John Dudley Q&A: How Far Archery and Bowhunting Have Come

Hunting Memoris, How Nock-On Got Its Start, and Advice for Newbies

Archery and bowhunting are two popular American pastimes. People love this stuff, and there are good reasons why more and more Americans are picking up bows every year. Earlier in life, Nock On Archery’s John Dudley was one such person, picking up a bow for the first time; then he turned his passion into a career.

Today, Dudley has had a lot of bowhunting success. He’s also a decorated medalist in several archery disciplines on multiple continents. He was APA Rookie of the Year, IBO National Champion (twice), NABH National Champion, European Grand Prix Gold Medalist, World Field Championship Medalist (twice), US Open Medalist, British National Indoor Champion, and many other awards and trophies. He was the Australian National Field Champion and has 45 top three Men’s Pro finishes under his belt.

Hook & Barrel recently chewed the fat with John Dudley for a while and got the inside scoop from the man behind the Nock On Archery brand and the current face of bowhunting.

Q&A With John Dudley

(quotes edited for clarity and readability) 

Hook & Barrel: What are some of your non-hunting, non-archery related hobbies?

John Dudley: I love playing and practicing guitar. I also love exploring beaches with my family.

H&B: How did you get into archery and hunting?

JD: 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.

H&B: What is your fondest archery memory?

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.

H&B: What are your favorite hunting memories?

JD: I remember on my very first turkey hunt I was in my grandfather’s lap. Seeing that turkey come in, and watching my grandfather shoot it made an impression. It hooked me. Today, 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.

H&B: How did you begin competing in archery?

JD: Funnily 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-D targets before. I shot the tournament and was absolutely horrible at it, but I had to keep doing it to get better.

H&B: 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 [laser] rangefinders, way more precise aiming apertures, arrows are much smaller diameter, arrows are much straighter with better tolerances, and the speed of modern bows is night and day different. The equipment is better and the learning curve is shorter, too.

These days, it’s easier for more people to get into target archery, and right away they’ll be pretty good. There’s so much information out there. When I started, there wasn’t much opportunity for 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 are also better training protocols. Back then, you had to invent your own way of practicing.

H&B: To that point, what are some key points new archers should know about building an archery practice regimen? 

JD: 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.

H&B: Tell me about Nock On Archery. Why did you start it and what’s it’s goal? 

JD: Nock On Archery is a brand that was created to offer better archery coaching and better technical tuning knowledge to the masses. When I came up through the ranks as an amateur and professional, 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. If you’re not good at it or getting better, you’re not going to stay involved. I wanted to deliver an easy way for people to get better. 

Under the School of Nock, you can type in “mastering handheld release aid” or “what arrow is right for me” and that stuff will pop up. I work with some of the most reputable brands in the archery industry to provide people with information for free.

H&B: 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. 

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 tell people how they can avoid having the same problem.

H&B: Back to training: How about bowhunters — what should new hunters focus on when it comes to archery and training?

JD: I’d point them to Nock-On Archery. 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; the successes are more rewarding and make a greater impression. That’s why gun hunters come over to bowhunting.

H&B: What health and fitness advice do you have for target archers and backcountry bowhunters?

JD: For the hunters: focus on being in shape for western-style hunting, which is more demanding on the body. I use an app called Mountain Tough. 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, but I don’t have an archery-specific workout.