Small ideas that make you a better bowhunter

[bow4elk]

One that comes to mind - I use corn starch in a cleaned-out Elmer's Glue bottle for my wind checker.  Odorless, dirt cheap, and by constantly keeping tabs on the wind, I stay in the game more often.  I've experimented with a dozen or so different bottles and have found the glue bottle works best because it's flat shape fits well into any pocket and the twisty cap is quick and easy to control.

I also have a zip-lock baggy of down feathers in my treestand pack.  While on stand I will float a few feathers from time to time to keep track of wind currents.  It's amazing to watch what happens near the ground or as the feather hits a sunny patch.  I've had feathers come back by my stand hours after I first floated them!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

One that comes to mind - I use corn starch in a cleaned-out Elmer's Glue bottle for my wind checker.  Odorless, dirt cheap, and by constantly keeping tabs on the wind, I stay in the game more often.  I've experimented with a dozen or so different bottles and have found the glue bottle works best because it's flat shape fits well into any pocket and the twisty cap is quick and easy to control.

Reminds me of the time I got my wind-checker confused with my Afrin...   that is something I'll never do again...

[AKBowman]

Practice coming to full draw and shooting within 3-4 seconds. Best advice I can give...especially when hunting in thick country. You may have a small window.

Also practice shooting really close ranges (10yrds and less) quick draw and release without using your sight pins (instinctive)

You dont want your first time faced with that situation to be on a nice bull elk...my first was on a really nice better than full curl dall ram and it makes me want to puke thinking about the arrow sailing 4 feet over his back at 20 yards. 

[carpsniperg2]

i use in all practices of hunting the old saying that was taught to me.
aim small miss small.
allot of bowhunters just think to aim at the lungs and that is good enough while this is true i find when you focus on a small spot you groups are better. try shooting at a paper plate then try taping a dime on a plate then shoot the groups should shrink allot. my for the day lol

and follow threw

[wabow]

Practice with your gloves on if you hunt with them.
Pick a spot to hit the animal before drawing the bow.
Pick your pin befor drawing the bow.
Concentrate on your release hand instead of your bow hand and arm.

Ive found that if I pick my spot and my pin the brain forces my eye to that pin and spot. It just happens so I dont even worry about the target and concentrate on squeezing the release.
Dont shoot if it doesnt feel good. You know when you draw the bow back if something is just not right. Everyone feels it every now and then. Your in the yard shooting, you draw back and you know your not going to hit your mark before ever releasing the arrow. Maybe the bow is torqued what ever it may be, let the bow down and redraw.

Don

[Todd_ID]

Don't forget the toilet paper.
Bring an extra release if you're more than a mile back in.
Visualize the perfect hit, find the hair that makes that hit, and squeeze until you hit it.
Buy a 3D target.  It's the best practice possible.
Go to a 3D shoot and shoot for kills not score.
After the shot, wait too long to start tracking, then wait another 20 minutes, and that might be enough if you're lucky.
On an unknown hit, mark the spot well and come back tomorrow, especially on elk.
Know how to use a GPS, but bring a compass too, and know how to use it.
Call when you tell your wife you will.
You can kill animals after being seen and heard but not smelled.
Chap stick in the pocket doesn't weigh enough to leave it behind.
Only shoot when you know you can make a clean killing shot.
Elk make more calling mistakes than we do.  If you mess up, just keep going.
Waiting for something to happen only works if you're lucky or good or in a treestand.
Aim 1/2 way up straight above the front leg on a bear.  The vitals are more forward than a deer, and the hair at the bottom is deceiving.
Find the people in an area, and you've found where not to hunt.  Look for the nasty areas around the people, and you'll find elk.
Check the 12" above your line of sight to see what branches you'll be hitting.
Pick your broadheads based on legality, then flight ability, then sharpness ability, then construction, then you can read the advertising.
Mistakes create experience, but only if you think about it.

[D-Rock425]

Don't forget the toilet paper.
Bring an extra release if you're more than a mile back in.
Visualize the perfect hit, find the hair that makes that hit, and squeeze until you hit it.
Buy a 3D target.  It's the best practice possible.
Go to a 3D shoot and shoot for kills not score.
After the shot, wait too long to start tracking, then wait another 20 minutes, and that might be enough if you're lucky.
On an unknown hit, mark the spot well and come back tomorrow, especially on elk.
Know how to use a GPS, but bring a compass too, and know how to use it.
Call when you tell your wife you will.
You can kill animals after being seen and heard but not smelled.
Chap stick in the pocket doesn't weigh enough to leave it behind.
Only shoot when you know you can make a clean killing shot.
Elk make more calling mistakes than we do.  If you mess up, just keep going.
Waiting for something to happen only works if you're lucky or good or in a treestand.
Aim 1/2 way up straight above the front leg on a bear.  The vitals are more forward than a deer, and the hair at the bottom is deceiving.
Find the people in an area, and you've found where not to hunt.  Look for the nasty areas around the people, and you'll find elk.
Check the 12" above your line of sight to see what branches you'll be hitting.
Pick your broadheads based on legality, then flight ability, then sharpness ability, then construction, then you can read the advertising.
Mistakes create experience, but only if you think about it.

That about sums it up nice job

[MtnMuley]

Mental focus.  Be prepared for 20 failed attempts before 1 successful.

[WSU]

Mental focus.  Be prepared for 20 failed attempts before 1 successful.

This means that after two years of bow hunting I'm damn near there!

[haus]

- Fire smoke smells a lot more natural than Tide......
- Deer don't care how white your teeth are, but they do care when they smell Crest Extra White Plus...
- Deer love Axe Body Spray more than women do....
- YOU CAN NOT CONTROL THE WIND!!!!!....
- Don't Fart.....
- Deer and Elk generally try to position themselves so they have as much visibility down wind as possible....
- There's no point in having a scent control routine or using scent control/killer products if your going to hop in your stinky truck with your hunting clothes on....
- If you insist on getting your Redbull/mocha/latte caffine fix before you hunt, then you better piss it out before you start sweating......
- Trophy buck/bull + upwind from you + perfect amount of cover and form of terrain to approach it to within shooting range?........hahahah now thats funny!

[Tom Tamer]

Mental focus.  Be prepared for 20 failed attempts before 1 successful.

This means that after two years of bow hunting I'm damn near there!

[MIKEXRAY]

All great ideas.   In this weeks shooting I  implemented Wabow idea about mentally picking the yardage, pin and spot before I draw. Great idea, I have been picking the spot & pin after the draw. Now I think 40 yards, pick my pin & pick the spot I want to hit before the draw. I do it on each shot even from the same spot. Just the kind of small idea I was looking for to help. Funny how I get in a routine & don't even think of a better way until it is suggested. Thanks for all & add more. Mike

[Elkstuffer]

patience

Bone, you took the words right out of my mouth. That is the first thing I thought of when I read this post. The only thing you didn't do was capitalize it. PATIENCE!!!!!