This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most iconic self-help books ever written: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. With 25 millions copies sold, 7 Habits is one of those works that has provided millions of people a solid foundation for success.

At SpyderWeb Targets, we’ve been fortunate to hang around some pretty effective and successful bowhunters and we’ve noticed a few things they all have in common. So why not take a page out of their book?

Here are seven habits of highly successful bowhunters that can help you fill your tag this season:

They Prepare

Highly successful bowhunters spend an inordinate amount of time preparing. They scout. They work the land they hunt. They practice. They plan. Moving in on an once-in-a-lifetime trophy buck is not unlike a top athlete following a daily training program. This level of preparation helps to control as many variables in the field as possible.

They Don’t Hesitate

Highly successful bowhunters are very good at taking the first good shot an animal gives them and making it count. But they’re also very good at making the right decision and making that decision in a hurry. How many times have you agonized over whether I should change locations only to see a giant buck cruise past the location you were considering before making a decision? Highly successful bowhunters don’t hesitate. They’re confident. They make decisions and see them through.

They Know Their Gear
Highly successful bowhunters are highly familiar with the equipment they use. Think about some of the big deer you’ve encountered—the proverbial ones that got away. How many of those deer escaped because of some minor gear malfunction? Highly successful bowhunters work very hard to prevent such mishaps, and that begins and ends with proficiency and familiarity. Highly successful bowhunters know the ins and outs of every piece of gear they own and are proficient with everything they use.

They Make Every Shot Count
Highly successful bowhunters seldom miss. Of course, everyone misses sometimes. But they aren’t missing gimme shots and they rarely hit a deer in a place other than where they aim. It’s because they don’t take shots they can’t make and/or can’t make regularly. This is a subtle distinction, but one that makes all the difference. Highly successful bowhunters take high-percentage shots and set themselves up specifically for those shots.

They Know How to Manage Time
Highly effective bowhunters don’t waste time. They perform each task with a purpose and they do so as efficiently as possible. Mastering a skill like archery isn’t just about logging hours of practice. It’s also about the quality and effectiveness of practice. You don’t have to shoot 500 arrows a day to become a more successful bowhunter. After all, you only get one shot in the moment of truth, so focus on making each arrow count. Even if you only shoot for a few minutes a day, if you use that time with intention and purpose you will be amazed at how quickly you improve.

They Enjoy Bowhunting
Highly successful bowhunters love bowhunting. Even the part that includes waking up at 4am so they can get into the woods before work. At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is that archery and bowhunting is supposed to be fun. Remembering to relax will not only enhance your enjoyment of the sport, but it will actually improve your accuracy, power, and success rate in the field.

They Practice with a SpyderWeb Target
Highly successful bowhunters practice with a SpyderWeb Target. They choose SpyderWeb Targets because they are almost impossibly durable, boast unmatched stopping power, and feature an easy, two-finger arrow removal even at scorching speeds well over 400 feet per second. Furthermore, SpyderWeb Targets won’t tip over, won’t break your arrows, and ultimately, they allow you to spend more time shooting and less time on arrow repair and retrieval.

At SpyderWeb Targets, our aim is to improve your aim. If you’re ready to welcome us into your archery equipment family, check out our products to see which target fits your shooting needs. You can also check out our Facebook page and see what our customers are saying about SpyderWeb Targets in more than 150 verified reviews!