bow hunting

How to Shoot a Bow

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Shooting a bow and arrow has become a very popular sport with events happening all over the globe and big prizes at stake. You may choose to shoot a bow for fun or as a hobby. However, you will need to learn the right technique and master the skills to become fully efficient. There are several types of bow but the concept is radically similar. Determine the different features that come with the action and watch your accuracy improve.

Initial Steps

There is a set of rules that you should follow to become good at shooting a bow. Archery can be entertaining, at the same time dangerous if you do not master the guidelines. Gather all the equipment you need first such as the bow, arrows, shooting aids and gear. It will be better if you practice shooting a non-moving target, instead of going for game immediately. You can find different kinds of bows at hobby shops such as the compound bow, longbow and crossbow. Prepare the right type of arrows as well.

Observation

One of the best things you can do is watch how other individuals do it. Watch videos online or television. You can visit shooting ranges and watch expert archers stay consistent in their shooting. Accuracy, patience and focus are the key elements in becoming very good.

Visualization Matters

Visualize a line from where you are standing to the target. This will be your shooting line. Mark the shooting line by getting an arrow and laying it on the ground. Stand with your toes to the shaft of the arrow on the shooting line, about shoulder width apart. Step the front foot back by 5 to 10 inches. This will be your shooting stance. You can feel free to adjust your feet to the most comfortable position.

Shooting Proper

Nock the arrow in the center of the bowstring then allow the shaft of the arrow rest on the bow. The position will be slightly over the hand grip. The odd fletching should point at a right angle to the string, while the other two angle toward the string. There are only two known ways to nock the arrow. If the single fletching directs in toward the bow, you have to reverse the position.

Hold the bowstring using your first three fingers. The string should lie in the crease of the last joint. The nock of the arrow should be placed between the index and middle fingers. Use the thumb to hold the arrow firmly in place. Hold the bow in the V or stretched position using your thumb and index finger. The arm should be locked straight, and the elbow rolled a little outward.

Zooming in on the Target

Lift your head and face the target. Raise the bow arm and keep it locked in position. Draw the string back until your thumb is touching your jawbone. The index finger should be very close to the corner of your mouth. Use the back and shoulder muscles when pulling the string. Focus and aim for the target. Take a deep breath and hold it until you let go of the arrow.

Simply relax the string fingers from the wrist and let the string slide smoothly from the fingers. You will find it easier to use a glove or finger tab. Instead of preparing when to release the arrow, just casually loosen your finger grip. You improve your accuracy significantly by relaxing. Hold the shooting position until the arrow hits the target.

More Tips

Always maintain a positive attitude when shooting your bow. Remain calm throughout the practice and learn how to be patient. You will improve your accuracy by focusing instead of just shooting as many arrows as possible. Practice often. You should at least shoot once every week. 2 to 3 times weekly are ideal.

Know the different accessories and equipment and invest in the right gadgets when necessary. Watch other individuals’ techniques then just adjust the gear when you feel it is needed. Ensure the safety of other individuals while shooting. Shoot only in safe archery ranges. No one should be near or behind the target when you are shooting. There are training coaches that can help you hone your skills over time.

deer hunting

Footprints Tell Stories

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It’s more than just tracking down the deer whenever the hunter finds a set of prints on the ground, and though the answer is pretty much an open debate for most experienced hunters, it could tell a thing or two about the targeted buck.

For some, footprints bring about the awareness of the animal being nearby, or trailing them in the right direction. Of course this is merely factual information that footprints are like arrows pointing the way. Deer are habitual creatures that have similar needs and travel in nearly similar routes. One thing to watch out for is a possible high volume of deer traffic in a particular funnel. There are times that more than one set of footprints may be found, in varying sizes and shapes of the hoof, or toes by most hunters.

As for shape, they do tell an interesting fact about the buck. Of course the deep the impression on the footprint can be the older bucks as well as the toes being a little rounder at the tip. This tells a story about a mature buck with heavy antlers, possibly having to survive three ruts in its lifetime. It would be hard to contain the excitement, but there’s more to it at times.

Larger doe can also exhibit a similar set of tracks, and possibly even a deeper impression once they’ve stepped on that part of the ground. There are times when some young bucks about a year old may seem small compared to older doe. So depending on the permit to also hunt down antler less deer, they can be left alone or be used to an advantage, especially during a rut.

A more populated set of footprints can tell a great deal about their habitat. When a hunter looks around and finds the things a deer needs to survive, like a river nearby, ample grass and vegetation as well as rubbings on a tree and how deep the mark is. It’s clear that a buck may return here and the best place to set up a good firing position.

The best tactic when it comes to knowing about a deer’s tracks and determining if the area is a good spot is to leave things undisturbed. Any animal may be unnerved to find a set of human footprints and just scamper away. Preparation on the hunter’s part is also the key as he showers with a scentless soap and has some tools to aid in luring the animal, it won’t be long before claiming this part of the forest as your personal and rich hunting ground.

deer hunting

Virtual Deer Hunting

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There are times when a hunter’s need to stay ahead of the game and practicing rifling or bow skills on a wooden animal may not be enough. Here are some arcade games for next generation consoles to keep those skills sharp and have fun in the process.

And wearing a camouflage suit isn’t required.

Big Buck Hunter is one of the arcade titles that can be found in the nearest arcade or mall and developed by Play Mechanix, Inc. The player can choose up to four zones in North America, which the sequel also includes Canada, and start hunting. Certain game objectives like shooting as many bucks as possible without including the doe. Bonuses are awarded for accuracy and certain double and triple kills for bucks. It may sound straightforward, but it’s all about the fun factor and can be played for a couple minutes with a handful of quarters.

And if going to the mall is too much of a chore, then a gaming console is just as good nowadays with next generation consoles. Some titles for the PC and PlayStation 2 offers a better experience thanks to their unique control system and it’s better than the days of Duck Hunt (remember that?).

Deer Hunt Challenge series has been around for nearly 10 years and created for the PC, and if you’re lucky enough to get it off eBay, you’ll enjoy the feel of being a hunter by using a mouse. Options like tournament mode and traditional hunting can be done with this game. And if the need to hold something that’s similar to a gun, you may want to bring out the old PlayStation 2 and find Cabela’s Deer Hunt 2005. It offers a smarter deer and hunting game and a wide variety of games. There are still ‘light guns’ on the market that will allow any hunter to connect to the PlayStation 2 or PC in a real hunting fashion.

So technology has given the hunter another chance to satisfy the need for the hunt, after all, it might be just as exciting as the real thing. Regardless, the developers, who are big deer hunters as well, really appreciate creating the games to the closest possible thing, and purchasing a permit isn’t required.

With the Big Buck Hunter series, Deer Hunt Challenge and Cabela’s Deer Hunt 2005, it’s deer hunting season all year round.

bow hunting

Guidelines for the Novice in Bow hunting

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Are you new into bow hunting? You must have found something unique and fulfilling in the activity that has made you decide to put it into the list of your hobbies. Surely, it is exciting and fun. But moreover, it is highly challenging. Every bow hunting session would be highly engaging and exhilarating, but at the end of the day, there is no doubt that it sure is fulfilling and satisfying. If you bring home your prize or trophy (game), you would feel very accomplished. It is one way of recognizing all your efforts.

If you are a beginner, you have to start by learning important information quickly. There are many things to consider and many considerations to take into account. You have to first know more about the bow you are using. Aside from that, you also have to learn how to effectively and properly shoot using the tool. Of course, you need to know much about the target animal. You certainly would not be able to make it to the activity without doing so. You have to adjust your strategies to the nature and traits of the target animal. Here are two more tips that you should first and foremost know about as a novice in bow hunting.

First, find a mentor who is an expert in bow hunting. He should exhibit his expertise and apply effective strategies at all times. You have to learn so much from this guy. Take note that in this hobby, reading so much information is not sufficient. You would have to go out the fields so you could give it a try. Any seasoned bow hunter should be able to teach you what to do in particular situation. Thus, you could learn many techniques so that you would not gather zero results after spending much time bow hunting.

Second, give utmost importance as well to your choice of the right bow. There are just too many bow manufacturers out there claiming they have the best. Do not be easily fooled by the lavish marketing campaigns and luring photographs. Choose the best bow according to performance. Prefer the one that could provide you fast and clean shot. Be careful when showering bow makers with your attention. It would help if you would solicit reliable and accurate advice and recommendations from your mentor and bow hunting comrades. Stick with the best always.

deer hunting

Invisible Hunter

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When choosing the proper attire, it’s nothing like foxhunting in that fashion along with the coat tails and all that bright-colored junk. Today’s deer hunter may go as far as looking almost invisible to the deer’s eyes. Back in the day, hunters would rely on thick bushes or hide behind trees with a good clearing to tag the buck. It can be an arduous task to begin with as it involves having to survey the surroundings before finding the right spot, only to realize that the hunter has left his scent to drive the buck away.

Some companies have taken great lengths to developing the best hunting gear that allows hunters to blend in naturally with their surroundings. Nothing close to being invisible like James Bond’s car, but at least it creates an optical illusion to deceive a buck’s vision before being tagged. Though it may cost a pretty penny, it would be the best investment to have the best outer protection and camouflaging to date.

One of the best-known camouflage outfits is the one made by Gore-Tex. Its parka has been designed to naturally blend with the surroundings without the need to actually be behind shrubbery or trees. You can practically be in front of the tree as you take aim and fire. It’s breathable, with small pockets to insulate the body heat while allowing moisture molecules to escape. It’s been a favored outfit for hunters all over for a couple years.

One of the most important parts of camouflaging with just your usual hunting clothes is to make sure that they’re comfortable enough. Practicality is good for hunters on a budget and it doesn’t need to make some sort of fashion statement. It’s hard to hunt in a rainy or snowy climate where the hunter would compromise his health before he actually finishes. So it’s more than just wearing a camouflage shirt lying around the, but it’s more the matter of functionality as the clothes would allow the hunter to blend in as naturally as possible.

And as always, any outfit will still smell of humans. It’s good to carry a bottle of scent remover before entering into the woods.

Whether for those who can afford a good camouflage outfit or have to settle with the ones in the closet, it’s important to know what sort of outfit is needed in order to keep the hunter safe, warm and nearly invisible to the buck’s eye.

elk hunting

Elk Hunting: On Private Ranches

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If you want to learn the art of hunting elk, you must make arrangements for carrying out the procedure of elk hunting on the private ranches. The two significant places where you will find the availability of these ranches include the regions of U.S. and Canada.

These ranches are the most preferred places, as they provide a number of facilities like lodging facilities, good quality food and also, the expert guides. The most desirable feature of these hunting sites is that there is surety of getting the elk.

The rooms available for the accommodation of the guests are big and full of facilities like personal kitchens to cook and also, the hot tubs for bath. Moreover, you are also provided with meals while on the ranch for hunting.

The experience of hunting on these ranches is out of the world. There are a number of expert guides that assist you in finding the target. There are usually two hunters accompanied by one professional guide.

The authorities also provide the transportation facility to help you in the hunting. These transportation facilities include four-wheelers, ATV and horse rides.

The best part of hunting on these ranches is that it has a wide variety of these animals that include antelope, mule deer amongst the top species. Thus, you have the high probability of finding the elk with ease for hunting.

The kind of natural terrain of these ranches is the ideal place for hunting elk. There are some special features like rolling hills, forests with the web of oak trees along with the large number of pine trees and aspen trees.

The land that surrounds these ranches is full of wild terrain and thus, helps the hunter to easily put pressure upon the target animals.

Reasonable Rates Offered
Talking about the fees for hunting elk on these ranches, it is really wonderful to know that these ranches provide a number of facilities like lodging and meals at an unbeatable price.

There is no competition in the prices and the services offered by these ranches. The people who own these ranches have great flair for this adventurous sport.

The guides employed for helping the hunters also share the spirit of hunting with the hunters. Moreover, this hunting activity also provides assistance to the local owners in managing the crowds of animals.

The overall package that includes rooms for staying, three meals, expert guides and transportation facilities costs around $1500 that is quite reasonable.

The information about these ranches is available on Internet and travel magazines. Moreover, a local traveling company may also assist in finding the privately owned ranches for elk hunting. The ranches are indeed the great places for great sport.

deer hunting

Footprints Tell Stories

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It’s more than just tracking down the deer whenever the hunter finds a set of prints on the ground, and though the answer is pretty much an open debate for most experienced hunters, it could tell a thing or two about the targeted buck.

For some, footprints bring about the awareness of the animal being nearby, or trailing them in the right direction. Of course this is merely factual information that footprints are like arrows pointing the way. Deer are habitual creatures that have similar needs and travel in nearly similar routes. One thing to watch out for is a possible high volume of deer traffic in a particular funnel. There are times that more than one set of footprints may be found, in varying sizes and shapes of the hoof, or toes by most hunters.

As for shape, they do tell an interesting fact about the buck. Of course the deep the impression on the footprint can be the older bucks as well as the toes being a little rounder at the tip. This tells a story about a mature buck with heavy antlers, possibly having to survive three ruts in its lifetime. It would be hard to contain the excitement, but there’s more to it at times.

Larger doe can also exhibit a similar set of tracks, and possibly even a deeper impression once they’ve stepped on that part of the ground. There are times when some young bucks about a year old may seem small compared to older doe. So depending on the permit to also hunt down antler less deer, they can be left alone or be used to an advantage, especially during a rut.

A more populated set of footprints can tell a great deal about their habitat. When a hunter looks around and finds the things a deer needs to survive, like a river nearby, ample grass and vegetation as well as rubbings on a tree and how deep the mark is. It’s clear that a buck may return here and the best place to set up a good firing position.

The best tactic when it comes to knowing about a deer’s tracks and determining if the area is a good spot is to leave things undisturbed. Any animal may be unnerved to find a set of human footprints and just scamper away. Preparation on the hunter’s part is also the key as he showers with a scentless soap and has some tools to aid in luring the animal, it won’t be long before claiming this part of the forest as your personal and rich hunting ground.

bow hunting

Legal Considerations for Bow hunting

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Bow hunting could be a serious leisure and recreational activity. Many people are getting into it. You should understand that different countries could apply different approaches to the task. You know how laws try to protect endangered species and how animal rights advocates fight to stop killing of animals senselessly. Thus, before going to bow hunt, you should first consider legal differences in every country. Be reminded that the activity could take different seasons as well as restrictions compared to firearm or rifle hunting.

In North America, particularly in the United States and in Canada, bow hunting is basically regulated by states and provinces. Such regulations are of course addressing important issues like location of hunting, season, and even the type of the target game (whether male or female). In certain areas, there is a special archery season designated in an effort to minimize possible interference coming from rifle hunters. There are regulations covering shot lethality, game recovery, and technicalities like minimum draw weight when hunting for bigger game species. The Bow Season usually occurs several months before or after the designated Gun Season for rifle hunting.

In Australia, there is an active bow hunting scene. Existing regulations covering the activity often prohibit harvesting or killing of native species. The country-continent is naturally a home for a huge volume of introduced species that could be considered a real threat to many native species. The federal government and various landowners usually look at hunters as their partners in controlling and saving introduced species. New South Wales and Victoria are states with bow hunting regulations. There are licensing requirements for would-be-hunters. The sport is overall regulated by the Australian Bow hunters Association as well as the numerous local hunting clubs. The Bow hunter Proficiency Certificate is ensuring that animals are actually harvested in observance of humane principles.

In Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany, bow hunting is a prohibited activity. In the United Kingdom, the activity has been banned since 1960s after many years of target archery popularity. In France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, and Hungary, hunting using bow and arrow is considered an important factor in modern game management. It is important that you first determine the regulations and prohibitions in the European country you are in before you finally go out to fields to hunt for game. As always, ignorance could not be an effective excuse to the law.

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Survival Tips for The Hunter

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The essentials for your survival kit

Sometimes it’s easy to lose your way in an unfamiliar wood. Carrying a compass and maps of the general area that you will be hunting in can help in the event that you get lost. Carry a flashlight with extra batteries in case you get caught out after dark. There are also flashlights on the market now that operate by just a shake, eliminating the need for batteries. Matches in a waterproof case are essential and a sharp knife is good to have as well. A traditional Bowie or a Swiss Army knife both serves the purpose.

Some granola, candy bars, or dried fruit are a good idea to bring along if you are not skilled at finding food in the wild. Never eat any plants or berries unless you are familiar with what types are poisonous. If you are unsure of the safety of a plant or its fruit, don’t eat it. Risking an illness while stranded in the wild is not preferable to an empty stomach. A bottle or two of drinking water is necessary also. Humans can survive for weeks without food but only three days without water. You will not want to drink any water found on the land without boiling it for several minutes first to kill off any bacteria or parasites.

It is recommended that you carry a needle and thread in your survival kit. These materials can be used to repair torn clothing. You can also stitch up a wound to stop heavy bleeding in case an injury occurs and you cannot get medical attention right away.

Most hunters carry a six to eight-foot length of rope to help drag their game back to the truck or haul equipment up into a tree stand. This rope can be used in many ways if you are stranded in the woods for an extended period of time. You can use a rope for first aid purposes, to help build a shelter, or to secure equipment during your hike. You can even string up a makeshift clothesline to dry wet clothing should you fall into standing water. Be sure to keep your rope with you and not in the truck.

It is also a good idea to wear a belt when out hunting. A belt can be used as a tourniquet in an emergency, as well to help secure a splint to a limb if necessary. A belt is one first aid item that you don’t have to cart around either.

Fire safety when stranded

It’s important to follow usual camp safety guidelines when starting a fire under any conditions in the wild. Always triple check to make sure a fire is completely out before leaving the area to prevent flare ups and a potential forest fire. Choose an area away from trees and shrubs, and line your pit with small boulders or stones to help contain the embers.

Gather larger logs and sticks and stack them in a teepee fashion. Then gather small twigs and scraps of paper to use as kindling at the base of your teepee. Blowing gently on your kindling will help your flames catch hold. You can use pine boughs to shield your fire from wind if necessary. You can also use boughs to stand or sit on if snow is present. This will help insulate your feet from the cold while warming yourself near the fire.

deer hunting

Deer Hunting: Texas Style

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If you go to Texas, you will find out that there are a large number of deer hunter fanatics out there, who just love to hunt deer. It is a very routine kind of a thing there. Also, do you know that Texas is the second largest place in the nation to comprise of deer hunters? In Texas, there are a large number of deer available and all of different sizes and breeds. Even though, deer are in large numbers, many are discontented as they are allowed to hunt only a small number of deer.

But, to increase the popularity of deer hunting among out of the state people, hunting on land owned by private owners is permitted. A price is quoted for those who want to hunt on a private land by the owners themselves.

But, in order to do so, a license is needed for the land owner too to give access to others to hunt in their land

Also, to Texas residents, if they want to hunt in some wildlife parks or some national parks, though it is permitted, a license is required for hunting. You are bound to go behind the bars if you are not having a license. As Texas is such a large state, laws are strictly put into effect and also are quite stringent.

People who are interested in hunting can walk their dream in many ways. Often, they accompany their friends along to the hunting place and have a ball out there. Also, there are guides available for new people to Texas. If you are lucky enough, you can come back home with a deer trophy in your hand. But, not anybody can participate in hunting. It is quite necessary to pass a safety hunting course, which is put into effect by the authorities, if you want to participate in the competitions.

There is another way also to enter this adventurous competition. It is a lottery system implemented to bring more and more people into deer hunting, which are mostly applicable for a span of ten days. So, if your fate is walking with you, you can be chosen for the competition. During the season of the competition, many people come to see it. The whole competition area is flooded with audiences desperate to catch a glimpse. Texas Department of Wildlife says that more than 1.3 million is produced at the time of the season and that too in a year. It is advisable that you plan and book your hotel as soon as possible, if you are planning to go to Texas for a deer hunting journey. It is likely that no hotels will be available, if the schedule is delayed.

The money generated from the competition goes into conservation of the wildlife. Thus, it will be indeed a great experience to see the deer hunting programs in Texas.

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