First year bowhunting.............What should I do???

[firehawk87]

This will be my first year bowhunting deer so I was wondering if I should just take the first doe I see or maybe hold out for big buck. Either would be fine, but I am sort of divided on my decision. What do you guys think???

[dreamunelk]

Depends on what you want from your hunting experience.  If you just want meat or to kill something take the first legal one you see. If you want to hone your skills and enjoy the hunt pass up a few.  I all depends on why you hunt and what you expect from it.  So while hunting ask your self these questions.

We all have our own thoughts and opinions.  Take the time during the hunt to develop and refine your own.

[buglebuster]

Enjoy the hunt is the main thing. Make the decision when you get to that point, a doe will be hard to pass 25 yards broadside your first year 

[jstone]

Before you go out buy a can of patience. You will need it. In isle 10 at the store next to the cans of whoop Ass. You will enjoy it. Best thing i did. I love it. And yes it is tough. My buddy passed on a doe at 20yards his first year. This will be his 4Th year. Nothing for him. PRACTICE..and more PRACTICE.. Good Luck and have fun.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Just get out there and hunt ....but please do not try and join the 100 yrd club ..... you know those guys who think there bow shoots like a rifle !! 

[jstone]

 

[Camp David]

Take the first legal one that gives you a good shot. You will have an adrenalin rush ...buck or doe. My first happend to be a nice buck, but I was ready to take the first good deer. Get your first year behind you with a good deer. Any deer with a bow is a trophy!

[hillbilli]

while I tend to focus on stocking the freezer, I'd say the first deer you have a clean shot at that isnt a yearling..

[nub]

Take the first legal one that gives you a good shot. You will have an adrenalin rush ...buck or doe. My first happend to be a nice buck, but I was ready to take the first good deer. Get your first year behind you with a good deer. Any deer with a bow is a trophy!

 

It will also depend on what kind of work youve put in so far. If you think you have a location with little or no pressure, and you know what could walk arround the corner at any time. Then i'd pass on a few.

[iRem]

I would suggest that you wait for the best broad side shot on a buck or doe it wouldn't matter! You will enjoy the harvest no matter what! Best of luck Hunting this Season

[firehawk87]

Thanks for the input guys, it's always helpful. I am definitely not a 100 yard guy, I am more of a 40 yard guy tops.lol

[Big P]

Last year was my first year and I passed on a doe broadside at 20 yards in the early season. I wish I had thought about it more before hand. But you will never really know what you will do until you are presented with an opportunity. I wish I had taken the shot to feel a sense of accomplishment. But, the learning experiences and the time I got to spend with friends in the late season were well worth not taking a deer at all last year. Just enjoy being out in the woods. For me a big portion of hunting is the experiences.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Last year was my first year and I passed on a doe broadside at 20 yards in the early season. I wish I had thought about it more before hand. But you will never really know what you will do until you are presented with an opportunity. I wish I had taken the shot to feel a sense of accomplishment. But, the learning experiences and the time I got to spend with friends in the late season were well worth not taking a deer at all last year. Just enjoy being out in the woods. For me a big portion of hunting is the experiences.

   

[colockumelk]

I guess it depends.  Do you have a spot that doesn't see much pressure with a game camera where you have patterned deer and you know that bucks will come into your setup?  If so then hold out for that buck for the first few days. 

If not then shoot the first legal adult deer that you see.  The rush with a bow is WAY WAY more than with a rifle.  Example, my first bow kill was a mule deer doe.  The next year I shot a buck in the same area with a rifle.  I got way more shaky and excited from the doe kill with my bow than the buck with my rifle.  Like 5x more. 

You are new to bowhunting and need to build your experience AND... confidence.  One of the only ways to build your confidence is to kill things.  Until then you wont truly know yourset up works etc.  So I suggest to build that experience and confidence then don't pass on things.  Shoot the first legal adult deer you see and then take the extra time to scout for elk.  Good luck! 

[Kain]

while I tend to focus on stocking the freezer, I'd say the first deer you have a clean shot at that isnt a yearling..

Mmmm yearling.  30 lbs of meat is better than no meat. 

[firehawk87]

This won't be my first bow kill. I recently took a black bear with my bow. It was an awesome hunt and I put a lot of work into it before hand. I guess you could say that I was hunting two months prior to me taking him with all the preparation and patterning of the bear. I've had about a month of preparation for deer season and there are two bucks I'n the area, but I might take a doe since there are so many I'n the area. I think deer is going to be 5x easier hunting with a now than this bear was. I'd never been that close to a bear I'n the wild before. The first day I got him I couldn't even shoot because I was shaking so hard.I figured I might as well just jump right into bowhunting and go for a big predator. Lol.

[Tacomahunter]

Its my first year also, I think I'm going to take my first shot. Only because for my first year I don't want to go unsuccessful. I'll give myself more of a challenge once I've taken one. Good luck.
Nate

[colockumelk]

Well if you have patterned those two bucks good enough then hold out for a buck for the first couple of days.  After that I would take a doe so you can concentrate on elk hunting.  The elk is going to be the challenge. 

[buckfvr]

Not knowing what you have for time, where you are, where you are willing to go....I'd not waste my tag early if you can still hunt a good spot late.....for me, everything that leads up to the kill, is the hunt....I like everything about the hunt....love to kill too, that is what makes the hunt successful, but I hate for it to end.  I love all the anticipation and scouting, daydreaming, fantasizing....seeing the shot in your head over and over til its happened.  I tend to be way selective early, knowing I can take a doe in the end if I want to.  Now elk......I wont pass a legal animal because the meat is what I am really after.....first legal elk gets it, and its any elk here.....if you can find one.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

while I tend to focus on stocking the freezer, I'd say the first deer you have a clean shot at that isnt a yearling..

Mmmm yearling.  30 lbs of meat is better than no meat. 

third year out no deer Down not from lack of trying lol  shoot the first deer you can ethically

[Battle Ready]

I like to tell people to read a few books. Cameron Hanes, and Boyd Iverson both have exceptional reads on Blacktail hunting. Also larry D Jones, and Dwight. Its nice to have those books to help you put some of those pieces together. Remember that a trophy deer is in the eye of the beholder. If you dont score in the early season..dont frett...late season around thanksgiving is much better anyway.