Tips for first Archery Hunt

[Bmcox86]

My first archery Black tail hunt is approaching, I will be hunting from Dec 1-7 up here in Alaska.

Got my first bow in over 15 years from a member in the spring and ended up passing that along to someone else and getting an Elite E35 in august and got it all set up and have been shooting between 12-30 arrows every day. I got my anchor point and shot sequence down in my head and have been practicing at different distances and angles, along with setting up the target in the woods and walking through and shooting it at different angles and distances.

Do you guys have any tips for getting ready for an archery hunt that I'm not already doing that would help? I plan to keep all my shots under 40 yards.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bohntr]

Remember to have fun.........don't put any pressure on yourself to be successful. Bowhunting is hard (as it should be) and success will usually happen for those that continually apply themselves. Good luck......and I hope you let the air out of something!

 

[Beendare]

My summer shooting [field rounds, 3D and form work] changes to a hunting routine before hunts which consists of shooting one arrow at unmarked distances and in different conditions. [edit; one arrow but multiple times. From each spot I treat it like a hunting situation and go through my same shot sequence as on a hunt; level my bow, pick a spot- really bore in on that spot, then follow thru...and with urgency to it, just like a hunt] Taking a couple 3D targets into the woods and shooting them from different angles, kneeling, etc [which is I think what you described] is best IMO.

A guy can even shoot at a blank rectangular bag approximating the body of an animal.....these targets force you to pick a spot. Shooting with your actual hunt clothing on helps too. During this type of practice I work on getting off a quick shot....without compromising my form. This is much different than even 3D tourneys where you see guys holding....and holding....too long IMO. Animals move. I think its important to get to a quick anchor on the animal.

Follow thru is crucial too.... you should be able to feel it and call a bad shot on the range [example;oops pulled it a little left].
This helps with determining your arrow locations and helps determine followup procedure on critters as you don't always get a good look when they run off.

 

[tipsntails7]

My summer shooting [field rounds, 3D and form work] changes to a hunting routine before hunts which consists of shooting one arrow at unmarked distances and in different conditions. Taking a couple 3D targets into the woods and shooting them from different angles, kneeling, etc [which is I think what you described] is best IMO.

A guy can even shoot at a blank rectangular bag approximating the body of an animal.....these targets force you to pick a spot. Shooting with your actual hunt clothing on helps too. During this type of practice I work on getting off a quick shot....without compromising my form. This is much different than even 3D tourneys where you see guys holding....and holding....too long IMO. Animals move. I think its important to get to a quick anchor on the animal.

Follow thru is crucial too.... you should be able to feel it and call a bad shot on the range [example;oops pulled it a little left].
This helps with determining your arrow locations and helps determine followup procedure on critters as you don't always get a good look when they run off.

I was going to write something but this pretty much covers it all. Bohunter has good advice as well.


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[Nick Muche]

Best of luck on your upcoming bowhunt. Kodiak is a great place to bowhunt and Sitka Blacktails are the perfect quarry. We had lots of success in early November down there, using bleat calls and rattling. This buck was killed on our third set up, blind rattling. He came right in and was looking for a fight. Seemed to be lots of deer where we were and they were as low as the beach and as high as the goats.

 

[TurkeyBowMaster]

It wouldn't hurt to practice with all your broadheads or at least a sample of them. Shoot them in hunting conditions if possible.

 

[larryschwartz]

beendare made an excellent point, the same one that I was going to bring up. Most of your shots in a real hunting situation will NOT be standing up with good form shooting at something. You need to practice taking shots standing behind a tree so that the deer can't see you as well. You need to practice shots from a kneeling or sitting position. You need to practice shots bending over so you can shoot under/over that branch that is in the way. You need to practice shooting uphill and downhill, not just on the flat.

After you do all of that try sitting in the cold for an hour and then do all of those things when your muscles are tightened up from the cold.

 

[kodiakfly]

Avoid the urge to take the "TV" shots you see "pros" take...like 60-80 yards. 50 yards has been my limit for 25 years and it's what I maintain now, even with fast, fancy bows. Yeah, the bow can push the arrow that far, and the broadheads will kill. But I've lost count of how many times I've heard, "well I had to shoot at 65 yds and I missed/hit it in the ass/couldn't find it..." No, they didn't have to shoot 65 yards. Either get closer or accept the fact that bowhunting has limitations. Everyone has different effective ranges. Some guys have 70 yard pins and can do it reliably. Me, my eyesight and just watching an arrow go that far to a living animal where a lot can go wrong, I'm happy at 50. Though I do practice and shoot out to 70, I remove those pins before hunting season so I'm not even tempted. I mention this because you said you "plan" to keep all your shots under 40. Pick a range and stick with it for the sake of the animal and the respect they deserve; not your ego or need to kill something. Sure, you may nail a deer dead at 100 yards like you read on AT, but if you want 40 yards, stick with 40 yards or don't take the shot. Same with shot angle. You're a rifle hunter, right? Avoid the temptation to take what you know is a good rifle shot, hoping your arrow will get through the shoulder head-on, or a spine shot. I had to pass on a great buck a few days ago who was looking right at me at 40 yards because he was in grass and my only shot was head-on. He spun and gave me a back shot and I had to let him run away. But I'm fine with that. Accept the limits of archery equipment and hunt within those limits or don't bowhunt. I think too many bowhunters these days think that what they see on TV is normal or acceptable or reading guys' hunts on Instagram and 80 yard running shots with a bow through high wind and heavy grass...it's nonsense. How many times on TV do you hear, "I made a really bad shot, but got him down!" Bad shots happen to anyone, but when I see the shots these guys take and they basically just get lucky on an unethical shot, it sickens me.

Rant complete. Hopefully you can glean some advice from my getting all wound up about this. I get upset when ego tarnishes the challenge of bowhunting. Hell, any hunting, and the same thing happens with rifles. But a lot of guys new to archery overreach their and their equipment's ability.

 

[TurkeyBowMaster]

Cold wet weather for extended days can make fletching turn loose so it is a good idea to have arrows fletched with 2 different kinds of glues. An in the field broadhead sharpener is nice and touching up broadhead is a good idea, especially one that is removed from the quiver regularly.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Practice a few times in full gear. - pack, Binod, gloves, headgear, etc.
do a bit to throw off your shot game and see how you do...
do a few push ups and shoot an arrow. Repeat.
Shoot and arrow, jog to target to retrieve, sprint back to firing line. Shoot again. Repeat.
3 shots in 15 seconds at a distance. Back up. Repeat.
5 shots - 1 at 20' jog to 30' shoot, jog to 40' etc.

 

[Beendare]

Kodiakfly brings up a good point....shit happens on those long shots...and its rarely good shit.

i just was on a hunt with a 22 yr old bow shop guy that is a top shooter.

His first whitetail hunt and he missed 2 does at long range...he was baffled. i wasn't. Just because you can shoot 6" group at 100 yds doesn't mean you can kill animals at anything approaching that distance...he found out the hard way. I've heard a hundred stories just like that.....many are worse.

 

[bohntr]

An ARCHER sees how far away he can get and still hit his target.....a BOWHUNTER sees how close he can get to his target before he hits it.

 

[tyeager2964]

I like that quote

 

[Bmcox86]

Thanks, I've been sitting back and taking everything in. 40 yards will be my max. I've been practicing shooting from all sorts of angles and positions. Kneeling is actually my best. I'm wearing my pack and bino harness now. Less than 2 weeks till we go, I'm getting excited


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