Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

[mscher]

Just started deer hunting with shotgun, last year. Enjoyed it greatly, but would like to get an earlier start in the season.

DW purchased (for our 20th anniversery) a Older Bear Whitetail compound, with some practice arrows, for cheap, so I could give it a try (meaning a nice upgrade later). It has a quiver with some practice arrows, sights and some spare tips. It is missing a guide.

Truth is, I know how to draw back with an arrow, point it the direaction I want it to go and release, but that about it. No idea on how to use or set the sights.

Looking for web sites or some good info on how to learn to use this beast. I do plan to get it checked at an archery store and get the needed broadhead, releases, etc.

One month to season opening.

 

[farmuse]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Does it have sites? Does it have a peep in the string. Some do and some don't use a peep. If not you need to decide where to anchor your thumb on the draw hand and anchor it there every time. if you shoot high move site up if you shoot low move site down. In other words move site toward where your arrow hits. I can coach you through learning how to shoot but you have to do all the practice. That old Bear whitetail you have has killed lots of deer in its day. They are kind of noisy and somewhat heavy. Good luck to ya.

 

[farmuse]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

By the way I would put a whisker biscuit on it for the "arrow holder". It will tame the noise down slightly.

 

[Turn-n-Burn]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

First thing you should do is take it to an archery shop and have it looked over.....strings and risers.....then have them check the draw length to fit you......start slow and safe......

 

[Jis4Jeep]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

This guy on youtube is by far the best how to guy out there!!! HIs web site pops up at the end I think but he is really good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIS1HnpHwdM

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

First thing you should do is take it to an archery shop and have it looked over.....strings and risers.....then have them check the draw length to fit you......start slow and safe......

A good shop will tune your bow, install some sights and check to insure the bow is in good shape.

After many years of bow hunting I found that the bow itself is the cheapest part of the equation.......it's the accessories that get you

I have been out of the regular bow sport (bad shoulder) and now I have a crossbow with a special permit.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Please have the bow checked by a competent bowsmith and set up for you if its in good enough cond.these bows are old and it may need replacement parts that might make it cheaper to get a newer one in bettter shape instead.also practice ALOT! and at different distances and determine your max. effective range, should be able to hit a paper plate every time at max range,ideally near the center.concentrate on you draw,hold and release and try to make it the same each shot.also invaluable to practice shooting from a stand or similar hight if you plan to hunt that way.you must adjust your point of aim differently from horzontal(on the ground)when shooting down from a stand or up like up a steep hill.good broadheads are deadly on deer but you must make a good shot.also practice w a broadhead after you become accurate w field points they usually fly a little different than field points.some broadheads come w practice tips and you may need a slight adjustment of sight or arrow rest for the broadheads.good luck!

 

[RicMic]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

There is a WHOLE lot more to bowhunting than just getting the arrows to fly in the general direction, way to much to put into a few words here. I would recommend finding a mentor that actually knows what they are doing. I can stand behind someone and watch them shoot and often in a couple shots find their problems. Even some of the best bow shots aren't good hunters and I know some guys that aren't good shots at all, that are very good hunters. Just remember bowhunting isn't about how far away you can shoot them, its about getting them close enough so that you cannot miss.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

25 years of bowhunting as well as shooting professionally for Martin Archery, has taught me a few things, and the first bit of advise I would follow is take the bow to a shop and have them check it over, the Bear Whitetail is actually an old bow, talk with them at the shop and see if they will let you shoot on their indoor range, so they can see where you need work on form, fit and function..it will go a long ways to ensuring you are not only safe, but are able to safely harvest an animal. There is quite a bit more to bowhunting that shooting arrows down range.

Good luck, it is a great sport and I have not hunted with a gun now for over 15 years, but it takes dedication and quite a bit of skill.

Dave

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

I was wrong in my first post to say (max effective range)that also includes your arrow speed,and ability to make the arrow pass through the deer.not just hittin the sweet spot. Bear whitetails bows are slower than most bows today and range is shorter pobly 25yrd max.deer more than 30 yrds can hear most arrows and duck causing wounded animals.As said by others it takes a commitment to perfection of ability to bowhunt.not a sport where you buy a bow today and hunt tomorrow.practice till you are confident in your ability.then some more.An experienced friend or local bow club would be invaluable w advice and guidance to become a great bowhunter.

 

[mscher]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

I made a quick stop at Cabelas today (even though I plan to buy from a small archery shop/range in a nearby town) and noticed that the new bows are night-and-day different than the Whitetail.

Not nearly as tall, much lighter, with a lot more features. Some of the models were under $300, that looked like they were ready to go, minus arrows.

Would I be better off as a newbie, possibly coming up to speed quicker and end up being more accurate, just going with a modern setup and not fuss with an old Bear?

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Absolutly.the speed alone on the modern bows makes them more deadly.accuracy is better because arrows have a rainbow trajectory and arrows drop fast when they lose velocity.faster bows shoot farther before the arrow starts to drop.also penitration is better w speed/energy,kinda like foot lbs. in a rifle bullet.lighter bows are easier to hold at draw for minutes at a time. which is alot of times when tree stand hunting!!deer will be close! theyll hear you fart!they might hear your heartbeat!.they usually hear the draw of the bow,and sometimes you wait for them to relax to take the shot.a tired arm is not good for accuracy.also most new bows are way quieter than the old ones.this is important at 25+ yrd. shots,deer can hear the bow and start to duck or move just before the arrow gets there!as you get more accurate you can increase distance and learn how far to shoot or not shoot due to arrow drop.im always amazed at how fast a broadhead will kill a deer w a good shot.ive seen several that just flinched w the arrow passed thru.just stand and look around then take few steps or so and fall dead.shootem w a gun and they run 500yrds w a blown out lung.go figure.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Absolutly.the speed alone on the modern bows makes them more deadly.accuracy is better because arrows have a rainbow trajectory and arrows drop fast when they lose velocity.faster bows shoot farther before the arrow starts to drop.also penitration is better w speed/energy,kinda like foot lbs. in a rifle bullet.lighter bows are easier to hold at draw for minutes at a time. which is alot of times when tree stand hunting!!deer will be close! theyll hear you fart!they might hear your heartbeat!.they usually hear the draw of the bow,and sometimes you wait for them to relax to take the shot.a tired arm is not good for accuracy.also most new bows are way quieter than the old ones.this is important at 25+ yrd. shots,deer can hear the bow and start to duck or move just before the arrow gets there!as you get more accurate you can increase distance and learn how far to shoot or not shoot due to arrow drop.im always amazed at how fast a broadhead will kill a deer w a good shot.ive seen several that just flinched w the arrow passed thru.just stand and look around then take few steps or so and fall dead.shootem w a gun and they run 500yrds w a blown out lung.go figure.

I have to say I totally, totally, TOTALLY disagree. Bows today are no more "deadly" than they were in the past and I mean WAY past. The problem with going to a pro shop is, they are there to SELL you stuff, not to help you out, they MAY help you, by selling you stuff. People were killing stuff with bows thousands of years ago. The main reason your old bow isn't as good? Its because they want you to buy NEW stuff. I hunted with compounds for a couple years and got sick of the new catalogs every year, that told you all that stuff you bought last year is obsolete and useless. Thousands and thousands of deer have been killed with a Bear Whitetail, why would it not do the same now? I have a friend who killed world record Kodiak bear and water buffalo with a $27 long bow that shoots like a 140fps! Speed is of very little importance to an arrow. The fastest bows available still only shoot a third of the speed of sound, so quiet is better, because the sound is still going to get there way before the arrow. Bowhunting isn't a long range proposition, the vast majority of game killed with a bow is at under 20 yards. The important things are to have a heavy well flying arrow, so it is flying straight and razor sharp heads, put the arrow in the right place and get full penetration, because two blood trails are easier to follow than one. This is why I recommend getting advice from someone OTHER than a pro shop that only wants sell you stuff.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

I have to dissagree.i have bow hunted for 28 yrs.ive killed deer w a recurve at 45 lbs.I have shot several Bear whitetails, did not care for them.I bought a Bear alaskan compound w a wooden riser.it worked well for what it was.I have a high country w an overdraw that was better still but heavy.I now shoot a mathews switchback and yes it was expensive but worth every penny.having more range to shoot confidently makes it more deadly in terms of success.i shoot lightweight carbon arrows and muzzy broadheads.a well placed shot is most important and harder to do w a slow bow/arrow.no excuse for a "hail mary" when bow hunting,but I wonder how many "thousands" of deer were wounded by bows like the Whitetail in the hands of unskilled/undiciplined bow hunters?.I think a newby would have greater success w modern equipment and might stick w it instead of being frustrated w dated technology and possibly loseing interest.I do not own an archery shop,but I think they can help a newby get equipment and advice on form,tuning,arrow wieght,releases, sites,etc,that he will need to be successful.I agree average shots are 20yrds or less,but its nice to know you can shoot farther If you need to.I practice at 30 yrds and am accurate at 36.Also when hunting from a treestand,the norm for most bowhunters around here,the target is smaller at short ranges because of the angle down to the deer. you must aim lower the closer they are.at 20+ yrds you have a larger area to hit and kill cleanly and less verticle compensation in your aim.Ive never liked the pendulem type sites that are supposed to compensate for you.I know friends that have used them and went back to pins and peeps.w practice from elevation you can learn how to hold at any range but 20and beyond you have more area for error and still be "Deadly".A Bear whitetail or similar speed bow w good sharp broadheads should work OK if hunting from a ground blind at short ranges if the limbs arent weak and string/cables/etc are in good shape.but id rather have the speed to look for my arrow instead of a wounded deer.and the best thing to come along as far as accessories is the whisker buiscut rest especially for still hunting as it will hold the arrow while stalking and does a great job w accuracy when tuned to perfection

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

I have to say, that I disagree with the speed statements, speed is not as important as accuracy and skill, when I hunted with a compound, it shot about 225 fps and I never had to trail an animal more than 100 yards, most under 50 yards, full pass through shots. I did shoot a fast bow in 3-D competition, it was shooting over 335 fps and did help in range mistakes at foam targets, but it didn't make me a better shot! But I never considered it a great hunting bow, quite a bit noisier and very intolerant of form mistakes.

Now I hunt with an OL Adcock, custom take down longbow and wooden arrows, I have never missed with it and have complete pass through shots at up to 35 yards and I am sure it does not shoot over 200 fps.

The only reason I said take the bow to a pro shop is to ensure it is safe and perhaps to get some advise on shooting, but yes, it is easy to be overcome with all the new shiny fast bows on the racks...But if safe the Whitetail will kill deer just as well as any other bow, but you need to be shooting correctly as with any bow.

Any safe bow, will kill deer. I don't recommend taking shots over 30-35 yards, even though many disagree, you have an obligation to the animal to make sure you can make a clean kill shot, don't shoot out of your comfortable range, and only you can determine what that is. Remember, that any unsafe bow can kill you! I have had more than one bow blow up in my hand and have the scares to prove it!

The problem I find with many of the fastest bows, they require light arrows to attain the speed, I like a slow heavy arrow that can deliver a lot of kinetic energy, that is what makes for good clean kill shots, its like guns, just because you have the biggest baddest gun, does not make you the best hunter. The only time I load gun rounds for speed and flat trajectory is when I am popping gophers at 500 yards, when I hunted with a gun, I used the heaviest bullet I could, to deliver the maximum amount of energy.

Its up to you, but research and practice before you decide to drop big bucks on one of the speed demons, they won't kill any better than a safe older slow shooting bow, remember you are the most important part of the equation with your developed skill and confidence in the field.

Dave

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

accuracy and skill should be a given when hunting any animal w any weapon.quick clean kills should also be strived for.some have no respect and could care less and thats not hunting,thats killing/wounding.I stopped hunting w buckshot years ago because of wounded deer.but miss the thrill of jumping them like rabbits.I understand kinetic energy and penitration w arrows and have never had issues w the switchback/carbon/muzzy4blade to 35 yrds. and still had to pull hard w both hands to remove the arrow from the ground ive had broadheads pass thru two ribs and stick in trees so far they are still in them today.one shot thru the backstrap,ribs out the front of the ribcage/ brisket and about 12" into the ground.I think heavy arrows are needed more for large game Bears,Elk,moose.large muleies etc.than whitetails at reasonable distances.if a bow can increase your comfortable range and effectiveness its better for success w any arrow weight.shooting longbows or recurves teaches alot about bow hunting and Im not knocking that.if thats what you want to do.it can be very satisfying and you can move on to more modern efficient equipment if you want to.thats what i did. My friends laughed when I shot instinct W the Alaskan and the High country bows for a while.ultimately going to pins and peeps for the sake of better accuracy.I guess im wrong to say speed.power of newer bows allows them to shoot better/faster w all weight arrows than weaker lower poundage bows.i have mine at 72 lbs now.and hold for 2 mins. or so w the let off.i think the whitetails had 50% letoff and the length makes them cumbersome in treestands and blinds.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

The key is, we don't know how he is going to hunt, here in the west, I hunt by stalk and walk, I have never hunted out of a tree stand.

Just to add, I knew for a fact, if I commented on this thread, there would be a disagreement, and all I can say, is shoot what works for you, if your comfortable and you are accurate, then by all means, that should be what your shooting...

Good Hunting..

 

[Turn-n-Burn]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Personally......I would drop minimal investment for the first season.....get to know if it's you kinda thing......as long as the bow is properly tuned and arrows matched......there's no reason you can't harvest a deer when all the stars and planets are aligned......most times that's what it takes.....Patience,Patience,Patience....

If you should find it's your thing.....then you have time to save and look for a new bow that'll make you happy after the season ends.....and not the dealer......

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!!

 

[RicMic]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Any bow shop you go to this time of year you will find guys walking out the door with an armload of shiney new gear, an credit card slip and and no idea whatsoever on what it takes to become a bowhunter. Well no ACCURATE idea, because the nice folks at the proshop, will tell you that all you need to do is buy everything they tell you and you WILL be a bowhunter. I have been in a number of proshops over the years and I can say, a lot of those people that work there, NOT bowhunters, especially during the busy season. I use a recurve I bought in 1988 for most of my hunting and its probably killed more game than most people have seen, its pretty beat up and has several repairs, but it still does the job. Its not fast, but it is dead quiet. I have been told by quite a lot of "bowhunters", that they can tell by looking at that bow, that I DON'T know what I am doing, I just smile and say they are probably right. I don't know how many fps that it shoots, but I do know, it shoots all the way through, almost every animal.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bowhunting for Dummy(ies)

Ive been to Indiana and Montana.both are beautiful.i should not assume that someone would hunt from a stand.but Indiana looks alot like N.C.except the corn grows so thick and high there it looks like you could walk on it.Montanas nothng like either state.I would love to hunt both. Im sure youall have great whitetail hunting and bigger deer than here.I think we argue more about things we're passionate about weather we're right or wrong.I learn new things all the time hunting anything and fishing too.experience and good advice is much more important than the best equipment as everyone gets better at anything w it.GOOD LUCK I hope everyone has a great season this year especially the new bow hunter!Our bow season opened today.Im going sunday for the first time ever.We can bow hunt on sunday now on private land for the first time since laws were enacted here.Woooeee!please post your decision on your choice of equipment.online reviews can be helpfull w making decisions on what model or type of bow you get or dont get and prices.manufacturers websites also show all their latest or "better" features,performance,quietness,etc.or you could do it Tred Barta style homade everything and a loincloth!I see Cabellas is selling hunting spears now.is this the new craze?