Advice for first time bowhunters

[DOUBLE.A]

Aim small. Miss small.

[Spener54]

Listen to docmay. The man has killed more animals than Noah took on the arc.

Wind in your face, bottom third when aiming and have a good time.

[GarGuy]

Wear quiet cloths! Sit in your shooting position and have a friend stand beside you with his back toward you. If he can tell you when you drew your bow, find out whats making the noise. Even the rustle of clothing when you draw WILL spook a deer. A tiny squeak of arrow n rest will do the same.

When you shoot one, its a really good idea to have a veteran bowhunter close to help track. NOT a gun only hunter! he will just stomp all over your trail looking for a dead deer. I am fortunate to have some great trackers close and I generally text them when I shoot. Waiting on help to get there is a good way to keep from trailing too quick anyway. Usually, the shooter marks blood with toilet paper and the other tracker takes the lead and sets the pace.

Enjoy the hunt! Its not just about the kill or you would still be rifle hunting. You will be amazed how much you can learn about animal behavior by having them at 20yds!

[JTeLarkin08]

Get close. Under 12 yards. No need to take a 20 plus yard shot at your first animal.

[Bowdacious]

Bend and snap

[BeerMe]

Wow tons of great advice! Years and years of hard leasons learned. Jerp brought up the mistake that has haunted me from my first bow hunt, its alot easier to pull back 70lbs on a cubed target than it is with a buck ache when your sourrounded by deer and trying to pull off a shot. Lower your poundage to a comfortable weight.
Bow season is usally hot and where I come from there is plenty of mosquitos. I used a Thermacell last year and fell in LOVE. I never got winded with it on and I had deer 10 yards down wind from my pop up blind. I got winded several times with out it.

I think poundage is a big factor as you and Jerp have addressed.

Having a comfortable draw weight that allows for lots practice (while avoiding fatigue) is key. Also, you want to be focused on target when the opportunity presents, not wresting back a stiff draw after sitting cold for some time.

I shot 74 pounds on my first bow (thought it was 70) for years. Now I'm at 63 lbs and I'm much better from the adjustment.

[krtnorris]

Take TP.

Enjoy the hunt the kill will come.

Take 2 releases.

Practice with all your gear on, sitting and standing.

Get your heart rate up and take a few shots as practice.

Once you are practiced up. Take a shot each morning before you leave for work. See how you do with only one shot. Practice making one good shot each day.

If you go on a trip practice between hunts as well. I made the mistake of taking it easy after months of practice. After sitting in the cold weather for 3 days I finally was able to draw on a deer but was to stiff and out of practice and had to much clothes on to make a good shot. So practice between hunts!

Bring a Thermacell.

Got to use a facemask if your not in a blind.

TP is a must.

Hold your bow ready to draw. Don't use a bow hanger! Less movement is your friend!

Wait for your shot. Don't force it.

Go with your gut!

Don't buy sights that have a plastic protective guard around it, if you are using a treestand. You will bust it pulling it up the tree, buy metal sights.

Safety harness is a must!

[TexbowJ]

Since much of the above advice above likely comes from mistakes we have made in the past, I will tell another one on myself that speaks to being over bowed. My second season as a bow hunter I bought a new bow and practiced withit all summer, pulling about 70lbs. That season the first shooter buck I ever had in bow range strolled in after I had been sitting for about 3 hours on a cold morning. He presented a shot and I was so cold and stiff, I could not draw my bow! After 3 tries I did the sky draw and finally got it back but he busted me. I was really mad but I learned a lesson. I dialed it down to just above 60 and never had that problem again, and still got pass throughs

Very true! I've had the same happen here. I couldn't believe it as I have NO problem pulling my bow while practicing.

I have also found that "flexing" (as in tightening muscles while still) will make a big difference. I do this often while sitting in the cold. It also helps circulation and keeps you warmer.

[Bill]

Advice for first time bowhunters

When practicing hunting vs shooting targets, only the first shot counts. Sometimes I'll take one shot every 5 minutes to not let my muscles warm up. If you want to practice shooting with buck fever, do 25 push ups and then take your shot at the target.

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

This thread is awesome, I'm a first time bow hunter and I'm following this for any and all tips I can get.

I'm a long time hunter and this thread is great !!

[bamabob]

What Docmay said! That paragraph needs to be your cliff note for bow hunting. Well put!

[ArrowRanger]

And above all its not over till its over...ie,last time I had string back,was on big ole Doe. I seen her slipping thru the woods...with smaller girl-friend...not 7 yds out ?I was at full draw...she stopped right at edge of the natural opening I was counting on seeing deer activity at(although I had expected it of a 3 converging game trails under a big oaks bout 20 yd further). When she stopped ...to my dismay there was a hanging branch about 2 inches in diameter blocking the sweet spot...I was like "WTH".. I been looking there for 3 hours...never noticed that limb before...I thought 1 more step I got her,I cant shoot till then....well she took that step alright,but not till she turned her big ole head looked at me thru my "blacked out shoot thru mesh" Blind and snorted and exploded across the entire clearing..in all of like 004 of a second! I stood there in my blind with my jaw on my boots...I just knew I had her from the start...yeah well I told this story to say...re read the post above that many experienced guys have posted and see all the things I did wrong.

1. Didn't look and inspect my lane well enough obviously,But I was trying not to scent the place up...I should have slipped in a few days earlier and done it none the less.
2. Scent scent scent....I talked with my bow hunting mentor and he asked scent control I said yes...I was doused and using rubber boots scentless soap the whole drama....he asked what about the blind.....(well and another oak leaf cluster To my dumb mistakes medal)! Nor was it brushed in well,I was concerned about changing the terrain,as If the wouldn't notice the big square bush that grew overnight....(I know ,I know...now)!
3. Know that no matter how good the advice,how well prepared you are....Deer can do strange and awesome things....
4. Think and ask yourself why you doing this anyways...sometimes it is a better hunt or at least choice not to shoot than to shoot. (only one deer in all my life have I ever regretted letting walk. and only 1 I have ever regretted shooting...not bad for almost 40 yrs of hunting!

[Bill]

When you're cutting to field dress, here's 2 things I do.

Instead of cutting 1 line chest to scrotum, stop a couple inches above the penile sheath and make a Y. The 2 shorte cuts go up the inside of the thighs. The long cut to the chest, straddle the animal, get your blade to a side of the sternum and cut up to the neck through the cartilage.

You can open the chest like a heart surgeon and work/cut where you can see what you're doing instead of reaching I side the carcass and cutting blindly. Even cutting the esophagus.

At the back end, skin the flaps on the thigh, and the penile sheath lift up on the middle flap, and you can see and remove the bladder pinching it's input tube, and let it drain outside the animal. Same with pinching the colon and cutting. If to work front to back, the whole fit pile will roll out if you turn the deer on its side. No need to saw and crack the pelvis.

I can draw a picture if you need.

[Hamshire]

My advice is never think you are out of the fight. My first deer I shot with a bow, I used 5 arrows, yes same deer. Missed twice, had a 3rd squirt out of the rest as I was letting the string down. 4th spined her, 5th went to into the lungs. That was almost 20 years ago. Learn from everything you do wrong.