Bowhunting Season Is One Month Away

August 8, 2026

Bowhunting season is almost here.

You're four or five weeks from opening day. Your bow is shooting pretty well, your gear pile is growing, and suddenly you're questioning everything.

Should you change arrows?

Try a new broadhead?

Switch releases?

Buy a new sight?

Start shooting farther?

This is exactly when bowhunters can create problems by changing too much.

In this episode of the First Generation Bowhunter Podcast, Adam Buchanan sits down with Jason to talk through what bowhunters should actually be doing during the final month before hunting season.

The goal isn't to completely rebuild your setup.

It's to build confidence in the setup you already have.

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In This Episode

Adam and Jason cover:

How to prepare one month before bowhunting season
Why every practice session should have a purpose
Shooting a few arrows every day versus marathon practice sessions
Practicing with broadheads before hunting
Why you shouldn't completely change your arrow setup
Avoiding major equipment changes before opening day
Practicing at odd distances
Shooting realistic 3D archery scenarios
Practicing while wearing your bino harness and backpack
Ranking your hunting arrows
Inspecting your bow before the season
Fixed versus expandable broadheads
Broadhead tuning
Building confidence in your hunting setup
Why expensive equipment doesn't replace practice

One Month Before Bow Season, Stop Making Major Changes

The final month before hunting season isn't the time to reinvent your archery setup.

If you've been shooting a trigger release all summer, don't suddenly switch to a hinge.

If you've been shooting 5mm arrows, don't decide you need an entirely new 4mm arrow build.

If your bow is shooting well, think carefully before installing a completely different sight.

There are adjustments you can still make.

You can paper tune your bow.

You can tighten components.

You can replace something that's actually broken.

You can fine-tune your setup.

But there's an important difference between refinement and starting over.

With only a few weeks until hunting season, familiarity becomes incredibly valuable.

Steady as she goes.

Don't Just Shoot Arrows. Practice Something.

Sending 50 arrows into a target doesn't automatically make you a better bowhunter.

Have a reason for the practice session.

Maybe today you're working on your bubble.

Maybe you're focusing on your peep alignment.

Maybe you want to improve your hold time.

Maybe there's a slight breeze and you want to understand what your arrow does in the wind.

Maybe you shoot a multi-pin slider and want to spend an entire session using your second or third pin.

Pick something.

You don't necessarily need hours at the range, either.

If you only have time for five quality arrows, shoot five quality arrows.

The important part is creating deliberate repetitions rather than simply sending carbon downrange.

Start Shooting Your Broadheads

This is one of those lessons many first-generation bowhunters learn the hard way.

Your broadheads need to be tested before hunting season.

Don't assume a broadhead will hit exactly where your field point does because the package says it "flies like a field point."

Shoot it.

Understand how it flies from your bow.

If you're using fixed blades, broadhead tuning becomes particularly important because the blades at the front of the arrow can affect flight.

Four or five weeks before the season gives you time to identify a problem and correct it without panicking the night before opening day.

Don't Completely Change Your Arrows Right Now

Can you order another dozen arrows a month before the season?

Sure.

But this probably isn't the time to completely change your arrow build.

If you've spent the summer shooting one diameter, spine, fletching configuration and overall setup, stay close to it.

Changing multiple variables means potentially changing how the bow shoots and forcing yourself to learn an entirely new setup with limited time.

Instead, get the arrows you're actually taking hunting completely dialed.

Rank Your Hunting Arrows

Just because 12 arrows came out of the same box doesn't mean you'll trust all 12 equally.

Shoot them.

Number them.

Pay attention to how they group.

Identify the arrows that consistently perform best and set aside your top hunting arrows.

These are your bangers.

You want the arrows going into your hunting quiver to be the ones you've already proven.

Look at the fletchings. Check the components. Make sure your broadheads fit correctly. Make sure everything looks and feels right.

Then continue practicing with arrows that match the same setup and flight characteristics.

Opening morning isn't the time to discover that arrow number seven has always been a little weird.

Practice at Weird Distances

Hunting doesn't happen in perfect 10-yard increments.

A buck probably isn't going to walk out and politely stop exactly 30, 40 or 50 yards away.

It might be 24.

Or 38.

Or 46.

That's one reason 3D archery can be such useful hunting preparation.

Practicing at odd distances forces you to understand your pins and sight rather than simply memorizing shots at round numbers.

It also makes you deal with situations that look more like hunting.

Your feet might be uneven.

The target could be uphill or downhill.

You may need to shoot around vegetation.

The animal could be standing at an awkward angle.

Real hunting is messy.

Your practice should occasionally be messy too.

Know Your Ethical Maximum Range

Practicing at longer distances can make you a better archer.

That doesn't mean every distance you can hit a target at becomes a hunting shot.

Jason talks about being comfortable practicing around 70 yards but recognizing when a real hunting opportunity is beyond the distance he feels comfortable taking.

That's the distinction.

Practice can stretch your abilities.

Your hunting range should stay inside the distance where you have confidence in making an ethical shot.

Practice Wearing Your Hunting Gear

There's another simple way to make your archery practice more realistic:

Put your gear on.

Wear your bino harness.

Put on your backpack.

Shoot in the clothing you're going to hunt in.

The weight of a bino harness changes how things feel around your chest. A loaded backpack changes your balance. Jackets can affect your draw cycle and string clearance.

Even your boots matter.

The more variables you can experience before hunting season, the fewer surprises you'll have when an animal finally steps into range.

Inspect Every Part of Your Bow

This is also the time to give your entire setup a close inspection.

Check your quiver.

Check your sight.

Check your rest.

Check the sight tape.

Check your strings.

Check your bolts.

Check anything that can loosen, move or wear.

Put string wax on if your string needs it.

Listen to your bow.

Sometimes you shoot a setup so frequently that you stop noticing a new vibration or noise.

Small problems are much easier to fix at the range a month before hunting season than halfway up a mountain on opening morning.

Should You Change Broadheads Before Hunting Season?

If your current broadhead is working well and you're confident in it, there isn't much reason to change it right before the season.

Confidence matters.

If you do want to experiment, understand the fundamental decision between fixed-blade and expandable broadheads and give yourself enough time to actually test them.

Don't make your decision because somebody online says one broadhead is the greatest thing ever made.

Research a couple options.

Talk to hunters you trust.

Read reviews.

Shoot them yourself.

Pay attention to flight, noise and how they work with your setup.

Then make a decision and own it.

Constantly second-guessing your equipment doesn't make you more prepared.

Your Bow Doesn't Need to Be Expensive

One of the most important points in this episode has nothing to do with specific equipment.

You don't need the most expensive bow to be successful.

Adam's first successful hunts came with budget equipment.

A $500 bow that fits you and you've shot hundreds of times can be a much better hunting weapon in your hands than a $2,000 flagship bow you aren't comfortable shooting.

Today's affordable bows also benefit from years of technology developed for previous flagship models.

There are a lot of extremely capable bows available at lower price points.

The same principle applies throughout your setup.

Expensive doesn't create confidence.

Repetition does.

Confidence Is the Goal

That's really what the final month before hunting season is about.

Confidence.

You want to know what happens when you draw your bow.

You want to know where your anchor is.

You want to know your sight.

You want to know your arrows.

You want to know how your broadhead flies.

You want to know what 43 yards looks and feels like.

You want to know what happens when you're wearing your pack.

You want to know that everything is tight.

And when hunting season finally starts, you want to stop thinking about your equipment and start hunting.

Put in the reps.

Get your equipment dialed.

Then go have fun.

Gear Discussed in This Episode

Fixed-blade broadheads
Expandable broadheads
SEVR broadheads
Slick Trick RaptorTrick broadheads
Iron Will broadheads
Rage broadheads
Multi-pin slider bow sights
Spot Hogg Boonie sight
Bino harnesses
Hunting backpacks
Hunting arrows
Fletchings
Quivers
Hamskea and other arrow rests
Chronographs
Garmin chronograph
Athlon chronograph
Darn Tough socks

FAQ's

What should I do one month before bowhunting season?

Focus on deliberate practice and building confidence in your existing setup. Shoot regularly, practice with broadheads, inspect your equipment, verify your sight and arrows, and introduce realistic hunting scenarios into your practice.

Should I change arrows a month before hunting season?

Avoid completely changing your arrow setup unless there's a good reason. Switching arrow diameter, fletchings or several other variables can change how your bow shoots. If your current setup is working, focus on refining and testing it.

Should I practice with broadheads before hunting?

Yes. Shoot the broadheads you intend to hunt with before the season. Don't simply assume they'll impact in exactly the same place as your field points.

Is 3D archery good practice for bowhunting?

Yes. 3D archery can expose you to odd distances, uneven footing, uphill and downhill shots and other situations that more closely resemble hunting than shooting a target at a fixed distance.

Should I practice shooting with my backpack and bino harness?

It's a good idea. Your hunting gear changes your balance and how your shot feels. Practicing with the equipment and clothing you'll actually use can make your setup feel more familiar when hunting season begins.

Should I change broadheads right before hunting season?

If your existing broadheads fly well and you're confident in them, changing right before the season may create more problems than it solves. If you do change, give yourself enough time to properly test and tune the new broadheads.

Do I need an expensive bow to be successful at bowhunting?

No. A properly fitted and tuned budget bow that you know how to shoot can be extremely effective. Confidence, familiarity and shot execution matter more than simply owning the most expensive equipment.

How far should I shoot at an animal with a bow?

Your ethical hunting range should be based on the distance at which you can consistently make accurate shots under realistic conditions. Just because you practice at a certain distance doesn't mean you need to take that shot at an animal.

Listen to First Generation Bowhunter

First Generation Bowhunter is built for hunters who didn't grow up knowing all the answers.

Hosted by Adam Buchanan, the podcast follows the learning curve of becoming a bowhunter through real hunting experiences, gear discussions, mistakes and conversations with people throughout the hunting and outdoor industry.

Whether you're preparing for your first season or trying to become a more confident bowhunter, the goal is simple: keep learning, put in the reps and enjoy the process.

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