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Bowhunting Basics for Beginners: Fire a Bow Like Katniss in Hunger Games
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Katniss Everdeen spent hours and hours a day learning the bowhunting basics for beginners and training with an Olympic archery master before she could properly shoot her bow. If you’re truly interested in learning about archery, you’re probably wondering how you can get started with this fascinating sport. As such, we’ll share with you the steps you need to take to get off to a good start and the essentials to embark on a lifetime of fun.
Image Source: www.archery360.com
Ways to Learn How to Use a Bow and Arrow
1. Join an Archery Club
Archery clubs are a great place to start out, and most clubs will help you learn how to use a bow and arrow safely. They’ll instruct you on your sighting and your stance, and teach you all the bowhunting basics for beginners.
By joining an archery club and getting to know some of the members, you will find that lots of people are willing to help you in your early stage of learning archery. Not to mention, while learning how to use your bow correctly, you are meeting like-minded people who are interested in archery. The good thing is that you can simply find an archery club by doing a local search in your area using Google.
Note: Once you have found an archery club close to you and signed up, you’re ready to start thinking about the items you must buy to help you get started.
2. Become Familiar with the Parts of a Recurve Bow
Once you understand all the parts of a recurve bow, such as the limbs, sight, string, arrow rest, and the stabilizer, it would be easier for you to follow the instructions given to you by the club members or those written on manuals. You must also make sure that you understand the function of each part.
3. Figure Out Your Eye Dominance
As similar to your hands, there is also an eye that is more dominant than the other. It is important to figure this out so that you know what to use when aiming. If you’re not sure, why not try the guide below to see what is your best-aiming eye.
Here’s what you should do:
- Have someone stand in front of you to help you discover what eye is more dominant.
- Take your right hand and aim the person’s nose, without shooting the arrow, of course.
- Do the same with your left hand.
- Now, do both hands at the same time.
- What side of your helper’s nose your aim keeps going to is your dominant eye and hand.
Tip: If you aim with your right eye, you should shoot with a left-hand bow, and if you aim with your left eye, you should shoot with a right-hand bow. Check out this video to see what we mean.
The Bow and Accessories You Should Get
When choosing your first recurve bow, you will need to make a decision that involves some several important factors. It’s often tempting to allow the cost and aesthetic appeal to sway the decision, so always focus on your goal and that is to become a great archer.
We’ve prepared a list of the best recurve bows for beginners, for every budget, so just pick one that suits your needs and wants. But to help you get started, here are a few items that you must include in your archery kit:
1. The Bow Stringer
Stringing a recurve bow without a stringer can jeopardize the straightness of the bow limbs. It protects twisting, while its non-slip rubber limb block helps depress the limb. Also, the bow stringer helps you to safely use your body weight by bending the recurve bow enough to slip the string over the limb tips.
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2. Nocking Points
You may not know what nocking points are, but they help provide a consistent place on your bowstring to nock your arrow. This is essential because they provide consistency to your shooting and helping ensure that you’re hitting your mark.
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3. Arm Guard, Protective Gloves, or Finger Tabs
Purchasing an arm guard isn’t a must, but you’ll be happy you picked one up. The arm guard is designed to protect your forearm, so the string doesn’t burn your arm during release. So, if you are new to the sport, it is recommended that you invest a few dollars in an arm guard.
Once you grasp a few proper techniques, and you learn how to position your elbow, you’ll unconsciously keep your arm, hair, and skin out of the way of the string.
Using gloves or a finger tab might not give you a better feel of and more control with the release of the arrow, but it will ensure your fingers are safe from painful blisters.
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The Right Arrow to Buy
Most sporting goods stores sell arrow sets that contain six or more pieces. When purchasing arrows, it will also be a good opportunity to buy an arrow rest, especially if your recurve bow didn’t come with it.
That being said, the most important factor to consider before buying an arrow is your draw length. That is because once you have determined what your draw length is, you will be in a position to figure out what arrow size you should be purchasing.
Draw Length
Draw length is an optimum position for your body when the bowstring is pulled out for a shot. Knowing your draw length not only gives you the benefit of knowing the arrow size, but also the bow size and the poundage to set the draw.
Don’t have a bow to try? That’s okay because you can find out your draw length by following this simple instruction:
- Stand up casually and hold your arms out to the side. Make sure not to force your arms way out.
- Let your friend or companion measure the distance, in inches, between your two hands.
- After which, divide the number by 2.5. For example, if your the measurement is 60 inches, divide it by 2.5 giving you a result of 24, and that is your draw length.
Summary
Learning bowhunting basics for beginners is crucial in becoming the archer of your dreams. By following the bits of advice we have given, you can get started. Just also remember to have a better understanding of the parts and what items to buy that you will need to establish your skills.
If you have any questions about any of the items listed above, please leave a comment below. We will be happy to help out!
About the Author Pink Crossbow
Jen loves the outdoors and enjoys exploring a wide-range of activities. A mother of 3 whose seen far too many friends suffer from cancer, she believes Pink Crossbow reflects a sport for LIFE. It's a reminder that archery belongs to everyone regardless of age, size, or gender...and real enthusiasts aren't afraid to wear pink!