting lanes.

• If you hunt steep country, practice shooting from extreme or awkward angles.

Drill 5: Cardio and Heart Rate Control

Purpose: Teach your body how to calm itself down under extreme physical stress and high adrenaline.

How to Do It:

• Perform 20 jumping jacks, run a quick sprint, or do step-ups to spike your heart rate.

• Take deep breaths and focus on slowing your heart rate back down.

• Draw your bow, settle your pin, and execute a slow, controlled shot.

Though good archery equipment is essential to a good hunt, true success in the woods doesn’t come from just the gear; it comes from a standard of personal readiness. Practicing these exercises will ensure you are ready to take the shot when the season comes.

Ready to fine-tune your setup? Visit your local SCHEELS to talk with an Archery Expert, or schedule an archery fitting to ensure your gear is ready to match your dedication.