Bow Hunting starter

[Cap't Ernie]

I am a gun hunter by nature, but I have decided that where I have been hunting, I've got to change tatics and hunt with a bow.

I've never really shot a bow in my life, let alone a crossbow.

I have decided to get a crossbow sometime this spring or midsummer, although I'm not set on it yet.

A few questions:

Is a compound a better choice for a beginner?

What kind of bow do I want (I'm looking in the range of $300?)?

Where's a good place in Central Ohio to buy and/or shop for a bow?

Captain Ernie

[MUZZY MAN]

A crossbow will be easier to learn with. A compound or recurve will take more time. once you get the archery bug. It becomes a lifestyle. Something you do all year. Don't get caught up in the super bow thing. I have a 600$ bow. And I know guys shooting a 15 year old bow that kill more deer than I do. Bow hunting is more about scent control and concealment, and woodsmanship skill. You can pick up a nice bow for the price your talking about. Just remember you will have to put practice time in.

[SP Scout]

I suggest a compound or recurve. I just think the satisfaction you get from all the time you have put in from practicing and controlling your movement when drawing back when that moment comes will be so much more satisfying. You can get a good bow around that price like previously mentioned. The only people that will tell you that you need a super bow are either dealers or people that cant shoot, but they are always fun to have.

[Thunderflight]

Go with the compound bow.

[Milo]

What are you looking to get out of bowhunting? It is a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

[Cap't Ernie]

I am looking to bowhunting as a few things

1) Another reason to be in the woods hunting which I love
2) Another reason to get out of the house into the woods!
3) A greater chance of harvest
4) More time/flexiblity of when I'm hunting rather than just a week of gun season.
5) Harvest a trophy buck

As a gun hunter, I'm not into the whole scent control thing to the extremes. (maybe why I'm a not-so-sucessful gun hunter!)

Captain Ernie

[Milo]

success rate for archery epuipement are not that great. I believe the state says 23%? Most hunters will agree that archery is what you put into it. If your not able or willing to devote practice time then get a crossbow. If the arrow interests you then try a compound.

[coonskinner]

go to an archery range,look at all they have to offer,i am dead against starting with a recurve or longbow unless you are prepared to put in some hard work for at least a year before hunting...they can be frustrating and you must be able to deal with it and keep trying to improve...i think its best to try a compound or crossbow first...let the salesman at the shop know what your needs are...try out different bows...see the advantages,disadvantages...i do not know bout xbows but most ranges can have you in the kill zone in an hour...now i'm referring to many years ago and shooting with fingers...i seen newbies in the kill zone in 15 min. with 50% letoff compounds...i dont know if todays bows are easier or harder to shoot...but i think you owe it to yourself to go to a archery range,get help,and shoot some bows,shoot a lot of bows...they also will get you into the right draw length which is important with compound...but no matter which one...practice practice practice,be ethical,abide by the law and be safe!!!good luck!!!:)

[Cap't Ernie]

"Kill Zone"

That's the other thing that is holding me back from bow hunting. I'm not so sure about wounding a deer and then not finding it or having difficulty finding it, or it this overrated?

Captain Ernie

[Milo]

Don't tell anybody but the kill zone on a deer is the same for gun or a bow. It's a dirty little secret:D Always have help when tracking a deer. This makes for a shorter drag. you need a mentor for sure to help you along.

[Cap't Ernie]

My father who introduced me to hunting, has vowed never to hunt in Ohio again after a bad season this year.

So, this is going to be like mentoring myself.

Captain Ernie

[tuffshot]

Cap't,

Find a reputable bow shop in your area. See what the owner has to offer as far as bows that he carries and his knowledge of the equipment and set up. A good bow shop can have you set up very well within a day. He will need to primarily tune the bow and measure you for a proper draw lenght.Then comes the practice on your own.

There are several compounds within the 300 dollar range but it the other implements like sights, stab, release and arrows that will shock you. A good shop can help with a compound or crossbow.

If you are just starting out, buying a bow from a magazine will be all you will have and you will have to go to the school of hard knocks to learn to shoot it.

["J"]

Starting out with a bow means allot of work. If your going to use a compound/recurve then more then likely you will be hunting out of a tree stand, and add that to your list of things to buy, along with tree stand seat if it doesn't come with one, and a reliable safety harness. Practice eveyday for about 5 to 10 shots then slowly increase to 10 to 15 then stay at that this will get all you muscles and form in good working order as long as you have someone who knows what they're doing show you how to stand hold and release the string. I would go to an archery pro shop to get a bow if I had never shot one before they will hook you up and show you the ropes and most have an indoor range that will allow you to shoot the bow in. Bows are like cars/trucks everyone has a most/least favorite and you'll get varing oppinions on them all. The best thingis look in you price range and then start shooting them to see which YOU like the best. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Woodland]

I started with a crossbow almost 20 years ago and then moved up to a compound when I wanted a harder challenge. I bought my Hoyt compound 4 years ago and love it. What I recomend to anybody that asks me about getting into bowhunting is to start out with a crossbow. Getting into bowhunting can be very frustrating. Take it from somebody who never even gun hunted for deer prior to deciding to start bowhunting. To finally get within bow range on deer and then blow the shot or getting busted drawing could turn you away from it. I say go crossbow then graduate to a tougher challenge. Just my .02 worth. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Rick

[coonskinner]

do not buy your first bow from a catalog!!! go to a good archery shop even if it means a long travel...if you like bass pro or cabelas,then take a ride over and they will set you up with the right stuff...almost everybuddy has a small range anymore to try bows...:)

[Cap't Ernie]

A tree stand isn't that big of a deal. Here in Morrow County we make our own!

How much room do you have to have to practice with a bow?

Captain Ernie

[JMH]

You don't need to much room to shoot, just a long narrow spot with a safe backstop. The area beyond the backstop should also be safe, just incase you let a wild one go. 20 - 40 yds can be enough if you exercise control in the woods.

If you want to go cheap, buy a used compound. You probably get a complete setup for $100.00. I bought a used Hoyt in 1991 and still use it today. It shoots around 210 fps and blows clean thru every deer I have shot.


As for scent control, the single most important thing is to setup downwind of where you expect the deer to come in from. I have never washed my heavy hunting clothes, usually only wash my light stuff once a year at the most. I don't use scents or scent eliminators. I know this is different from what most people say, but I have killed alot of deer within 10 yds. Take note, I am a meat hunter, not a big buck hunter. I do believe the older deer learn the habits of hunters and use their nose to detect them from long distance and if you want to hunt trophy deer, then alot more scent control (work) will be needed.

Kill Zone - you need to learn the kill zone and be able to hit that zone on the range every shot for that distance. If you can't hit that zone on the range, then your max shot should be shortened. Trailing a deer can be easy or it can be extremely tough depending on the ground cover the deer is traveling over, the thickness of the cover, the speed in which the deer is moving, the shot placement, the amount of light in the woods, the weather.... I have had bowshot deer lay down underneath my tree and die, run full blast and only make it 25 yds, run full blast and make it 200 hundred yards or just kept on walking like nothing happened - all with double lung shots. All the variable is part of what makes bow hunting fun.

[noboatdave]

Bows are not difficult to use if you are motivated enough. Here is a picture of my sister in law, Robin. She bought her Martin at a Bass Pro in Florida in September. She shot it nearly every day, most times in her basement. She shot this buck at 10 yards on November 8th.

http://users.beol.net/davenlisa/robin.jpg

[Cap't Ernie]

Thanks JHM.

It's those "variables" I'm not so sure of!

Captain Ernie

[It's Not A Passion..]

If you're wanting to get into archery, just expect to spend some money. I'm getting a new bow and accessories here shortly and am probably going to spend over a thousand dollars. Of course you can go much cheaper, but it'd probably be hard to keep it under $300 with accessories and such for a new bow. Try a used one. Crossbows are for the young children and disabled.........

[Cap't Ernie]

I'd probably look at spending $300 on just the crossbow or compound.

What's wrong with crossbows?

Captain Ernie

["J"]

Nothing is wrong with crossbows, it's that 4 wheel drive versus 2 wheel drive thing, you know one is better or worse then the other. If you like to get into archery and don't have allot of money/experience then go with the crossbow, you can get into a horton youkon for around 220-250 bucks and even cheaper if you buy used. Allot of people start out that way and when they get good at it want to get into the compound part of the sport then after a whaile they'll get into more of the traditional part for more of a challenge which is what it boils down to for people. The challenge or the dificulty of the harvest the recurve/stick bow would be the most challenging of all. I used to shoot a old fiberglass stick bow when I was a kid and became pretty good at it hunting rabbits. But discovered girls and that was the end of my instinctive shooting days!!! :rolleyes: ;) :D

[jethro]

Archery is a whole different experience. The number of things that can go wrong are much higher than gun hunting. The biggest difference is that 25 yards and less is the ethical shooting range, compare to 50+ yards for guns. Scent and sound become alot more critical. The habits of the animal and its alertness to hazards is most important at this range. Imagine 10 yards to big game. It is the most exciting thing hunting can offer.

You can spend that $300 effectively with any archery weapon. But to take advantage of the benefit of Xbow, I would add $50 -$100 for a scope. That reduces the requirements of your natural abilities.

The issue of Xbow or handbow is the time to achieve reliable proficiency. A scoped Xbow is a huge advantage compared to handbows for the lions share of shooters. The handbows do not have the scope feature. That being said, a few can shoot accurately and repeatable with handbows if they invest the time and have the eyes and natural ability for it. With scoped Xbow, you can eliminate the draw action, strength requirement, and the eyesight imperfections. But you do not eliminate the stealth factor in opportunity - which is the main success factor.

The proponents of handbow over Xbow give no credit to the shooters weaknesses or his available investment to training time. It is to your advantage to achieve success with the more simple shooting method. Attributing the choice of Xbow to children and the handicapped is filled with unwarranted prejudice and oblivious assumption of the average human capabilities and limitations.

Try both methods and assess your own capabilities before spending that hard earned money.

[Cap't Ernie]

Jethro,

Thanks a ton of your post.

I would add $50 -$100 for a scope. That reduces the requirements of your natural abilities.

If a deer is 10 yards away, what's the point in a scope, or 30 yards for that matter?

With scoped Xbow, you can eliminate the draw action, strength requirement, and the eyesight imperfections.

Strength requirement isn't a problem. I'm just a young pup and I'm in better shape than you geezers
;)

Eyesight imperfections...is that serious? I do have pretty bad eyesight (the 6 inch "E" on the wall at the optomotrist's, I can't see the clearly w/out help) and wear contact lenses.

Captain Ernie

[Arrow 1]

If you really want the expierience of bowhunting, go with the compound. Hunting with the crossbow is closer to hunting with a gun than a bow.

You have picked the perfect time of the year to learn to shoot a compound bow. You have 10 months to learn to shoot it , which is plenty of time.

The next two things I am about to tell you will be very important to your hunting success if you have not done much or any bowhunting, and you have nobody to help you get started.

1) Join a bowhunting club and become active in it. Get to know the people in the club. I guarantee you, you will recieve tons of help getting started, and belonging to a club gives you a great place to practice.

2) Take the free course offered by the National Bowhunter Education Foundation. This course is free. It was paid for by bowhunters like me, and others. The course is taught by competent and expierienced bowhunters. Go to www.nbef.org for more info about this. It covers everything from shot placement to tracking to treestand safety to anything else that pertains to bowhunting. Even seasoned hunters benefit from this course.

[CritterGitter]

Captn Ernie. I too live in Morrow county. You can give me a pm anytime you like and I can help you out. Maybe we could even meet up for some coffee or something sometime and just talk about deer hunting.

CG

Name is Kyle

[coonskinner]

cg...maybe we can get ernie to a greet and meet...:)

[CritterGitter]

That would be a good idea. Then, he could talk with lots of different hunters, some who shoot compound, some who shoot crossbow and some who shoot traditional. That kind of sounds familiar don't it? lol

:)

CG

[Cap't Ernie]

Guys, I'm a minor. Kids aren't supposed to meet people in real life they talk to on the internet.

CritterGitter,

Why does that name sound familar? Deer check-in station?

Captain Ernie

[coonskinner]

we just talk huntin...what ever shakes out of that is fine with me...:)

[CritterGitter]

Not sure about why a check-in station would ring familiar with my web site moniker but no biggie to me.

Besides I am just another Morrow county guy. I live in Fulton. Mostly hunt public land in Delaware as do lots of guys from around that area. Some good rabbit huntin out there too. I got a beagle and run her from time to time though she aint got out this year yet. I need to get her out especially now that all that snow melted!

You want to talk deer huntin, we can offer all the advice you need. Meet and greet are cool because mostly it is just some guys talkin about deer hunting and have a laugh or two over a beer or 2, but it aint about beer either. Mostly we just talk deer hunting. You're welcome when we meet up next time which is................. um................we dont' have one planned for post season yet, but we need to do. Note to self{be sure to tell Jimmy it is his turn to plan a Meet-N-Greet}. So, anyway one should be in the works soon! lol

CG

[Cap't Ernie]

I found it.

Critter Gitter Archery

It's in Ding-town and they had check-ins for deer gun and archery.

Captain Ernie

[jethro]

Capt Ernie,
Eyesight and scopes at 10-30 yards. Wait till you miss a few times at that range and you'll know what I mean. In the excitement, I have chosen the wrong yardage sight pin several times, and sometimes not even remember which pin I lined up with. Happened enough that I took that unknown out of play with the scope.

But more important, this old geezer's bifocals are powerful and I must use a scope. Without it, the only way I could clearly see the pin and the prey would be to nod my head between the bifocal line....that doesn't work.

If you don't get excited when you are ready to shoot inside 20 yards, and your eyesight is decent, I wouldn't worry about a scope.

[coonskinner]

as many has said here try everything and use what fits your style of hunting the best...get to a range that has all the types of bows you can use in archery season...try em all...they can get you set up correctly with whatever you choose...then its up to you to learn to shoot effectively...practice...:D

[jethro]

What he said ! Try 'em all.
And don't forget that there is more than the range experience to consider...so try 'em in the tree stand, too.

[Cap't Ernie]

If you don't get excited when you are ready to shoot inside 20 yards, and your eyesight is decent, I wouldn't worry about a scope.

To be honest, if the day comes when I don't get excited to have a deer within 20 yards of me, that's the last day I'm hunting.

Captain Ernie

[coonskinner]

i agreE...:o