Short draw when cold.

Dick4bows · 08-06-2003, 03:26 PM

I was out shooting my broadheads last night and was told by my hunting partner that I was leaving a good 4 inches of arrow in front of the bow. I do use full length carbons (30" ) for the weight and only draw 27 1/2 " . After shooting for a while, my draw length seemed to grow back to 27 1/2" This is summer and if my muscles are sfiff now (At 80 degrees), what happens in winter at say 15 degrees with lots of clothes on? I can see where this could cause a miss at game. No warm up and short draw isn' t a recipe for accuracy. Maybe a stretching session before going out in the field would help? Anyone else? Dick

Lilhunter · 08-06-2003, 04:44 PM

never had a problem. Then again I am almost constantly either drawing or shooting while hunting. Been out in -40 on a moose hunt didnt shoot a moose but did have a ball on grouse. The big problem is clothing and string clearence.

IrishLad32 · 08-06-2003, 05:14 PM

I' ve heard of people rotating their shoulder while on stand, kind of like shrugging your shoulders. It doesn' t require a lot of movement and should keep you from getting too stiff.

Brandan

LBR · 08-06-2003, 06:17 PM

Practice " cold" --make the first shot count. Stay as limber as possible in the stand--draw your bow now and then if you can (I know that could spook a deer, but at least it wouldn' t recieve a bad shot). Concentrate on back tension.

Chad

Dick4bows · 08-06-2003, 06:47 PM

Chad easy to say but hard to concentrate on all of that with a buck in front of you! Good advice on drawing the bow and rotating the shoulders. I' ll give it a try. Dick

CT Bowhunter · 08-06-2003, 07:15 PM

I do little exercises with my shoulders and arms just to keep them loose. Not much visible movement. Move them back and forth, flex/unflex. Stuff just to stay lose.

LBR · 08-06-2003, 07:23 PM

Discipline Dick, discipline! Lol-guess I should have worded that more clearly--practice back tension so it comes naturally. This is one area where practicing form (which admittedly I seldom do myself) really helps. You do it enough, it will happen without concious thought.

Chad

Kip · 08-06-2003, 07:47 PM

Here' s a little tid-bit of totally useless info for you. It takes your muscles 3000 repetitions of doing the same movement to create an " imprint" on that muscle, so it does it every time without thinking about it.

So, I guess what Chad says makes alot of sense. If you practice good form when at the range, it should come naturally in the field. I think I have like, 2000 more repetitions to go.[:' (]

I know if I sit for extended periods of time in cold weather, its alot harder to shoot my bow. I guess I need to do some little exercises to keep the muscles warm as well.

seymour · 08-26-2003, 04:53 PM

If you tend to forget how to draw the bow, as many do, either in the heat or cold of the moment, just try to remember to push at the target with your bow hand and throw out your chest. The latter tactic will tend to employ your back muscles which are precisely the muscles you need to use to draw the bow properly.