Since the days of the Native Americans, hunting seems to come up with the next best thing to hunt deer. Each year, there seems to be the product that will help bring that trophy in just a little bit closer.
Let’s step back and take a look at what really works. Our grandfathers used to go into the woods each year with a plaid coat and their trusty gun to hunt the ever elusive whitetail. Why were they so successful? What was it that made their hunt so rewarding? They didn’t have the advantage of all the technology that we have in this modern day, and yet their hunts still produced some of the most impressive bucks.
While many hunters today will use a gun, rifle, or shotgun to hunt with, my focus in this article will be towards the archery aspect of hunting.
I say this, because hunting deer with a bow is the most challenging way to hunt that ever elusive whitetail deer. Today, we have the advantage of compound bows and crossbows, carbon arrows, lighted nocks, scents, calls, mechanical broad heads, tree stands, etc., but the question still remains, what really works.
First and foremost, I’d have to say, when hunting with a bow, that playing that wind is very important. If a deer can smell you, the game is over. It’s not going to matter what you look like when that trophy comes in. A deer’s scent location is going to matter no matter how good you look when trying to hide yourself. There are a ton of products on the market today to help eliminate odors, but the absolute best thing is playing the wind. If you’re hunting a new spot, and don’t know where the deer will be coming from, it’s going to be difficult to do this. I recommend knowing which direction the prevailing winds for your area are. In my home state of New Jersey, and most likely anywhere else this would probably be out of the west. If there is a storm coming, I’ll expect a south wind, and in the winter, I can usually expect the winds to be out of the northwest. Here on the east coast, after a storm, winds tend to be out of the east or northeast.
Secondly, I would have to say, is shot placement. You can actually kill a deer with a field tip (although I would not recommend trying it), but you have to practice getting your arrow to hit right where you are aiming. There are times when the shot doesn’t go exactly as planned, even for the most seasoned of hunters. A branch in the way or the unexpected breeze can have a detrimental effect.
You should spend as much time as possible practicing before the season gets close. I’ve found that shooting 3 groups of 6 arrows at least once a day should be adequate. I say 3 groups of 6, because if you overdue it, you’re going to become fatigued and your accuracy is going to suffer.
Choice of a bow is strictly a matter of personal preference. Some would argue that shooting a traditional long bow is the only way to go. I shoot a compound bow simply because at my age, holding a traditional bow at full draw is not an option. The compound bow allows you to hold at a lower poundage affording a longer pause until the animal has moved into a suitable shooting lane. A crossbow is an excellent choice for those too young to handle a required draw weight, or those who are medically unable to draw a heavy weight. Some people will shoot a crossbow simply because it allows farther shots, and faster feet per second.
Broad heads come in wide variety of sizes, shapes, and weights. Be sure that whatever weight you practice with is the same as your broad head. You have a choice between fixed blades or expandable/mechanical. A person could go bonkers trying to figure out which ones to choose, both have their pros and cons.
In the end, it all comes down to you. Find a reputable bow shop in your area that can help you with the various choices. They’ll be able to set everything up to help you get started with whatever your budget allows.
Happy hunting.