INSIDE CORNERS

Yeah, I know…another baseball analogy. But have you ever paid attention to
a baseball player and how he runs the bases when he’s going for that extra
base? If he is going from first to third on a hit, he will touch second
base on the inside corner. Why?...because the shortest distance between
first and third base involves the runner touching the inside corner of
second base. This route gets the runner to third base in the quickest
manner.

There are inside corners in hunting too and deer use them in the exact same
manner as our base runner.
My illustration below is behind my house. We have a piece of woods with a
field cut into it and a road running to the north and east of the property.

Deer are basically lazy creatures and to get from one point to the next
they will use a route that is the most direct, has the least resistance,
but still offers adequate cover. The shortest distance between points A and
B involves the deer touching the inside corner of the field. Sound familiar
to our base runner?

You must pay special attention to the wind when hunting inside corners.
Ideally, this spot should be hunted with a north wind and the hunter should
approach the stand site (“S”) from the south by cutting across the field.
The stand should be placed on the downwind side of any trails cutting the
inside corner.

You can’t see it from this aerial photo but just to the north of the deer
trail the ground slopes very steeply down to the road. Since the deer avoid
the road and prefer not to climb the steep hill, I have a nearly perfect
funnel situation. I even drive my truck into the field and park it about
200 yards from the corner so that the deer won’t cut across the field
behind me.





Inside corners can be hotspots. And while you may not see much deer sign in
these locations, you can be assured that deer are passing through. These
are especially good spots during the rut when bucks are cruising all day
looking for does.

And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.

TOPO MAP 101

Reading a topographical map can be confusing, But, by identifying a few
basic terrain terrains features and understanding how deer use those
features you can quickly find some good hunting locations without leaving
your kitchen table.
Contour lines on a topo map show different elevations. On a standard 7.5
minute series topo map, the lines are spaced at 10 foot intervals….the
closer the lines the steeper the terrain.
To assist you in getting a better understanding of a flat topo map, I’d
like to introduce you to a 3D topo map that you can take anywhere. Make a
fist and cock your wrist like you’re looking at your watch. Now follow
along.

A (Hilltop) – The most easily identifiable terrain feature on a topo map.
Excellent points of reference for orienteering oneself in the field. On
your 3D topo map, each of your knuckles represents a hilltop.
B (Ridge) – Formed by a series of adjoined hilltops. Whitetails love
ridges. Look for bucks to bed about two-thirds of the way up. Pay attention
to morning and evening thermals when hunting sides of ridges. Your line of
knuckles form a ridge.
C (Saddle) - The area between two adjoining hilltops. They are lower in
elevation than the hilltops and can serve as a travel route for deer to get
from one side of the ridge to the other. This is the area between two
knuckles.
D (Incline/Decline) - The closer the contour lines are to each other on the
topo map, the steeper the terrain. This information can be invaluable for
determining easy travel routes to and from a hunting location. On the map
below, notice how steep that hill is coming down to the lake from the
north. The area on the back of your hand going from your knuckles to your
watch is a good example of a steep hill.
E (Draw) – A slightly depressed and elongated terrain feature that usually
comes up from a low area to a saddle between two hilltops. Deer will use
draws as travel routes to get on the ridge in the morning to bed and off
the ridge in the evening to feed. This is the crease between your fingers
that points to the area between your knuckles.
F (Spur or Point) – A slightly elevated and elongated terrain feature that
usually goes down from a hilltop to a low-lying area. Bucks especially will
use spurs as bedding areas. This is the back of your finger that runs down
from your knuckle.



Combine a topo map with an aerial photo (all available for free online) and
you have a potent combination of hunting tools at your disposal for quickly
finding hot ambush sites.

And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.

DEFINITIONS

Definitions for common archery and hunting terms….sort of.

ARCHERY – a primitive hunting method conducted in the early fall by rifle
hunters who are tired of freezing their butts off in November.

DEER STAND – an elevated napping location.

DRAG ROPE – an important hunting article usually remembered when standing
over a downed deer five miles from the nearest road.

KNIFE – see Drag Rope.

BROADHEAD – an efficient instrument used to accidentally cut bow strings as
you get settled in your stand.

FLASHLIGHT (OR HEADLAMP) – one of the many items you drop as you climb into
your tree stand in the early morning darkness.

WIND DIRECTION – something which changes immediately after you’ve gotten
into your stand. Usually ignored until the next time you are on the ground.

ARROW TRAJECTORY – a calculation made by the bored archery hunter as he
stares down that loud-mouthed squirrel in the other tree.

DEER BLIND – usually the kind of deer I get.

BLAZE ORANGE – the first thing you see in another tree about 100 yards away
at daylight.

ELK BUGLE (OR TURKEY YELP) – the sound one makes when a pine tree decides
to release its load of snow down your neck.

RUB (OR SCRAPE) – what you must do to your eyes to wake up at 3 AM.

SCOUTING – a reason to get away from the house during late summer.

SNORT (OR WHEEZE) – what you sound like halfway up the mountain.

HEART/LUNG SHOT – what you feel halfway up the mountain

RELEASE – what your hunting partner just did to that branch that knocked
off your hat and broke your glasses.

NOISE DISCIPLINE – what you’re trying to do as you get out and open your
lunch sack. This also applies when you’re trying to open those little hand
warmer thingys that come in very noisy plastic wrap.


And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.

THE RESET

I love baseball. It’s great to settle down in front of the television to
watch a major league baseball game…especially if the Phillies are doing
well. But to many people, baseball is boring. They think all baseball
involves is pitch the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball,
etc. But there are many little things going on within the game that make it
interesting.

One of the things I enjoy watching are the rituals that some hitters go
through before they are ready to receive a pitch. They go through all kinds
of manipulations with the dirt, the bat, their batting gloves, their
helmet, everything. AND THEN….most back out of the box and do it all
again….after each pitch!!!!

However, what these professional baseball players are doing is nothing less
than what we should be doing as archers. In reality, they are adjusting to
the right stance, getting the proper body alignment, achieving the correct
grip, and mentally preparing for the next pitch.

After that arrow is gone and we’ve followed through properly (see blog
entry from 12/7), our body is not in the proper position to immediately
shoot another arrow. While our stance should not change, our posture needs
to be reset, the next arrow needs to be reset, our bow needs to be reset,
our grip needs to be reset, our string hand needs to be reset, and most
importantly, our mind must be reset.

I’m not saying to back completely off the line and start all over but
everyone should have a pre-shot routine that they go through before
shooting every arrow!!! At a minimum, that ritual should include a mental
check list of the following…

Stance and body posture
Nocking the arrow and hook the release
Grip the bow and bring it into position
Slow Draw and anchor the string hand
Aim! Aim! Aim!
Release
Follow through

AND THEN….RESET…and do it all over again.

If you develop a pre-shot routine, the process of repetition will soon
train your body. You will find that you no longer have to really think
about it and that your body will tell you when something isn’t right. And
listen to your body. If something just doesn’t feel right, let down, and
RESET.

And just like the major league baseball player, don’t dwell on what’s
already happened. You can’t get that bad shot back any more than a batter
can get that strike back.

And RESET your mind to focus COMPLETELY on the next shot. And by that, I
mean FOCUS ONLY ON AIMING when you come to full draw.

Remember…we don’t shoot three arrows at a time when practicing…we shoot one
at a time.

And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.

MY CHRISTMAS WISH

Well, it’s Christmas time again. And you know what that means….some people
are freaking out!!

There are gifts to wrap, cards to send, decorations to put up, a tree to
find, cookies to bake, stockings to hang, a meal to prepare, travel
arrangements to make, plays to attend, parties to plan….the list never
seems to end.

And since these people see absolutely no way of everything getting done by
Christmas, they start to get that look in their eyes that if they get one
more thing piled on top of them, they will collapse like a house of cards.
They are on the edge of being devoured by the holidays and the joy of the
season escapes them.

They don’t see the blessings they get by giving to others.
They can’t understand the happiness a card brings to a friend.
They miss out on seeing how colorful lights transform a simple house into a
magical place.
They fail to appreciate the excitement a Christmas tree brings to a child.
They are unable to smell the friendly warmth of baking cookies.
They can’t see the look of awe on faces around the table when Christmas
dinner is served.
They don’t comprehend the anticipation loved ones feel as they pull up in
the driveway.
They won’t recognize the delight a child has when on stage…and mom and dad
are in the audience.
They aren’t aware of the fellowship shared at simple gatherings.

Please don’t let the seemingly endless list of things to do take away from
the Christmas season this year. My wish is that everyone will take time out
to enjoy the decorations, the food, the family, and the beautiful spirit
that IS Christmas.

And what does all this have to do with archery? Absolutely nothing. Merry
Christmas everyone!!!

Subscribe to my instructional archery videos at www.youtube.com\user\archery64

FOLLOW THROUGH

FOLLOW THROUGH

One of the most under-rated and ignored aspects of archery shooting is the
follow through after the arrow has been released. There is a lot of
emphasis put on the pre-release phase of archery but the post-release phase
is just as important.

On a bow shooting 300 feet per second (fps), it only takes a 30 inch arrow
about .0083 seconds to clear the bow on release. That is literally less
time than the blink of an eye.

Now I know what you’re thinking…how important can follow through be if the
arrow clears my bow before I can even react to the release?

The truth is, the arrow clears the bow so quickly that it is physically
impossible to affect the shot between the time of release and when the
arrow is free of the bow. Humans can not react that quickly.

However, if your body is doing other things BEFORE the release and those
things continue THROUGH the release, the accuracy of your shot WILL be
affected.

Here are some of the things you could be doing DURING the release that
could affect accuracy…
Peeking up over your peep sight to check out your shot
Lowering your bow arm
Gripping the bow
Following the arrow with your eyes instead of keeping focused on the target

So what good does proper follow through do? If you do not get in the habit
of following through by keeping your entire body in the proper “hold”
position AFTER release, it won’t be long before any movements start
happening BEFORE release. When that happens, you will not hit what you’re
aiming at.

Now, you will not be able to hold your body perfectly still after release
but here are the two things you must try to do in your follow through…
Keep you eyes on the spot you are aiming at
Keep your pin sight on the spot you are aiming at

This should be done at least until your arrow hits the target. On a bow
that shoots 300 fps, it will only take .20 seconds for your arrow to hit
the target at 20 yards.

Follow through is a very important part of archery shooting. Ignore it, and
you’ll find yourself scratching your head wondering what you’re doing
wrong.

AND NOW THE NEWS

Actual hunting headlines from around the country in 2010…along with my
comments.

ANGRY MAN TEARS DOWN TREE STAND WITH ANOTHER HUNTER STILL IN THE STAND.
FALL LEADS TO DEATH AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES.
Must have been a good spot! I do believe it’s now completely available.

LOCAL MAN SUFFERS LETHAL WOUND AFTER BAGGING HIS BUCK. AUTOPSY SHOWS SHOT
BY ANOTHER HUNTER.
I can’t make a snide comment about this one. It’s just too sad.

HUNTER GETS LOST IN FOG ON MOUNTAIN. CALLS 9-1-1 FOR RESCUE.
He shoulda pressed his key thingy to make his car honk….like in the
commercial. Duh!

POACHING SUSPECT SHOOTS AND KILLS GAME COMMISSION OFFICER DURING ARREST.
I hope this guy enjoys spending a lot of quality time with his prison
“buddies”.

POSSIBLE STATE RECORD BLACKBEAR TAKEN WITH CROSSBOW IN PENNSYLVANIA. BEAR’S
NAME WAS “BOZO” AND WAS FED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS.
‘Nuf said.

FORMER CONVICTED FELON ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS AND KILLS FRIEND WHILE TURKEY
HUNTING. SUSPECT WAS NOT PERMITTED TO LEGALLY POSSES A FIREARM.
“Oops….my bad. The last time I was in prison I remember getting one phone
call…is that still in effect?”

80 YEAR OLD WOMAN STILL ENJOYS HUNTING WHITETAILS.
One day the authorities will be hunting for her.

LOST OREGON HUNTER SURVIVES FOR FOUR DAYS ON BEEF JERKY.
C’mon! Really?? He couldn’t shoot his own food to survive?