mazzgolf Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 I tell myself to do this every year - and I half-heartedly do it. I did practice with my balaclava and warm-weather gloves on... but its so hot during the summer and early fall, I can't put everything on and practice... I'd melt in the heat. Was so confident with my bow 20 yards and in... and then.... it bit me this morning. Heavy coat on, cold weather glomits on - everything felt different and I couldn't get my anchor points right - complete miss, high. I hate myself. I get so few chances - and when I finally get a deer broadside at a comfortable 20 yard distance - that happens. Now all confidence is lost - I need to hit the range soon and figure this out. How do you all get ready for shooting in this cold weather? I'm thinking of not wearing heavy gloves, just use thin gloves and use a handwarmer around the waist to keep the hands warm until the moment of truth. The heavy coat wasn't that much of the problem - but the cold-weather glomits with the balaclava just screwed me up.
Bucndoe Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 (edited) Shooting hand/trigger finger is never heavily gloved. Most times never gloved at all. Waist worn muff with hands in it. Or, buy a crossbow Edited November 8, 2019 by Bucndoe MGHunter66, MZ7Extreme, SPEARFISH and 2 others 1 4 There is nothing more intolerant than a liberal preaching tolerance God gives the toughest battles to his strongest soldiers "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy."
Slayer1962 Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 Ditto on the hand warmer around the waist. I pull face mask down if i know a deer is coming in . I agree with you that i would pass out practicing with heavy gear on but now is the time for a few shots. Yes it sucks when you spend countless hours preparing and miss. we have all been there so hang in there Lphunsjr, thefirstndsecond and dlist777 1 2
Psehunter Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 I don't practice in my heavy gear but as soon as I get in my stand I always draw back and aim at a tree or rock or something a few times to make sure I'm comfortable and if not I make quick adjustments. Hunter99 1
not on the rug Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 Thin gloves and a handwarmer around my waist with some chemical hand warmers. Warm hat that covers my ears, but as soon as I see deer coming, I push the hat up off of my ear so I can anchor my knuckle behind my ear properly. Nothing else on my face except for a beard. I don't use a balaclava, but if I did I'd be sure to practice with it all year long. I know that even as my beard gets thicker and heavier, it makes finding my anchor ppints more difficult, so I practice constantly
MZ7Extreme Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 I never shoot with gloves on... before I get down I draw my bow back a few times to get the feel of shooting with everything on and that my anchor points are good.
mazzgolf Posted November 8, 2019 Author Posted November 8, 2019 It's a good thing I didn't shoot at anything other than a meat-for-the-freezer deer... I would have lost sleep over this As it is, it wasn't a huge trophy or anything, so if I had to learn this lesson, glad it was like this. OK, sounds like folks aren't using thick gloves - I think that is what I'll do from now on. I did practice with thin gloves, and shot good with them, so I didn't think gloves would be a problem. But with the thicker glomits I had on, just couldn't get into a comfortable position with them. I'll bring the thin gloves and the handwarmer out with me next time. FWIW: after I shot-and-missed is when I saw the most action So it was a blessing in disguise. Deer came out of the woodwork about 15 minutes after I shot and I got to watch them play. The ones that hung around were all little, but I didn't realize all the button bucks and spikes I had in this place (this is the place where deer all but vanished the past few years when the yotes moved in - yotes are gone, deer are back! Should be good in the coming years!). Watched 2 little spikes spar with each other and heard one of them snort at the other after he lost, and I'm thinking, "Hey! Finally, I heard a deer snort at something OTHER than me!". One of this year's fawns just sat back and watched this whole thing as his older brothers wrestled... it was pretty funny. Again, nothing big here, but it was funny watching all the 0.5 and 1.5 year olds trying to play adult ssm1957 1
Greybeard Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 Practice drawing when you first get on stand. If something doesn't feel right, remove it before the shot, or don't wear it at all.
Hitemnasty Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 As long as you line the peep up with the sight and grip is right you should be able to shoot with anything on and except for heavy gloves. I always wear thin gloves. Masks no problem, heavy jacket and hats no problem. I don’t use a kisser either.
bucky Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 (edited) Quote How do you all get ready for shooting in this cold weather? I'm thinking of not wearing heavy gloves, just use thin gloves and use a handwarmer around the waist to keep the hands warm until the moment of truth. The heavy coat wasn't that much of the problem - but the cold-weather glomits with the balaclava just screwed me up. Crossbow or just take your gloves off when you see deer coming, that's what I do with gun or bow But I have missed a few over the years due to bulky clothing Edited November 8, 2019 by bucky
Livesintrees Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 I use no gloves period. No heavy face mask period. And when guys knock the Sitka gear I switched to several years ago, I remind them I never have bulky clothes. So zero issues arise regardless of time of year and clothing. Slayer1962 and bucky 2
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