Pros Advise Archers to Hone Skills
High-tech bows capable of shooting an arrow at blazing speed with considerable accuracy, and hunting clothing designed to mask the human appearance, provide the modern bow hunter with significant tools in the pursuit of deer.
But with less than a month before the start of the state's six-week whitetail deer archery season on Monday, October 13, archery professionals said good equipment provides few advantages if archers fail to tune up their bows and shooting skills prior to the start of the hunting season, and if they don't have adequate safety equipment.
Most of the Island's more than 200 archers hunt with compound bows made of high-tech materials that use a system of wheels and pulleys to substantially increase the speed of the arrow while decreasing the amount of strength needed to hold the bow at full draw. Some archers favor a traditional recurve bow, not substantially different from the type used hundreds of years ago, made with modern laminated hardwood. All require annual maintenance.
Chris Reedy, owner of Reedy's Archery Shop off Route 495 in Middleboro, a popular stop for Island archers, said it is very important that people carefully check their bows.
"People can get hurt if strings are unsafe," said Mr. Reedy.
Over time, strings can begin to fray. One stress point is where the arrow meets the string at the nock, a small metal clip that holds the arrow in place. Mr. Reedy said the string may appear fine, but constant bending can create a weak point.
Depending on the type, a bow string can cost between $20 and $70. Mr. Reedy advises archers to change their bow string every two years. Given the stress a modern bow exerts on a string, he said, and what can happen if it breaks while under pressure, the money is a worthwhile investment.
Mr. Reedy thinks improvements in archery gear are helping the sport. "People are getting better and better," he said.
Archers can start preparing for the season by checking all their equipment. One item often forgotten is a drop line that is used for hoisting a bow up into a tree stand. Another is a safety belt. Stories of hunters severely hurt after falling from tree stands are not uncommon.
Good archers who take the time to practice have little respect for poor archers. Mr. Reedy, who maintains an indoor range at his shop, said that is because everybody can be a good archer.
"There is no reason why somebody cannot shoot a bow good enough to kill a deer and keep a nice group. But guys go out and they borrow bows, and borrow arrows, and it is not set up for them and they go hunting," he said.
"I do not think it is respectful of the animal, or fair."
He said a reasonable test of shooting competency is the ability to place three arrows in the kill zone of a 3-D deer target, an area the size of a pie plate, at a distance of 20 yards. If they cannot, said Mr. Reedy, there is something wrong with their bow or shooting technique and they need to start over.
Mr. Reedy said he knows Island customers often have to time visits around the boat schedule and he will do everything to accommodate individual requests when asked. The shop is currently offering Island customers a discount on arrows.
Despite the distance, Brian's Archery Shop located off Route 125 in Rochester, New Hampshire also has an Island following. Owner Brian Brochu said a common mistake bow hunters make is that they wait too long before preparing themselves and their equipment for the season. Days before the start of hunting season is not the time to realize there is a problem with bow noise or arrow flight, he said. "It is too much of a last minute effort. They need to be starting in June and July, not in September."
Mr. Brochu said early practice helps identify equipment problems and muscle weaknesses. He said archery is no different than any athletic sport: the body needs to be in shape.
The single biggest problem Mr. Brochu sees in his shop is a lack of bow maintenance. He said that today's high-tech bows need to be maintained and serviced on a yearly basis by a professional who is trained to recognize potential problems.
Mr. Brochu said that with less than a month to go before the start of the Massachusetts season, now is the time to begin practicing on a regular basis two or three times a week.
Unlike an archer using a compound bow, the recurve hunter has no sights or mechanical features. The hunter draws the bow string and shoots, relying on instinctive skills, built by constant practice, to hit the mark.
The best modern compound bows can propel an arrow at more than 300 feet per second. An arrow leaving a recurve might travel between 180 and 220 feet per second.
On Saturday Tom Taylor of Edgartown leaves for Alaska to hunt Kodiak brown bear with a recurve bow. An experienced hunter, Mr. Taylor said shot placement, not arrow speed and draw weight, is the absolutely most important factor in hunting success. "The key is to be accurate," said Mr. Taylor.
That takes consistent practice, not over practice. Mr. Taylor said approximately 30 arrows is a good number to shoot for a practice session. There is no benefit in shooting arrows once the body tires and concentration wanes.
"You only get one shot in most hunts," said Mr. Taylor, who recommends that hunters practice shooting from different angles and postures, including out of a tree stand.
One mistake too many archers make, said Mr. Taylor, is to shoot a bow that has been adjusted to a high draw weight. The result for an archer who has been sitting in a tree stand and is cold and stiff is often less accuracy.
Mr. Taylor stresses that an arrow does not have to be traveling at a high rate of speed to be effective as long as it hits the mark. He believes it is irresponsible for a bow hunter to wait until the beginning of the season to prepare equipment and practice shooting before heading into the woods. "I just think you should go in there prepared all the way around," said Mr. Taylor. "That is the ethical approach."
On Saturday, Island archers will have an opportunity to compete, trade tips, and get advice from other archers at the Rod and Gun Club's annual archery championship from 10 am to 5 pm.
The event is open to club members and the public and spectators are welcome. The club is located off Third Street in Edgartown.
