We live in a world where everything has become virtual. Even, sports! But bow hunting is a genre where you get to develop your physical activities as well as mental. This will eventually help you to improve your cognitive and physical health, which is a prerequisite to live a healthy life.
But the question arises how do you get into that? Is it difficult? To be honest, it might be difficult but considering the millions of people who do bowing on a regular basis and the fun aspect of it, it is evident that you will not find it boring! At first, let us understand the basics of bowhunting.
The basics of bowhunting: Essentials!
Categories of Bows
There are different types of bows available in the market. Depending on your need and skill set you can choose any of them. These are compound bow, crossbow, recurve bow, longbow and so on. Of course, there are other types of bow. But for the beginners, having knowledge about these four prominent types of bows are enough. For now, Let’s get deep into all of the four types of bows.
Compound bow
It is one of the latest invented bows in the market. Many experts like this bow because of its precision and speed. It is also used for shooting competitions and destination shooting.
It is usually constructed with cables and cams for its functionality. The cams make the limb of the bow more rigid which gives it enormous power and accuracy. By this, the bow’s can mitigate itself against the moisture and inversion.
Another important aspect of a compound bow is its let-offs. There are bows that can let-off seventy to eighty percent of once the archer pull-offs full draws. So, this bow is quite useful and becoming increasingly popular every day.
Crossbow
Crossbow is an old-fashioned bow which is usually made of wood. Generations of the archers have used crossbow with satisfaction. The bowstring of a crossbow generally needs to be pulled back with fingers and back muscles which requires the archer to be more fit and strong.
In the United States of America, all the states permit the use of a crossbow other than Oregon. There are a lot of similarities between a recurve bow and a crossbow. But the crossbows are usually a bit smaller which gives the archer an easiness to use it.
So, with a little practice, you can master the art quickly. A few moments of practice with the crossbow can be equivalent to other bows available on the market. Crossbows bows are great for the people who are just starting out and have some sort of limitations.
Recurve bow
Recurve bow is a type of bow, in which the limb curves when the bowman unstrung. It usually can store a lot of energy and deliver it during the shooting compared to the other bows which have straight limbs. These types of bows are easily distinguishable by their looks and the producer puts a lot of effort to make the bow function strongly.
The construction materials are very durable and they use advanced materials to make them. You will see layers of fiberglass, aluminum or wood in the construction of recurve bow. Sometimes crossbows may make some noise during the shooting because of its curve limbs.
It’s a modern bow which is used in the Olympics and other competitions. So, this is a wonderful bow to get started with. Check our post on bow quiver to learn more about it.
Longbow
As the name suggests, the bow is very long. The height of the bow almost equivalent to the height of the archer which enables the crossbowman to form a long draw. A longbow is not remarkably recurved. It only curves when the twine is connected. The construction of a longbow is pretty simple as it can be made from a single timber.
However, any wood cannot be used to produce longbows, you need a piece of wood which has less dryness and is flexible in nature. For the amateurs, it might take about 10-20 hours, while a pro bower can do it within hours. Longbow has a long history of use.
Even today pro hunters find it fascinating to use as the accuracy and strength of the bow is remarkable.
Parts of The Bow
In this section, we would take a deep look into the typical parts of a bow. Although the functionality of those parts may slightly vary from bow to bow, the use of those parts is universal in nature. You need to remember these parts religiously because often a time you would hear the experts talk about it.
So, when you are getting instructions or information, you would be able to understand and imply it. With regular use, you would be able to remember those. The usual parts of bows are the riser, the limbs, the bowstring, the nock point, and the bow sight and so on.
The Riser
The riser is that part of the bow which you hold during the shooting. It is in the center which is also the grip or handle of the crossbow. Most of the risers are made of aluminum or carbon. The risers which are made of carbon are lighter and more durable.
If you get a riser which is made of carbon, you are more likely to get a warm feeling. There are different parts of the bow which are directly connected with the riser. The riser is in the core of a bow which is also the most functional part of the bow.
The limbs
The limbs are joined with the riser of the bow which creates a bow’s cam conformity. Bow limbs are the uppermost and lower part of the bow. It is subject to flexibility and when a bow is drawn back it helps to gather energy and capable of releasing the energy to the arrow when the arrow is released.
In modern times, the majority of the limbs are made of fiberglasses. There are bow limbs which are single shaped at the end, there are other types of bow limbs that are split at the of the limb. Bow limbs are usually thick and strong enough to handle the pressure when an arrow is drawn back and when an arrow is released from the bow.
The Bowstring
The bowstring is the string that a crossbowman uses in order to pull back the back and release the arrows for shooting. There are different types of bowstring available on the market but you are more likely to get one with the bow. The present-day bowstrings are manufactured from DYNEEMA or materials of that quality which gives the bowstring the strength, durability, and flexibility it needed to function.
The Nock Point
The nock point is the spot where you put an end of the arrow which needs to be at a similar position for smoother and easy shooting experience.
The bow sight
The bow sight needs to be adjusted for a perfect sight; the sight enables the archer to point at the target. In most of the cases, the bow comes with sight. However, if you want an upgrade, it is highly possible. You would always find the sight joined with the riser.
Types of Bow You Should Use
To all honesty, we cannot recommend a single type of bow for you. Just go through about the bows in detail and choose one. It is always better to have friends who are also interested in archery because information sharing becomes easier.
Types of Arrows
There are different types of arrows available in the market. Figuring out the best types of arrows depends on your needs and budget. In the following section, we would be talking about three types of arrows.
Aluminum Arrows: Aluminum arrows are great for amateurs. It can be used from almost all types of bows.
Carbon Arrows: These are of the top qualities and highly popular amongst the hunters.
Wood Arrows: Wood arrows are the grandparents of all arrows. In ancient times, people used to use self-made wooden arrows. If you are interested you can also make your own arrows. For a recurve bow a wooden bow is the perfect fit. However, you might want to avoid using the wooden arrows in compound bows because of the delicateness of the arrow.
How to shoot with a bow:
Now that you know about the different types of bows, arrows and the different parts of bows let’s see how you can shoot a bow:
You need to remember 4 basics things in order to practice bowhunting; The stance, Nocking, Aiming, Drawing, and Release.
Stance
You need to stand properly for the best shooting experience. First of all, stand laterally to the prey or destination and make sure that your hands and shoulders are symmetric towards the target. You should control the urge to bend forward/ backward when you will pull back the arrow.
At the same time make sure that only your arms are moving nothing else during the shooting.
Aiming
Aiming is very crucial for getting the desired result. You should always make sure that the target is clear and you have an image on your head about the arrows reaching the target. If your stand is correct most probably your aiming is also right.
Also, while drawing back the arrows, look right down the arrow and align the point you want to reach. This might take a while to reach perfection but with a bit of regular practice, you can easily install it in your muscle memory.
Drawing
At first use your index, middle and ring finger upon the string and put your index finger over the nock and middle and ring finger below the nock. Make sure that your arms are upright and now draw back the arrows. You will naturally get the vibe of the full-drawn.
Release
Once you have achieved the full-drawn and your aim is clear, gradually relax your muscles of the fingers and let go of the arrow. BRAVO!
Final Words
I believe You have a complete picture of the basics of archery. The more you get into the archery sports the more you would learn and realize that there are a lot to learn. The best way to figure out is by actually getting a bow and by using it. Try to understand your strengths. Just remember your successes of the past.
You have definitely accomplished some remarkable things in your life. You can also learn archery and be the best in the business. Educate yourself about archery and in no time, you would be teaching it to the amateurs.
Nothing in this world would make you happier when you would be teaching archery to your kids. Happy Hunting!
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