There’s something about bow hunting that gets the heart racing. The thrill of the chase, the anticipation of closing in on prey, and finally firing off the bowstring is an unbeatable experience. But bow-hunting can be tricky if you’re starting out. It requires patience, knowledge of animal anatomy, and recovery skills, as well as a good understanding of bow gears and techniques. This guide will help you make the clean shot and recover any bow-harvested animals.
The Basics
Before bow-hunting, have a good understanding of some basic bow-hunting principles. These principles are essential to bow hunting and help you make a clean shot. Firstly, bow hunting is all about accuracy. You need to know the correct shooting form and where to aim. When aiming, you should focus on the vitals (heart or lungs), protected by the animal’s rib cage and located within its chest. Therefore, beginners should stick with broadside shots as they allow a more precise shot at the vitals. Pay attention to the animal’s body angle; wait for it to present a fully broadside or slightly quartering away broadside shot. Doing that increases the odds of delivering a clean shot that kills the animal in seconds.
Essential Tips Before You Go Bow-hunting For The First Time
- Practice, practice, practice! Master your bow-hunting technique before you head out into the field. This means developing a solid bow stance and form and familiarizing yourself with animal anatomy, so you know where to aim for the clean shot.
- Ensure all your bow hunting gear is in top condition, including bow, arrows, and bow sight. Check the bowstring for wear and tear, and inspect your bow arrows for any damage. Also, ensure that your bow sight is set up correctly for maximum accuracy.
- Choose the right bow hunting arrow – practice using different types of arrows to find one that works best for you. Make sure the arrow spine is suitable for the bow to draw weight and your arrowhead is heavy enough to penetrate through skin and bone.
- Know your bow hunting range – the maximum effective shooting range for bowhunters is around 35-40 yards. Any further than that, and you risk making a poor shot or missing altogether.
- Have suitable bow hunting clothing and gear – always wear camouflage clothing and stay quiet while bow hunting, as animals have incredibly sensitive hearing. Remember to also bring a bow hunting knife and flashlight for animal recovery.
Know Your Prerequisites – Licensing, Safety, Equipment
Before bow hunting, make sure you know your state’s bow hunting regulations and prerequisites. You will need a bow hunting license to hunt legally, so check with your local wildlife agency for more information on bow hunting licenses and what’s allowed regarding season dates or tag requirements. The best way to check this is to find bow hunting regulations online.
It’s also important to be aware of bow hunting safety protocol. We’ve compiled a list of bow-hunting safety tips and rules for you to ensure a safe and successful bow hunt:
- Follow local laws around wearing blaze orange for bow hunting. Many states require bow hunters to wear blaze orange when bow hunting for safety reasons.
- Don’t bow hunt alone– hunting with a partner is always safer and more enjoyable. You’ll probably need help when bow hunting to track and recover animals.
- Don’t bow hunt if you feel sick or injured – bow hunting requires you to be physically and mentally fit. So, bow hunt when you are feeling 100%.
- Make sure you bow hunting in an area with no people or livestock nearby. Bow hunters should never bow hunting near roads, trails, or dwellings.
- How you bow hunt is just as important as where you bow hunt – bow hunters should never shoot from a treestand or a vehicle.
Practice Shooting From Various Field Positions and Angles
Now that we’ve reviewed safety tips let’s talk about bow hunting techniques. The best way to prepare for bow hunting is to practice shooting from various field positions and angles. This means bow hunting from a sitting position, standing, kneeling, and even lying on the ground. These bow-hunting techniques will help you develop accuracy and prepare you for bow-hunting in the field.
Bow hunting can be seen as an art as much as a sport, and bow hunting accuracy requires patience, practice, and dedication. So feel free to invest in bow-hunting lessons from a bow-hunting pro to improve your skills.
Practicing bow hunting for at least one hour daily leading up to the bow hunting season is essential. This will help you hone your bow shooting form, become proficient in bow hunting techniques and help you become a bow hunting pro. You’ll notice a vast improvement in bow hunting accuracy and fall in love with bow hunting even more.
Study Animal Anatomy To Know Where To Aim
Okay, so you might ask yourself, what can I hunt with bow hunting? The most popular bow-hunting animals are deer, turkey, bear, and elk. When bow hunting for these game animals, studying animal anatomy is vital to understanding where to aim and make an ethical bow-hunting shot.
For example, bow hunters should aim at the vitals of deer, which are located within the chest cavity. This bow-hunting technique will help ensure a clean kill, and bow hunters should always have an ethical bow-hunting shot plan before bow hunting.
Ethical, you say? Yes, bow hunting requires bow hunters to be ethically responsible and bow hunt with respect for the animal. This means bow hunters must be aware of the seasons when bow hunting, bow hunting with respect for landowners, and bow hunting public land rules and regulations. Bow hunting is an enjoyable sport, but bow hunters need to bow hunt responsibly and ensure bow hunting safety for themselves and others.
Be Prepared for Different Animal Reactions After The Shot
Imagine you were shot at. What would be your reaction? Animals have reactions too, and bow hunters need to know how to react and handle different animal reactions after bow hunting.
Animals can react differently to bow hunting shots, and bow hunters should be prepared for different animal reactions, such as running, jumping, or even a swift attack. To bow hunt ethically and safely, bow hunters should always take the time to track an animal after a bow hunting shot. This bow-hunting technique will help bow hunters recover the animal and hunt responsibly.
Wait 30 Minutes Before Taking Any Action After A Shot
Instinct might tell you to follow the animal immediately after bow hunting, but bow hunters should always wait 30-60 minutes before taking any action. This bow-hunting technique will help bow hunters recover the animal and bow hunt with respect for the animal.
You can find the animal using bow-hunting tracking tools such as a dog or bow-hunting tracking gear. You will also want to follow blood trails and bow-hunting tracks to find the animal. This is the moment you get to put your observation skills to the test and show that you are a bow-hunting pro.
Bow hunting is an enjoyable sport, but it comes with the responsibility to bow hunt ethically and with respect for the environment and others. Now, you are ready to put your bow-hunting accuracy to the test and become a true bow-hunting pro. Let’s get out there and hunt! Good luck!
