An unsuccessful hunt can never be a waste of time. So what if you are new to the field, collecting experience will always do you good.
When it comes to bow hunting, there are hella lot of tips that you can use to master the skill. You won’t need to know all of them but there are some that you can apply to perfect yourself.
And as you have already stepped here, we won’t let you leave without imparting all of those tips that every newbie must know.
So, let’s Bow Hunting Tips For Beginners!
Bow selection :
The very first weapon that you will need for hunting. Being a newbie, you’ll just need to focus on bow fit so you can try the bows prior to making a purchase. The best thing will be if you visit a local archery shop to get some ideas and help. Tell the seller how much new are you into the world of archery. If you have just tried bow hunting a couple of times, inform them. This way, they will help you with the measurement of your draw length as well as draw weight by letting you pull some bows.
Usually, bow limb comes with a 10-pound adjustment range with the maximum number listed. So, if you get a 50-pound bow, it will require 50-pound draw force to pull it back while you can adjust it down to 40. And as for the draw weight, it will be best to go with at least 40 pounds for hunting properly. Since you are a newbie, you can get yourself a low poundage bow and start practicing. Because this way, you get stronger, your techniques improve and you can increase your poundage level as well.
When it comes to the types, you will find a couple of them that are common in the market. However, you don’t need to know about all the types. For newbies, the best designs happen to be a Recurve bow and a Compound bow.
Recurve bow provides you with quick draw and release. However, it will not let you pull that much weight and you cannot hold your draw for long. Having said that, such type is great for hunting small targets like squirrel or rabbit.
Meanwhile, a Compound bow lets you hold more weight where you can get more time to aim just right. Plus, it also lets you hold draw for a long time so you can wait for your target to get to your aiming point. The only issue with such bow is that it does not offer an easy shot for moving targets.
Accessories:
Only having a bow won’t do! To complement the bow, you will be needing accessories as well. As for the options, there are a bunch where some are not even needed for newbies. So, we will highlight some must-haves that you will need.
Arrows: These should be the very first accessories you should have. Before you grab them, do some research to know about the right arrow material and weight for hunt. For materials, you can take fiberglass, carbon or aluminum into consideration. For arrow length, you have to settle on your draw length to have that. Moreover, you’ll also have to determine the size of fletching for the stabilization of the flight. This way, you can get yourself some better arrows for target practicing and they won’t even do much damage to the target.
Arrow rest: It’s a part of bow supporting the arrow in the course of draw and release. Look for the one that goes well with your style of shooting and with your accessories. For bow hunting, Whisker Biscuit can be your best pick as they are simple, accurate and durable. You can also try out Shoot Around Rests for having the same qualities for hunting. However, better you explore the options, take help from the archery shop to get the best one.
Release aid: Release aid is such an accessory that helps in shooting an arrow accurately with a trigger to release the bow string. So, it basically takes the place of your finger. The reason why they are essential is that they offer a steady arrow release so you can enjoy the accuracy and stability of your arrow. Although you will find target-style release aids to be more popular in the market, it’s better you opt for wrist strap ones since they are easier to use and great for newbies.
Sights: As for the sights, you will have a bunch of options to play around with. The most common of them would be Multi-pin sights and Crosshair sights. For multi-pin, there will be about 3 to 5 pins that you can set in 10-yard increments ranging from 10 to 50 yards. They are great for still hunting especially. Meanwhile, Crosshair sights come with an appearance of scope were lining the vertical wire up through the center of your game ensure accurate windage so you can crack down on elevation strictly. Both types have different pros and cons, so it’s better you go with the one that comforts you the most.
Quiver: Some great options can be back quiver, hip quiver and the one you can mount to your riser directly. Since you will be practicing bow hunting, the latter one can make an ideal choice and goes well with compound bows mostly. Other options are just ideal for target shooting, so you can omit them from the list to clear up your confusion.
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Fundamentals of archery:
Asking how much time it might take to master bow hunting will be wrong since it depends on person to person. Some improve through the years of practice and repetition while some get the hang of it after a few shots. Even newbies can hit bull’s eye if they are dedicated and focused enough.
However, there are still some factors that you should be knowing which are the basics of archery. Let’s highlight them for you!
Stance: You will need to stand at a right angle to your target with your feet shoulder-width apart and with your back-foot a tad forward. You can take an open stance that puts your front foot back or a closed stance that lines your toes up evenly. No matter what stance you take, it should be balanced and comfortable.
Grip: Grip the bow loosely while using the web of your hand for supporting the bow. It’s better if your knuckles are at 45 degrees angle to your bow. You can have your fingers wiggled during full draw so that you can relax your hands and wrist and that your bow torque does not get induced. There are some hunters that let the fingers dangle whereas some of them place them gently on the grip. Your aim should be having as little contact with the bow as possible so you can balance yourself for targeting.
Draw: It’s essential to use more bone than muscle for supporting the bow. This will help you shoot your target more consistently and you won’t get tired quickly. If you are someone right-handed, your bow arm, which is your grip hand, is your left arm. Push it towards the target and keep it straight but don’t lock your elbow fully. When the bow arm is locked, it hyperextends that leads bowstring to slap your forearm or elbow. And when it is bent, it lessens the overall strength of your arm making it hard for you to maintain muscle tension equally on your elbow and hampering steadiness. However, once you set the bow arm, pull the string back across your chest with your release hand. And then raise your bow to a point so your arm is parallel to the ground when you draw the string fully. Don’t use your shoulder for drawing the bow, instead use your back muscle for the job.
Anchor point: A consistent anchor point is super essential for precision. It’s the place on your face where you’ll bring the string and your drawing hand for your shots. There are basically 3 contact points. The peep sight aligning with the sight housing, the bowstring pressing into your nose tip and the bowstring touching the corner of your mouth. Having more contact points help you anchor more steadily. And it will be great if you make a bone on the bone connection. For instance, press your thumb bone against the bone of your jaw.
Release: Although it is easy to let go of the string it is still a vital step. You can create a surprise release by putting up pressure on the trigger slowly while you focus on your game. If you think you are finding it difficult, you can have an expert with you to learn its ideal points.
Follow-through: This is basically doing nothing for a bit at all after you shoot the arrow. Keep your bow right like it was while you were targeting and don’t move your bow unless your arrow hits the game.
Hunting accessories:
Broadhead:
Bow Hunting Tips For Beginners, it’s better to go with a 125-grain broadhead. Although 100-grain broadheads are more popular, yet 125-grain ones are razor sharp. And avoid picking cheaper ones because when you lose your arrow, it’s your broadhead and aim that everything relies on. So, you must do your homework banking on the target you wish to shoot.
Armguard can be of great help while you plan to hunt especially in colder weather. It will protect your jacket from getting in the way of string’s path and you won’t even miss your game.
Safety harness:
You will be needing a tree stand and a safety harness if you wish to hunt from a tree. Plus, you will also require a pull-up rope so you can pull your bow into the tree stand after climbing to it.
Single Pin Bow Sights Full Satisfied Article Here!!
Accuracy standards:
It has been stated that you will be able to strike a pie plate 30 yards 4 out of 5 times. If you think you are not being able to do it, practice will be your only key unless you master it. However, after you have grabbed the skill of shooting at an effective range, you can add 20 yards to that range to kick off practicing. The best thing you can do to develop perfect your accuracy is if you rehearse at a range longer than your goal range. Albeit, you will find it difficult to strike your game successfully, but eventually, you will master striking the bull’s eye from longer ranges.
Practice: most necessary bow hunting tips for beginners
Before you step out for hunting, it will be better if you rehearse bow hunting by using all the accessories you plan to hunt with. That includes your dress, broadheads, bow sight, arrow rest, quiver, even gloves. Because each of these stuff affects your shooting differently. Having and not having any of them plays a crucial role in bow hunting. And you will need to check all of them before your hunt actually.
After that, eliminate one of the broadheads and rehearse bow hunting. If you think they are affecting your target differently, adjust the sight for your broadheads.
Lastly, rehearse shooting from different positions which include kneeling and from a tree stand at difficult angles.
Study Animal Anatomy:
It is essential to know the location of the heart and lungs of an animal so that you get to understand where you should aim. If a deer is a broadside to you, then you’ll be needing to target right behind the shoulder, one-third of the way up to its body.
However, if you are in a tree stand and the deer is facing the opposite, then you will need to target a tad higher and farther.
To imagine where your arrow will strike the game for hitting the lungs or heart, you will need to think in three dimensions.
Bow Hunting Tips For Beginners, it is recommended to take shots at extreme angles or full-frontal shots since it will help in hitting the bull’s eye.
Bow Hunting Tips For Beginners With A Video Tutorial !!
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