Challenges of Bowhunting
Mr. Hinson Challenges of Bow hunting Hunters everywhere are presented with a number of challenges that arise with each hunt. Bow hunters are no exception to this. In most cases, bow hunters are faced with many more challenges than someone hunting with a firearm. Some challenges include the extensive preparation that has to be done before each hunt, as well as being cognizant and knowledgeable of all of the different types of each piece of equipment and knowing which to choose.
The extensive preparation required to be a successful bow hunter is indeed an adequate challenge. Unlike hunting with a firearm, someone cannot walk blindly into a deer stand and stand a chance at harvesting a deer. One must prepare. The preparation should begin with finding a bow that “fits” the hunter, one they are comfortable with. Things must be adjusted to suit the one who will be hunting with it. Things like the draw weight which is the amount of weight require to pull the bow to “full draw’ so it can be shot.
After this, the hunter should practice shooting this bow to develop proper form and muscle memory well before season. Not only must this be mastered, but the hunter has to be comfortable shooting from different ositions such as sitting down or standing up. But Wait! It gets better! One must know which positions are acceptable for the deer to be in for an ethical shot to be taken. For example, if a Touchton deer was shot in the same place quartering away as if it was standing broadside, the vitals would be missed. This is only one example of why someone must have sufficient practice shooting their bow.
Moving on to the next step in prepping; Scouting. Scouting is essential to having a successful season. In this case, success is defined as harvesting mature deer, both bucks and doe. So how does one scout? Scouting is done by walking around the property which the hunter will hunt, looking for signs of deer activity. A few signs of deer activity are tracks, trails, and beddings areas. Once trails and feeding areas are located, trail cameras are usually placed along them to capture pictures and videos of the deer in the area.
This allows the hunter to know the deer on the property. This in turn allows the deer to be “picked out” and patterned. Once a deer is picked and patterned, a stand has to be placed to give the hunter the best possible opportunity to harvest deer. Obviously, this is not a one day project. It actually takes a good bit of time. Another mentionable challenge is being cognizant of all of the different types of equipment that can be used in this sport. Let’s start with finding a bow. As I mentioned before, it important to find a bow that “fits” the hunter.
One that has all of the specifications that hunter may want. So that’s all, right? Wrong. The right bow was found, but what about the necessary accessories? One crucial accessory would be the sights on the bow. Sights are tor aiming the bow, without them, a hunter would not hit what he or she was aiming at. Another piece of equipment of equal alue is a release. A release is what is used to release the bowstring to let the arrow fly. As with the sights, there are many to choose from. There are two main types of releases, a caliper and a thumb style.
The best to get depends on who is asked. So Touchton it a preference. And what will be shot from this bow? That’s right, an arrow. Once again, there are many to be chosen from. Different arrows vary in strength, weight, dynamics, and so on. The right choice depends on the strength and speed of the bow it will be shot out of. Another important piece of equipment is the broad head. One should research thoroughly to determine the most reliable and effective one. Again, mainly a preference. There are fixed blade and mechanical broad heads.
Fixed blades are Just what the name implies, they do not change during flight or impact. Mechanical broad heads however open upon impact, theoretically producing a larger wound channel. Now I am ready to hunt! Not so fast! Though stalking deer may be done, most chose to hunt deer from a tree stand or ground blind. The right type of stand depends solely on the preference of the hunter and the environment being hunted. Whether it be a Lock-on style, a climbing stand, a tree stand, or a ground blind.
Along with knowing which stand to pick, knowing where to place it is a whole other challenge. It must be close enough to compensate for the limited range for a bow, but not too close so it alerts the game being hunted. As every bow hunter knows, this preparation takes months and no one step is more important than the other! Also, being cognizant and knowledgeable of all of the different types of each piece of equipment and knowing which to choose is equally important. A hunter must have all of these things ready before opening day!
