Whether bow hunting is something that simply interests you or has been a longtime passion, there are many opportunities available for you to hunt game using a bow and arrow. Many archers enjoy bow hunting because it’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise, and stock up on natural lean protein. If you’re considering taking part, you must first learn all about the basics of bow hunting.
To get started, you’ll need to learn about the safety and ethics of using a bow to hunt. Additionally, you’ll need to learn about the legal aspects of hunting before going on a bowhunting trip to avoid any legal issues. Knowing exactly what you need to do to prepare helps you get ready for your bow hunting experience and ensures that you enjoy a successful bow hunt.
Bow hunting season generally starts in the fall and extends through the end of the year or early the following year. Keep this in mind so you can educate yourself, obtain a license, and plan your hunt accordingly.
How To Get Started With Bow Hunting
It’s important to prepare for your first bow hunting experience as you want to avoid any potential issues. While getting started with bow hunting is not difficult to do, it will take some time to learn exactly what it takes for you to experience a successful hunting trip. Aspects of hunting include, legal paperwork, licensing, buying equipment, practicing, hunting locations, scouting, planning, and preparing for the day of the hunt.
You can choose to hunt locally, take bow hunting trips out of state, or even the country! You can choose to hunt one game type or multiple. Creating a list of expectations, as well as a budget, will help you get started on your bow hunting journey.
Whether you want to hunt deer, elk, bear, moose, boar, turkey, rabbits, or some other type of game, you must first learn the basics of bow hunting. Simply follow the steps below and you can be ready to start bow hunting in just a few short weeks!
1. Learn To Shoot Accurately
This may sound obvious, but first you need to focus on accuracy. It’s not required, but you may want to take archery lessons or coaching given by a certified archery instructor to make sure you learn what it takes to shoot with consistent accuracy. You will learn one step at a time to build muscle memory with the right habits. Practice regularly and if possible, buy a 3D foam target so you become familiar with the animal. It’s also important to challenge yourself regularly so you become familiar with shooting unmarked distances in any type of situation.
Hunting with a bow requires you to get in close-range, so be sure to become aware of wind direction/scent, camouflage, quick movements, and any sounds you may be making.
2. Complete Your Hunter Safety
To get started with bow hunting, you first need to complete a hunter safety course. Here, you’ll learn about safety, ethics, laws, conservation values, shot placement, tactics, blood trailing, field care, equipment, and more. You will learn about things such as where an animal’s heart and lungs are, animal recovery techniques, and the ethics involved when doing so.
As every state has its own wildlife agency, you will need to check with your state’s agency to understand the exact rules and regulations you must follow. You will learn everything you need to know by signing up for the required course to get your hunter safety certification. Once you receive your certificate you can buy your hunting license.
3. Buy Your Equipment
Not all bows are made alike, some are great for target shooting while others are more for hunting. You want to choose your bow hunting equipment carefully and with great thought. That said, when choosing the equipment you need, try not to overwhelm yourself and simply start with the basics. If you’re already feeling a little in over your head, simply visit a nearby archery shop for professional guidance.
First, you’ll need a high-powered hunting bow. While brand name is something to consider, focus more on bows that fit you well, have plenty of power, and shoot accurately. Pay special attention to the grip, noise level, brace height, axle to axle length, and price when deciding which bow fits you best. If you are using a release aid, be sure to bring it with you so they can make draw length adjustments if you happen to purchase a bow. Draw weight is another important consideration and the minimum draw weight for hunting is generally 40lbs (check with your state). It’s important not to buy a bow that’s difficult for you to pull, but you should be able to pull 40lbs easily before you even consider hunting.
Archery offers any number of accessories. Many archers, target and hunting alike, shoot with sights, release aids, stabilizers, a peep sight, and more. What you need to consider is what you need for your specific hunting situation. This may include any number of things including waterproof boots, a range finder, a tree stand with safety harness, hunting knife, flashlight, hunting quiver, broadheads, first-aid equipment and more. You even need to consider your scent and use scent-free laundry detergent and bug spray to reduce the chances an animal will smell you.
4. Practice Your Setup
Most public archery ranges do not allow the use of broad heads. To practice your setup, you must buy a hunting target and find a place to sight in so you can practice using your hunting setup. If you can shoot safely in your backyard, go for it! If this is not an option, check with your local archery ranges or shops to learn more about your options. Sometimes, you can find public hunting land and simply set up a target to sight in. It’s also a great idea to attend 3D shoots with regular arrow tips to practice shooting in real-life scenarios. This will hone your distance estimation and shot placement skills.
When practicing, be sure to do everything as you would during your hunt. This includes wearing restrictive clothing as well as practicing from different field positions. You should become very familiar with your chosen set-up before your hunt so you’re comfortable and shoot with consistent accuracy in any given situation.
5. Find A Place To Bow Hunt
Do you already have a preferred hunting area in mind? Common places for bow hunting include public land, private land, and national forests. If there happens to be a piece of nearby private property you would like to hunt on, contact the owner and ask them to grant you permission. Once you find a place to bow hunt, you’ll want to find a specific location within that place to set up your hunting area. You can research public land options by looking online for state, county, and national forests, or wildlife management areas. Wildlife agency websites can also give you information on special hunts, like youth, cull, and people with disabilities hunts.
No matter where you live, there’s likely hunting opportunities within a few hours drive, so do some research and you’ll be out there hunting in no time!
6. Learn The Local Rules And Regulations
Once you decide on a hunting location, you must learn every rule and regulation in that country/state/county to ensure you follow them all. You don’t want to run into any legal issues, especially in foreign countries where due process may be an issue. Examples of information you must know include minimum poundage rules, hunting season dates, hours you can shoot, whether you must wear orange clothing, side-arm laws, game limits, and harvest limits.
It’s important to be aware that bow hunters often have different hunting seasons than rifle hunters. Since every game type has its own time and tag restrictions, be sure to learn the hunting details in your area so you can know the exact dates in which you can hunt legally.
Most of the information you need to hunt legally can be found online. As you are responsible for following all rules and regulations in place, be sure to thoroughly do your homework as you could face fines, have your hunting license suspended, or even go to jail. Game wardens have more power than a police officer in the areas of search and seizure, so you want to be sure everything is by the book.
7. Scout The Land
Scouting is an important part of bow hunting. Walking the area and/or talking with people who know about the land is a great way for you to find out more about a particular hunting area. You can also look online for topographical or aerial maps using Google Earth. You want to find potential hotspots, as well as learn more about any high-traffic areas, feeding areas, bedding areas, creek beds, forest openings, etc. that will lead you to the best hunting areas. Some public hunting spots tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to book early when hunting on public land. Public lands are also hunted regularly during the season, so a successful hunt can be challenging. Private land with less hunters will provide the best results, but can take awhile to find through the community.
8. Plan Your Hunt
Once you have scouted and chosen your hunting area, it is time to plan your hunt! Now that you have done the necessary research, you must now plan your approach to the hunt. This includes things like when you will go, where you will start, where you can walk quietly, whether you are hunting from the ground or a tree stand, and which way the wind tends to blow in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The type of game you are hunting will help to determine your exact plan for approach. If your plan fails the first time around, keep trying and make adjustments along the way as you feel necessary. There’s no exact science to it, just observe what you can and go with your gut!
9. Get Your Tags/License
Having tags/a hunting license is required for a legal hunt. Be sure you have one and carry it with you at all times. All you have to do is pay the required and affordable fee to avoid legal ramifications as there are serious legal consequences in place for those who try to avoid the official route. The alternative is called “poaching” and carries heavy handed disciplinary action that includes fines and possibly even jail time. So, long story short, get your tags and breathe easy.
10. Enjoy The Hunt
Now, it’s time to get out there and enjoy the hunt! If you can, invite an experienced bow hunter with you on this first trip. It’s always best to go with an experienced hunter as this allows you to directly learn from someone who has done it many times before. Professional bow hunting guides are also an option if you are feeling nervous and would like some additional advice and assistance when going out on your first bow hunting trip. Guides can be expensive, but well worth the money when you land your first animal because they can take care of everything from there and teach you along the way.
Conclusion
Bow hunting can be fun, exciting, and rewarding. It’s ancestral in nature and gets us back to our roots as hunter/gatherers. That said, we live in modern times and we must abide by the rules and regulations. This means passing a hunter safety course and purchasing a hunting license before going on the hunt. While learning how to bow hunt takes time, once you learn the necessary steps, you are sure to experience many enjoyable hunts in the future. Good luck on your hunt!
