When you don't practice enough ....
Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 2:24 pm
3 years ago I had surgery on the rotator cuff of my right shoulder. I wrote about my first bow hunt after recovering from that surgery.
Last year I had the same surgery but on my left shoulder. I was in a race against time to complete rehab and be allowed to shoot my bow again in time for my annual week-long hunt with my family - which took place last week. As from mid-March I was allowed to start shooting my bow. Work and other commitments did not allow me to get to the range in the last month so I practised almost daily - 6-9 arrows at 20m. That went well. I would hit the 2-inch dot consistently.
Naturally I was worried about not having practised the longer shots which I would more likely be faced with on W&S. I decided to take my .243 along to the farm. I planned to hunt with the .243 for the first 3 days of our trip and practise with my bow at lunch time or late in the afternoon. I would then hunt with my bow for the remaining 4 days after I was confident out to 40m (although 35m is my personal maximum at which I take shots at game).
Unfortunately, it became clear that I had not put in enough hours prior to the trip. During my practise sessions at the farm I would shoot 9-12 arrows per session and I could feel my muscles tiring. My shooting was not consistent enough for hunting game: 2 shots hitting a 4" bull at 40m then a total flier. Similar results at closer distances except at 20m where I was consistent. I lost confidence after missing the butt completely on 3 occassions and decided that it would be too risky to go out hunting with the bow. It was really frustrating because I got within 35m of a number of animals that I believe I would have been able to take with my bow had I practised enough.
The .243 had to do the work which was still enjoyable. But as we all know, there is something extra intensely satisfying about taking an animal on foot with your bow.
Last year I had the same surgery but on my left shoulder. I was in a race against time to complete rehab and be allowed to shoot my bow again in time for my annual week-long hunt with my family - which took place last week. As from mid-March I was allowed to start shooting my bow. Work and other commitments did not allow me to get to the range in the last month so I practised almost daily - 6-9 arrows at 20m. That went well. I would hit the 2-inch dot consistently.
Naturally I was worried about not having practised the longer shots which I would more likely be faced with on W&S. I decided to take my .243 along to the farm. I planned to hunt with the .243 for the first 3 days of our trip and practise with my bow at lunch time or late in the afternoon. I would then hunt with my bow for the remaining 4 days after I was confident out to 40m (although 35m is my personal maximum at which I take shots at game).
Unfortunately, it became clear that I had not put in enough hours prior to the trip. During my practise sessions at the farm I would shoot 9-12 arrows per session and I could feel my muscles tiring. My shooting was not consistent enough for hunting game: 2 shots hitting a 4" bull at 40m then a total flier. Similar results at closer distances except at 20m where I was consistent. I lost confidence after missing the butt completely on 3 occassions and decided that it would be too risky to go out hunting with the bow. It was really frustrating because I got within 35m of a number of animals that I believe I would have been able to take with my bow had I practised enough.
The .243 had to do the work which was still enjoyable. But as we all know, there is something extra intensely satisfying about taking an animal on foot with your bow.
Ek se mos, "fair chase" is nie maklik nie.