It’s the time of year we in the Midwest all look forward to seeing. The snow has melted and we are thawing out from winter. There are some milder days and more daylight. Ahhhh. It’s time to take our archery outside! What considerations should we have when moving from indoor shooting to outdoor shooting?

I’ll break down what I do in a few steps.

1) Check my outdoor rig to make sure everything is as I’ve left it last year. Has the clicker moved? Is the string in good condition? What about my nocking points? Have they moved? You have kept a log of these settings…….RIGHT???

2) Recheck the tune on my bow.

3) Get physically prepared to shoot six arrow ends. This means slowly building my arrow count.

4) Verify my sight marks for field. What, you don’t shoot field??? You should. As a competitor, shooting from different angles and terrain does nothing but educate you about your shot. Plus, it’s a heck of a lot of fun. Spending a few hours in the woods on a mild Spring day is a joy.

5) After a month, or so of shooting, assess progress and ascertain what changes, if any, need to be made. As an older shooter, I pay close attention to the poundage I shoot and if it is still appropriate. Younger shooters will assess if they need to move up in draw weight. If you are contemplating shooting a longer distance, what gear changes will you need to make?

6) Evaluate all accessories. Is my rain gear in good condition? What about my scope and tripod. Still appropriate and up to snuff? What about my footwear? Early season brings lots of sloppy turf. Is my footwear still waterproof and up to the task?

Yes, Spring is here, hallelujah! Let’s get ready and revel in our sport, outside.