How to Shoot in the Rain | Archery Tips

Sometimes archers learn how to hunt in the rain out of necessity after getting caught in a downpour while out in the field. In other cases, competitors are forced to reevaluate their technique when inclement weather puts a damper on the tournament. And, sometimes you just feel like practicing in the backyard even though it’s drizzling.

Whatever your motivation may be, arming yourself with knowledge in advance is the key to achieving successful results when that rainy day rolls around unexpectedly. While every archer has their own approach, these tips on how to shoot in the rain should make your next wet-weather session more manageable.

1. Proceed With Caution

Prioritize safety. Bows, arrows, and their components behave differently when they’re wet. It takes time and experience to develop a sixth sense of how water affects both your shooting technique and the arrow’s trajectory. 

While you’re getting used to shooting in the rain, be extra careful. Use a backstop, and make sure there’s nothing downrange you wouldn’t want to accidentally hit. Your accuracy is going to suffer, so plan accordingly.

2. Dress Appropriately

Whether you’re gearing up for an outdoor competition or researching how to hunt in the rain before a trip, it’s important that you wear the right rain gear. It’s impossible to learn how to shoot in the rain if you’re wearing baggy rain gear that obstructs your string clearance or your vision.

Form-fitting rain protection is ideal. If you’re not sure where to start, look into all-weather golf jackets. They tend to be designed to allow excellent freedom of movement and not get in the way. If getting new rain gear isn’t an option, you can tighten up your jacket or poncho with rubber bands, velcro, or tape.

• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can keep the water out of your eyes, but make sure the brim is small enough to stay out of the way of your bow string. 
• Archery gloves prevent slippage. 
• Boots keep your feet dry and provide much-needed traction. 
• Bring a spare pair of socks, just in case.

3. Adjust Your Shooting Technique

Figuring out how to shoot in the rain is a personal thing. Some archers find that shooting harder than usual and moving through their archery form faster helps to prevent rain buildup and compensate for the added weight from the water. Others prefer to focus on the mental game, embracing the rain and taking additional time to aim and calculate the arrow’s trajectory.

As you experiment with how to hunt in the rain, try to find a consistent approach that works for you. Be mindful of the elements and how they affect the flight of your arrows. If the wind is blowing east, you may need to aim slightly west. If the rain is coming down hard, you may need to aim slightly higher. Learning how to shoot in the rain takes practice. The more you do it, the more it becomes second nature.

4. Protect Your Gear

While most archery equipment won’t be damaged by rain, it’s best practice not to let your equipment get overly saturated. Garbage bags are super handy for covering the bow when you’re not shooting, especially with a bow stand to keep it off the muddy ground. Smaller plastic bags can hold your arrows, scorecards, archery tools, and other accessories.

Before each shot, pluck your bow string firmly to remove excess moisture. Never dry-fire your bow. Do your best to keep your equipment dry between shots. Bring a few rags or towels, and dry as you go. When you’re done for the day, dry your gear completely to prevent mold, corrosion, and other forms of water damage.

5. Use a Quality Bow String (and Keep It Waxed)

Knowing how to shoot in the rain is only half the battle. High-quality strings let you perform at your highest capacity, which is absolutely crucial when you’re shooting in difficult conditions. They’re also much more resilient and long-lasting in general. Your bow string is the direct link between your hand and arrow, so don’t overlook its importance—rain or shine.

Bow strings are usually coated in wax, but rain can erode that protective layer. Wax your bow string before shooting, bring the wax along, and reapply it as needed as you learn how to hunt in the rain.

Order a Custom-Built Bow String at 60X

Do yourself a favor. Before you learn how to shoot in the rain first-hand, upgrade your bow so you can proceed with 100% confidence. Fortunately, you’re in the right place. Our strings are individually built by multi-world and national archery champion, Brad Patsy. He’ll use the best of the best bow string material so you can depend on your bow, even in the rain.

We offer custom and ready-to-ship compound bow strings and cables and crossbow strings and cables for all of the best bow string brands. We can even build a recurve bow string for your traditional bow. Feel free to personalize your rig with custom bow string colors. Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen.

Getting out there and learning how to shoot in the rain can be tough, but our pre-stretched bow strings will help you achieve and surpass your goals. Don’t let the weather stop you. Order your custom bow string today.