Monthly Archives: January 2014

deer hunting

Now What?

Leave a comment

Even with today’s modern technology when it comes to designing the most effective broadhead arrows, bows and shafts available, there’s nothing that would compare the prey’s frenzied animal panic after feeling the arrow piercing through it. Of course any bow hunter would think they made a mistake at some point so they have to go after the buck, but there are some misconceptions and rules before approaching the ‘dead’ animal.

Haste makes waste as they say. In bow hunting, a hasty aim and release of the arrow may not always work, as the result the arrow’s flight may land somewhere far from the intended area of fatality. One point to consider is that animals have the drive to go insane at one point once it’s in mortal danger and may run away. If it does, it would be a perfect opportunity to reflect and see what might go wrong. Usually, once the deer or any other animal have been mortally wounded, it will bed somewhere within a 250 yard radius so it’s better not to go after it once it’s on the run. Just wait it out for a few hours.

Humans aren’t perfect, more so with a weapon at hand when it comes to hunting. There’s nothing wrong with the notion of thinking back on what might have gone wrong. Unless the hunter has managed to hit the buck through the lungs or the heart, at least it would be a short trip to where it’s bedding. Patience is the key when making sure the animal has expired.

Though there are a few things to worry about when it comes to misplaced shots, the only thing that may arise are the presence of coyotes that might take over before the bow hunter reaches it. Instead it may be a perfect opportunity to know where the animal might be if you follow the coyotes, then scare them away once found.

The real challenge when it comes to bow hunting is the fact that patience is the key, aside from whatever equipment a bow hunter has in his possession. There are a few things that may happen, like shooting while the animal is on the run, but mistakes like these is all art of the learning process. It doesn’t make for a bad bow hunter to reflect on his shortcomings from being hasty, but at least a lesson can be learned every time he takes aim and allow the arrow to pierce through the animal with a clean kill.

bow hunting

Bow Hunting Tools

Leave a comment

1. Bow – There are three basic types of bows: the long bow which is the most traditional, the recurve, and the compound bow. The longbow and the recurve bow are very similar in design and function and have the fewest moving parts. The word “recurve” means to curve backward or downward, the recurve bow is a variation of the longbow with limbs that curve backwards. Most complex is the compound bow which uses a system of cams or pulleys, cables, and the bowstring to shoot the arrow. The bow may include either a single or double-cam design. The purpose of the cams is to increase the effective draw weight of the bow while allowing the archer to hold less draw when at the full draw length. A crossbow is a mechanical bow attached to a stock that fires an arrow. Widely used in bow hunting by the people of Ohio, this may have straight limbs or have a compound design with limbs mounted horizontally on a stock. Crossbows use shorter arrows that are fixed with a release mechanism or trigger. The release mechanism includes a safety that blocks the pulling of the trigger.

2. Broadhead – The broadhead is the sharp point of the arrow. There are two basic types: the one is fixed-edge that you must sharpen yourself, the other is with removable blades that are already sharpened. Broadheads come in many different sizes, designs and weights. They must be kept razor sharp for proper performance. For safety, always use a broadhead wrench to attach the broadhead to the shaft.

3. Arrow – An arrow is a slender shaft or projectile, shot from a bow or crossbow. They have four main parts: the neck, fletching, shaft and arrowhead. The neck is located at the back of the arrow and is attached to the bowstring. The arrow shaft is the main body of the arrow; it may be made of wood, aluminum, carbon, or other materials. Fletchings are located on the shaft and allows stability for the arrow; it can be made of vinyl, rubber, or feathers. Fletchings are designed to stabilize the arrow in flight to make it more accurate. In crossbow, arrows have three main parts: fletching, shaft, and arrowhead. Arrowheads must be securely attached to the arrow. There are two common types of arrowheads: Field points are small arrow tips used for target shooting and broadheads.

4. Quiver – A quiver is a device that holds arrows that will protect you while bow hunting from the arrows’ sharp points. Quivers come in different styles, including some that are mounted on the bow, worn on a belt, or fit over the shoulder. It is important to always use a quiver whether you are using field points or broadheads.

elk hunting

Elk Hunting: Using GPS

Leave a comment

Perhaps you must have heard that a GPS – Global Positioning System – unit can assist you in the pursuit of deer and elk hunting. This technology has been made available by the U.S. Department of Defense for military pursuits; the technology is extremely affordable also.

Their method of working is very simple and remarkably complicated. The unit relieves a signal off the many satellites ranging the earth and –bingo- area is found.

The method with which they report the information keeps on changing but most commonly they recognize latitude and longitude.

A GPS division can easily become an important part of your hunting gear. It can help you in estimating the walking distance, search your way to hunting grounds with total accuracy, assess the time it will take for you to arrive at a destination, take account of fresh deer or elk.

In this way you can come back to them again. Most of the hunters who make use of GPS divisions to map the area where they hunt for elk or dear.

When you go out for hunting you can keep the important items in landscape such as pieces of rock, bends in trials, creeks etc. You can these articles to make map on paper or computer.

You can spot the places on your map where you have seen marks of elk or deer. You can compare these sights with the surrounding area, you can easily get an idea of place where you can find dear or elk.

GPS units can provide you real help during you hunting activity. You can also make use of your GPS to help you in explaining where you are if you get lost. If you have spotted a waypoint on your GPS and design it as a truck or camp then you GPS may lead you back to home.

You can do the same function in case you have killed a deer or elk and unable to drag it yourself. You can mark the location as a waypoint, go back to meet some friends, and you can easily find a way back to your prey.

GPS can also be used for searching a way. If you shoot a deer or elk at any place then you can easily find a place where you have to take the prey.

It is not a necessity to use GPS but it is a great device to help you in elk hunting second time. You should always keep a pack of fresh alkaline batteries, as you never know when your GPS will run out of fuel. In this way GPS device can guide you in great way for hunting dear or elk.