Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: MacAttack on July 07, 2015, 07:08:31 PM

Title: New to bow hunting
Post by: MacAttack on July 07, 2015, 07:08:31 PM: Well I finally decided to buy a bow. I got drawn for a multi season deer, like many others, and picked up a RTH package from Cabelas. I got the Bear Attitude. Looking for some pointers.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: jburkett on July 07, 2015, 07:10:35 PM: Spend lots of time behind your bow
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: northwesthunter84 on July 07, 2015, 07:51:51 PM: Start slow and focus on quality over quantity otherwise you can form some bad habits that suck to fix. Learn to pull through the release don't punch the trigger and take the time to build up the muscles in you back and shoulders. Also if you want to shoot a few arrows take breaks in between.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: carlyoungs on July 07, 2015, 08:10:44 PM: I would say take some lessons if you can afford it. I did a 5 lesson from next step archery and it helped dramatically. I am new this year myself and between lessons and lots of shooting I am getting better every week. It is nice to learn proper form and shooting techniques right from the get go then starting bad and wondering how you can improve later.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: MacAttack on July 08, 2015, 08:17:28 PM: Lessons would be a good idea, I'll have to look into that. But after I take my bow in to get a new string. I was out shooting today, after about a dozen shots, my arrow came out the backside of the whisker basket and I realized my string broke. Snapped the arrow and gave me a couple slivers...

Is this normal?
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: GrampasGuns on July 08, 2015, 09:30:22 PM: Not normal.....not even close. Are your arrows the right length? What exactly hapened? Hope you are alright man that could have been bad
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: MacAttack on July 08, 2015, 10:07:54 PM: I know its not normal, but maybe it has happened buying a bow off the shelf.

I drew back like normal and when I got to full draw and held it, then it just gave way and the arrow came out the back side of the whisker basket. I tried to get it back in but that was difficult, obviously..I didn't let go of the release but I had to do something so I tried to gently, I don't know the terminology, but undraw...and then snap.

I'm alright, my arm hurts a little but that is to be expected. I have 2 plates and 12 screws in it already and it is easily agitated.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: MacAttack on July 08, 2015, 10:15:55 PM: Oh, I have a 27.5 inch draw and arrows were cut to 27 in. The guy at cabelas suggested it.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: Machias on July 09, 2015, 04:09:14 AM: Don't use an arrow that is too short. :)
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: RadSav on July 09, 2015, 05:16:11 AM: Quote from: MacAttack on July 08, 2015, 10:15:55 PM
Oh, I have a 27.5 inch draw and arrows were cut to 27 in. The guy at cabelas suggested it.

Half inch shy of draw length should still place the insert past the riser. So the guy suggesting that wasn't wrong. But, too often the draw length is not as listed and needs to be checked before they send you home with it. Sounds like it may not have been set where they thought. Measure twice, cut once applies to archery arrows too :chuckle:

Glad you are ok!

As far as tips are concerned...When you first start out shooting don't concern yourself with being super accurate. Get comfortable with the bow by shooting at large spots at close range. Then as everything starts to fall into place naturally then worry about stepping back and shooting at small dots.

Also, be careful taking advise from guys at the range. Seems the range produces ten different experts and opinions for every question you have. Majority being wrong! Find a good pro shop or pic out a guy who really shoots well at the range and then ask for help. Always amazes me how much advise guys will accept from a loud mouth that shoots no better than a 5th grader ;) ;)
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 09, 2015, 06:44:54 AM: Quote from: RadSav on July 09, 2015, 05:16:11 AM
Always amazes me how much advise guys will accept from a loud mouth that shoots no better than a 5th grader ;) ;)

This guy tried giving me all kinds of advice on form right after he told my the story of how many arrows he loses :chuckle: funny thing was he told me that his range only went to 35 yards :o
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: Muleyman27 on July 09, 2015, 06:55:54 AM: I am new to bow hunting as well U might want to check out a thread I started called tips for a new bowhunter idk how to post a link from my phone but it should be a few pages back. Radsav and many others had very helpfull tips that helped me to be a better archer right off the bat!
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: scoutdog346 on July 09, 2015, 10:47:37 AM: My advice is to try and not develop bad habits. I started with a bow 8 years and i still have them.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: MacAttack on July 12, 2015, 10:27:39 PM: Well I took it into Cabelas and told them what happened. The guy looks it over (different then who sold it to me originally) and after a minute or two he says that I am missing my string stop, which would cause me to over draw. They robbed another Bear Attitudes parts from the shelf, string stop and new string and sent me on my way.

The guy also mentioned that I shouldn't have my arrows cut shorter than my draw, which is obviously what I thought. I have never bow hunted or owned a bow, so I was going off what the sales guys was saying.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: jason stevens on July 13, 2015, 07:11:28 PM: Take your bow to a pro shop and have them look it over and remeasure, also have them check your arrows. Most will do it for free.cabelas is a joke.good luck man.practice, practice.
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: RadSav on July 13, 2015, 10:38:57 PM: Quote from: MacAttack on July 12, 2015, 10:27:39 PM
The guy also mentioned that I shouldn't have my arrows cut shorter than my draw, which is obviously what I thought. I have never bow hunted or owned a bow, so I was going off what the sales guys was saying.

I've been shooting 27.5" arrows from a 28.5" draw length for about 28 years now. Broadheads are almost always 1" away from the rest when I am against the wall. When I shot 28.5 to 29" arrows I was always getting dirt in my nocks. So I made the switch when bow manufacturers started manufacturing risers cut well past center. Unless I plan to shoot a broadhead more than 1.25" diameter...No problems!

AMO draw length of 28.5" is equal to a true draw length of 26.75". Biscuit rests are usually at least .5" further back than that. So that's 26.25" or shorter distance to the rest. I could shoot 27" arrows and still have 3/4" to spare with a biscuit rest. Assuming I don't try to hold my arrow on the rest with a finger :o So obviously the bow was not set for the proper draw length or the arrows were cut WAY too short. Or, of course, some dill weed could have put the rest on backwards! Wouldn't been the first time that's happened. :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: New to bow hunting
Post by: tgomez on July 16, 2015, 04:27:49 PM: Shoot with a trigger style release with a D loop on your string. Don't over grip with your bow hand(loose grip), use a wrist strap(goes on under stabilizer), use a peep sight that when you look through it lines up perfectly with the aperture of your sights. And remember the one secound rule= hold shot form for one secound after shot. One final note practice and know your limitations as well as your equiptments limitations. Good luck to you, hope you get a biggen!!!