As summer fades and fall approaches, archers everywhere are counting down the days til hunting season. Whether you’re out scouting, hitting the gym in preparation for the demanding hikes over mountains, or frequenting the range, don’t forget to spend a few hours tuning and inspecting your gear to avoid missed opportunities and equipment failures when your hunt starts. 

Our Pre-Season Archery Setup Checklist was built to ensure your gear and form are ready before heading out on your hunt this fall. Here are our top tips to be confident in your setup before heading out to hunt. 

1. Inspect Your Bow Thoroughly

Before you dive too deeply into hunting prep, give your entire setup a careful inspection for any deficiencies or tuning issues. 

Check Your Bow For:

• String and cable damage
• Limb cracks or splinters (run a cotton ball along the limbs and see if it catches)
• Loose screws and mounting hardware
• Sight and rest movement
• D-loop wear

A simple hardware check can prevent expensive repairs and equipment failure in the field.

2. Inspect and Spin Test Your Arrows

Whether you’ve put a few arrows through the trees at Total Archery Challenge over the summer or haven’t shot in a minute, now is the perfect time to ensure every arrow is ready for the season.

Check Your Arrows For:

• Cracks or splinters (flex each arrow with your hands)
• Bent inserts
• Damaged vanes
• Damaged nocks
• Loose components

Even a slightly bent component can introduce wobble. In addition, many factory shafts aren't perfectly square. An uneven insert or nock can cause broadheads to spin inconsistently, affecting accuracy - especially at further distances. 

Spin testing helps identify:

• Bent or crooked inserts, outserts, and points
• Damaged shafts
• Other alignment issues

Using an arrow spinner, like the SpinEX Collapsible Arrow Spinner, simply spin your arrows to check for any wobble on each end. By using a spinner, you can catch problems before you take the big shot. 

3. Build Hunting-Specific Arrows (If Needed)

Many archers shoot their hunting arrows all summer and may unknowingly damage them. By building a dedicated hunting set, you ensure they are built perfectly and remain protected until season. 

Our arrow saws were designed for the DIY archer to build their own quality arrows at home. With the Modsaw and Modsaw PRO, you can: 

✓ Cut arrows to exact length
✓ Square both insert and nock ends
✓ Create consistent arrow builds every time

4. Paper Tune Your Bow

If your arrows aren't grouping, it's time to paper tune.

Paper tuning reveals how your arrow is leaving the bow and can quickly diagnose issues like:

• Rest misalignment 
• Improper cam timing 
• Nocking point positioning errors
• Whether your arrow spine is too stiff or too weak
• Clearance issues between the arrow and rest or vanes

Poor arrow flight reduces accuracy and penetration. When paper tuning, a clean bullet hole means your arrow is flying efficiently and consistently, while tears that lean left, right, up, or down will indicate issues. 

Using a paper tuning frame makes it much easier to evaluate changes as you fine-tune your bow. The Mod Archery Paper Tuner is designed to be quick to assemble and portable, making it convenient for both garage workshops and range sessions.

5. Confirm Broadhead Flight

After paper tuning:

1. Shoot field points.
2. Shoot your broadheads.
3. Compare impact points.

If they don't hit together:

• Recheck paper tune
• Verify arrow straightness on an arrow spinner 
• Ensure all arrows are built consistently

6. Verify Sight Marks

Whether you use a slider or fixed pins, don't trust last year's tape/pins. Confirm your 20/30/40/etc. yard pins or sliding pins tape, as changes in arrow weight, broadhead profile, or string stretch can alter your point of impact.

7. Practice from Hunting Positions

Many misses happen because we practice only under perfect conditions, which rarely present themself in the actual moment. 

Before opening day:

• Shoot kneeling
• Shoot sitting
• Shoot uphill and downhill
• Wear your hunting clothing
• Practice with your pack on

If you hunt from a tree stand, shoot from elevation. Try to make your practice as realistic as possible and ensure your gear can withstand the scenarios you’ll put it through.

The Ultimate Pre-Season Checklist

☑ Inspect bow and strings
☑ Tighten all hardware
☑ Inspect and spin test arrows
☑ Build hunting-specific arrows
☑ Paper tune your bow
☑ Verify broadhead flight
☑ Confirm sight marks
☑ Practice from hunting positions

Confidence Starts Before Opening Day

The difference between a stressful season and a successful one often comes down to preparation. When your arrows are built precisely, your broadheads spin true, and your bow is properly tuned, there’s nothing left to do but count down the days until season open.

Ready to get your setup dialed? Check out the Modsaw, SpinEX Collapsible Arrow Spinner, and Paper Tuner to make this your most confident season yet.