Playing guide for novice bow hunter

[vandeman17]

My old man and I leave Friday for NE Oregon for an elk hunt. We are going to be there all week and he has an any elk tag. I am going to just be playing guide/caller/packer/camp cook etc. I finally got my dad into bow hunting a few years back and this will be his second actual elk hunt with a bow. He is getting more and more nervous that he might "screw up" or something and doesn't want to let me down since I am taking a week off to go and not actually hunting. I keep trying to tell him to relax and I will enjoy it no matter what but he is still nervous. Any tips or tactics you guys might employ to not only calm the nerves but hopefully bring him some success?

[WapitiTalk1]

You're a good son vandeman; sounds like a great hunt in the making.  Only thing besides getting into elk I can think of would be to take a BH target so he can shoot a handfull of arrows each day while at camp to keep his shooting edge on, and, remind him that these stick and string thingamajigs are pretty darn accurate.  Best of luck on your OR elk adventure!     

[vandeman17]

You're a good son vandeman; sounds like a great hunt in the making.  Only thing besides getting into elk I can think of would be to take a BH target so he can shoot a handfull of arrows each day while at camp to keep his shooting edge on, and, remind him that these stick and string thingamajigs are pretty darn accurate.  Best of luck on your OR elk adventure!     

Thanks. I am stoked to go and hopefully get him an elk. I was able to call in a few bulls for him two years ago on his only other elk hunt and just the look on his face was worth it. Not only that, any week with just the two of us, making memories is worth it. I am going to bring my target for him to shoot during the middle of the day or to pass some time if needed. He has been shooting every day but can only shoot out to 30 yards. Guess I will have to bring them in tight. 

[4fletch]

Acupuncture should help. Just need to find someone who really knows the trade

[rtspring]

The only thing that helped me was live targets..   Then your nerves kinda settle in.

Good luck!

[Mxracer532]

Draw early, focus on a spot and not the whole animal/antlers

[snarkybull]

Any tips or tactics you guys might employ to not only calm the nerves but hopefully bring him some success?

take a nap.  take a dump.  either one is almost gauranteed to bring some elk in.  if that doesn't work, do some drinking.

[vandeman17]

My dad was shooting nice tight groups up until a few days ago now he is starting to miss most left and some high. He is working himself into a frenzy trying to figure it out and keeps trying to tinker with things. I keep trying to calm him down and told him to stop shooting until we get up there and I will help him. He is his own worst enemy sometimes! 

[WapitiTalk1]

Sounds like a bit of bow torque causing the bad releases.  One tip that seems to help with that is to "watch the arrow fly to the target through the peep".  Of course this is physically impossible but what that tip/drill does is force the shooter to hold bow steady/on target that split second longer which seems to eliminate some of the bow torque.  May be worth a mention to your pop.

[vandeman17]

Sounds like a bit of bow torque causing the bad releases.  One tip that seems to help with that is to "watch the arrow fly to the target through the peep".  Of course this is physically impossible but what that tip/drill does is force the shooter to hold bow steady/on target that split second longer which seems to eliminate some of the bow torque.  May be worth a mention to your pop.

I will try that. I had him practicing holding for a bit before shooting and as we talked last night, he mentioned that he has been trying to hold steady on the target... I told him that more than likely he wouldn't even be looking through his peep while holding as he will be watching the elk. He is just a lot like me, or I am a lot like him where we analyze everything to death and are perfectionists.

[Elkrunner]

My dad was shooting nice tight groups up until a few days ago now he is starting to miss most left and some high. He is working himself into a frenzy trying to figure it out and keeps trying to tinker with things. I keep trying to calm him down and told him to stop shooting until we get up there and I will help him. He is his own worst enemy sometimes! 

Im pulling for him...

[cbond3318]

How'd your  hunt go?

[vandeman17]

How'd your  hunt go?

No elk but had fun. Got him on a few bulls and cows but couldn't get them inside his 50 yard comfort range. They would hang up around 70 yards and then just cruise off. Lots of lessons learned and memories made. 

[cbond3318]

Nice! Sounds like a successful trip!

[vandeman17]

Nice! Sounds like a successful trip!

I think it was but the jury is still out with my dad. He was getting frustrated but I kept reminding him that failure is a huge part of bow hunting and it's what will make his first kill that much sweeter.