I usually don't start getting serious about practicing until the middle of June or so. Bear hunting opens for me the 1st of September so I better be good and ready by then. To me there's no reason for me to be shooting year round in the winter months. Yes it's good for the muscles to keep them in tip top shape, specially the Traditional shooters but starting in June is plenty early for me. I'm not into the Archery part of shooting these bows like I'm into the hunting part of shooting these bows. I enjoy 3-D shoots but there getting to be few and far between in my neighborhood. No person can ever practice too much, sometimes though the best thing a person can do is take a little breather if things are a bit frustrating when shooting.