Pre-Season Range Time is Essential for a Successful Season

Many modern crossbows come fully assembled and pre-sighted, with all the essential equipment and accessories to get started. Upon opening the box, it takes only minutes to get organized and start shooting. While it is recommended you review the owner’s manual or look up an online video for proper use, the convenience of not having to set up and tune the bow is a significant benefit to horizontal hunters.

However, that does not mean you can get away without practicing. Knowing your crossbow intimately helps ensure positive hunting results.

Archery is a game of good form, consistency and practice. There are shortcuts in life, but the little details you can practice often make the difference between success and heartache in the field. Before heading out to hunt, it’s crucial to understand precisely how your crossbow performs. More time at the range improves your accuracy and builds confidence in your equipment, making you a more effective and ethical hunter.

Speed and Consistency Matter

The speed and consistency of your crossbow directly impact your accuracy. Testing with a chronograph ensures you know what to expect with every shot. A consistent crossbow delivers tighter groups, minimizing the risk of errant shots. For example, a new TenPoint TX 440 I set up recently showed a bolt speed variation of just 1 foot per second over a series of five shots. That kind of shooting consistency off the rail translated into easy accuracy on my intended target.

Shooting at various ranges will also help you understand your bolt’s trajectory and how much difference there is in both flight trajectory and accuracy when shooting at 30 yards versus 50 yards.

This kind of practice isn’t just necessary — it’s enjoyable. Shooting regularly helps fine-tune your shooting technique and explore different scenarios. Whether it’s testing broadhead flight, perfecting reticle holdovers or refining your cocking method, every shot helps you become more instinctive in the field.

Dealing With Shot Noise

Crossbows aren’t silent, and in quiet conditions, animals can react well before the bolt arrives. Knowing how loud your bow is, and at what distances an animal may jump the string, is key. By testing in different conditions, you’ll learn when to take the shot and when to hold off, ensuring cleaner kills and fewer missed opportunities.

There are various smartphone apps that allow you to measure the decibel level your crossbow produces at the shot, and such data is not only interesting but provides valuable insights, such as comparing the noise of one bow to another or evaluating the effectiveness of aftermarket noise-dampening accessories added to your rig.

Keep It Level

One of the biggest concerns for consistent accuracy is holding your crossbow level. Add a level to your scope rail for a quick glance to confirm whether you are holding the bow level. Topography and vegetation can make you think you are holding a bow level when, in fact, you are leveling to objects you see.

The best way to understand the importance of holding level is to shoot your bow canted (tilted) left or right. Your shot will tend to drift in the direction the bow is leaning. The longer the shot distance, the more a canted bow throws your shot off target. It is a great learning exercise. Once you understand the importance, you will look for the level before shooting.

Shooting Aids

Don’t take it for granted that shooting off a bench is the same as a hunting situation. If you plan to use a shooting rail in a stand, make sure you practice it. Rails often don’t line up perfectly, and bad posture or slouching can mean you don’t hold the crossbow the same way.

Will you use shooting sticks, and will you be standing or sitting while hunting? Practice placing your bow on the cradle of the shooting stick without making noise. Is there clearance for the limbs on your crossbow? Knowing these things beforehand takes the guesswork out of a hunt when a big buck appears.

You also need to practice off-hand shots, both to determine your effective shooting range without a rest and to reinforce how effective using a solid shooting rest is when it comes to crossbow accuracy. Using a stable rest is always the preferred method, but there undoubtedly will be times when an off-hand shot is the only shot opportunity you’ll get, such as during a spot-and-stalk elk hunt. Knowing you can make such a shot, and having the confidence to do so when an animal steps into a small shooting window through the brush, is critical.

If your time on the range reveals that you need a shooting rest to maintain accuracy, accept that and ensure you are always prepared in the field. Know your limitations; never take a shot at an animal when you merely “hope” all will go well.

Practice Like You Hunt

Practicing like you hunt is critical. That includes wearing your camo for several shooting sessions prior to heading afield, as things such as ball caps, face masks and gloves can make things fit and feel differently, resulting in changes to how you interact with your bow. Address any issues by discovering them on the practice range ahead of time, avoiding last-minute panic or disaster on your hunt.

Likewise, if you’ll be hunting from a blind or stand, practice shooting from that position. If you’re spot-and-stalk hunting, shoot kneeling, sitting or prone. Simulating real hunting conditions helps you avoid surprises in the field.

One thing you’ll regularly encounter during your hunts but rarely deal with on the practice range is obstacles such as tree trunks, overhanging limbs, vines, etc. I enjoy shooting targets set up in tree cover or long grass. Having overhead obstacles teaches us to know and understand bolt trajectory and whether there is enough clearance to take the shot at various ranges. Place targets so an overhanging limb is half the distance to the target. Place another with obstacles close to the target. Every shot is a learning opportunity.

Time spent shooting is never wasted. The more you practice, the more intuitive your aiming, holding and trigger control become. Whether dialing-in accuracy or testing your equipment’s performance, every shot at the range builds confidence for that one shot in the field that truly matters.

Crossbows can provide advantages over vertical bows, but only if you know your equipment. As a compound archer, I practiced daily and loved the exercise, experience and confidence that grew with it. Crossbow hunters should approach the sport with the same dedication to know confidently where every bolt is going when the trigger is pulled.

Challenge yourself and enjoy the process. It can be hard in today’s hectic world to find the time to practice. However, our hunting time is extremely valuable, and prepping to make every opportunity count is just smart time management.

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