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An Arrow a Day
By Mark Melotik
Many bowhunters who practice shooting all spring and summer tend to shelve their regular tuneups once hunting seasons start. Especially when traveling to hunt out of state without a portable target, it’s an easy trap to fall into. I’ve been guilty of it myself and a have a few horror stories, but these days I make every effort to tote along a compact target while traveling via vehicle. Or at the least pack a few judo or other small game/blunt-type heads the same weight as my broadheads to ensure I can shoot a few arrows almost daily — maybe in dirt clumps or sandy banks — to keep sharp.
As someone who hunts with both traditional bows and compounds, I consider shooting a daily arrows with traditional gear absolutely critical to confident, in-the-field hunting accuracy. In my experience, and for many others, the physical nature of shooting traditional simply demands these regular check ins to stay confident and ready on stand. When shooting traditional, I pack a blunt-tipped arrow in my quiver and typically take a practice shot right from my stand during a lull in the day’s action.
Over the years I’ve found that even the best compound shooters believe in on-the-hunt practice. They include John Schaffer, a one-time pro archer who founded the longstanding Minnesota-based Schaffer Performance Archery pro shop, and he also manufactures the popular Schaffer line of premium arrow rests and bowsights. John is just six animals away from a North American Super Slam of 29 big game animals including some eye-popping whitetails, and he knows the value of daily practice.
The well-traveled Schaffer knows most every hunt can feature last-minute clothing changes forced by widely varying weather conditions, so he builds in a safeguard. Each day, he shoots a single practice arrow while out hunting to ensure foolproof accuracy. He’s done this for years.
“It’s just one of my basic rules of hunting, and it’s kind of quirky, but I always shoot an arrow a day, whether it’s at a squirrel, a leaf, whatever,” Schaffer said. “Doing this you learn a lot — about what you’re wearing, your elevation, and more. If you didn’t shoot an animal that day at least you shot an arrow, and maybe you learned something in the process. Even if I’m in the middle of nowhere, I always shoot that one arrow.”