Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: R4n6er on October 24, 2013, 03:33:49 PM

Title: Just starting
Post by: R4n6er on October 24, 2013, 03:33:49 PM: I am looking to start Bow hunting for deer next year. I read a few articles about walking deer trails and trying to map areas. Does anyone have any good tips for someone starting out. I plan on hunting a GMU that is "any deer" for archery so it doesn't need to be a buck (although I'd prefer if it was).
Title: Re: Just starting
Post by: Expedition Scout on October 24, 2013, 08:02:56 PM: Make sure you understand proper shooting form. A lot of people think you just pick a bow up and shoot. Hunting situations come in all shapes and sizes, shooting from a sitting position or bent at a funny angle, or from one knee. Try to get with an experienced hunter and learn some of the techniques.

I only hunt whitetails so hope this helps. Whitetail hunting is fairly simple when you think about it. When I started bow hunting, I read everything I could get my hands on. Problem was none of them were local mags. They mostly said to find a acorn tree and sit - well I hunt in the pine forests and there are no acorn trees there. So find information on local hunting, not just hunting in general.

It's my firm belief (some people will disagree) that deer movement can be forecast-ed by the moon phase. I always look at when the moon is directly overhead and directly underfoot. These are the times that I want to be in the woods. Normally a few hours before and after. The best days are when either cycle is at sun rise or sun set when you see most movement anyhow or the golden day is moon overhead at lunch time - these days I spend all day in the woods.

You will need to make a choice about hunting open areas -vs- in the tree line. White tails bucks are very careful to expose themselves during daylight hours. However you might find a mature buck up and feeding on one the good days back in heavy cover. So your choice is to find a location you can see a long ways and maybe a bunch of deer, but not close enough for a shot, or work back into the woods where any deer you see is in range.

Good idea to pick an area with "any deer" restrictions. Try to spend some time watching them, movement, habits, ect... Deer move from bedding to water/feed and back to bedding. Try to figure out where each area is and be in between (map study). The rut is always a special time with bucks moving all day long looking for a doe in heat. I take vacation time and sit all day each day during this period. Most years I see bucks that I never saw on trail camera earlier in the year. Sitting for about 6 hours last year, I saw 14 different bucks working a cliff on a hill slope. All the doe's would go from bedding on top of the hill to the valley to feed and back up. The bucks cut the doe trails at 90 degrees across the hill until they find a doe in heat, then give chase. The cliff managed to pinch down their movement across the hill, a natural funnel!

Hope that all helps you on your way. Welcome to bow hunting! Good luck and shoot straight! :tup:
Title: Re: Just starting
Post by: hillbilli on October 24, 2013, 11:55:09 PM: remember that most of your deer movement is the first 2 hours and last 2 hours of daylight.. so if your time or patience are limited, be in the woods those times.. look for sign, find trails the deer are using. an inexpensive game camera can be a great tool, as it will let you see whether the trail you found is used morning, evening, at 2 am, or every other thursday. practice from standing, sitting, kneeling, etc, figure out what range you are effective at. a portable tree stand can be a wonderful tool. I bowhunted whitetails for years without one, but my success rates went up when I got one..
Title: Re: Just starting
Post by: R4n6er on October 25, 2013, 08:45:24 AM: :tup:

Thanks guys!!