| Mistake #1 - Misjudging Distance | | | | will remain that way if they get too |
| Misjudging distance is the number one | | | | much pressure. By pounding the same |
| reason archers miss their mark. Archery | | | | location day after day, you're asking |
| is a precision sport, and estimating or | | | | for trouble. With deer hunting for |
| even better yet, measuring distance is | | | | instance, it's important to establish at |
| the key to success! With most major | | | | several different stand locations or |
| optics manufacturers producing some type | | | | areas to still hunt or spot and stalk. |
| of rangefinding device, calculating | | | | Every time you set foot on a buck's home |
| distances is easier than ever. Aside | | | | range, he knows it. Even the most 'scent |
| from cost, there is really no reason for | | | | free' cover up and 'cleanest' camouflage |
| bowhunters not to use a rangefinder | | | | is still drenched in human odor. By |
| these days. | | | | over-hunting an area, you are saturating |
| Some bowhunters like to mark yardages | | | | it with your smell. Trails to and from |
| with something natural like a broken | | | | your stands become laced with your |
| branch or a stick standing upright in | | | | scent. The best chance a bowhunter has |
| the ground. Alternatively whenever | | | | is often the first day he or she sits |
| possible, I use my Bushnell laser | | | | that stand. In a perfect world, try not |
| rangefinder to take a reading on nearby | | | | to sit any one stand for more than two |
| rocks, trees, or other structures to | | | | consecutive days. |
| predetermine distances under my stand or | | | | Mistake #6 - Overconfidence and Shooting |
| near my ground blind. | | | | Too Quickly |
| Mistake #2 - Missing the Kill Zone(s) | | | | I can't count the number of times I've |
| Put the arrow in the wrong place and | | | | watched bowhunters practically running |
| your hunt will become a nightmare in a | | | | to their stands. To me, this presents a |
| hurry! Any bowhunter that has wounded | | | | compromise, for if they know what |
| and lost an animal knows the sick | | | | they're doing, stands will be right in |
| feeling. As bowhunters, we have an | | | | the heart of the deer's living room. If |
| ethical obligation to know and | | | | you were asleep on your sofa, and some |
| understand the kill zone(s) of game | | | | moron came blistering through, decked |
| we're after. Deer are anatomically | | | | out in full camouflage, you'd probably |
| straightforward at a broadside view. Put | | | | be inclined to get the heck out of there |
| them quartering away, facing head on, | | | | as well! |
| straight away, or even lying down, and | | | | The point is, to succeed as a bowhunter, |
| it's a different story. | | | | slow and easy is the way to do it. |
| Vitals on a deer are not large, barely | | | | Remember the idea is to ghost in and out |
| exceeding the circumference of a pie | | | | of your stand with as little impact as |
| plate in fact. But given accurate arrow | | | | possible. The same applies to still |
| placement, a double-lung shot will | | | | hunting and the spot and stalk approach. |
| result in a quick kill. Hemorrhaging | | | | Guaranteed, you'll see and take home far |
| alternative organs such as the liver, a | | | | more game taking it easy than by racing |
| major artery, or even placing a | | | | to cover the most ground possible! |
| debilitating shot in the spine can bring | | | | Likewise, be conscious of your shooting |
| down game, but these are NOT recommended | | | | form and don't rush the shot. Be sure |
| as targeted areas for shot placement. | | | | you're on your mark. Take careful aim |
| 3D targets offer the most realistic | | | | and follow-through with your shooting |
| simulation for field shooting scenarios. | | | | form until after impact. |
| I personally use a Mackenzie standing | | | | Mistake #7 - Following Up Too Soon |
| deer target as it gives me the option of | | | | Bow-killed animals often die |
| shooting at a life-sized target at | | | | immediately, but that's not to say they |
| variable distances and from different | | | | expire quickly with every shot. Many a |
| positions. By studying 3D targets and | | | | deer has been lost because hunters |
| their identified kill zones, you can get | | | | followed up to quickly and bumped them. |
| a better understanding of where to aim | | | | As a rule, always wait to allow the |
| on that animal. | | | | animal to expire undisturbed. A perfect |
| Learning to recognize the shot | | | | shot will usually knock down the game |
| opportunity goes hand in hand with arrow | | | | quickly, inside of 50 yards. A poor shot |
| placement. This involves not only the | | | | on the other hand is a different story. |
| release, but knowing when to take that | | | | By allowing the animal to settle, bed |
| proactive step of going to full-draw. | | | | down and eventually bleed out, you |
| This requires movement and can in fact | | | | increase your odds of retrieving it many |
| spook animals if detected. Draw when the | | | | times over. |
| animal is facing you or even worse, when | | | | Mistake #8 - Poor Stand Placement |
| it is looking at you and, you may as | | | | Mounting your stand in the wrong place, |
| well go home. Wait until the animal is | | | | at the wrong height and then hunting at |
| looking the other way, preoccupied with | | | | the wrong time can guarantee a poor |
| feeding or even better yet, when their | | | | hunt. In my early years of bowhunting, I |
| head is behind a tree or other cover, | | | | recall getting caught red-handed by |
| and your chances of getting to full-draw | | | | bucks skulking through the woods on a |
| undetected increase exponentially. | | | | trail I was watching. I couldn't figure |
| Thoughts of a bowhunter I guided a few | | | | out why they were always spooking, until |
| years ago come to mind. This individual | | | | one day a friend pointed out the |
| boasted over his ability to shoot tight | | | | painfully obvious. My tree stand was too |
| groups at 30 yards with his traditional | | | | low, with no limb cover. Ironically, I |
| bow; but when a trophy whitetail walked | | | | did arrow a rut-crazed buck out of that |
| under his stand he didn't want to risk | | | | stand, but to this day, I know it was a |
| drawing his bow ... go figure that one | | | | gift! |
| out! The result - he passed on a | | | | Some folks like their stands high, |
| 165-inch buck at just five paces below | | | | others prefer them low, and reasons |
| his stand. His lack of understanding | | | | vary. Consider proximity to the trail |
| when to draw and release cost him what | | | | you're watching, the backdrop, and |
| may have been his 'buck of a lifetime'. | | | | visibility relative to surrounding cover |
| Mistake #3 - Equipment in Poor Repair | | | | before anticipating how high to mount a |
| Nothing deteriorates self-confidence | | | | stand. Remember, the goal is to focus on |
| more than discovering your bow is out of | | | | transition zones; those areas between |
| tune when you're in the field. You can | | | | bedding and feeding locations. |
| only shoot as well as your equipment is | | | | As a rule, I mount stands between 14 and |
| able. If its not sighted in properly, it | | | | 18 feet. This range allows sufficient |
| won't work for you ... it's as simple as | | | | freedom just out of a deer's line of |
| that! Confidence in your bow and | | | | sight and reduces shooting angle. |
| accessories is absolutely critical to | | | | Whenever possible, my preference is to |
| success. The only way we can have full | | | | place a stand in evergreens with lots of |
| confidence in our equipment is by doing | | | | surrounding foliage. Positioning the |
| a routine inspection and making | | | | stand to allow maximum trail coverage is |
| necessary adjustments on a regular | | | | just as important as trimming intrusive |
| basis. With the new Solo Cam and | | | | limbs and interfering branches. |
| Cam-and-a-half technology tuning has | | | | It is equally important to understand |
| become much simpler, but that's only | | | | when to hunt a stand. Learn to |
| part of the deal. String stretch is one | | | | distinguish between morning, mid-day and |
| of the most common reasons for bows | | | | evening ambush sites. Many hours can be |
| shooting inaccurately. By giving your | | | | wasted sitting great locations at the |
| gear the once-over prior to every | | | | wrong time of day. |
| outing, you will minimize problems | | | | Mistake #9 - Too Much Movement |
| afield. To ensure consistent shooting, | | | | I once sat a stand along with a |
| you should confirm that center shot is | | | | cameraman. He wasn't a hunter and had no |
| true, double check all screws, limb | | | | idea what was required. Constantly |
| bolts and cables, wax your string, check | | | | fidgeting, it came as no surprise that |
| sight pins and sharpen broadheads | | | | we didn't see a single deer on that |
| regularly. | | | | outing. Deer detect movement with |
| Equally important is ensuring that your | | | | amazing precision. Remember, you're an |
| arrows are matched to your bow weight. | | | | uninvited guest in their living room. |
| Mismatched arrows will never fly | | | | Relying on their senses for survival, |
| consistently. I made this mistake myself | | | | deer are always keeping a keen eye out |
| a few years back when a manufacturer | | | | for unfamiliar shapes and movement. |
| sent some new arrows for me to field | | | | It's generally a good idea to keep an |
| test. Somehow I'd received the wrong | | | | arrow knocked and your bow easily |
| shafts and with a quick turnaround time | | | | accessible while on stand or in a blind. |
| in preparation for an antelope hunt I | | | | Sudden appearances can keep you from |
| only had a few hours to site them in. | | | | adjusting position. By doing everything |
| Well, long story short, I found out very | | | | possible to prepare for the shot prior |
| quickly during the hunt that my arrows | | | | to your close encounter, movement is |
| were performing inconsistently at longer | | | | minimized. |
| distances. Upon returning home, I | | | | Mistake #10 - Failing to Acknowledge |
| double-checked and discovered they were | | | | Your Limitations |
| the wrong arrows. Absolutely a lesson | | | | Bowhunting is an individual activity; |
| learned! | | | | individual in many ways, but most of all |
| Mistake #4 - Drawing Too Much Weight | | | | in pushing us to test our capabilities. |
| Far too many bowhunters are obsessed | | | | Understanding limitations and our |
| with speed. Don't get me wrong, kinetic | | | | ability to work within and around them, |
| energy is important but its not the be | | | | moves us toward proficiency. |
| all and end all. Accuracy is far more | | | | Gaining an awareness of our technical |
| critical than poundage. My wife shoots | | | | skill, physical fitness and mental |
| 47 lbs. and takes more great deer than | | | | concentration will improve focus in the |
| many high-speed heavy weight shooters I | | | | field. Know your effective shooting |
| know. By setting your draw weight beyond | | | | range and how long you are capable of |
| your comfort level, you literally | | | | sitting on stand before your ability to |
| handicap yourself. Believe me, the few | | | | draw, aim and release is distorted. I |
| feet per second (fps) you stand to gain | | | | know of many instances in which |
| is not worth the discomfort and probable | | | | outfitters will place a hunter on stand, |
| misses or poor shots. Remember too, that | | | | forcing them to stay put for 10 hours |
| drawing your bow is relatively easy when | | | | without a break. While a lot of |
| standing. It becomes more difficult from | | | | bowhunters are capable of this, many are |
| a treestand. Compound this with cold | | | | not. Unfortunate, but true, too often |
| temperatures and layers of clothing and | | | | the result is wounded or lost game. |
| all of a sudden your bow becomes nearly | | | | In conclusion, don't get stressed over |
| impossible to draw. Too often I've seen | | | | your mistakes. The key is to figure out |
| archers at the range that can barely get | | | | what you did wrong and try to improve on |
| their bow drawn. I can't help but wonder | | | | it each time you go out. Understanding |
| what happens when they are hunting. | | | | the mistakes you could make and doing |
| Mistake #5 - Over-hunting an Area | | | | what you can do to avoid them will |
| We all have our favorite places to hunt. | | | | inevitably make you a better bowhunter. |
| Some are better than others, but none | | | | |