Most people agree that bowhunting is much more exciting and satisfying compared to using a rifle. As a hobby, bowhunting is not simple and there are a number of things that you should know if you want to engage in the sport and be successful. There are also many tips that will be able to help improve how effective you are as a bowhunter. To get you on the route of becoming a bowhunter, here are five things you should know before getting started.
Know the Hunting Area
Knowing the area where you are going to hunt is important for ultimate success. Being aware of and familiar with the land you plan on hunting on means you will better prepare you for the terrain, game trails and bedding areas and where the best places are to set up as well as getting safely into and out of. Spending time in the areas you want to hunt is done by all good hunters. The more scouting you engage in, the more your chances of success will be.
Purchase the Best Equipment
Having the best equipment for you and proper training to use it will make you feel better about yourself and help you get more familiar with how it all works. You need to make sure that the equipment you are going to purchase is the best for you, is reliable and can be easily adjusted to fit your shooting style as an individual. As well as the bow, you should also invest in other accessories such as a knife, camouflaged clothing, binoculars, etc. You will also need a stand or hunting blind depending upon where you are planning on hunting. If you are looking for some great quality hunting equipment, then Ambush Outdoor Products is a good place to go.
Speak to an Expert
Working with an expert on archery and bowhunting is the best way to learn about the sport. Finding a friend, relative, neighbor or professional as a mentor is vital in getting you started out right. Bowhunting is an involved sport. You local archery shop/range is a great place to find the help you will need to get into the sport. This ‘mentor’ will be able to give you hints and tips from their own personal experience to help you get started correctly and then into the actual hunting such as the best places to hunt, the behavior of the local game, best ways to get close to the game, execute the shot and then what to do if successful, to name a few.
The Effective Range
Being aware of your effective kill range (EKR) is necessary for success. The EKR is the distance in which you can reliably hit a target effectively. Once you have discovered your EKR, you will then have to learn how to limit yourself to make sure you stay within that range when you do start bowhunting. If you want to increase your EKR, then you will have to put in the time and dedication necessary to sharpen your skills even further.
You Can Never Practice Enough
Practicing as much as possible before ever going into the field after game is a must. Not just hitting the range a week before the hunting season but 12 months every year. Getting the right equipment and then learning how to handle that equipment takes time and you will need to practise correctly under the direction and training of an experienced archer.
This time spent at the range and on the course is an absolute must before ever entering the field after game. Becoming a bowhunter begins long before your season starts. Great hunters aren’t created overnight. Practice makes perfect, so honing your bow shooting skills combined with your scouting, knowledge of the game and overall hunting knowledge come long before putting on camo and going to your blind.
Practicing allows you to get comfortable shooting your bow, discovering what your weaknesses are, why you miss and are mandatory in being able to hit your target with confidence. Bowhunting is much more, however, than putting an arrow into a paper target in the range, under perfect condition where no blood is spilled. All reasons to find and get someone with well rounded experience in all aspects of what it means to be a bowhunter to help you.
Becoming a bowhunter takes total commitment to the sport because the result is taking the life of an animal. It begins with the right equipment, someone knowledgeable to help you pick and use that equipment, then it requires the dedication, practice, time and patience to hone your shooting skills, knowing the area you will hunt, the game you will hunt and what to do under all situations you will and may encounter including your safety and that of others, the morals of the sport, avoiding costly mistakes in the field, tracking the animal and what to do to honor and utilize, properly, the reward of success.
