misc advice for a newb

[Snapshot]

Start aquiring your scent control products now......

Start practicing paying attention to the wind. If you can get in your area try to make notes of wind direction at certain times of day. If you're hunting a mountainous area read and learn about thermals.

Dont worry about acquiring scent control products...its whitetail T.V gimmicky crap. If you're upwind youll be busted regardless of how much your clothes cost of the amount of gimmicky spray you have on.

 

With a safe backstop shooting in the city shouldn't be a concern. I know several people who live in the city and who shoot their bows in their yards. Maybe check the ordinances? And shooting down from an elevated position it is especially safe. The arrows have nowhere to go but into the ground so long as you don't have something there for them to ricochet off.

[reagansquad]

Like was said, practice everyday.  But, don't wear yourself down so that the next day you are sore or having a hard time controlling your draw.  10-15 well placed shot a day should be enough.  At least I found that for me, back in the day.  If you can get up to more without over straining great.  Shoot all angles.  Try leaning way to a side, twisting around, all kinds of contortions.  Get to a few 3D shoots, they are lots of fun.   Most of all, have fun

I'm a 6'6" former powerlifter shooting a 60# bow. I don't get tired until I've been shooting for an hour or so. 

Unfortunately, I only have time to shoot once or twice a week. Single parent and a 50-60 hour/week job. 

Good advice on all points. Wish I could follow more of it.

[reagansquad]

Start aquiring your scent control products now......

Start practicing paying attention to the wind. If you can get in your area try to make notes of wind direction at certain times of day. If you're hunting a mountainous area read and learn about thermals.

Dont worry about acquiring scent control products...its whitetail T.V gimmicky crap. If you're upwind youll be busted regardless of how much your clothes cost of the amount of gimmicky spray you have on.

 

With a safe backstop shooting in the city shouldn't be a concern. I know several people who live in the city and who shoot their bows in their yards. Maybe check the ordinances? And shooting down from an elevated position it is especially safe. The arrows have nowhere to go but into the ground so long as you don't have something there for them to ricochet off.

Naw,  mean IN THE CITY. There are no yards only sidewalks.

[MtnMuley]

What AKBowman said it true.  You HAVE to play the wind.  Scent control gear is nice, but definately not necessary.  Think about the week long trip packed in.  Sitting around the campfire, and no showers.  Spray cover doesn't cover it then, especially the sweaty boots.  Again, you must have the wind in your favor.  If not, pull out and wait for another day/time.

[jechicdr]

Scent control clothing certainly helps me live with myself after being up in the woods for 2 weeks.  An animal will smell you if it gets immediately downwind even with scent control, but if it is downwind 1-2 hundred yards, you might not spook it.

[Todd_ID]

Once you get your bow dialed in and you're shooting with confidence, then put a drop of whiteout on each joint that can move on your sight and rest.  If it does actually move during a bump or fall, then you'll see the whiteout crack at that spot, and you'll know that you need to re-tune your bow before going back out that day.  Also, you'll know that if your arrow flight starts getting worse, then the only things that have changed would be string stretch or form.  Form is fixed between the ears.  String stretch is with rest adjustment.

Shoot a couple arrows every day during the season.  It's very probable that you'll lose the good form you've built up during the summer by not practicing and only focusing on the hunt.

Wax your string almost daily during the season.  Hunting makes for tough conditions for bowstrings: even if you only hunt out of a treestand.

Take the first good shot an animal gives you that you know you can make.  If you're at full draw on a big doe, and you hear the voice in your head say, "That's a dead deer right now," then shoot right now.  If you're at full draw on a 330" bull, and you hear that same voice say, "I think I can make that shot," then don't shoot; wait for the other feeling or let it walk.

Squeeze your trigger.  Even with the buck of a lifetime that you can't wait to touch his horns: it isn't going to happen if you punch the trigger.

Body position of the animal is everything in bowhunting.  Sometimes you have to pass at 10 yards.

Fleece and wool are hands-down the best bowhunting clothing.

Your compass will be wrong if your release is too close.

Shoot all the 3D shoots you can get to.  They are the best hunting practice there is.

Be ready to eat lots of tags for lots of years unless you're willing to shoot does and cows for the first 10 years.

You can get away with some movement and noise but never scent.

[coachcw]

hunt into the windalways , practice shooting angles and judging yardage, don't hesitate to draw early and settle into your shot , rushing a shot is never a good idea.

[Snapshot]

The reason condos and apartments have hallways is so you can set your block target on a dining chair at the end of the hall and shoot arrows. Even if it is only a fifteen foot shot you are going through the motions and that is important to keeping your good form. Don't miss the block!

[reagansquad]

The reason condos and apartments have hallways is so you can set your block target on a dining chair at the end of the hall and shoot arrows. Even if it is only a fifteen foot shot you are going through the motions and that is important to keeping your good form. Don't miss the block!

Every single spot in my entire apt that's at the end of a hallway has a window right there... otherwise I'd have done it by now. 

[Snapshot]

The reason condos and apartments have hallways is so you can set your block target on a dining chair at the end of the hall and shoot arrows. Even if it is only a fifteen foot shot you are going through the motions and that is important to keeping your good form. Don't miss the block!

Every single spot in my entire apt that's at the end of a hallway has a window right there... otherwise I'd have done it by now. 

A rip of 3/4" thick plywood leaning against the window header would stop an arrow. If there is a concern of missing an 18" block from a distance of fifteen feet then cut the distance in half. The purpose of the exercise is not to try and hit a target. The purpose is to go through the motions of shooting arrows.

A safety note: The tip of an arrow should never be pointing anywhere but directly at the target from the moment one begins to draw the bow to the moment of the arrow's release. If that cannot be done then the bow is too heavy for the archer.

[dreamunelk]

The reason condos and apartments have hallways is so you can set your block target on a dining chair at the end of the hall and shoot arrows. Even if it is only a fifteen foot shot you are going through the motions and that is important to keeping your good form. Don't miss the block!

Every single spot in my entire apt that's at the end of a hallway has a window right there... otherwise I'd have done it by now. 

A rip of 3/4" thick plywood leaning against the window header would stop an arrow. If there is a concern of missing an 18" block from a distance of fifteen feet then cut the distance in half. The purpose of the exercise is not to try and hit a target. The purpose is to go through the motions of shooting arrows.

A safety note: The tip of an arrow should never be pointing anywhere but directly at the target from the moment one begins to draw the bow to the moment of the arrow's release. If that cannot be done then the bow is too heavy for the archer.

   The safety note is some darn good advise.