Get your body ready for bow hunting
Posted: August 5, 2015
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Tune up your body to jumpstart an injury-free bow hunting season. Start you fitness pre-conditioning before you sight-in your bow.[/caption]
Tuning up your bow can give you a jump on preparing for bow hunting. Tuning up your body can jumpstart an injury-free bow hunting season.
If you're an avid bow hunter, fitness pre-conditioning for hunting season should start before you sight-in your bow.
Bow-sighting usually requires practice time that can cause shoulder aches and pains. Counteract this by understanding some body mechanics and adding shoulder stretches and strengthening exercises to your fitness routine.
Arms, shoulders and legs make the shot
To draw a bow, one arm is your bow arm and the other is your draw arm. If you're right-handed, the bow arm is your left arm. When practicing your shot, your focus needs to be on both arms and your feet.Stance
Your feet should be shoulder-width apart with your foot on the bow arm side, slightly forward. This stance should feel comfortable and balanced.Draw
With your bow arm, raise the bow until it's parallel with the ground. Draw back the bow in a smooth continuous manner, while simultaneously pushing your bow arm forward. Using your back muscles to draw back the bow will put less stress on your forearm and biceps. When drawing a bow, your draw arm activates your:- Rotator cuff - muscles and tendons protecting the shoulder joint
- Biceps - front upper arm muscles
- Deltoids - shoulder muscles
- Trapezius, latissimus dorsi and rhomboids - back muscles