Many many years ago I started down the instinctive archery route and was surprised how I’ve never really looked back. I’ve always enjoyed getting out and shooting, but it’s not always just about hitting a target that matters. It’s about how you do it that matters. Being able to hit a 3D target bullseye from 2 yards with nothing but a bow, an arrow, and your eyes has an awesome feeling to it.
I know that when you start-up instinctive shooting of any kind that there’s a learning curve that you’ve got to get over. In fact, it’s not too hard to get out there and make a one-off shot and think you got it. That’s a piece of cake for most people. If you want to be hitting tight groups of arrows over and over then I can help you with that too.
Shooting good doesn’t need to be extremely challenging and can be tailored to a person of any age and ability. With that in mind, let’s focus on beginners and helping them out to get better results quicker.
Stand very close to the target.
Everyone wants to feel like Robin Hood, but you’ll FEEL BETTER if you learn to make a good shot at a very close range first. Put the target about 7 to 10 feet away and no further. There’s two really good reasons for this. The first is that you’re more likely to hit the target and get closer to a bull’s eye each time. The second is that you’re less likely to miss and that means you don’t have to go hunting for arrows or have them broken from hitting things.
Spend some time learning
I know it’s not the most fun, but even a short 10 minutes of instruction will go a very long way and make you a better shooter from the beginning. I shouldn’t laugh, but it’s pretty funny to watch someone who has no knowledge pretend that they don’t need any help or instruction stand up with a bow and look like a Lego character with no arms. Be okay with being a beginner. You don’t have to spend weeks on end reading and watching videos, but a few minutes here and there will make you better and that means you’ll enjoy the sport and you’ll be more likely to stick with it if you’ve invested some time in yourself.
Buy extra arrows
Arrows are projectiles shot at a high-speed. They break and parts on them break. Plan on it. Buy lots of arrows, not just 3, and when you’ve either lost or broken half of them in the first 20 minutes, you’ll thank me for helping you have a better experience. Yes they can be expensive, but there’s a lot of different types of arrows out there. You can easily go through tons of arrows if you’re shooting at too long of a distance or if you aren’t hitting the target properly. The other tips I’ve mentioned will help you with all of this. Seriously, buy extra arrows because you’ll want them, need them, and find you’ll shoot them all.
Have a bow release aid
Get a glove, tab, or anything to protect your drawing hand. You will make your fingers hurt like crazy if you don’t take care of them. This also goes for an arm guard to protect your forearm that’s holding the bow. It’s going to get painful very quickly if you don’t start of protecting them from the beginning. Sure you can take a few shots bare handed if you want, but if it’s more than 2 or 3, then you’ll want to protect your fingers. It’ll let you shoot more and more often.
These few tips will go a long way to making sure that you have a much better shooting experience from the beginning in instinctive archery shooting. You don’t have to listen to me, but you’ll have a better experience if you do.
Finding the right archery gift can be challenging at times. Many people might not have a clue on what to buy or get that would be a nice and thoughtful gift for avid archer. I’d love to help you out by sharing some small easy gift ideas that can let someone know that you care and that you’ve spent time and effort choosing the right gift for them.
Archery Gifts to check out
Bushnell H2O 10×42 Waterproof/Fogproof Binocular w/Roof Prism – You need to be able to see with great clarity and these rugged binoculars are just the answer. They’re tough, small enough to take with you, and the two different models will offer great crystal clear vision to help you get an up close look from a distance. You can find them for $75 and up
Real Avid Bowsmith Archery Multitool (Red/Silver)– The multi tool is an essential tool for a compact and easily carried tool that you can take with you so that you’ll have all the things you might need to work on your bow when you’re away from home or out in the field. The real avid bow smith is around $35.
The Bone Collector 400 F.P.S. Target by Morrell – This is a top of the line archery block target. An archery can always use another target to go practice on. This one can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. It’s able to handle bow speeds up to 400 fps which is higher than many compound bows. It’s a great gift for about $55.
Garmin GPSMAP 64 Worldwide with High-Sensitivity GPS and GLONASS Receiver – This handheld GPS device can make being out in nature a better experience. You can load different maps and use the tracking feature to make sure that you know exactly where you’ve been and how to get back. The 64 also boasts an increased memory from earlier models. Priced at $250 and up depending on what you want.
Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight (10 White LED & 3 Red LED) – Be able to see where you are with this bright flashlight from Smith and Wesson. It has 10 white LEDs and 3 Red so you can see brightly or in low light situations. The flashlight is made for a battery life of up to 60 hrs. The metal housing protects the flashlight and keeps it working when you need it. Priced around $30.
Outdoor Edge Game Processor PR-1 12-Piece Portable Butcher Kit with Hard Side Carry Case – For the hunter out there. Being able to deal with an animal after it’s been harvested is extremely important. This 12 piece set will give you everything you’ll need to process the animal as efficiently and effectively as possible. The knives are made of hardened stainless steel and a rubberized handle keeps you grip secure. Priced around $60.
The Traditional Bowyer’s Bible, Volume 1 – For the traditional archery fan or anyone looking to build a traditional bow, this is the book to get. There are 3 books in the set and all three are extremely good, but the first book is the one not to miss out on. There’s a lot of information, how to, and history in this book and you can look at the series if you want even more information. Priced around $15 for just this book and around $55 for all three together.
Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG – This game camera gives you great 10 megapixel shots and uses a “black infared” system that keeps your game camera stealthy and able to be triggered from up to 100 ft depending on the configuration. You can use the burst mode to get multiple shots at a time or have video be triggered to record in HD instead. Priced near $130.
Coffey Marketing Gorillagrip Arrow Puller – The best stocking stuffer for anyone who shoots arrows. You’ll find that many arrows get stuck in target and it takes a little extra help to get them out. This arrow puller is the answer for you. It makes it very easy to grip the arrow and holds onto the arrow very well. It’s made of natural rubber and is priced around $9.
As a courtesy to help you find the best archery gifts for you during these holidays, I’ve provided links that go to Amazon for each product so that you can look at all the reviews and decide which item will work best for your needs. I do hope that these have been helpful and give you some good ideas.
When you start setting up your bow, you’re going to need a solid arrow rest to keep your arrow secure and allow it to be fired without affecting its flight performance negatively. There are lots of different arrows rests out there. I’ve spent time trying out and looking around for the best whisker biscuit bang for your buck out there.
What is a whisker biscuit?
A whisker biscuit is an arrow rest that uses stiff bristles to form a ring around the arrow. The bristles hold the arrow in place and when the arrow is released, the vanes pass through the bristles. The rest was designed to securely hold the arrow on your bow until it’s shot. Don’t forget that they come in different sizes and you’ll need to decide which one is going to be the right fit for your arrows.
I’m sure you’re so happy to read all this, but let’s get down to the good stuff shall we? I’m a fan of Trophy Ridge and normally, I try to focus on more than one brand, but for some reason Trophy Ridge is about all I can find and know of that really gets things taken care of when it comes to whisker biscuits. Perhaps it’s because they made the original? Now there are partial whisker biscuits called capture rests and some of them do work well, I’ve found one that was alright, but I’m not a fan of that style most of the time.
The 5 best whisker biscuits
Trophy Ridge Sure Shot Pro Whisker Biscuit Arrow Right Hand Rest (Black, Medium)– I believe this is the best whisker biscuit made by Trophy Ridge. This one is made from aluminum and it’s adjustable to make it super easy to get perfectly lined up on your bow. The rubber housing on the tips keeps things quiet and this is the most rugged, adjustable, and durable whisker biscuit rest that I have found. Priced around $55-65 you’ll get the top of the line secure capture rest.
Trophy Ridge Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit Arrow Rest, Medium – Another great Trophy Ridge rest, the original quick shot rest is for both right and left hand. It has some decent adjustability to help you get it tuned properly. If you’re looking to get a good rest at a good price, this is a great value. It can be found at a price range around $35-45 which gives you a pretty good rest for a good price.
Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest, Medium, Black– The third Trophy Ridge rest that really takes the cake for value and quality of whisker rests is the Kill Shot. You’re arrows will be secure and fly great with this rest. Heads up that this is cast aluminum on this model and that means you shouldn’t over tighten it. There’s also plastic on the bristle housing, but you’ll find that this is a pretty good compromise on price and value. Priced around $35-55 for a great value full capture rest.
Medium Arrow Rest Right and Left Hand – Camo – If you just want to get a basic whisker biscuit arrow rest that will take care of most of your shooting needs, then this is the rest for you. It will take care of your arrow and get you down the range more accurate than any off the shelf shot would be. Priced around $20, you’ll get a decent rest and it’ll make for a better shot.
There are many different types of arrow rests out there and the whisker biscuit is just one of many choices. I hope that these help you decide the best whisker biscuit if that is the route that you choose to go on.
The links in this post are to amazon. I really appreciate you reading this post and I want to help you in your archery efforts. I wish you the best of luck and hope you get to go shoot more often.
I’m sure this post has been a long time in coming, but it can be extremely difficult to put mental aspects into words that make sense. I’m going to do my best to talk about the focus and control that you need for shooting at your best and how to get there over and over again. I call it getting in the zone and the goal is to learn how to get there before every shot.
You can do this because I learned how to do it by learning from others that were already doing it. It wasn’t the easiest and it takes a lot of time and practice, but it can be done.
A pre shot routine
The first step of getting things ready is to develop a pre shot routine that will help you to always get your mind in the right place. A pre shot routine can last anywhere from 10 seconds up to a couple of minutes and it is something that you do before every single shot that will prepare your mind and body for what it is about to do. If you take some time to look at other sports that deal with accuracy, you’ll notice that every player develops a little “thing” that they always do. That’s their pre-shot routine and you can start by copying theirs first.
Mental control
I’m not talking about mind powers. I’m talking about the effort that it takes to focus on only one thing and to block out all the other things that you could have distracting you. I found that when I started blocking things out, that I kept finding more and more things that distracted me. It took a lot of effort and practice, but it’s easier now to block out everything and focus only on the shot and making it the best possible.
Dealing with Fatigue
Fatigue is one of those things that doesn’t sound like it’s that big a deal, but I’m here to say it makes a big difference. Imagine going to a tournament where you end up making 60 shots over 2 hours plus warming up. There is a lot of room for getting tired, sore, muscle fatigue, and more. The more energy you use, the harder it gets to focus and make a good shot. The main cure for fatigue is consistently practicing. This gives you more stamina over time to continue making good shots.
Learn to stop
The other part of practicing so that you get good at focusing completely over and over is to know when to stop. You not only need to learn how to turn on the ability to focus and block things out, but you also have to learn how to turn it off completely so that you can relax and conserve your mental energy. I know it might sound a little weird, but it’s true. I’m sure you know people in your life that are so passionate or committed to something that they never “turn it off.” It’s kind of the same idea, but the purpose is to help you conserve your mental energy so that you can spend it where it’s needed most.
Taking a shot with a bow isn’t that hard. Making a great shot is definitely harder. Making a great shot for every shot is very difficult and that’s what the mental aspect of the sport of archery is going to come down to.
I normally try to stay just on the topic of helping you out with archery, but now and then I like to go and find something completely different that will still be fun and entertaining. Well, that’s the hope anyways. So today, I’m really just pointing out a few movies that do a good job of showing people using a bow right. You’d be surprised how often you find movies or pictures that don’t do a very good job of shooting a bow and that’s just plain depressing.
Most archery movies are going to much more action oriented and I’m okay with that. The great thing about these movies is that they get people interested in archery. It’s easy to pretend that it’s not helpful or important, but to keep the sport alive and doing well we need more people to join in. Luckily, archery is something that anybody can do at almost every age.
Without more jabbering, here’s some of my favorite archery movies, or groups of movies really. All the links go to Amazon so you can read all the reviews there.
Great Archery Movies
Brave – This is an animated movie about a princess who makes a huge mess of things and just happens to be a really great shot.
Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves (Extended Cut) – A gritty remake of the classic tale of Robin Hood and the challenges he has to overcome to defend the people that he’s supposed to protect.
The Hunger Games – There are two movies out now, but it is going to be a trilogy made up of 4 movies. One of the great parts of this movie is that an Olympic archer was the trainer for Jennifer Lawrence so she actually has very good form and does a good job acting the part.
Marvel’s The Avengers – The character Hawkeye might have some fancy gadgets on all his arrows, but he’s an excellent shot and gives you some fun ideas about archery. Not to mention, he’s got a pretty cool code name.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – I know that there’s more than one movie out now and I thought about linking to the set, but this one movie has more interactions for you. I prefer watching series of movies and this is the second one. I think you’ll like it.
There’s always more movies out there and each one of them is going to come down to taste and personal preference. Luckily, this is my spot where I get to stand out in front of you and shout out random loud noises such as, “This is the best thing ever!” So please take all these recommendations as suggestions.
The links go to Amazon so you can check them out for yourself. If you do decide to make a purchase through there, I will make a small commission. It won’t cost you anything different and it will go to helping make this site better for you.
– You need to be able to see with great clarity and these rugged binoculars are just the answer. They’re tough, small enough to take with you, and the two different models will offer great crystal clear vision to help you get an up close look from a distance. You can find them for $75 and up
– The multi tool is an essential tool for a compact and easily carried tool that you can take with you so that you’ll have all the things you might need to work on your bow when you’re away from home or out in the field. The real avid bow smith is around $35.
– This is a top of the line archery block target. An archery can always use another target to go practice on. This one can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. It’s able to handle bow speeds up to 400 fps which is higher than many compound bows. It’s a great gift for about $55.
– This sterling silver necklace makes a great gift. It’s made with sterling silver and cubic zirconium stones that make it look like a professional work of art. An excellent gift that can have different meanings for the one that you care about. Priced around $45.
– This handheld GPS device can make being out in nature a better experience. You can load different maps and use the tracking feature to make sure that you know exactly where you’ve been and how to get back. The 64 also boasts an increased memory from earlier models. Priced at $250 and up depending on what you want.
– Be able to see where you are with this bright flashlight from Smith and Wesson. It has 10 white LEDs and 3 Red so you can see brightly or in low light situations. The flashlight is made for a battery life of up to 60 hrs. The metal housing protects the flashlight and keeps it working when you need it. Priced around $30.
– For the hunter out there. Being able to deal with an animal after it’s been harvested is extremely important. This 12 piece set will give you everything you’ll need to process the animal as efficiently and effectively as possible. The knives are made of hardened stainless steel and a rubberized handle keeps you grip secure. Priced around $60.
– For the traditional archery fan or anyone looking to build a traditional bow, this is the book to get. There are 3 books in the set and all three are extremely good, but the first book is the one not to miss out on. There’s a lot of information, how to, and history in this book and you can look at the series if you want even more information. Priced around $15 for just this book and around $55 for all three together.
– This game camera gives you great 10 megapixel shots and uses a “black infared” system that keeps your game camera stealthy and able to be triggered from up to 100 ft depending on the configuration. You can use the burst mode to get multiple shots at a time or have video be triggered to record in HD instead. Priced near $130.
– The best stocking stuffer for anyone who shoots arrows. You’ll find that many arrows get stuck in target and it takes a little extra help to get them out. This arrow puller is the answer for you. It makes it very easy to grip the arrow and holds onto the arrow very well. It’s made of natural rubber and is priced around $9.
– This is an animated movie about a princess who makes a huge mess of things and just happens to be a really great shot.
– A gritty remake of the classic tale of Robin Hood and the challenges he has to overcome to defend the people that he’s supposed to protect.
– The Lord of the Rings is a great trilogy that is both epic and exciting. If you focus on the archery, it’s actually pretty good. You can be a very fast shot and indeed many archers in the past had to be fast.
– There are two movies out now, but it is going to be a trilogy made up of 4 movies. One of the great parts of this movie is that an Olympic archer was the trainer for Jennifer Lawrence so she actually has very good form and does a good job acting the part.
– The character Hawkeye might have some fancy gadgets on all his arrows, but he’s an excellent shot and gives you some fun ideas about archery. Not to mention, he’s got a pretty cool code name.
– I know that there’s more than one movie out now and I thought about linking to the set, but this one movie has more interactions for you. I prefer watching series of movies and this is the second one. I think you’ll like it.