Campfire » Ethical Shooting: The Irrelevance of Distance and Tips for Success with Phillip Larson

Phllip Larson

First Lite Pro Staffer Phillip Larson, inarguably one of Montana's best archers, called in to provide a multitude of tips, tactics, training excerises and games to make you a better bow hunter.  He is a man with a supreme understanding of archery mechanics and mindsets and also could be one of the most disciplined bow hunters you've ever met.  We are excited to have the opportunity to learn from a true woodsman, Jedi archer and the very definition of a responsible bow hunter. 

About Phillip Larson:

Phillip Larson is a native of Montana and can't remember when he first started shooting a bow.  His dad was a bowhunter and just like every other kid, he wanted to be like his dad.  At age 6, Philip got his first bow to call his own--a kid's Browning compound bow.  Philip started becoming passionate about bow hunting around 16 and killed his first animal--an antelope at 35 yards no less--at age 18.  Since then, Philip has filled a few trophy cases and then some:

--Two time Montana State Champion, 2009 and 2010, Unlimited Class

--2nd Place, 2009 Montana State Indoor Competition, Unlimited Class

--First Place, 2009 Montana State Outdoor Target Competition, Unlimited Class

--First Place, 2009 Outdoor Target Field Competition, Unlimited Class

--First Place, 2010 Montana State Indoor, Unlimited Class

--Second Place, 2010 Sectionals for MT, WY, ID and WA

--First Place, 2010 Montana State Outdoor Target, Unlimited Class

--Second Place, 2010 Montana State Outdoor Field, Unlimited Class

Clearly, Mr. Larson knows a thing or two about archery and bow hunting. 

First Lite (FL):  When talking about ethical shooting and shooting at longer ranges, what do you think has been the biggest advancement in technology since the invention of the compound bow?

Phillip Larson:  Definitely a combination of the laser rangefinder, moveable sights and shooting programs like Archer's Advantage.  All of these help take the variables out of shooting.

FL:  What tips and techniques can you offer to create a greater effective range in the average bow hunter?

Phillip Larson:  Proper practice!  It is very, very important to be as repeatable as possible.  Once you get the fundamentals down, shoot the same way over and over and over again.  This trains muscle memory, making your shot a function of your subconcious instead of the result of your brain.  Most people tend to overthink things, causing them to rush their shot as soon as the pin covers the bullseye.  You want to be comfortable enough with your mechanics and have it ingrained to the point where you can draw and wait for the pin to do it's thing.  If you're shooting from the subconcious and therefore avoiding "target panic," the arrow is going to go to the bullseye.

FL:  Can you expand on that?  How do you turn your shot into a function of your subconcious?

Phillip Larson's subconcious harvests big animals

Phillip Larson:  It's called "shot process."  Every archer has one.  It's the thought process of going through your checklist--feet, hands, draw, etc.  You may not see them do it, but they do.  And the key is to make that process automatic through consistent shooting. 

FL:  So I assume you're talking about shooting as many arrows as possible. 

Phillip Larson: Actually, not really.  It doesn't matter if you shoot only three arrows in a session or a hundred.  What matters is consistency.  Once you have proper fundamental mechanics, shoot every shot exactly the same way and take your time.  Don't rush the release.  Target fever often happens when someone goes through their process but basically force the pin on the bullseye.  Instead, place the pin on the bullseye and let it do its thing.  It's going to move.  Especially at greater ranges, it's impossible to hold the pin dead on the bullseye.  Let the pin do its thing and release at the right time.  If it's on the bullseye when you release, the arrow is going right there.  The key is building that muscle memory through repetion so that this whole process becomes subconcious.  Relax.  If your mechanics are consistent when you practice, your shot process will become automatic and you'll avoid target panic and a rushed shot in a buck fever situation in the field.  It's just like everything else--you're going to get out of it what you put into it.  The more time you spend reinforcing that shot with proper practice, the better you'll be and the less thought you'll require in the field. 

FL:  Anything to avoid during the process of building your shot? 

Phillip Larson:  Definitely.  If you're having a bad day--if your shot is off and you're not shooting well, STOP RIGHT THERE!  If you keep trying to force it, you're going to end up reinforcing whatever bad mechanics are causing your bad shots.  It's just anything else--reinforce the good and stop before you reinforce the bad.  Put away your bow and pick it up tomorrow, no matter how hard it is or how determined you are. 

FL:  As far as the components involved in shooting go, what do you think is the most important one?

Phillip Larson: Without a doubt, the grip.  The hand is the only thing touching the bow and therefore has the most effect out of anything on the shot.  Find a comfortable, repeatable grip that obviously focuses the weight on the top of the grip--the meat of your thumb.  If your the lifeline on your hand is crossing the grip, you're not going to shoot well.  Think of grabbing a broom stick.  If you grip your bow like you naturally would a broom stick, you're not going to shoot well.  Intead, make sure most of the pressure is on that top part of your grip.  Again, it shouldn't be awkward, it should feel comfortable and be easily repeatable, making it easier to become muscle memory. 

FL:  Any tips for working on your ranging?

Phillip Larson:  Just guess-and-range, guess-and-range.  And make sure you do it in a realistic environment.  For instance, squat down and range.  That antelope is going to look a lot different when you're squating in the field than simply standing up.  Practice in the way that you're going to end up using in the field. 

FL:  Let's get more into ethics.  Any rules you live by or tips to deterimine if a shot is ethical?

Phillip Larson:  If I can't laser it, I won't shoot. 

FL:  Wow.  That's not necessarily something you hear all of the time from bow hunters.  A lot of bow hunters will tell you that you don't always have enough time in a live situation to laser the range, then make a shot. 

Phillip Larson:  I know it's unusual, but look--if you can take the biggest variable out by knowing exactly what your range to target is, your shot is going to be a lot better because you'll be a lot more confident which then impacts everything else.  You'll know exactly where to place pin and there will be no "I hope it gets there."  It's more like, "I know it's getting there and you're dead.  I'm taking you home." 

FL:  I'm curious to hear how you actually do that.   That is to say, how do you laser the animal, put the rangefinder away, then take the shot in a realistic timeframe while not scaring the animal?

Phillip Larson: My friend and I develped a special system where my rangefinder is attached to my binos and secured to my chest. It's held on by a rubber keychain-like spring that allows me to let go of it, knowing it's quiet and also not dropping into the dirt.  When I let go of the setup, it falls to my chest quietly in a shot-friendly location so I can quickly draw and shoot. 

Lasered first, shot second

FL:  Out of curiosity, what make and model of rangefinder do you use?

Phillip Larson:  I have a Leica 900. 

FL:  Okay.  And now the real question.  You can answer however you want:  What is an ethical shot?

Phillip Larson:  The distance is irrelevant.  It's up to everybody in terms of how comfortable are you with wounding an animal.  I'm not comfortable at all with that.  What's an ethical shot?  It's being able to create a shot at a range you're both confident at and effective, given all the variables in play. 

FL: Thanks very much for your time, Philip.  Anything else you want to add? 

Phillip Larson, laughing:  Yeah.  I never hunt anything without my First Lite base layer on.  But seriously, it's so good people are copying it now.  First Lite is knocking it out of the park.  Merino just can't be beat and First Lite definitely has the best product.  I laugh at my friends who are just now discovering it. 

FL:  Thanks, Phillip.  We'd like to think so, too.