Gonna try bow hunting this year

[MCgunner]

First serious attempt. I never tried it before on my other place because I hate mosquitoes. Up here at my new place, fewer acres, but I have permission on the surrounding places to track anything that might go over the fence. There's fewer bugs up here and more shade, lots of trees, like forest. Have a good spot to build a tree stand, too.

Anyway, I broke out the bow today. I haven't shot the thing in 2 years. WOW, am I rusty. Plenty of practice time, though, since season is in September.

So, how many bow hunters practice year round and how many sessions a week? I'm going to start shooting at least 3 times a week in the back yard.

 

[jackdaddycustoms]

i usually pull my bow out around august (our season starts october 15) and then i'll shoot 3 or 4 times a week. for bow hunting, a thermacell is a must... they work hands down

 

[jbkebert]

During the ramp up to season I shoot 50 to 100 arrows every other day. The rest of the year I shoot 40-50 arrows a week.

The thermacells are a lifesaver for early season hunting. I have never had an animal spook while using one. I don't hunt Texas without one.

 

[jackdaddycustoms]

i made the mistake of leaving my thermacell at home one time when i was hunting near a swamp... i had to kindly ask the skeeters to put me down. i never go to the woods without it.

sorry, i know this isnt a thermacell thread... just shoot enough arrows where you aren't wearing yourself out but you can be efficient with your groups.

 

[Patocazador]

Before I hurt both rotator cuffs (while pulling an 80# bow), I used to shoot at least 4x-5x a week. I got in a backyard ladder stand and had my kids place 3D targets randomly around the area out back of the house. I would shoot one arrow at each target just like a hunting situation. Shooting multiple shots at a stationary target makes you think that you're good when you're not. The targets were anywhere from 15 to 45 yards. Sometimes the kids would hide the targets behind small tree branches trying to simulate a deer in a hunting situation.
After doing so much shooting, I noticed that my form got sloppier and my accuracy suffered from nonchalance while shooting. I cut the seasons to 2/week and my shooting improved. I'm an advocate of shooting once or twice a week until August and then increasing the sessions to every other day. You stay sharper.

 

[mnhntr]

Buy a thermacell and hunt anywhere. I practice year round though less in the winter. Usually 1 or 2 times a month in the dead of winter and 1 or 2 times a week from may through the end of bow season.

 

[MCgunner]

I bought a thermocell several years ago as I love teal season. BUT, down there on the coast where my other place is, they feed off the stuff. Has anyone ever hunted Aransas NWR? My only other bow hunting experience was there in 1974 and I came back with skeeter bites in my trachea. They're so thick you breath 'em down there and they drink deep woods off as an energy drink. The rockin G (my nickname for my other place) is just across San Antonio bay from Aransas. There is no place this side of an arctic summer that they're worse.

Up here (the rollin' G ), the thermocell should work and it will be used.

Thanks for the comments on the practice. I used to shoot all the time out of boredom when I lived in town, not wanting to drive to the shooting range to shoot guns. Here, I have my range out the door and I really prefer shooting my pistols, but the archery practice is a must before deer season. Not only am I not always following through, I need to build my strength back up in my arms. But, I'll get it back in time.

Oh, another reason to bow hunt here, does are legal without a permit in archery season. Gun season one needs a doe permit and to get that you have to own 50 acres minimum. I don't mind pickin' on doe, especially since I've never killed ANYTHING, deer or otherwise, with a bow.

 

[jbkebert]

An 80# my lord your a self hating a little bit. I used to think I needed a uber poundage bow. Now i shoot a Mathews Reezen 7.0 at 52#. I have blown through everything I have shot in the past 7-8 years. The bows of today are so darn fast the extra poundage is not needed.

I had a pass through last year on a red stag after going through the shoulder bone at 21 yards. I shot a Kansas Whitetail at 63 yards and the arrow made it through the doe. Quick bow and sharp broadheads sure make things easier.

 

[jackdaddycustoms]

sounds like you got some rough skeeters, haha. good luck with the deer next fall.

 

[MCgunner]

My bow is 60 lbs, an older Hoyt I got off ebay for 70 bucks and had restrung at the bow shop. Probably restring it again before bow season, but it's looking fine now. Anyway, it's a lot easier to shoot than my 50 lb recurve. But, I'm so out of shape for shooting bows, I need to build a bit of strength again. First couple of shots I can put on target, then I start to fatigue. Go get the arrows, repeat. Eventually, I can't hit squat. LOL!

I ain't EVEN gonna pick up the recurve until I've been shooting the compound for a while.

I'm not a small guy, but I'm 60 years old and haven't shot for over a year, that's my excuse.

 

[Patocazador]

Mcgunner: Thermacells don't work well if there is a breeze or windy. Sometimes it's too windy for the Thermacells but not windy enough to blow away the skeeters and no-see-ums (sandflies). Hunting the Gulf coast is almost no man's land at times just like hunting/fishing the Everglades.

 

[T.R.]

I often shoot my older Bear Whitetail II for fun and for the challenge. But 100% of my archery hunting is with a super accurate crossbow by Ten Point.

TR

 

[dab102999]

Up until this year i would shooot at least 3 to 4 times a month and at least 20_30 shots at a time. My elbow has been givving me lots of problems so i switched to crossbow and gave my bow to my son. Old age sucks but a scope on a bow is dang nice. Makes me feel like i am cheating.

 

[MCgunner]

Mcgunner: Thermacells don't work well if there is a breeze or windy. Sometimes it's too windy for the Thermacells but not windy enough to blow away the skeeters and no-see-ums (sandflies). Hunting the Gulf coast is almost no man's land at times just like hunting/fishing the Everglades.

Yeah, I've noticed that. Also, down at the rockin' G in November, sometimes it's warm into December here before a good front, the skeeters are so thick I noticed if I hang it on my front, they all run to my back. If I hang it on my back, they all run to my front. Maybe I need TWO of 'em down there.

Hunting out of one of those tent blinds to keep the skeeters down and the wind out might be one answer. But, I plan to get up in a tree. There WILL be skeeters here, but we're well inland off the gulf here about 70 miles from Lavaca Bay. I figure maybe they won't be QUITE as bad, though one was eating on me in the yard just now while I was watering plants. Dangit! I HATE skeeters.

 

[haywoodhunter]

I shoot my bow pretty often when i'm home (I'm in college) I shoot indoor and 3d also

 

[nmlongbow]

I've been bowhunting every year for 30+ years. I practice 2 - 3 times a week, 50 - 75 arrows each practice in the off season. During summer 3D I double the arrow count and about 4 weeks before hunting season shoot at least 500 a week with a variety of targets in the woods.

This is all with recurves or longbows in the mid 60's draw weight.

I haven't hunted with a compound in over 20 years but when I did I would start shooting a month before hunting season and maybe shoot 500 arrows total. With modern compounds it would take a lot less practice once you get your shot sequence down and the muscle memory somewhat in place.

For me bowhunting has always been about getting close, not how far you can shoot. I've never taken a shot at a big game animal over 30 yards with a real bow and the majority have been under 20.

 

[flipajig]

I shoot 2 to 3 times each week year around (weather premiting) any where from 20 yds to 70 yds
The closer to hunting season I try to shoot every day sometimes twice a day. As for arrows I'm sold on Easton Axes and 100 grain Muzzy 3 blade Broadhead I'm not sold on mechanical broadheads. I also believe in a heavey arrow mine are 470 grains if I remember right with my set up a 70 lb bow at 270 fps I'm set for griz.
Flip

 

[VI-Shooter]

I think you would do well to shoot every day. Not necessarily 50-100 arrows, but at least one! I keep my bow by the back door and periodically grab it and shoot 1 - 2 arrows cold. That's the way it often happens when hunting. No warm up and no practice shots. The animal presents itself and you have to make a competent shot. Once you achieve consistency in shooting a single arrow well with no warm up you should have confidence to make a shot when it counts.

 

[tarosean]

I practice a lot when I am home, (travel overseas for work)
Course, being near the gulf coast means I really dont have much of a winter.

 

[Patocazador]

I shoot 2 to 3 times year around (weather premiting) any where from 20 yds to 70 yds. Flip

Some would question shooting at 70 yards but I don't. I used to think that was a recipe for disaster. When I started shooting at milk jugs out in the pasture at unknown ranges, I was surprised by how many I hit using "Kentucky windage". It doesn't mean you are going to try to shoot an animal at 70 or 80 yards but it does give you a lot of confidence on those 40 to 45 yard shots that occasionally are your only chance at a trophy animal. Confidence plays a big part in shooting any weapon.

 

[flipajig]

Pat
I intended to say each week.

 

[jmr40]

I used to bow hunt a lot. For a variety of reasons I've just not been as much the last 10 years or so. I really prefer my recurves, but they require lots of practice to keep the skills fresh. After a long lay off I'll need to practice most every day for a couple of weeks before I get confident enough to take it hunting. Even during the season if I don't shoot for more than a day or 2 I can see my skills start to drop off.

With the compound bows with sights and using a release, I can pick up the bow after 6 months off and put the 1st arrow in the kill zone at 30 yards. In order to be confident at longer ranges requires a bit of practice.

 

[herkyguy]

I shoot my Bear Grizzly recurve a few times a week almost year round. It has a 50 lb draw weight I believe.

I break out the compound in June or so and shift my shooting to the compound early in the mornings before the sun makes it too damn hot. By september, I feel confident with it. I don't shoot more than 24 arrows at a time though.

 

[jrdolall]

Go out in the backyard and set up a styro target from Walmart. Stand at 20 yards and shoot one arrow. As long as you hit the target you will be fine

I am old and had to begin shooting a crossbow several years back because of rotator cuff issues. Some mornings I cannot pull back my bow and other mornings I am okay. Practice from an elevated stand and shoot a target that looks like a deer and move the target around. I rarely have a nice deer walk straight out in front of me and just turn broadside for me to shoot.

When I was in my 20s and bows were slower, arrows were heavier and I was lighter, I practiced drawing my bow while sitting in a chair or on the floor. I was able to draw the bow form awkward positions and shot a lot of deer I couldn't shoot today. I have never been one to shoot an awful lot of arrows but I also am good at limiting my shooting distances. Anything outside 30 yards I will pass so I try to put my stand where the deer will mostly be within 20 yards.

 

[Hilljun]

Practice

What is practice O ya its that thing I used to do one wife and five kids back. When I was single my roommate and I would climb on the roof of our house with our bows and a case of beer after work and shoot till dark every day during the summer. We would have bow shooting parties till we shot the knocks out all our friends arrows for some reason they quit shooting with us. Them were the days cold beer, BBQ and bows. If the deer wouldn't play we'd shot the squirrels. Now I shot the target about three times on the way to the stand or swing set as the kids call it.