Tips & Tactics: Winners Are Made in the Offseason

I still have some hunts left, but the bulk of my archery season is winding down. You guys who listen to me and read my stuff know that I am all in on being the best bowhunter I can be. I truly believe working hard at our craft equals success in the field. I talk about working on the core pillars of bowhunting including shooting, knowledge, instincts, mental toughness and fitness. Being proficient and well-versed in these gives me the confidence each fall to show up on hunts and find success. Fitness and mental toughness are a couple of the controllables we can make the biggest gains in the offseason. They go hand in hand, so if we are working on one, we are improving at both. Throughout the years, this has been one of my biggest keys to success. 

Bowhunting fitness is something I rely heavily on. I know I have put in the work and trust that my body will get me anywhere I want to go. For me, there is no buck too far or no hole I won’t go into to kill a big six-point bull. I know I can make it before dark, and I know I can cut off that moving herd to get into position. Bowhunting is a test of endurance, and you have to be able to push for hours in a day. You also have to be able to push day after day for a long hunt. You need your body to be used to putting in work and recovering when you sleep. My fitness gives me confidence in the mountains that I can give my all and my body will hold up and recover.   

Mental toughness is one of, if not the most important, trait of a consistently successful bowhunter. It all starts and ends with the mind. It’s a powerful tool that keeps you pushing for your long-term goal. It’s the grit and the determination that leads the way on a hunt and in life. The deal is mental toughness is a muscle that has to be worked out. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and test your resolve…. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE INSIDE THE DIGITAL EBJ 146 EDITION