First Timer!

[TommyGun496]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger.  I purchased my first archery elk tag!  I bought a bow 4 years ago with the intent of switching over but just never have.  With the new muzzy regulations (209's) I figured now is the perfect time (assuming an influx in hunters).  I have been muzzy elk hunting for some time now and have been pretty successful.  I guess the reason behind my blabbing is I would like to here about your rookie mistakes when you first started archery hunting.  I am sure I will be able to add to this by seasons end!

[LongBomb]

One year elk hunting i took lunch on a ridge top looking into a timbered draw. It was a nice sunny september day so i kicked my toes up and closed my eyes to enjoy it. Well a chatter squirrel in a tree by me thought i came to visit and was going ham n slowly jumping closer in the trees. Finally it was about 6' away in a tree (very annoying when your checking your eye lids for leaks) i tossed a few rocks underhand but it wasn't phased. Finally i got grumpy enough and knocked my judo and released. I missed and watched my arrow go sailing down into the far depths of draw and i swear the chatter turned into a chuckle which i took personal. So out came the broadhead, he was still about 6' away, held way low and missed , another few $ sailing into draw. After that I'm pretty sure the squirrel was holding his gut he was laughing so hard. i reverted to the stone age and pelted away, course i couldn't get him and i finally headed out in search of bigger game. Hearing his chuckle for a long ways up the ridge. Lets just say i have a beef with that squirrel and i figured out where to hold when shooting at something 5-10'.

[Pegasus]

longbomb..shooting red squirrels is against the law in Washington State.

[LongBomb]

longbomb..shooting red squirrels is against the law in Washington State.

Yikes i never would of thought with how many are out there. I did some research into protected squirrels in Wa Thanks Pegasus for the heads up.

[Crunchy]

Mistake number 1 for me.  Make sure you seat the arrow completely on the string.  Cost me an elk the first year as when i went to draw the bow the arrow fell to the ground and the elk took off. 

Number 2.  Bulls are smarter than cows.  Snuck up to one and had him at 62 yards feeding.  Thought why not close the distance.  He noticed me at 62 but didnt seemed concerned and went back to feeding.  While his head was down and not looked I closed to 50 yards and froze.  Bull looks over and must have said, whatever was at 62 yards is now closer, I am outa here.  Pretty confident I could have made that 62 yard shot.

Number 3.  Dont tell your friends you got one until you actually see it on the ground.  I made a shot at what I thought was 25 yards.  Got on the radio and told the crew elk down get the packs.  I was a good 2 miles from the next guy.  I waited 15 minutes and went to look for blood.  No blood and found my arrow 10 minutes later.  I shot under the elk.  The yardage was actually 45 yards.  Had to eat crow when i told everyone on the radio they can turn around i missed.  Elk seem closer than they are.

Number 4.  I am a strong believer in KARMA when hunting.  Be kind to other hunters who may not know where they are or what they are doing.

Number 5.  Dont get greedy.  Me and a "buddy" where on a heard with a bull bugling away.  Got within 100 yards.  Another hunter in our group was moving fast from a mile away to get into position and increase the odds we get at least one down.  The "buddy" didnt want to wait and moved in on the herd rather than waiting.  I told him go ahead i will just loop around and wait for our friend.  Worked out for me and he pushed the elk right to me, and I got a fat cow out of the deal.

[Pegasus]

Practice guessing yardage and then use a range finder to verify. Try that on flats and hills both up and down. Pretty soon you won't need a range finder. Practice shooting uphill and downhill and recognize that your entry point and exit will be very different. When still hunting scan your location for landmarks that you can guess or range the yardage on before an animal comes along. When that critter passes that tree you marked at forty yards, you already know the correct distance. Remember any movement by you or an incorrect wind are your worst enemies. Try never to shoot and elk a few minutes before legal hunting hours end. Shooting an elk in September and not recovering it until the next day will most likely result in spoilage to your elk. It is no fun trying to following a blood trail in the dark with only a lantern or a flashlight and it can be hazardous to your own safety.

[Cab]

Here are my top tips

1. Dont forget your release....trust me we have all done it and it sucks having to drive back to camp or your house to grab it. I put mine around my sight after using it everytime.
2. Don't make your draw weight too heavy, way too many guys do this. 50-60lbs is more then enough and if you can't draw you bow easily from on your knees, sitting and standing then reduce it. you are using new muscles and with practice you will be able to handle more weight but don't worry about shooting over 60lbs.
3. Make sure you have a legit draw length. it's amazing how many guys have a 30in draw length, don't be fooled into improper draw length it will only hurt your form and shooting ability.
4. Like Pegasus said practice guessing distances, I will sometimes while retrieving my arrows from my target will throw them to random distances and where-ever they land I guess the distance and shoot.
5. Don't get over confident in how far you can shoot, 40 yards at a foam target is one thing, 40 yards on an elk in uneven ground, branches in the way and your heart pumping is another. Closer is better.
6. Tune your bow with your broadheads and practice with your broadheads( I use 1 out of the pack to practice so the other are still razor sharp). Always shoot your broadhead first THEN YOUR FEILDPOINT when sighting in broadheads. That will save you a few arrows. I recommend a solid fixed broadhead in the 100grain area as 100 grain is the easiest to find. Slick trick, muzzy, G5, Magnus, DRT, NAP and many others make quality broadheads. I like Slick trick because I can replace the blades.
7. Practice a lot and find a system that works so that when the time comes your body goes into autopilot and you're not thinking about it. Every arrow you shoot, you should use this system of breathing, focusing point and anchor points.
8. Heavy arrows = good penetration.
9. small twigs = Big miss/deflected shoots, clear your shooting lanes if you can.
10. Watch old Fred Bear movies, it will just show you that you don't need all the latest and greatest tech, the heaviest bow or even fastest bow. It's about shot placement, sharp broadheads and properly weighted arrows.
11. Enjoy the challenge, you have taken on an incredibly frustrating but rewarding task. Have fun try out a 3D shoot and enjoy archery as much as you can so that come hunting season your ready to go to work.

Good sources of info for learning: Ikes Outdoors youtube, Aron Snyder gritty bowman podcast, archerytalk forum searches, Remi Warren has some great archery youtube videos, Camron Hanes has some great youtube videos, Meateater has some bow youtube videos that are helpful. Old Fred Bear videos the DVD set is other the price and there is a few on youtube.

[TommyGun496]

Hey guys, thanks for the replys/advice.  Should be fun!  Hopefully I don’t run into any of those annoying chatter squirrels!  If so, I know what not to do:)

[LongBomb]

 :bdid:yeah don't touch them

[dreamingbig]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger.  I purchased my first archery elk tag!  I bought a bow 4 years ago with the intent of switching over but just never have.  With the new muzzy regulations (209's) I figured now is the perfect time (assuming an influx in hunters).  I have been muzzy elk hunting for some time now and have been pretty successful.  I guess the reason behind my blabbing is I would like to here about your rookie mistakes when you first started archery hunting.  I am sure I will be able to add to this by seasons end!

Figure out how far you can shoot consistently with field points and then divide by 2.  That should be your effective range with broadheads in the field in year 1.  Other than that have a great time!


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