Skip to main content

New Year's Resolutions for Bowhunters

I'm forever at a loss regarding New Year's Resolutions.  I've never smoked a cigarette, can't remember when I last drank too much, and remain physically fit with 50 quickly approaching.  So, I'm left to ponder archery deficiencies and form votives based on shortcomings there.  Here's some you might want to consider:

Conquer Target Panic: Target panic — the inability to aim precisely (freezing), rushing the shot (snap shooting), jerking at the trigger as pins sweep across target faces (trigger punching), just to offer some obvious symptoms — prevent you from shooting your best, causing easy misses afield.  It's a huge problem most refuse to admit to suffering.  Do yourself a favor this summer; hire a qualified shooting coach or buy a book addressing the ailment (I dedicate an entire 8,600-word chapter to the subject in my book "The Bowhunter's Guide To Better Shooting," Intermedia Outdoors, 2011) and get the situation under control.  You'll be a much happier archer, and kill more game this fall.

Expand Horizons: Whitetails are nifty, but there's more to bowhunting this great big country than backyard deer.  There's a world of public-lands, do-it-yourself opportunities waiting out there; from prairie pronghorn, to mountain mulies and elk, to northern black bear, or Southwest Coues whitetail and javelina.  These are all adventures you can plan and execute affordably, with just a little bit of research and gumption.  These are also subjects we'll be addressing in coming months.

Try Traditional: Most of us idolize archery icons such as Fred Bear, Glenn St. Charles and Ben Pearson (just as examples), but few follow in their hallowed footsteps.  To my mind this means occasionally leaving the high-tech, speed-demon compound outfit at home and "Hunting The Hard Way," as Howard Hill so simply put it.  I'm certainly not advocating abandoning compounds altogether, but simply taking up a recurve or longbow to expand your enjoyment of archery, a simpler mode of operation transforming even does or "management bucks" into cherished trophies instead of QDM freezer fodder.

Hunt On Your Own Terms: We've certainly strayed far from what bowhunting was once about.  Today it seems to be so odiously ego driven — collecting the biggest antlers or largest numbers.  But are you still having fun?  I certainly hope so, as that's what bowhunting is supposed to entail; respite from nasty lives filled with tedious toil.  If bowhunting tree squirrels — or rabbits, or bowfishing, or tagging "average" bucks -- makes you happy, then by all means continue.  Hunt for yourself, not your peers.

Invest In The Future: Bowhunting can make narcissists of us all.  We're all too often focused on the ultimate goal, forgetting to include youngsters, family or significant others in our passions.  Make a sincere pledge this year to introduce a friend, child or spouse to bowhunting, even if this simply means inviting them to share a pop-up blind with you during a morning turkey hunt.  I promise you'll discover a whole new world of outdoor enjoyment and satisfaction — perhaps even a lifelong hunting partner.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Bowtech's 2025 Bow Lineup

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

The Technology Behind BLOCK & GlenDel Targets

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Ripcord Arrow Rest Options for 2025

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

New Easton FMJ Max & 5.0 Arrows

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Rage Hypo 2 Broadhead

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

New Traditional Bow Additions from Bear Archery

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Trophy Ridge New-for-2025 Accessories

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Bear Archery New-for-2025 Bow Lineup

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Excalibur Mag Max Crossbow

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Rhino Low Hub Pro FD Ground Blind

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

Muzzy Deviant Bowfishing Bow

Bowhunter Editor-In-Chief Christian Berg provides an overview of TenPoint's new-for-2025 TX28 crossbow
Gear

TenPoint TX28

Bowhunter Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Bowhunter App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Bowhunter stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Bowhunter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Bowhunter stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use