1. work out with your bow. build your strength up in your shoulders. it will make it easier for you to draw and will allow you to hold at a full draw longer.

2. be observant. i have taken many deer easily because I saw them coming and was at full draw before they were in front of me. i did not have to worry about the perfect time to pull back.

3. this is a mix for a first time hunter and a new bow hunter. I took plenty of deer with a gun, but the biggest thrill of bowhunting for me, is and was the skill involved in taking a deer with a bow. my first deer with a bow was a little buck. I shot three more does before i got another buck and i was tickled to death with taking them as well.

4. wear a harness. when you are about to take a deer and you get that rush and at the same time you are focusing with your sights on your bow, you can get like a tunnel vision mixed with diziness. maybe thats only me but either way, it aint a good way to be when you are on a 2x2 platform 20 plus feet off the ground.

5. dont practice yourself till you get tired out, you will form sloppy shooting habits

6. this may sound silly, but i like to imagine a deer at different spots while i am in my stand. how will they come in, where might they stop, where would be a good time to pull back etc. it helps me get ready for my shot and it has helped me many times

7. if you are tracking a deer, nock an arrow. you have your gun ready if you need to take another shot, why wouldnt you have your bow ready as well.

8. this is common knowledge but no one told me. bring a rope and tie it to you bow so when you get up in your stand and you get right you can pull your bow up. the first time I went bow hunting was my first time in a climber and when I got up there and got right i realized i had damaged my sight because i was dragging the bow up the tree as I climbed. its common sense and i felt so stupid for not thinking it through.