1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, and now your host, 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. Hey everyone, welcome to the wire to Hunt 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: Foundations podcast, which is brought to you my first Light. 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Tony Peterson. In today's episode is all 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: about how to structure target practice sessions so that you'll 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: improve as much as possible before deer season. I know 8 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: last week I begged and I pleaded with you, find 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: folks to get your start shooting this year. I made 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: the case that you should do it now, even if 11 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: the season seems like it's really far away and there 12 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: are so many other things worth doing right now. I 13 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: hope you listened and you're at least kicking around the 14 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: idea of shooting a few airs each week or making 15 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: a monthly trip to the rifle range. Because that's good 16 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: and it put you ahead of your competition this season, 17 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: but it's not enough. There's still room for improvement in 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: time for implementation of a long game plan. I know 19 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: this isn't as exciting as sweet scouting tactics or I 20 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: don't know something that promises big dead bucks, but think 21 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: of it this way. The right shooting routine is as 22 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: good as any tactic I can tell you about. Actually, 23 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: it's honestly probably way more likely to put a buck 24 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: on your wall than any of that other stuff. For me, 25 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: it's not such a grind to get into the groove 26 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: of shooting all while thinking about white tails. This is 27 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: because I get most of my procrastination out of the 28 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: way when turkey season draws closer. Living in Minnesota, it's 29 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: just not much fun to go outside in February to 30 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: fling some arrows. I hate it. In fact, I don't know. 31 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: I must be just getting old because I hate and 32 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: cold unless there's a really really good reason to be cold, 33 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: like I don't know, the chance of a buck walking by, 34 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: or maybe the promise that a couple of roosters will 35 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: get up in front of my dogs. But talking myself 36 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: into going out into the yard to bust through snow 37 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: to shoot cold targets with cold fingers, that's hard. But 38 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: as February gives way to March and then April threatens 39 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: to show up, I forced myself to do it. Hitting 40 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: turkeys with a bow is a special skill that I 41 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: seem to only possess at random times, and in random seasons. 42 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: Some years, I'll go for for four on gobblers with 43 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: archery tackle and I'll be flying real high. Other seasons, 44 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: I'll go over four by the time I should start 45 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: breaking into my coffee and snacks on opening morning. I 46 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: guess you could say I'm consistently inconsistent, but I don't 47 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: want to be, so I force my happy ass to 48 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: go outside and get all the procrastination as the way 49 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: before turkey season. And now when turkey season ends and 50 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: I really want to focus on fishing for a while 51 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: instead of shooting targets and anticipation of the bow season, 52 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: I'm already kind of in the swing of things, so 53 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 1: it's not that hard. It's easy to get into a 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: couple of sessions a week when it really becomes a habit. 55 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 1: So that's what I do. But what about you? Did 56 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: you bow hunt turkeys this spring and force yourself to 57 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: get into some level of shooting routine. If not, did 58 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: I convince you last week to blow the dust off 59 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: your bow and get out there? I hope so. But 60 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: if not, listen again, listen to that episode, then come 61 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: back to this show, A show dedicated to shooting smarter 62 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 1: with each practice session so okay, we aren't going to 63 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: advance that fast because I'm not that good and probably 64 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: neither are you. Instead, let's think about a few things 65 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: that we can do to make us better. We can 66 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: work on now and in the weeks coming up by 67 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: focusing on first what we often do wrong with our 68 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: shooting sessions. Now, to do this, I'm going to assume 69 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: that your weapon is already sighted in. If it isn't, 70 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: do that first. Do it with your bow, Do it 71 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: with your rifle, your slug barrel, shotgun, your muzzleloader, whatever 72 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: you use to shoot deer. Take the time to make 73 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: sure that it is truly sighted in and not just 74 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: in a good enough category. Take care of that by 75 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: shooting dots, bulls eyes, bright orange stickers on your targets, 76 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: or whatever you have to in order to dial in 77 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: and understand where your accuracy is really at. Square that 78 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: away at short distances first, and then think about what 79 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: is next. And what's next should be mixed of shooting 80 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: bulls eyes and shooting targets that don't have bulls eyes 81 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: on them, while thinking about gradually increasing your shooting distance. 82 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: The first point is one that I really believe in 83 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: and I know I've said this a lot, and I've 84 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: written about it a whole bunch, but I'm going to 85 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: say it again. You need to own two targets for 86 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: archery practice. I said this last week. It's important gotta 87 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: have one with spots or diamonds or bulls eyes of 88 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: some kind, and you've gotta have one that looks like 89 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: a deer. This is because it's nice to shoot tight 90 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: groups on bulls eyes, and it's easy to shoot type 91 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: groups on bulls eyes, especially if you're stretching out your 92 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: effective shooting range. But dear don't have bulls eyes on 93 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: their sides. They just have hair and the vague definition 94 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: of muscles and bones and skeletal structure underneath. You want 95 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: to be able to aim at them as well as 96 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: you aim at a high contrast target face with super 97 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: visible aiming points. And this goes for all you gun 98 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: hunters out there as well. While your margin for error 99 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: is pretty big with a three away, bigger than it 100 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: is with a bow anyway, you still want to hit 101 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: deer in this sweet spot. Shooting paper targets that allow 102 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: you to center your cross hairs on a series of 103 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: concentric rings is great for seeing just how tight your 104 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: groups can get but even when you have a rifle 105 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: in your hands and you head out into the woods, 106 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 1: the deer won't have bulls eyes on them. Remember this 107 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: might seem like an exaggeration or that I'm collecting secret 108 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: payments from target companies, but I'm not. If you don't 109 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: believe that, do this for me. Take your chosen weapon 110 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: and just figure out how to shoot at one target 111 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 1: face that has nice colorful bulls eyes and that in 112 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: find a way to shoot at a three D target 113 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: of a deer or a photo realistic print of a 114 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: deer design for firearms. Shoot them at easy ranges, and 115 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 1: then start to back up. Pay attention to your groups 116 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: on the deer targets as you stretch out the distance 117 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: a little, Do they stay as tight as they do 118 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: on the bull's eyes? Okay, well, keep putting on a 119 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: little more distance. Eventually you'll get to a range you 120 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: might consider shooting at an animal at or maybe not, 121 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: but that your groups are different between the two targets. 122 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: This might not seem like much, but you also have 123 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: to remember that there's going to be some performance attrition 124 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: when you've got an actual buck out there in the 125 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: woods and the light is fading, and there's some twigs 126 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: hanging in your shooting lane, and it's the biggest buck 127 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 1: you've ever seen all season or all year, all your life. 128 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: And you'd really like to show your co workers a 129 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: photo of that trophy buck in your hands, that buck 130 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: you've been droning on and on and on about while 131 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: they pretended to care. This is the shot you're preparing for, 132 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: not the one that occurs at noon with tons of 133 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: sunlight while you're standing flat footed in your yard, or 134 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: snuggle up on a shooting bench with all the time 135 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: in the world and no pressure. Now, you can't really 136 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: simulate the real thing. You just can't, but you can 137 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: get a kind of close closer anyway in anticipation of 138 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: the real thing, so that if you do experience a 139 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: little bit of attrition in your cool headedness and accuracy, 140 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: you'll still do your job correctly and get to celebrate 141 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: a quick kill. This is what a couple of weekly 142 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: archery sessions or a monthly range session with your rifle 143 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: can help you do. Provided use the right targets. You 144 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: should also consider shooting in different conditions while using everything 145 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,679 Speaker 1: you might use during the hunt. Now, I say that 146 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: with a great big asterisk attached to it, because I 147 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: know that you're not likely to suit up in your 148 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: full camel. Then hang a stand in your yard to 149 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: shoot from. Very few people actually do this, especially when 150 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: it's like eighty degrees out, but if you do at 151 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: any point of the year, you have my respect on 152 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: pure commitment alone. But we don't need to go that nuts. 153 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: You should shoot at different times of the day and 154 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: in different weather conditions, though. The easiest way to make 155 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: a practice session a little more valuable is to shoot 156 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: in low light when the mosquitoes are out. This is 157 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: one of those times when you realize how big of 158 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: a difference there is between aiming at a bright orange 159 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: dot versus aiming at a bunch of brown that represents 160 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: a dear side. Low light shooting will help you diagnose 161 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: a few issues with your gear as well. For bow hunters, 162 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: this might be a peep site that is too small 163 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: or doesn't come back to the eye perfectly square. It 164 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: also might just be that your side pins suck and 165 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: don't gather as much ambient light at the times when 166 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: deer should be moving as you really need them to, 167 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: or maybe just see that your rifle scope is a 168 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: bit of a cheapie, and it really doesn't gather the 169 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: needed light for a clear shot in the gloaming. Maybe 170 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: your scope isn't a cheapie, but it's adjustable, and you 171 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: realize that while you might like to keep it set 172 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: at say, I don't know six power for most hunts, 173 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 1: when you practice in low light, you shoot better with 174 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: it backed all the way out to three. This is 175 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: really good stuff to figure out before a monster. Once 176 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: in a lifetime, Buck steps out with five minutes of 177 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: shooting light left. Low Light shooting is also a great 178 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: way to figure out where your effective range really is. 179 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: But it's not just impending darkness that should get you 180 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: out to shoot, because you should shoot in different weather 181 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: as well. I've never really had a problem hitting during 182 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: the rain, and I hunt in the rain a lot. 183 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: In fact, it's the condition I like the most in 184 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: the early the mid season, which will be a topic 185 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: for a later podcast. But it's also not a bad 186 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: idea to throw on a rain jacket and shoot when 187 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: no one else will as the skies open up. I 188 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: do this a couple of times each summer, and while 189 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: I feel like an idiot and I'm probably regarded as such, 190 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: by my neighbors. It makes me feel like I'm putting 191 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: in real effort. It also makes me keenly aware of 192 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: what rain does to my site, my peep site, so 193 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 1: that when I'm out hunting, I know I'll be fine. 194 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: I want to know that, because, as I just mentioned, 195 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: I really really like hunting in the rain. In the 196 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: wind is another story. I can tell I'm getting old 197 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: because I get mad at the window a lot. I 198 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: curse under my breath at it, and I feel a 199 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: deep revulsion build up whenever I check the weather and 200 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: see that the wind will be blowing past like I 201 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: don't know fifteen miles truly long rifle shots bring the 202 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: wind into focus real fast, but even normally acceptable shot 203 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: distances can be affected by wind. Part of this comes 204 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: from what you'd expect as far as projectiles and the 205 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: influence of cross wind, but part of it comes from 206 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: just taking you out of the game mentally a little 207 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: bit during the shot. This is something worth learning about yourself, 208 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: because if you rifle hunt enough, you'll spend time out 209 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: there in the wind even better. If you use shooting 210 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: sticks or a tripod, you get bonus points for shooting 211 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: with your actual system in the wind. That's often a 212 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: telling experience for bow hunters. Practice in the wind is 213 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: a must. This is patently obvious to Western hunters who 214 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: target meal deer antelope on the prairie, where the wind 215 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: is always hocking and the shots are often far as 216 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: or than the ones we take in the white til woods. 217 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 1: But even at close range, wind can be trouble. It 218 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: might not blow your arrow off course for a twenty 219 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: yard shot, but it might blow your bow around while 220 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: you're aiming. Uh not forget that it will blow your 221 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: bow around while you're aiming. I'll never forget. In two 222 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 1: thousand and ten, sitting on a stand as a nasty 223 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: weather front blew through northern Wisconsin, I was watching a 224 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: melanistic dough, the only one I've ever seen, and one 225 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: that I thought was a bear at first. When I 226 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: glanced to my right and so a decent eight pointer 227 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: haad in my way. I switched gears from that black 228 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: dough to focus on the buck, and when he got 229 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: within range, I drew. But as the wind blew me 230 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: and my tree and the bow around, I watched my 231 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: pin go from his ass to his nose and back. 232 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: I let down and panic, thinking I wasn't going to 233 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: get a shot, so I drew again. He walked a 234 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: little closer, and I aimed as best as I could 235 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: until I hit just a moment where everything settled down 236 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: so that I could shoot. I'm sure that window was 237 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 1: only maybe like a couple of seconds, but it was 238 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: all I needed. That encounter went my way, but it 239 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: easily could have gone in a lot of undesirable directions. 240 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: Wind sucks, but it's just something you have to live with, 241 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: so practice in it. Shoot with your quiver on and 242 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: your quiver off. Like I talked about a few episodes ago, 243 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: shoot close, and definitely shoot far. Shoot with your bow 244 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: or your rifle or your spear or probably your air 245 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: gun or whatever. But make sure you practice in the 246 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,199 Speaker 1: right conditions. I also think you should practice by standing, sitting, 247 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: and kneeling at least with a bow. Don't shoot off 248 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: hand at deer with a gun if you can help it, please. 249 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: Arrest is one of the main components to firearm accuracy, 250 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: and they are easy to have with you no matter what. 251 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: But bow hunters, on the other hand, should know how 252 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: well they shoot while standing, sitting, and kneeling. This is 253 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: easy to do during practice sessions and something that's worth 254 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: building into your routine. I tend to mix it up 255 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: with some practice sessions all spent just standing flat footed 256 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: and shooting for bull's eyes, but other times I sit 257 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: on a chair or I kneel down and it changes 258 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: the session. It also helps you figure out how to 259 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: shoot better in the positions you'll probably shoot from in 260 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,719 Speaker 1: the field at some point. Repetition and familiarity lead to confidence, 261 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: and you really want as much shooting confidence as you 262 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: can get. It's also, regardless of weapon, important to think 263 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 1: about distance as a long game thing. Shooting long ranges 264 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: all the rage and it can be good, but there 265 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: are a lot of considerations to be made. The first 266 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: is that it takes time. This is just like training 267 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: a hunting dog. If you don't spend a year or two, 268 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: which is a significant portion of a dog's life, on 269 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: obedience and foundation work, you're not going to get that 270 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: dog to the next level hunting wise. They need the 271 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: basics down before we get to the sexy stuff. Yet 272 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: we consistently try to move them to triple blind retrees 273 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: and advance hand signals as fast as possible because it's 274 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: more fun. It's also generally a really bad move, and 275 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: we'll come back to bite in the ass when you're 276 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: hunting and you have no control over your dog, or 277 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: you figure out that your hot prospect doesn't really like 278 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: dummies anymore because he's had too much early exposure to 279 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: bird wings. Take your time and don't start with a 280 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: hard stop on distance. You should make rules about how 281 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: far you would shoot in the field, but not when 282 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: you're practicing. In fact, I think everyone should try to 283 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: expand their distance at the range through consistent sessions. Shooting 284 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: a boy at like eighty yards it's pretty fun, and 285 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: he'll tell you a hell of a lot about your 286 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: setup and your form and your shot execution. The same 287 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: goes for pushing the limits of your rifle out I 288 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: don't know, four hundred, five hundred yards or more. The 289 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: process of getting really good close and then incrementally shooting 290 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: farther in a variety of conditions will make you a 291 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: well rounded killer. It will show you what your weapon 292 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: is absolutely capable of and what you are absolutely capable of. 293 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: It will tell you, in no one certain terms that 294 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: you could shoot super far but shouldn't when you're dealing 295 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: with an actual animal. And it will also make those 296 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: close shots so much easier. But again, this stuff takes time. 297 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: That's why I wanted you to start shooting last week, 298 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: and why I really want you to think about how 299 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: you'll increase your skills by the week or by the 300 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: month from here on out. So shooting highlight and shooting 301 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: low light, shooting all kinds of weather conditions, shoot close, 302 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: shoot far, and shoot all the distances in between. In fact, 303 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: that's something worth wrapping this episode up on. I know 304 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: you've heard it before, but do you actually practice that 305 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: distances that are always in increments of ten yards with 306 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: your bow or fifty yards with your gun. For bow hunters, 307 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: those middle distance shots, they're going to happen on the field, 308 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: and practicing for them matters. As I've mentioned, I'm a 309 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: single pin mover kind of guy, so I tend to 310 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: just walk to different spots, take a range, reading dial 311 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: in my sight, and then shoot. This gets me into 312 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: the mindset of having to think about exact distances and 313 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: then dialing into them before every shot. The multi pins 314 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: shooters should absolutely do this as well. If you don't 315 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: practice gap or holding your forty yard pin high or 316 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: your thirty yard pin low or whatever you're not preparing 317 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: very well for the shots you'll actually get in the field. 318 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: And for the rifle hunter, these shots help understand hold 319 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: and drop. They also get you thinking about aiming top 320 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: heart or bottom lungs or whatever precision stuff, picking a 321 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: spot type of stuff. They forced all of us to 322 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: get into the headspace where we need to be thinking 323 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: about distance, point of impact, and what we need to 324 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: do to make perfect shots. And that's really the goal 325 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: with all of this stuff, and it is a good one. 326 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: All right, my friends. We got through a bunch of 327 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: gear and shooting episodes, and next week I'm gonna talk 328 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: about something more fun, taking inventory, or more importantly, I 329 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: guess I should say, taking summer deer inventory by using 330 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: mineral salt, blocks, cameras or whatever you have available to 331 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: you and what's legal. I'm gonna cover a whole bunch 332 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: of that stuff next week, so please tune in. Well, 333 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: that's all for this week, my white tail obsessed friends. 334 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: I'm Tony Peterson and this has been the Wire to 335 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: Hunt Foundations podcast, which is brought to you by First Light. 336 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: As always, thank you so much for listening and for 337 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: supporting us. And if you want to get more white 338 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: tail content. Head on over to the meat Eator dot 339 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: com slash wired to read our latest articles, or visit 340 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: our wire to Hunt YouTube channel to see our weekly 341 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: how to videos.