When to quit?

[Jpsmith1]

I have been following along and wanted to post the same thing. Learn to be a killer with your bow. Go shoot squirrels, rats, birds, coons, and whatever else.

My favorite part about staying home during Covid was all the squirrels I sniped with my bow while they were molesting my bird feeders. They catch on quick and you gota be sneaky. I can't remember exactly but I was something like 27/30 while I was keeping count.

Partly related.

Over the time I've been archery hunting, a part of the strategy I've worked on is to become the best shot I can with a bow.

To this end, I've moved to a hinge release and I use a thumb button very rarely during practice and I use the thumb for hunting because, well, animals don't always stand still.

Watching squirrels in particular, trying to shoot one make the target panic monster that I locked in a cage with the hinge just start to smile because he knows that, if I start trying to shoot small, twitchy targets like that, he's gonna break out and take over.

Is that just part of the whole thing, trying to keep TP at bay while focusing on a small, mobile target?

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Partly related.

Over the time I've been archery hunting, a part of the strategy I've worked on is to become the best shot I can with a bow.

To this end, I've moved to a hinge release and I use a thumb button very rarely during practice and I use the thumb for hunting because, well, animals don't always stand still.

Watching squirrels in particular, trying to shoot one make the target panic monster that I locked in a cage with the hinge just start to smile because he knows that, if I start trying to shoot small, twitchy targets like that, he's gonna break out and take over.

Is that just part of the whole thing, trying to keep TP at bay while focusing on a small, mobile target?

Negative not normal at all. Highly suggest Joel Turners course and get it under control. I went full trad years ago but even trad guys get target panic because they don’t know proper shot sequence and alignment,

 

[Jpsmith1]

Negative not normal at all. Highly suggest Joel Turners course and get it under control. I went full trad years ago but even trad guys get target panic because they don’t know proper shot sequence and alignment,

I have his book and it has helped tremendously

 

[gautti589]

If you click on their profile name, then click Start conversation you can send a pm

Ya I tried but I can’t for 6 more days. It’s a 10 post and 7 day wait time for new members to pm or post in classified

 

[Pharmseller]

I think someone on this forum posted once they had gone hunting every Saturday for twenty years and hadn’t even seen a deer. If that guy can keep at it, you can too.

That dude ain’t hunting.

He’s escaping.




P

 

[NMJM]

My opinion is worth what you paid for it. After about 37 years of hunting and killing 9 does and 1 buck I would pick up gardening and gathering.

 

[WRO]

Make your experiences better, hunt great tags, use a guide or outfitter if it’s an option. What you’re currently doing isn’t working.

 

[Pharmseller]

My opinion is worth what you paid for it. After about 37 years of hunting and killing 9 does and 1 buck I would pick up gardening and gathering.

But how many tags would he have notched if he hadn’t missed so much?

That’s the bigger issue.




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[Jpsmith1]

Make your experiences better, hunt great tags, use a guide or outfitter if it’s an option. What you’re currently doing isn’t working.

Guides aren't so much of a thing on this side of the state, but I did reach out to one for next fall.

But how many tags would he have notched if he hadn’t missed so much?

That’s the bigger issue.




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I've wounded and lost 2 and missed probably 8 or 10.

 

[WRO]

Guides aren't so much of a thing on this side of the state, but I did reach out to one for next fall.

I've wounded and lost 2 and missed probably 8 or 10.

Expand your horizons from local to adventure hunts.


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[Jpsmith1]

Expand your horizons from local to adventure hunts.


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You buying?

No disrespect intended, but I simply don't have a spare 10 grand to drop on a guided "adventure hunt"

I've done all the math. I'll be able to afford it 3 years after I die.

 

[WRO]

You buying?

No disrespect intended, but I simply don't have a spare 10 grand to drop on a guided "adventure hunt"

I've done all the math. I'll be able to afford it 3 years after I die.

I rarely spend half that on a hunt..


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[Jpsmith1]

I rarely spend half that on a hunt..


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To be fair, the numbers I'm figuring are based on archery elk hunting. Aiming a bit lower in species to whitetail, pronghorn or even bear over bait would cut a couple grand off the hunt.

Understand that's an "all in" type price I'm looking at, including costs of travel, food and possible lodging, tags, tips, possibly taxidermy and processing (which I included for an elk)

When I ran the numbers, it came to between 10 and 12k and that was a couple years ago.

What am I missing to cut that number in half?

 

[Jpsmith1]

I have been considering high fence hogs. After my SC pig hunt, I've realized the meat is delicious. The cost is pretty reasonable at around $1000-1200 all in, and it might be the ticket to get past the shakes.

 

[fatlander]

Didn’t read the whole thread, so sorry if this was already posted.

Find some new friends to hunt with that are killers. This will probably ruffle a few feathers, but if they’re not bow hunters, they’re probably not killers. Anyone that consistently punches tags on mature animals with a bow and arrow will put you on the right track. When you get on the right track, kill as many legal animals as you can. The only way to get better at killing stuff is killing stuff.

My brother in law started bow hunting with me a few years ago. He’s killed 4 or 5 does, 3 bucks, and a gobbler.


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[Pharmseller]

Guides aren't so much of a thing on this side of the state, but I did reach out to one for next fall.

I've wounded and lost 2 and missed probably 8 or 10.

You’ve killed 10.

Add 10 of the 12 you’ve missed or lost.

That’s 20 filled tags in 36 years. Not great but not bad.




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[Pharmseller]

The only way to get better at killing stuff is killing stuff.

This.

Including small game and varmints.

Trigger time “shooting at blood,” as my grandfather said, is invaluable.



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[Jpsmith1]

You’ve killed 10.

Add 10 of the 12 you’ve missed or lost.

That’s 20 filled tags in 36 years. Not great but not bad.




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That's a perspective I have never looked at or considered. Thank you

When you add that all of the misses and wound losses have been since 2011, that definitely skews the calculations a touch

 

[Pharmseller]

That’s why I suggested you shoot more. Change your mental game. You’ll notch more tags, and have a lot more fun.

It’s great to be in a place where you know, absolutely know, that when you squeeze the trigger/release, the deer (or whatever) is going to die, and right now.





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[NMJM]

If misses are that big of a factor that is where I would start. Why are you missing? Over confidence in shooting ability, equipment issues, environmental factors, nerves? Get a shooting coach or go to a school. Do the majority of your practicing the way you hunt. Add some pressure to your practice sessions. Do 3D courses or precision rifle competitions. Honestly evaluate your abilities and work on your weaknesses. Good luck!!!!