As the weather cools down and kids go back to school, a certain group of people begin to focus obsessively on bow hunting. The small group I hunt with literally counts down the days until the October 1st opener, a date that is revered almost like a child on Christmas morning.
Bow hunting is a challenge that is unique in sports, bringing with it a sense of accomplishment that rivals any significant event throughout one’s life. It allows you to get back into the woods weeks before the rifle hunters begin trampling through, and you can harvest two bucks and four does if you’re so inclined and your skill level is up to the task. You are allowed to hunt every day of the season (3.5 months!) instead of just being limited to the two weeks of rifle or muzzle-loader season. Plus, it’s a lot of fun. In my case it took me four years to finally learn enough about it to harvest a mature whitetail buck.
If you are new to the sport, don’t make the same mistake I made which was to approach it like deer hunting with a rifle. To become a successful bow hunter, you must enter their world. Everything that happens is up close and personal, and more often than not the deer will come out on the winning end due to their superior sense of sight, sound, and especially smell, which is said to be far superior to that of a bloodhound. You don’t have the luxury of being able to take a 200yard shot when a deer steps out of the woods onto a field like you can with a rifle. Most deer that are arrowed by the members of my group are 15-25 yards away from the archer. My longest kill was 44 yards, a rare occurrence in the woods were trees and bushes normally preclude such a long shot.
Generally, the thicker the woods the better your chances for success. Look for well worn trails, and feeding and bedding areas as well as scrapes and rubs. An inexpensive trail camera can help determine what deer are in the area, and some even feature a built in phone that will send a picture you your smart phone.
An elevated position will greatly en- hance your chances for success, and I strongly recommend tree stands that will get you 15 feet or more up above them. Make comfort a priority with a mesh seat, and you will be able to sit longer on days when they are really up and moving. Have it far enough away from the potential path of the deer to make it harder for it to see or smell you.
It’s always a good idea to place your stands before the season or during the heat of the day when deer are likely bedded down somewhere. Having a buddy with you to help makes a huge difference and will allow you to get in and out of there quickly. Try to have as much natural cover around you as possible and test your bow at full draw to make sure limbs don’t interfere with your ability to take a shot from the stand.
I still get misty eyed thinking about some shots I’ve blown because a limb that I hadn’t noticed interfered with the shot. If you are on a trail, take a step ladder with you to trim up several “shooting lanes” where you remain hidden by cover until the deer passes by and briefly pops into the opening. Ideally, you should have your bow at full draw before it hits the lane, and you release the arrow as it passes by.
Pay close attention to the wind direction, and never hunt a stand unless the wind will carry your scent away from the trail. No matter how clean you are, the deer will smell you and let out a distinctive snort to warn any other deer in the area that a predator is nearby, and the hunter is then rewarded with the sight of that giant white tail waiving “goodbye” as they run away from you as fast as their legs will carry them. As bow hunters, it’s a sight we get used to as there are so many things that can go wrong when you enter the world of a whitetail.
For those who choose to accept this challenge, you will be rewarded with some of the most wonderful experiences you will ever have. Arriving in the dark early in the morning watching nature wake up around you while sipping a hot cup of coffee is probably as close to heaven as you will get on earth. I’ve had days in the woods when I did not even have a chance to draw my bow that are some of my greatest memories, whether it be watching bucks chase does during the rut or seeing a doe with her fawns right below your tree.
When all the stars line up just right, and you are finally able to harvest that buck of your dreams, it carries with it a sense of accomplishment that will send you back into the woods time and time again. Patience is a virtue, as time in the stand is critical to success. The best advice I can give a new bow hunter is to find someone with experience to help guide you. That can potentially save you weeks, if not years of frustration. Take them into the areas you plan to hunt and follow their advice to the letter. I promise, the experience will change your life.
Okies in the field is an irregular article about outdoor activities. If you have a subject you’d like to see covered, or know someone who has a great story to tell, email me at swearinoutloud50@ gmail.com.
