Prepping for Archery Deer Camp
20 Years of Experience in Five Minutes
By: James Mckew
My camo pants are tighter than last year…way tighter.
It’s two nights before the Spring turkey season, and I’m trying on my lucky camos for the first time since deer season. The holidays have come and gone, and my gut is…larger. I suck it in but my arms are shaking, straining like I’m gripping matter and antimatter, trying to get the brass button to go inside that tiny buttonhole. Dang.
September will be here before you know it, bringing cooler temperatures, bucks in velvet, and instant coffee by lantern light. Between now and then, there’s still time to turn this tugboat around and feel good about getting in shape and perfecting that 80-yard shot.
Lesson 1: Make Friends with a Rucksack
A 2-mile walk after supper with a 20-pound sandbag in a backpack will get you going. Carry a bottle of water and listen to a hunting podcast. Don’t twist a knee trying to be a superhero, just get out there and take it nice and smooth. The time will fly. In a couple of weeks, consider increasing the weight to 30 pounds if you’re feeling up to it, but no more.
Lesson 2: Go Easy on the Bow
When it comes to archery, less is more. Instead of shooting thousands of arrows in pursuit of the perfect bullseye, back off your numbers. Start by reducing the poundage on the bow. I have a spare bow, an old Bowtech that I dearly love, and I keep the draw weight around 35-40 pounds, no more. I use this bow for the first month of shooting to get my arm in shape while I focus on good form. At the archery range, I shoot a maximum of 30 arrows per visit, twice a week. Additionally, I spend most of the summer shooting bullseye-style field targets, focusing on form and accuracy, and saving the last 2-3 weeks before opening day for 3D targets.
Lesson 3: Say Hello to No Gym Fees
No gym membership fees required for my spare bedroom. Nobody’s looking at my dad bod—just me and my 80s big-hair music—and of course, a foam exercise mat.
10 Push-ups, 10 squats, 10 step-ups (box or stepladder), 10 chair dips, 10 deep lunges
Do two sets, three times a week, and work up to five sets.
Lesson 4: Scout your success
Deer are predictable by nature. With some understanding of deer behavior and a little common sense, you should be able to nail down several locations in your hunt zone where deer are most likely to feed and rest. Use that data to plan your spot-and-stalk approach. Advanced preparation will not only save you energy for packing out the meat, but you’ll also have enough gas in the tank for the victory party afterwards.
Lesson 5: Buy Yourself Something Nice, Honey
Each year, I upgrade something in my hunting gear. One year it was camo, the next year it was binoculars. Two years ago, I upgraded my first-aid kit from Band-Aids and aspirin to treating a puncture wound and splinting a broken wrist. For me, that was a significant upgrade as I primarily hunt alone.
Bottom line, with a little dedication, you can get in shape and be ready when the big moment arrives.
Join the Mule Deer Foundation Today
Good luck this fall and remember to send any success pictures or stories from the field to [email protected] and you could be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article or any of our articles have helped you become a better hunter or conservation steward, consider becoming a member of the Mule Deer Foundation for only $35 dollars a year. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/
James McKew
James McKew is an American outdoorsman and writer who lives in Colorado. Born in Covina, California, he was transplanted to Northern Nevada in 1974 and remained there until 2013. During his time in Nevada, he worked in a missile factory, was an EMT on a volunteer ambulance, was a land surveyor, and laid sprinkler pipes with undocumented lawn specialists. James focuses on the human experience, digging deeper into why people spend time outdoors.
