Post by: rtspring on July 21, 2015, 05:14:30 AM
Tell us some simple mistakes you have made on any animal.
Mine was shooting downhill, Steep and getting my yardage messed up!!
Post by: Miles on July 21, 2015, 05:17:25 AM
Post by: gilroym on July 21, 2015, 05:20:04 AM
Post by: tonymiller7 on July 21, 2015, 07:35:35 AM
Post by: coachcw on July 21, 2015, 07:41:42 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 21, 2015, 08:13:06 AM
Post by: h20hunter on July 21, 2015, 08:16:42 AM
Post by: tjthebest on July 21, 2015, 08:25:47 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on July 21, 2015, 08:30:43 AM
Splitting the pins due to being unsure about the distance to the target. Don't do it, you'll miss every time (I did anyway). Now I just pick a distance, pick ONE pin and let the arrow fly. It's a much more effective way to kill a deer. ;)so what do you do it you have a deer at 45 yds? Me being a somewhat competitive shooter at 3-D shoots split pins all the time.
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 21, 2015, 09:15:00 AM
Not waiting enough time to let the animal expire....for example....last year I made a pretty solid shot on my deer...Went over to where she was standing and had good blood right away. Well, you know how it gets, you start looking around. My arrow was only about 20 feet away but in finding it I bumped her. She had bedded only about 25 yards away from where i hit her. Granted, she only ran another 50 yards and expired but if I had simply waited and not been anxious to find my arrow/blood she would have expired quicker and not have had me bump her. So I guess my mistake was not in the shot but in having enough patience to not even move in for a bit.
I lost an elk due to not waiting long enough when I first started elk hunting. It sucked.
Post by: Sandberm on July 21, 2015, 09:45:14 AM
Post by: lamrith on July 21, 2015, 10:21:23 AM
Learned that the hard way last year. 1st year hunting, 1hr45min into my 1st day I was full draw on a nice fat Muley doe, broadside @ 40yrds. I hesitated, then let her go. Never got within 65yrd of a deer the rest of the hunt...
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 21, 2015, 10:23:12 AM
Not taking the shot when you have it, just because it is early season.
Learned that the hard way last year. 1st year hunting, 1hr45min into my 1st day I was full draw on a nice fat Muley doe, broadside @ 40yrds. I hesitated, then let her go. Never got within 65yrd of a deer the rest of the hunt...
Relish it. Time in the woods can be more valuable than a quick hunt. Maybe that doe is raising a couple of bucks this year :tup:
Post by: Rainier10 on July 21, 2015, 10:51:15 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on July 21, 2015, 11:07:23 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on July 21, 2015, 11:43:28 AM
Great advice for all hunting. I can't count the number of times that game has just appeared when I am taking a snack break.
Post by: seth30 on July 21, 2015, 11:48:56 AM
Post by: Firedogg on July 21, 2015, 12:12:23 PM
Post by: whackmaster on July 21, 2015, 12:26:06 PM
Post by: IBspoiled on July 21, 2015, 01:05:47 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 21, 2015, 01:09:03 PM
All of them :bash:
:chuckle: ..., and you're not alone, either!
Post by: GameHunter1959 on July 21, 2015, 02:14:52 PM
Post by: Igottanewknee on July 21, 2015, 02:24:31 PM
Dont wait to long to draw !
Two different 5 points at 50 yards. They step into the open and then I realize that I should have drawn my bow. :bash: :bash:... Busted both times....
Post by: RadSav on July 21, 2015, 02:32:31 PM
Most of my hunting mistakes are due to impatience. "Right spot/right time" and "Right spot/wrong time" are often only a moments difference.
Post by: Mongo Hunter on July 21, 2015, 02:35:32 PM
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on July 21, 2015, 03:12:54 PM
Post by: medic6 on July 21, 2015, 03:14:46 PM
Post by: splitshot on July 21, 2015, 03:15:34 PM
Post by: RadSav on July 21, 2015, 03:22:03 PM
Splitting the pins due to being unsure about the distance to the target. Don't do it, you'll miss every time (I did anyway). Now I just pick a distance, pick ONE pin and let the arrow fly. It's a much more effective way to kill a deer. ;)so what do you do it you have a deer at 45 yds? Me being a somewhat competitive shooter at 3-D shoots split pins all the time.
As a person who is Target Panic challenged I love to split pins! I like round donut apertures too!
Post by: Rainier10 on July 21, 2015, 03:38:55 PM
Not being patient long enough during cold calling setups for elk. Almost every single year, I leave a setup too soon and get busted.What?! I am not the only one that does this? :chuckle:
Post by: daddysprad on July 21, 2015, 03:55:46 PM
Practice judging distances, you don't always have time to use a range finder.I agree. My method is to start at the target and throw a bean bag or softball. Walk to the spot where it landed, judge the distance and take a shot. If you hunt in thick cover, practice in thick cover. If you hunt in the open from a stand, practice that way. Ranges look different in thick VS open. If you hunt from a stand, have someone on the ground move your target to unknown distances and angles.
Post by: daddysprad on July 21, 2015, 03:57:10 PM
Post by: Miles on July 21, 2015, 04:08:13 PM
Splitting the pins due to being unsure about the distance to the target. Don't do it, you'll miss every time (I did anyway). Now I just pick a distance, pick ONE pin and let the arrow fly. It's a much more effective way to kill a deer. ;)so what do you do it you have a deer at 45 yds? Me being a somewhat competitive shooter at 3-D shoots split pins all the time.
I usually step back 5 yards and use my 50 yd pin.
Not really, but I guess I should have explained it better.
When I was younger and starting out bow hunting I would say "it looks like somewhere between 30 and 40". Problem being if it was 30 and I split the pins, but my 30 was at the bottom of the chest I would usually shoot under... Or if it was closer to 40 and my 40 pin was on the back...over the back the arrow would go.
I had better luck picking one pin and focusing on a specific hair/spot while aiming high or low on the target (with that specific pin). For example, if I thought the target was 25yards away, I would FOCUS on my 20 yard pin and then pick a small spot on the top 1/3rd of the kill zone. I rarely miss a deer since I stopped splitting pins. For me it just helped me to focus on a smaller point and it improved my shots. Maybe it made me commit to a specific yardage rather than a range? Either way I do not split pins, even when target shooting.
Post by: Miles on July 21, 2015, 04:15:33 PM
Thinking a two blade broadhead would work just as well as a three or four blade.
Care to explain a little further?
Post by: Todd_ID on July 21, 2015, 05:04:14 PM
Uh oh. Here comes a "short" answer. :chuckle:Thinking a two blade broadhead would work just as well as a three or four blade.
Care to explain a little further?
Post by: Todd_ID on July 21, 2015, 05:18:31 PM
Not waiting on cold calling setups costs me at least one bull per year for the last 30 years. Those hurt something fierce because you know better.
For many years I'd had a 3 or 5 pin fixed sight. Any critter at 33.75 yards would be in trouble. I'd just put all the pins somewhere close, but that doesn't pan out to well at all if it's not at that exact distance. RAD's Little Thing of centering the pin versus the sight frame handed me plenty of misses over those years. Switching to a single pin movable fixed that problem instantly.
Moving too fast through the woods has hurt me over the years. Getting some fleece stalking booties has helped a ton to slow me down and make me conscious of the noise and speed I was making.
Poor Shoot/Don't Shoot skills hurt my success in the early years.
Not stretching my effective range through focused practice hampered me.
Not seeing a limb has cost me dearly many times. (A 360 bull at 16 yards last year). :bash:
Post by: Machias on July 21, 2015, 05:57:31 PM
Shooting too far
Not bending at the waist when hunting out of a treestand
Having a noisy TM Hunter rest and drawing on a very close animal when it was deathly quiet
Post by: RadSav on July 21, 2015, 06:03:16 PM
Uh oh. Here comes a "short" answer. :chuckle:Thinking a two blade broadhead would work just as well as a three or four blade.
Care to explain a little further?
OK here is a short answer.
Personal kills with two blade broadheads = 40 even. 38 of those with a 1.5" cutting width. Lethal shot placement that resulted in failure to kill animal quickly with 2 blade = 5. Not sure about others standards, but IMO a 12.5% failure rate is way too high.
In contrast - I believe my harvest numbers are very close to that same number with the Zwickey Black Diamond Delta with the bleeders. I spent a lot of time meticulously sharpening and honing those little blades. Not one single failure. And usually VERY short blood trails!
Post by: Smoke on July 21, 2015, 06:49:06 PM
Post by: Annette on July 21, 2015, 06:54:33 PM
My bowhunting mistakes have been numerous and hurtful.
Not waiting on cold calling setups costs me at least one bull per year for the last 30 years. Those hurt something fierce because you know better.
For many years I'd had a 3 or 5 pin fixed sight. Any critter at 33.75 yards would be in trouble. I'd just put all the pins somewhere close, but that doesn't pan out to well at all if it's not at that exact distance. RAD's Little Thing of centering the pin versus the sight frame handed me plenty of misses over those years. Switching to a single pin movable fixed that problem instantly.
Moving too fast through the woods has hurt me over the years. Getting some fleece stalking booties has helped a ton to slow me down and make me conscious of the noise and speed I was making.
Poor Shoot/Don't Shoot skills hurt my success in the early years.
Not stretching my effective range through focused practice hampered me.
:bash: :bash: :bash:
Just let it go!!
Not seeing a limb has cost me dearly many times. (A 360 bull at 16 yards last year). :bash:
Post by: tgomez on July 22, 2015, 12:36:42 AM
Post by: RadSav on July 22, 2015, 12:59:34 AM
Used the 30 yard pin on a 24 yard shot. Shot over the bucks back! :yike: HAIRCUT :bash:
Dude, you need a faster bow! :o
Or some bigger deer to shoot at! :chuckle:
Post by: elk247 on July 22, 2015, 01:52:36 AM
Pushing a blood trail too soon after a shot. Biggest mistake imo for new bowhunters.
The next biggest mistake is being dependant on your rangefinder.
Finally, shot placement. Quartering to shots are not something I care for on elk. I would rather move to either side or wait for the opportunity to take a broadside or frontal. Quartering away is perfect!
Post by: GameHunter1959 on July 22, 2015, 02:27:11 AM
If I am shooting "up hill" at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
If I am shooting "down hill at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
Lastly..
Last season I used an average range finder. You press the button and it gives you a range; nothing fancy. This year I would like to upgrade to a nice unit specific to archery, but I would like to be able to range out to 600 yards during the modern rifle elk season. I am not ready to hunt elk with a bow- IMO.
Any suggestions on an awesome unit?
Thanks GH
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on July 22, 2015, 03:07:14 AM
Post by: RadSav on July 22, 2015, 03:50:18 AM
Can someone answer these simple questions...
If I am shooting "up hill" at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
If I am shooting "down hill at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
You are going to aim low in both those situations. How low depends on the angle of the shot.
Post by: fastdam on July 22, 2015, 05:26:42 AM
Post by: RadSav on July 22, 2015, 05:44:30 AM
My biggest mistake has been not shooting when I get a chance, because I wanted to get just a little closer. Lost lots of animals to this
Oh Man!!! If I only had all those to do over again :chuckle: One of the first things Duke Savora taught me, "When you know you can kill 'em - Just kill 'em already!" If I had listened to him better I'd likely have the Oregon State record muledeer :chuckle: :bash:
Post by: Fullabull on July 22, 2015, 09:50:35 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 22, 2015, 09:54:00 PM
and there was that forked horn doe in rotten velvet that one September weekend
Post by: passing-thru on July 22, 2015, 10:30:53 PM
Post by: GameHunter1959 on July 23, 2015, 12:00:11 AM
Can someone answer these simple questions...
If I am shooting "up hill" at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
If I am shooting "down hill at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
You are going to aim low in both those situations. How low depends on the angle of the shot.
thanks sir
Post by: 4fletch on July 23, 2015, 12:21:25 AM
Post by: RadSav on July 23, 2015, 04:39:57 AM
Post by: huntingaddiction on July 23, 2015, 06:35:10 AM
Maybe it is because you cant figure out where the pins go. Your sight is upside down! LolSplitting the pins due to being unsure about the distance to the target. Don't do it, you'll miss every time (I did anyway). Now I just pick a distance, pick ONE pin and let the arrow fly. It's a much more effective way to kill a deer. ;)so what do you do it you have a deer at 45 yds? Me being a somewhat competitive shooter at 3-D shoots split pins all the time.
I usually step back 5 yards and use my 50 yd pin.
Not really, but I guess I should have explained it better.
When I was younger and starting out bow hunting I would say "it looks like somewhere between 30 and 40". Problem being if it was 30 and I split the pins, but my 30 was at the bottom of the chest I would usually shoot under... Or if it was closer to 40 and my 40 pin was on the back...over the back the arrow would go.
I had better luck picking one pin and focusing on a specific hair/spot while aiming high or low on the target (with that specific pin). For example, if I thought the target was 25yards away, I would FOCUS on my 20 yard pin and then pick a small spot on the top 1/3rd of the kill zone. I rarely miss a deer since I stopped splitting pins. For me it just helped me to focus on a smaller point and it improved my shots. Maybe it made me commit to a specific yardage rather than a range? Either way I do not split pins, even when target shooting.
Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
Post by: kentrek on July 23, 2015, 06:59:33 AM
Being the youngest in the crew.... (pack mule)
Becoming a really good caller ....
Hmmmmm can't really think of any others :chuckle: :chuckle:
Jkjk I.make.more mistakes than anyone I know....in fact we've considered making a movie of "how not to bow hunt"
My biggest mistakes have all involved rushing stalks
Post by: Miles on July 23, 2015, 07:00:58 AM
Maybe it is because you cant figure out where the pins go. Your sight is upside down! LolSplitting the pins due to being unsure about the distance to the target. Don't do it, you'll miss every time (I did anyway). Now I just pick a distance, pick ONE pin and let the arrow fly. It's a much more effective way to kill a deer. ;)so what do you do it you have a deer at 45 yds? Me being a somewhat competitive shooter at 3-D shoots split pins all the time.
I usually step back 5 yards and use my 50 yd pin.
Not really, but I guess I should have explained it better.
When I was younger and starting out bow hunting I would say "it looks like somewhere between 30 and 40". Problem being if it was 30 and I split the pins, but my 30 was at the bottom of the chest I would usually shoot under... Or if it was closer to 40 and my 40 pin was on the back...over the back the arrow would go.
I had better luck picking one pin and focusing on a specific hair/spot while aiming high or low on the target (with that specific pin). For example, if I thought the target was 25yards away, I would FOCUS on my 20 yard pin and then pick a small spot on the top 1/3rd of the kill zone. I rarely miss a deer since I stopped splitting pins. For me it just helped me to focus on a smaller point and it improved my shots. Maybe it made me commit to a specific yardage rather than a range? Either way I do not split pins, even when target shooting.
Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
Lol, ok so i did write my thoughts down backwards. Good catch. ;)
Post by: huntingaddiction on July 23, 2015, 07:06:24 AM
I kne what you meant but it was too easyMaybe it is because you cant figure out where the pins go. Your sight is upside down! LolSplitting the pins due to being unsure about the distance to the target. Don't do it, you'll miss every time (I did anyway). Now I just pick a distance, pick ONE pin and let the arrow fly. It's a much more effective way to kill a deer. ;)so what do you do it you have a deer at 45 yds? Me being a somewhat competitive shooter at 3-D shoots split pins all the time.
I usually step back 5 yards and use my 50 yd pin.
Not really, but I guess I should have explained it better.
When I was younger and starting out bow hunting I would say "it looks like somewhere between 30 and 40". Problem being if it was 30 and I split the pins, but my 30 was at the bottom of the chest I would usually shoot under... Or if it was closer to 40 and my 40 pin was on the back...over the back the arrow would go.
I had better luck picking one pin and focusing on a specific hair/spot while aiming high or low on the target (with that specific pin). For example, if I thought the target was 25yards away, I would FOCUS on my 20 yard pin and then pick a small spot on the top 1/3rd of the kill zone. I rarely miss a deer since I stopped splitting pins. For me it just helped me to focus on a smaller point and it improved my shots. Maybe it made me commit to a specific yardage rather than a range? Either way I do not split pins, even when target shooting.
Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
Lol, ok so i did write my thoughts down backwards. Good catch. ;)
Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
Post by: Machias on July 23, 2015, 09:05:51 AM
Lots since i began bowhunting, but biggest was taking iffy shot because your afraid you wont get better one. I would much rather watch animal walk away than make poor shot.
There in lies the beauty of bowhunting!!! You have plenty of time, well at least in most states which have a prolonged season for bowhunters.
Post by: fuzznuts on July 23, 2015, 09:26:17 PM
Post by: andrebeergog on August 30, 2015, 09:36:23 AM
Post by: wt on August 31, 2015, 04:30:05 PM
Post by: BIGDOG253 on August 31, 2015, 04:32:58 PM
Getting addicted to it:yeah: gets to be expensive real quick
Post by: SureThing on September 06, 2015, 10:33:24 AM
1.For me the one that repeatly bites me in the ass is rushing the shot or another way of saying it is forgetting the basics of executing the shot.
2.One year it was my infatuation of wanting to watch the arrow hit the animal. Couldn't figure out why I had missed low every deer I shot at. After the third or forth deer it dawned on me I was dropping my arm so I could focus on the arrow.
3.Buck fever on does. Up to that point I had heard of it but didn't know what it was until the first doe that walked into my stand on my first archery hunt. I shook so bad from my toes to my head my arrow fell off my arrow rest and I almost fell down. Went home and sold my guns.
4. Climbed up a big oak tree with wide sweeping branches and didn't check for obstructions or shooting angles. Needles to say it was a great tree for seeing and shooting at deer but not for hitting deer. I emptied my quiver and with every shoot my cam or bow would hit part of the tree. To make matters worse I had to watch those deer feed under my stand for quite some time before I was able to get down and retrieve my arrows. Then I forgot about leaning my bow up against the truck when I unpacked and. Didn't remember it until I drove up onto the driveway two hours away. Yes,I ran it over and it was in several pieces when I went to pick it up that night.
5. Not that long ago, fast compound bows were in the 250fps range and to get a bow to shoot faster you would do all kinds of unthinkable things by today's standards. Like shoot an overdraw, shoot high poundage or shoot light arrows. If a little is good a lot must be better I use to think. I did all three at the same time. I bought a 90# 30" new Astro bow installed the longest overdraw I could find and shot. Short little 1914 Easton X7's off it and thought I was the *censored*. Until, I had a 170 class whitetail buck standing on my 40yrd marker looking out into an alfalfa field totally relaxed. I remember when I was at full draw thinking this is the easiest deer I have ever killed. When I touched off the release that deer squatted down jumped into the air and spun 180*. My fast arrow hit him square in the bung hole and penetrated the depth of the broad head. Note to self- noisey/loud fast bow doesn't kill deer, old slow QUIET bow killed lots of deer.
5. So excited to go hunting I forgot my release in the truck.
6. It was my turn to drive and dropped my buddy off at his area when I got to my spot I went to get my bow only to find my buddy like my bow better than his. Unfortunately, for him my bow is to long for him and I always carry a back up bow.
7. This one didn't exactly happen to me but happened to my buddy while we were hunting the wilderness back when re shot fingers. We sat down for a lunch snack and he put his finger tab down. Cracked out a sandwich and a couple of Grey Jays show up. Before he knew what was going on one of the camp robbers swooped down and flew off with his finger tab. I think he could have gotten it back if he wouldn't have jumped up and chased after that stupid bird.
Post by: JJD on September 09, 2015, 11:47:32 AM
Archery is for sure a money pit. If ya try to go cheap, it will just cost you more later.Getting addicted to it:yeah: gets to be expensive real quick
Unfortunately, its too late, I'm already addicted.
Where I am fairly new to archery, writing down the various mistakes is just too painful at this point :(
Post by: Little Dave on September 11, 2015, 10:21:25 PM
Can someone answer these simple questions...
If I am shooting "up hill" at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
If I am shooting "down hill at say...40 yards. Where do I place the 40 yard pin?
You are going to aim low in both those situations. How low depends on the angle of the shot.
If you think you can estimate the angle, you have the yardage, and carry a cell phone... this might work.
Let's say you have a target at 40 yards but a 30 degree incline....
On the calculator enter cos(30) x 40 and the answer will be about 35.
Post by: Eric M on September 11, 2015, 11:00:29 PM
Post by: mfswallace on September 12, 2015, 10:09:53 AM
My biggest mistake has been not shooting when I get a chance, because I wanted to get just a little closer. Lost lots of animals to this
Yep, let it fly if it is a good shot and you are comfortable, don't try to make it a perfect shot...
Post by: The scout on September 12, 2015, 12:22:23 PM
Post by: haus on September 13, 2015, 10:17:22 PM
Post by: Nice Racks on September 14, 2015, 11:57:48 AM
Post by: westsidehntr on September 14, 2015, 12:08:41 PM
Not learning your lesson by keep listening to a hunting partner who 95% of the time "peters" out on scouting plans and then comes up with some lame excuse as to why he can't hunt elk right now. I'm screwed. Have camp all set up and now thinking about throwing in the towel and going home. Anyone wanna hunt the Mossyrock unit?
Just make the best of it and keep at it by yourself if you can't find any partners. You can at least get some satisfaction out of sticking it out by yourself.
Post by: TopLevelPredator on September 17, 2015, 06:28:28 AM
Post by: nickrj11 on September 17, 2015, 07:06:49 AM
So last year opening weekend of early archery, I'm at the top of a ridge and see a small but legal bull (3x2 to be exact) walking along the creek. So i make my way down and around the ridge keeping my distance hoping to get downwind of this bull and let him come right to me. Long story short, I get within 80 yards of this young bull but there was a large patch of brush and twigs between us.... across the creek. There was a tree downed across the creek that I began to carefully walk across. As I got to the end of the log on the other side I slipped, lost my balance and went crashing to the ground. Goodbye bull :bash:. Atleast the only though I had going through m head was to just save my bow, dont break the bow man!!! So I held it out in front of me so that i wouldnt land on it and it worked, my bow is fine to this day.... Back wasn't though lol
Post by: earlmarne on September 18, 2015, 10:13:17 AM
All week I have been hunting high til I found all the sign down in the nasty stuff.
Post by: biggfish on September 18, 2015, 03:20:28 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on September 18, 2015, 03:39:35 PM
Lesson learned: If you are always ready, you don't have to get ready. From the minute you step out of your rig, you are in kill mode, seize every opportunity.
Post by: cbond3318 on September 21, 2015, 09:30:55 AM
1) Always keep your reed call in your mouth, when you have a bumped Elk shuttling past you , you will need it to stop them, whistling doesn't seem to work on Elk as it does with Mule Deer.
2) When you think you are moving slow enough, move slower, listen to the woods. It was a constant battle reminding myself to slow down, seem to always be as soon as I thought there were no animals near by I would speed up and bump an Elk.
3) Guessing range across a steep creek bottom is tough, if you have time to range, range it.
4) Chasing a Bugle uphill is tough, what I thought was Elk shape was actually about 75% of the actual shape I needed to be in.
5)It is mentally taxing letting an animal saunter off because you had no good shot, but take comfort in knowing it was the right decision.
6)Wind is HUGE, I don't feel I made many wind mistakes this year as it was my main focus mentally but it needs to be stated again, without playing the wind you are wandering aimlessly through the woods.
7)Connecting your arrow on an animal is the highest of highs, losing blood trail and not finding the animal is the lowest of lows, it will be the toughest mental anguish you go through on a hunt but understand it happens, realize the mistake and correct it for next time, you owe it to the animal.
Hands down the best hunt I have been on to date! What a blast. :tup:
Post by: Jimmybelltown on September 21, 2015, 07:58:03 PM
Post by: GoBeavs85 on September 21, 2015, 08:46:33 PM
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Post by: mikelonsford on September 23, 2015, 09:47:52 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 23, 2015, 10:06:52 AM
Trying to carefully nock my arrow so the sound doesn't spook an animal, but not controlling the arrow enough to keep it from bouncing off the riser and make an even bigger sound that does spook the animal. Opening morning should have been more successful. Oh Well :DOH:Moleskin on the riser will help this.
Post by: WSU on September 23, 2015, 10:16:39 AM
Knowing what tag you have RT, I will direct my bowhunting tip from an elk standpoint. I learned this lesson in Oregon a few years ago where I was trying to get ahead of a group of cows and a bull. I had worked my tail off for more than an hour and thought I lost them. I decided to sit down along the edge of the timber to take a break and of course, not a few minutes into the break, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and here comes a few cows and the bull out in the open. I had no cover around me so any motion I made, they were going to catch and it ended up burning me. Now I try my best to take any and all breaks somewhere that I would also choose as a shooting position because you just never know when something might happen and you don't have time to move.
For elk, this is the best one. They often come in silent or when you don't expect them. ALWAYS expect them to show up. Just because they didn't respond vocally doesn't mean they aren't coming.
I'll tell you from experience, it's a bad feeling to be crunching away on protein bar and then turn around to see a bull watching you eat from 20 yards.
Post by: jaymark6655 on September 23, 2015, 10:42:26 AM
Post by: jgilley on October 01, 2015, 05:43:08 PM
Post by: JJB11B on October 01, 2015, 05:50:40 PM
Post by: branches on October 01, 2015, 08:35:00 PM
Post by: branches on October 01, 2015, 08:40:52 PM
Post by: Fullabull on October 02, 2015, 03:03:57 PM
Moved to quickly trying to get closer to a bugling bull
Being a single hunter and caller is tough, called in multiple bulls that would not step into the open because they thought they should see something or hear something close by.
On one of them, I should have at least tried to make a low cow sound to see if it would pull him the last few yards into the open :(
If you can hear yourself moving, SO CAN THEY!!!!!! Figured that one out this year also...
Overall I was in to much of a rush on things this year. I need to slow down and be more patient !
Post by: Wetwoodshunter on October 02, 2015, 03:25:25 PM
Not putting my rain gear on quick enough. Only having 2 elk quarter bags in my pack. Forgetting to sharpen my knife between my mule deer hunt and my elk hunt. Not test riding my bike before the season and assuming since I had a tune up recently it was good to go.
Post by: b0bbyg on October 02, 2015, 04:32:11 PM
Had one in the front pocket just after shooting light, I had a cow feeding 15 yards out. Crouched to get a look at how many feet were under the branches that were between us. Confident it was a lone cow I stood up to draw as she was feeding towards a nice open shooting lane. Heard this horrible squeak sound. :bash: Cow knows something is up and moves through too quickly for a shot. First time call ever made a noise in my pocket.
Usually have one mouth style call and a squeeze call as backup. Either squeeze call is gone or will hang from pack in the future, no more pockets for me.
Post by: RadSav on October 03, 2015, 03:18:46 AM
Giving your hunting partner 4 blade broadheads to test night before a turkey hunt. Sorry buddy!
One of the biggest mistakes I've made multiple times - Forgetting to practice with new rainwear before season. Along with that would be not cutting off the cords Sitka Gear attaches to their zippers. Seems even if I practice and have no problems they always catch the string when an animal is the target!!
Not marking your string where the peep sight sits. Peeps catch on all kinds of stuff. Doesn't take much to through the sights off.
Not packing extra batteries for your rangefinder.
Seeing a 180 class buck run into a small bush. Seeing antlers as the animal comes out of the bush and assuming it is the same one that entered.
Thinking that larger bodied muledeer with 25" high antlers can't hide in 12" tall sage brush :o
Post by: JJD on October 13, 2015, 06:26:40 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on October 14, 2015, 08:16:06 AM
I'll be climbing a big hill to a bedding area or mid-day feeding spot. Trying to be quiet and slow though scrabbling and rattling brush is a noisy pursuit. The quads start to hurt from the slow, deliberate and controlled steps.
I'll get 80% of the way up the hill and get tired and then I'll convince myself that, "there is nothing up there anyway..." So I'll charge up the rest of the way, eager to rest at the top and glass the other side. It will be then that I'll see a deer or elk staring me down from 50 yards - just over the peak - and then busting.
This is a bad habit that one can get away with oftentimes while packing a modern or muzzleloader. Not so much with the archery tackle.
Post by: rtspring on October 14, 2015, 09:51:11 AM
Watch behind you when calling solo.
Bulls come in silent and I mean SILENT!
Even though you stick a bull at really close range does not mean he dies!!! That one will haunt me for a long long time..
Post by: Greg Mullins on October 15, 2015, 09:35:41 PM
Post by: oysters00 on October 22, 2015, 06:02:31 PM
Post by: scotsman on October 22, 2015, 09:37:05 PM
Walking up to the edge of rimrocks to glass the area below for Muleys. Duh, Muleys like to bed just below the edge of rimrocks. ❌
Post by: Wapiti4570 on October 25, 2015, 12:15:02 PM
Tenacity
Aim small, miss small.. Pick a specific point on the animal, not a general area.
Be clear of obstructions. I've missed three bulls due to a branch or twig that I didn't see because I was so focused on the animal.
Check the wind frequently as it will change as the air heats up.
Dozens of other mistakes I've made that you'll find as you go.
Good luck!