Is 3D Archery the Best Hunting Preparation?

3D archery mimics real hunting scenarios, helping bowhunters improve shot placement, range estimation, and gear readiness for deer, elk, and turkey seasons.

I’ve been shooting a bow for as long as I can remember. I was basically born into archery, considering that my dad had been an avid bowhunter long before I was around. By the time I was in kindergarten, I had already fired countless arrows from a small Wal-Mart brand bow. My passion only grew from there. Every year or two from that point a new bow would find its way into my hands. My skills grew with my equipment, and as I was nearing the age where I could be trusted to hunt with archery tackle, my dad introduced a new challenge to me: 3D archery. 

3D archery has been great to me over the years. From winning local tournaments in the “Little Cub” division to just trying to keep up with my buddies, 3D archery has been an important element in my bowhunting success. You might ask “how does 3D archery contribute to archery hunting success?” My answer would be “in more ways than one!”

Lessons in Anatomy and Shot Angles

Shooting bag and block targets is great for building form and confidence but it isn’t the optimal form of training for the hunt. 3D targets provide the exact target that you will be shooting at in the woods. Instead of shooting at a static dot you have to train yourself to envision a spot by tracing the shoulder crease. This can only be done through repetition. You can also turn your target to various angles to learn how entry and exit holes change. Knowing where the vitals sit is one thing, but knowing where to aim to achieve the appropriate exit is taking it to the next level.

Hardening of Nerves

3D archery might not be able to recreate buck fever but there is definitely an element of pressure, and if approached correctly could help you during the hunt. Shooting tournaments or having backyard bets with your buddies is a great way to manufacture pressure. Facing pressure is how you harden your nerves. Desensitization is your friend when it comes to shooting at a live animal. Like I said, we can’t recreate buck fever, but we can recreate pressure. Maybe you just want to take a $20 bill off of your buddy on Saturday afternoon or maybe you are one shot away from placing in the local 3D tournament, but one thing is for sure, shooting under pressure desensitizes you to tense situations. Desensitization is the key to overcoming buck fever. 

Comfort in Preparation 

Shooting 3D tournaments and archery practice overall ensures your efficiency in the stand. I aim to have at least one to two months of practice before I ever even enter the deer woods. I also prefer to shoot before every hunt if possible. Knowing that my bow is tuned and my form is good while sitting in the stand helps alleviate the anxieties that come with shooting at a live animal. Shooting regularly gives you confidence, confidence gives you comfort, and in comfort you make fewer mistakes. 

The Ultimate 3D Experience: Foam Fest

Are you looking to compete in the most challenging 3D archery event of the year? What about a chance to test your skills against other hardcore hunters that are looking to best the competition? Well, I can’t point you in the direction of that event, but what I can do is extend an invite to Foam Fest 2025. While this is a 3D archery event, it will be tailored to the Okayest Hunter and the guys that just want to fling some arrows and tell some stories. Is it the ultimate 3D archery experience? In terms of testing your skills against the best, I would say no, but in terms of having a blast I say heck yes!

Join the Okayest Hunter crew on August 9th for Foam Fest 2025. The event starts at 9:00 am at the Horicon Marsh Archers club. There will be a morning shoot on the clubs 3D archery course, lunch at the clubhouse, a youth shed antler hunt, a raffle, and an archery challenge! Get your tickets now before they run out!

Will Bowen, Okayest Hunter Contributor