Tips from the Team: 3 Ways I’m Prepping for Archery Season

What’s up guys — Colton from LandTrust here. I was out at the archery range getting some reps in and figured I’d drop a few tips that help me get dialed in before the season kicks off. Whether you’re getting ready for your first big hunt or just want to stay sharp, here are three things I focus on every summer to make sure I’m ready when it counts.

1. Make Your Gear Changes Early

If you're thinking about switching something up in your setup — fletchings, arrows, front of center, whatever — do it as early as you can. The more time you have to practice with the gear you’ll actually be hunting with, the more confident and consistent you’ll be in the field.

Don’t wait until the last minute to try a new arrow or tweak your bow tuning. Get those changes dialed in now so you’re not second-guessing anything when you're at full draw this fall.

2. Shoot from Realistic Positions

Sure, it’s easy to stand upright and send a dozen perfect shots from 30 yards — but that’s not how most real-world shots happen.

I like to practice from different positions: kneeling, squatted, hunched over, even crawling. I’ve even taken a few canted shots just to see how my arrow reacts (wouldn’t recommend doing that at long range, though). The goal is to build muscle memory and adaptability so if a weird-angle shot presents itself during a stalk, I’m not thrown off. You want to be able to capitalize on any opportunity out there — and that only comes with reps.

3. Stretch Your Distance

Everyone’s setup is different, and some folks are maxed out with where their bottom pin sits. That’s totally fine. But if you’ve got a slider like I do, start backing it up.

Right now, I’m shooting out to 110 yards. No, I’m not planning on launching one that far during season — but if I can confidently hit at 110 in practice, a 40-yard shot starts to feel like a free throw for Michael Jordan.

Longer shots build confidence. If you’ve been stretching it out all summer, that 65-yard opportunity in the woods is going to feel like a chip shot.

That’s what I’ve got for now. Hope it helps as you’re getting prepped. Good luck out there — and good luck this fall!

— Colton Dombroski
Head of Landowner Operations

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