How long before I'm ready for bow hunting?

jpohlic · #1 07-09-2016, 08:03 AM

So I spent my priority and pulled an antlered moose tag this year and I was thinking of getting a compound bow to extend my hunting season. How many arrows does the 'average' novice archer need to fire before he's ready to bow hunt? Is it possible to be ready to hunt in two months or am I crazy? I'd be spot and stalk hunting or sitting in a ground blind, no tree stand hunting for me.

58thecat · #2 07-09-2016, 08:12 AM

Wow loaded question for sure, depends on the individual, seen some become very good shooters under a month but they practiced everyday so that being said if your interested get to a pro shop, handle and shoot a few bows, get all kitted out, practice, practice and practice some more and you should be good to go for the moose rut. End of sept/early October. In conjunction with shooting arrows, practice cow calling,and scouting you have a busy schedule ahead of you....study your prey and when they come in get ready, very exciting especially at ground level.

Passthru · #3 07-09-2016, 08:35 AM

Everybody is different but after using a rifle for years I picked up a bow last year in the spring. I practiced a lot all summer. I'm glad I took my time practicing because little things popped up here and there that needed adjustment (peep twist, paper tuning, proper form, etc.). Not to mention sighting in a seven pin sight, that took way longer than I expected. I finally connected with a moose in sept. and man was I pumped. From what I hear, most guys get skunked on their first year. Good luck. Getting close is so much more fun

Lefty-Canuck · #4 07-09-2016, 08:47 AM

If you are just starting out never having done it before, you owe it to yourself and the animals to become proficient well prior to hunting. IMHO FWIW, two months does not allow for that. It can be done but it would require practice nearly everyday.

LC

Passthru · #5 07-09-2016, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

If you are just starting out never having done it before, you owe it to yourself and the animals to become proficient well prior to hunting. IMHO FWIW, two months does not allow for that. It can be done but it would require practice nearly everyday.

LC

Agreed. No way I would have been ready in two months

jlgsgw · #6 07-09-2016, 10:17 AM

Practice your butt off and keep your shots close, like really close, you don't learn to shoot at longer distances in 2 months, consistently anyway.

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jpohlic · #7 07-09-2016, 11:16 AM

I hunt a lot with a cap lock muzzle loader and like to get up close. All of my rifle kills have been less than 80 yards with most being 40-50 yards. I can't imagine shooting more than 20 yards with a bow.

reddeerhunter · #8 07-09-2016, 11:30 AM

Lots of practice. No more than 30yd shot. Are you willing to injure an animal and lose your tag? I think if you keep that in focus you will know if you are ready.
If you become super accurate and keep it close you may get it done. If you dont feel 100% when the time comes, wait another day.
Good luck.

Lots of superb archers here, lefty, lost, etc etc. Ask lots of questions on here. Start right!!!!!

kujoseto · #9 07-09-2016, 11:36 AM

I think getting close enough to the game is the bigger challenge so it seems like you have that covered. If you limit yourself to 20 yards and have become proficient at that range (I would recommend practicing further but that was a whole other thread with varying arguments), then I'd feel comfortable hunting with someone like yourself. Although I practice to 100, and feel comfortable to hunt out to 40, I'm still trying to take shots no further than 30. I've passed on a bull at 7 because the angle was poor and I don't mind not having any archery harvests yet. It's a different hunt to have confidence in it ending well. You seem to project that proper attitude so I'd guess you're probably going to enjoy extending your hunt. Hopefully you actually shorten it by getting something early with your bow

I think the 7 pins are mainly for practice. You'll probably only use one once you're hunting, especially if you're limiting your range to 20.
Good luck!

petew · #10 07-09-2016, 11:37 AM

Some people are naturally good shooters, others never will be a decent shooter in 3 life times.
Bowhunting is about getting close, not shooting far,that's for gunpowder.

Don't fall the need 70# power, get a weight you can draw easily , and start practicing. Your groupings will give you the answer you need.

The moose · #11 07-09-2016, 11:51 AM

Get your gear, shoot as much as you can. You will know what your capable distance is before the season. Stick within it and deligent to keep the process the same. Dont stop shooting because its in season.

Something that i found helps grestly once the shot is available is picturing the moment in your head , work thru the process right up to seeing the arrow strike the target.

Have fun and soon your rifle will be collecting dust

kujoseto · #12 07-09-2016, 11:59 AM

A lifetime of good advice from several of these more experienced fellas. Take heed and you'll do fine.
Just be prepared to have an addiction that makes hard drugs look like child's play lol. Archery bites hard and there is NO CURE

reddeerhunter · #13 07-09-2016, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kujoseto

A lifetime of good advice from several of these more experienced fellas. Take heed and you'll do fine.
Just be prepared to have an addiction that makes hard drugs look like child's play lol. Archery bites hard and there is NO CURE

Spoken like a boss!!!!!!

Pdub · #14 07-09-2016, 02:02 PM

It took me 3 months of dedicated practice even with a couple of "Robin Hoods" in the bullseye before I thought I was ready to hunt.

In my first season I got into a small herd of elk, literally in and amongst them. So close in fact that I was less than 10 yards away from 2 5x5's that were harassing the dominant bull. Unfortunately they were both standing dead on towards me, and I had just read that taking a shot like that is risky, as the target area is quite small(although I've seen videos since of that shot being taken with success...). The adrenalin flowing through me was so intense, as it was my first year hunting ever. Your previous hunting experience may have calmed your nerves, but being that much closer to any animal is, and always will be, quite an experience for me. Anyhow I ended up geting skunked that season and even the season after. Even after 6 seasons I've only filled 3 tags. I wouldn't have been comfortable at shooting anything around 40yds or further then, but this year I'm practising very hard at longer distances (>40) to be comfortable if that situation comes up(and even then I will never be "sure"). The three times I was successful all the shots were less than 30 yds.

Bottom line is the learning curve to bow hunting/archery is very individual, like most other pursuits, and you have to start practising now to see where you'll be in a couple of months. You don't even have to start hunting with a bow when bow season opens, you'll still have some time to practise. "Know your limit and stay within it"...

Besides, practising is fun in it's own right

My $0.02

bowhunter9841 · #15 07-09-2016, 02:33 PM

Flinging arrows at bullseye's is good for practicing your form and shot execution. This will help at the moment of truth, for your body to have the muscle memory of what it's supposed to do at the moment of truth, while under all the adrenaline and excitement of being so close to your quarry. However, shooting in 3-d tournaments, is going to help you with range estimation and picking a spot and aiming on real life size animals. I think that shooting 3-d is much more beneficial to the archery hunter than any other form of practice. You only get one shot at the target. And if you can't hit the 10 ring consistently on targets under 30 yards. You aren't ready to hunt. Keep on practicing, and you'll know when you're ready. There's lots of good advice on this forum. Hopefully mine helps.

I shot a 177/500 at my first 3-d shoot (dead last). Of course I had only been shooting my bow for about 2 weeks at the time. It was a real eye opener as to what I needed to practice. It was my second season before I would harvest an animal with my bow. Not for lack of trying, but more for lack of hunting skills.

jpohlic · #16 07-09-2016, 04:59 PM

I'm a member at Sherwood Park fish and game so I've got a great spot to practice in hunting situations.

58thecat · #17 07-09-2016, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpohlic

I'm a member at Sherwood Park fish and game so I've got a great spot to practice in hunting situations.

ahhh nope you got targets, lots of people shoot arrows etc at ranges into targets but they don't know what they got until it is go time, up close and personal with your intended game...shoot the eye of a needle at 30 yards at the range, come completely unglued at 50 yards with a bull walking in...shoots lots, practice, when you get him in...aim small, miss small....then come completely unglued...good luck! Its a rush.

bowhunter9841 · #18 07-09-2016, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpohlic

I'm a member at Sherwood Park fish and game so I've got a great spot to practice in hunting situations.

I am a member there as well. There is a members 3-d shoot there on the 21st of August. Maybe I'll see you there? I will be there with my daughter(s), not sure if they're both going to come or not? But the oldest is coming for sure! They have some decent targets there, in some tough spots.

Challenge yourself when you're out there! dont use a range finder! Or maybe practice guessing first, then check the range. If you decide to hunt on foot like I generally do these days. You'll have lots of situations where you don't have a chance to use a range finder without getting busted.

I used to hunt in a tree stand with the bow, I recommend starting like this. Much easier to hold your composure when you have less chance of getting busted. And you normally can see the game coming. So more time to calm down as they approach. As stated above, you can come unglued after the shot, but before hand, you gotta do your best to hold it together. Biggest rush You'll ever have is to get spitting distance away from an animal you plan to harvest. Makes me shaky just thinking about it!

Practice as much as you can, and when you do feel comfortable hunting, don't hesitate to fill a doe tag or two. Really helps build the confidence!

Lefty-Canuck · #19 07-09-2016, 07:45 PM

There are at least two hunter based shoots before the season, one in Drayton Valley on Aug 6-7 and one at SPFGA.

Both these shoots will have realistic shots....with max being 40 yards. No rangefinders unmarked distances.

I strongly suggest practicing like a madman, then attend one or both of these shoots. Drayton will give you the best indication of where you sit as it comes to hunting with a bow IMHO.

There is a hunter format the ABA has adopted the past two years. A vital hit is worth one point, an "X" is a bonus point, a 5 is a wound and that's a minus 1 point and a pass or a miss is a 0. Both these mentioned shoots will have this scoring format.

How you make out at these shoots would be a decent indicator as to whether you are ready for the season or not.

It certainly isn't out of reach but it will take a lot effort and dedication. Just my opinion.

LC

NBFK · #20 07-09-2016, 08:34 PM

Best way to judge how ready you are to hunt is pull your bow out of the case and take that first shot. Where does that arrow end up? That's all you get hunting........you don't get to pick the best group out of 2 hours of shooting when an animals in front of you.

Lefty-Canuck · #21 07-09-2016, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBFK

Best way to judge how ready you are to hunt is pull your bow out of the case and take that first shot. Where does that arrow end up? That's all you get hunting........you don't get to pick the best group out of 2 hours of shooting when an animals in front of you.

Yup! Or do that from your knees or sitting down and turning 180degrees.

Practice from all shooting positions and different distances.

LC

58thecat · #22 07-14-2016, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Yup! Or do that from your knees or sitting down and turning 180degrees.

Practice from all shooting positions and different distances.

LC

Exactly and a walk in the woods stump shooting goes a long way too.

Scottmisfits · #23 07-14-2016, 08:20 AM

Don't focus on 20, 30, and 40 yards either. Shoot at 17. Shoot at 23, 35, 42, 26, 8, all over the place. Learn what your bow does and where you need to put the pin at off distances.

Mike_W · #24 07-14-2016, 10:08 AM

Its been so long for me I cant recall but I bought a bow long before I hunted.....I didn't have any mentors and information wasn't as readily available online through videos and forums so my learning curve would have been much faster.
Get a bow and get set up proper by a bow shop. I would suggest Jimbows Edmonton!
Find a bow that feels right don't get caught up in looks, brand name or speed. Get that bow and some proper spined arrows. If you would like any suggestions on sights and or rests feel free to PM me or ask here.

Here are the steps you will probably want to/need to go through.
1) Start shooting.....St this point you may want to think about a 1 on 1 lesson (I believe Jimbows does this)
2) Shoot more
3) Peep and timing adjustment
4) Shoot more
5) and more
6) Possible peep and timing adjustment again
7) Paper tune
8) Various distance sight in
9) Walk back tune
10) Keep practicing at the various distances
11) Broadhead tune (you might be in tune if your walk back tune was successful but it is best to check that your broad heads shoot good at various distances)

At this point you will know if you are ready to hunt.

Good luck
Mike

backyard · #25 07-14-2016, 01:59 PM

little advise if you cant take the best possible shot then let down don't shoot ... try another day

SportHuntingHelp · #26 07-14-2016, 02:40 PM

I would recommend also having a draw weight you can pull without to much strain. You don't need to be drawing 70-80lbs.

Bergerboy · #27 07-14-2016, 05:16 PM

Shot my bow for 2 years before I hunted with it.

Edit: Shot lots of gophers in those 2 years. Invaluable lessons in distance estimation.

jpohlic · #28 07-14-2016, 09:41 PM

Thanks for all the tips but I think I'm going to pass on it. Just not enough to time this year. Plus, my dogs are getting up in age and I want to hunt upland with them as much as possible while I still can. On the other hand I booked some extra time off in November so I'll have 16 days in rifle season to fill my tag.

cdales · #29 07-15-2016, 10:33 PM

You could buy a bow tomorrow and could be shooting a 6" grouping at 40yrds at the range by the next day. No pressure, no stress.. It's no harder than shooting a rifle.... The hard part is when your mind has to make the choice of when to release the arrow based on being able to judge the animals movements and actions... which you can't learn at the range..that takes experience in the field, time in the field and just being out their enjoying what you do. It's an individual decision that is only up to you to decide. Good luck with the moose!