advice for bringing out rookie bow hunter

[Johnb317]

Interesting.   You want her to learn to hunt, or is it all about the kill?  We all want to be successful but it's the thrill of the hunt, learning about nature and being a part of it.
Nothing like hearing a bull thrashing the brush, popping his teeth, and bugling.   

If you prefer to still hunt, teach her.     
Good luck!

[pianoman9701]

Interesting.   You want her to learn to hunt, or is it all about the kill?  We all want to be successful but it's the thrill of the hunt, learning about nature and being a part of it.
Nothing like hearing a bull thrashing the brush, popping his teeth, and bugling.   

If you prefer to still hunt, teach her.     
Good luck!

But you have to retain someone's interest if you want them to continue year after year. Especially in bow hunting, if someone's never taken a big game animal, it may not be many seasons before they tire of tag soup. I agree that for me it's the hunt, not the kill, but I've taken big game and lots of it when I shot a rifle. So, not scoring with a bow every year is not a big deal for me. It would be for someone who's not had that experience.

I agree with getting her into a kill as quickly as possible as long as ethics and regulations are in play.

[got2hunt]

Keep it fun, Don't get lost in trying to get her the shot. My wife joined me last year and it was one of the best times we have had together. You have to let them go at there pace and kinda let them do what they want, after all they are women and there is no tell-en them different. My wife was dead set on shooting a nice buck so i had to stand behind her in that even though she couldn't shoot more than 40 yards. It make you guys work harder together. I found some private property that i been wanting to hunt and when we pulled up there to pave his drive way there stood 5 decent bucks. So i asked can we hunt here he said the more the maryer. So try some private property and just say i have a new hunter that has never done it before and you would like to take them there.

[dmr400]

I'm in the same boat this year, my girlfriend is also going to be a first time bowhunter this year.  I've decided that I'm going to go against my natural instincts and try and stay hands off.  At first, I'm going to hunt the way I plan to hunt, and teach her as much as I can while we are at it.  If she decides she doesn't like treestand hunting, we'll go still hunting, and vice versa.  I'll let her set the pace, but at the same time I'm not going to try and ease her into a kill.  I'll let her set a personal goal and try and help her achieve it, whether that's the first deer that walks by a treestand or a 3 pt or better buck.  I think that making it too easy for them the first time paints a false picture of what bowhunting is really like.

   I will say that if you can get her on a bugling bull (in close) you won't have to try too hard to keep her interested, whether one hits the ground or not.  I highly recommend Paul Medel's videos...known as elknut on a lot of the forums.  He knows his stuff...I've been elk hunting for 14 years and learned a few things from  him. 

[vandeman17]

I was home late last week and this weekend for a funeral and my birthday so we saw a lot of my family and it was really cool because she mentioned to almost everyone about her new bow and how excited she is to hunt this year. That should make things easier on me because I won't be having to drag her out of bed in the mornings. 

[cedarriver]

Get her to shoot as many 3-D shoots as you can.   You can do it together and it's a ton of fun.  I think its the best hunting practicing you can do.
 
  Enjoy the time, tell her the different ways, pros and cons and let her decide.

[SniperDanWA]

I was home late last week and this weekend for a funeral and my birthday so we saw a lot of my family and it was really cool because she mentioned to almost everyone about her new bow and how excited she is to hunt this year. That should make things easier on me because I won't be having to drag her out of bed in the mornings. 

Vandeman,
Was that your grandma that passed away?  I think you sent an email that you were headed to see her.  Did you make it?

[vandeman17]

I was home late last week and this weekend for a funeral and my birthday so we saw a lot of my family and it was really cool because she mentioned to almost everyone about her new bow and how excited she is to hunt this year. That should make things easier on me because I won't be having to drag her out of bed in the mornings. 

Vandeman,
Was that your grandma that passed away?  I think you sent an email that you were headed to see her.  Did you make it?

Yes, that was my Grandma that passed. She ended up passing peacefully in her sleep on the 10th and we had her funeral services on the 16th. I was able to go see her a few days before and say my goodbyes which was hard but I am really happy I had the chance. It made the whole process much easier for me.

[BULLBLASTER]

I wouldreccomend whiteys over a bait pile from either a blind or treestand. Shoot me a pm and I may be able to help get you and your girlfriend into some pretty decent Whitetail bowhunting.

[vandeman17]

I wouldreccomend whiteys over a bait pile from either a blind or treestand. Shoot me a pm and I may be able to help get you and your girlfriend into some pretty decent Whitetail bowhunting.

pm sent