No Better Time Than Now: Delve Into Archery To Extend Your Deer Season

A Visit With Hulen Sanders At Sanders' Archery in Bee Spring

Hulen Sanders makes precision adjustments to a bow at his shop in Bee Spring.

Josh Boyd, column and photos: 
With archery season a mere three months away, a substantial number of hunters across the bluegrass state have already begun to diligently prepare for fall's emergence. Impromptu backyard archery ranges and the afternoon shooting sessions that they facilitate become common place as hunters labor in earnest to hone their abilities. For many bow hunters, this scenario has become a yearly ritual fueled at a feverish pitch by the anticipation of opening day that is firmly situated on the horizon. For others however, their foray into archery is just beginning.
 
Every year, a vast quantity of outdoorsmen and women join the ranks of our nation's bow hunters and choose to pursue their quarry by means of bow and arrow in the ultimate test of their woodsmanship. For many hunters new to archery in general, the process of knowing where to start can be quite daunting. With an endless array of bows, accessories to outfit your chosen bow, arrows to shoot, and release aid configurations to consider, the road ahead for a new archer can be somewhat intimidating. As mind numbing as some of archery's initial considerations might seem, the answer to the majority of your questions can be found no further than your local archery pro shop.
 
Sanders Archery of Bee Springs is in it's 25th year of operation and owners Hulen and Ronna Sanders have assisted countless fledgling archers as they have begun their bow hunting endeavors. "I always tell individuals who are new to archery that it is very important to be selective about the shop that you choose to assist you in getting started. Having a technician that has a proper working knowledge of how to set your bow up correctly can make all of the difference in the world in getting you on the road to success," says Hulen Sanders.

Hulen Sanders takes aim with a bow while putting in practice time at his indoor archery range.

"The choice of which bow to purchase depends directly upon the needs of the individual. A youth shooter has many options these days that allow them to not only purchase a quality bow, but one that because of adjustment options in draw length and draw weight, can be suited to meet their needs as they age," Sanders says. "For a first-time adult shooter, I usually advise buying the highest quality bow that a person can afford because a bow is an investment and as price points increase so do the options that are offered," Sanders adds.
 
Mr. Sanders also has words of wisdom that he steadfastly offers to new and aspiring archers in regards to practice regimen. "I always recommend starting out shooting at short distances of no more than five to ten yards. Once a shooter can place thirty consecutive arrows in a small circular dot on their target without a miss, then they are to increase their distance by five yards and repeat the process. This is done until the shooter extends their capabilities to their desired range." This process allows a shooter to become comfortable in each step of their progression, as often times confidence is a key factor in an archer's consistency.
 
With the exceptional length of Kentucky's bow season, it is easy to comprehend the booming recruitment rate of outdoorsmen and women into archery. Few could summarize the allure of bow hunting quite as well as Hulen Sanders. "Anyone who has experienced bow hunting knows and understands the enjoyment that it brings. Archery gives you the opportunity to extend your season, which in turn allows you that much more time to enjoy the best that nature has to offer and all that God has created." If archery has piqued your curiosity, let not another fall pass you by. Take a proactive approach in seeking out the answers to questions that you might have and find out firsthand the joys that archery can bring. ​