Archery and bowhunting are two popular American pastimes. People love this stuff, and there are good reasons individuals are flocking to them. Earlier in life, Nock On Archery’s John Dudley was one such person, and he turned his interests into a career. Dudley now devotes his efforts to giving everyone the tools he’s used in his career for free.
Dudley has had a lot of bowhunting success. He is also a decorated medalist in several professional archery disciplines, including APA Rookie of the Year, 2x IBO National Champion, NABH National Champion, European Grand Prix Gold Medalist, 2x World Field Championship Medalist, U.S. Open Medalist and British National Indoor Champion. He was also the Australian National Field Champion and has 45 top-three Men’s Pro finishes.
Here are the answers to some of the questions you’ve likely wanted to ask Dudley, the man behind the Nock On Archery brand.
Hook & Barrel: How did you get into archery and hunting?
John Dudley: I got into hunting from my grandfather. I got into archery from my uncle. My uncle was a bowhunter, and he showed me the ropes. He got me started when I was 10 years old—that was my first bowhunt.
HB: What is your fondest memory as an archer?
JD: The most memorable thing I’ve done relating to archery is that I met my wife on a plane to France when I competed in a championship over there.
HB: What is your fondest early memory as a hunter?
JD: I remember the very first hunt I did was in my grandfather’s lap on a turkey hunt. Seeing that turkey come in and watching my grandfather shoot that turkey was impressionable. It hooked me.
HB: What is your fondest hunting memory as an adult?
JD: I don’t really have a great answer for that one. I love it all. Every time I hunt, it’s a reset. My hunts keep getting better and better. But the ones I remember most are those that involve my wife and boy.
HB: How did you get into competitive archery?
Funny enough, in 1994, I was driving down the road and saw a sign that said, “Archery Shoot.” Someone had painted it on a piece of plywood. I went down there, and I’d never seen 3-dimensional targets before. I shot this tournament and was absolutely horrible at it. But I had to keep doing it to get better.
HB: How is archery different today from when you first started?
JD: It’s very different. When I first started, there weren’t rangefinders. You kind of thought you knew the distance, but it was based on how big your stride was.
Now, there are rangefinders, way more precise aiming apertures, arrows are much smaller diameter, arrows are much straighter, the speed of bows is night and day different, and more. The equipment is better. The learning curve is shorter, too. Knowledge equals accuracy and that’s why I’m pouring everything into our platform for free knowledge.
There are a lot of people who can get into target archery and right away be pretty good. There’s so much information out there. When I started, there wasn’t much education unless you knew someone who was good.
I couldn’t DM Randy Ulmer and say, “How come you’re shooting a 1.5-inch vane on your arrows?” I’d have to go to a tournament, see Ulmer, be able to get his attention, and then ask. There’s so much more ability to overcome obstacles. There are also better training protocols. Back then, you had to invent your own way of practicing.
HB: With an archery practice regimen, what are some key points you’d explain to an aspiring archer or competition shooter?
JD: I’d explain that reps are more important than gear choice. I feel like technique is everything. Our entire platform is based around free education and proper shooting technique. Technique and repetition bring you far more accuracy than the equipment you use.
HB: As a bowhunter, what are key elements that new bowhunters should focus on?
JD: I’ll point them toward our platform. We really want everyone to be better. If someone is already practicing with a bow, and they’re ready to hunt, I’d stress that patience pays off. Bowhunting is hard, but that’s why it’s more rewarding. It makes the success more rewarding and impressionable. That’s why gun hunters come over to bowhunting.
HB: What health and fitness advice do you have for target archers and backcountry bowhunters?
JD: For the hunters focusing on being in shape for Western-style hunting, which is more demanding on the body, I use an app called MTNTOUGH. They do a really good job of preparing you for those types of loads. When it comes to archery fitness, I’m athletic and I eat clean. I focus on fitness all the time. I enjoy wild game, limited carbs and Jocko Fuel supplements which are super clean and have really helped my gut health.
HB: What is Nock On Archery?
JD: We started Nock On Archery to offer better archery coaching and better technical tuning knowledge to the masses. When I came up through the ranks, everything I learned, I had to learn by doing it the wrong way. But I became better when everyone competing around me elevated their game, too. So, it’s about sharing information on everything I’ve figured out to become a better archer.
And to grow the sport of archery, people need to stay involved. To stay involved, you do that by being good at it or being able to see improvements in yourself. We give you the tools for that. I want to deliver an easy way for people to get better at it.
Now, you can go to the store. Or you can use the free digital content. So, under the School of Nock, you can type in a topic and the appropriate stuff will pop up. I work with some of the most reputable brands in the archery industry.
HB: How does someone benefit from the Nock On Archery platform?
JD: If you go to nockonarchery.com or go to Instagram or stream Nock On Archery TV, you have access to one of the most vast digital libraries that teach you how to work on your equipment and how to work on yourself. I wasn’t naturally good at archery.
And I wasn’t naturally good at bowhunting. But I always like to figure out the “why” to get better. So, our platform is built on simplified ways for people to become very good at archery in a short amount of time, based on the thousands of mistakes I’ve made and hurdles I’ve overcome in my career. Whatever I struggle with becomes the next piece, and I share how people can avoid having the same problem.
John Dudley’s Sage Total Archery Challenge Advice
The Total Archery Challenge—often referred to as TAC—started as a local event in Utah. It was designed for western hunters to prep for upcoming seasons, but now it's evolved into an amazing family event with no scoring and targets for any skill level. It’s the perfect tune-up for fall and winter.
TAC Field Notes
“If you’re shooting it all the way back from the cones, the average distance is double the distance that’s a max on a pro 3D range. As it says, this is a total challenge. Hopefully, you’ll build confidence.
“Most people are there aiming at kill zones—not scoring rings. It’s a great way to exercise, be in the outdoors and enjoy a weekend trip. I’m a more ethical bowhunter when I practice year-round. Solidify the process, not the prize.”
John Dudley's Bow Setup Tips
Dudley plans to use his Hoyt RX-9 Ultra in white at the TAC this year. Generally, for summer archery shoots, he’ll use lighter arrows, shorter arrow fletching and a draw weight about 10 pounds lower than his hunting rig. As hunting season nears, he’ll shift over to his hunting setup.
“But you don’t have to implement these changes with summer shooting,” Dudley says. “A lot of people are at TAC shooting exactly how they play [during hunting season]. They’re out there with loaded packs. Other than broadheads, they’re using their bowhunting equipment.”
For those new to TAC and similar events, preparation for such an outing is different but complementary to practicing for bowhunting season. These are two different activities, but they complement each other.
John Dudley On Effective Range
As Chuck Adams once told Dudley at the beginning of his competitive career, a hunter’s effective range is half that of their effective range on an archery course.
“The further the distance, the more you magnify your mistakes,” Dudley said. “TAC is a magnifying glass for what you need to work on. I use that for myself. It’s all the little things that help you be a better bowhunter."
Dudley says that if you go out there and realize your effective range isn’t what you thought it was, this is a good time to determine that. Take notes. Ask questions. And receive some great advice. Then, be hyper-focused and ready for fall hunting seasons. They’re coming soon.
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