I want to do the right thing
 

Hi folks,
I will be new to bow hunting this coming fall season. I bought a bow, set it up and have been practicing since around April and will continue to do so until season.
Last year I was new to gun hunting, learned a lot and had a great season.
I want to do the right thing during bow season and being new I dont want to do something that etiquette wise should not be done.
I'd hate to bepissinpeople off just because I'm anew bowhunter and didn't know any better.
Any suggestions would be appreciated

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Pass up everything under 160 class.

Good luck this year. I went bow and never went back.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

I guess the first thing is to be proficient with your weapon and to know both your limitations as well as those of you bow. Knowing the anatomy of a deer will help you to determine what shots you should take and which you should avoid (ethically speaking)

If you're hunting private land you can do about anything you want. If you're hunting crowded public land it's best to get in early. if you're walking in and see lights flashing at you from high in a tree it's best to move on as the spot is occupied. This is not required but is good etiquette.
These are just a couple. I'm sure others will elaborate.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

And never shoot a deer the rest of your life. :D

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Welcome to bowhunting! It is a passion that has bitten many of us...

I respect that you want to do things right, but 'right' can mean different things to different people. I can give you some of the things I would consider 'right'....

1. Do everything possible to ensure your bow is set-up properly, tuned, and you have practiced so that you can make a clean kill shot. Be sure to shoot your BH's before you go in the woods, screwing in your BH's can change point of impact dramatically!
2. Know and respect your quarry...study their vital zones and know where you can and can't place a shot for a quick kill.
3. Know your state and local game laws...and follow them! Report and do not associate with those that do not...
4. Do not shoot beyond your capabilities, even if the buck of a lifetime is in sight.
5. Once you have made your shot do exhaust every measure possible in finding the downed animal....you want to see people get fired up? Come fall post something like "Help, I can't find my deer...I looked for 2 hours and can't find it". Real hunters search until they find it or are confident it survived...meaning days, not hours.

These are just some things off the top of my head, I'm sure I will think of others and I'm sure the board members will add to it as well.

Have fun!

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Fieldmouse, you're funny.

I think hunting etiquette is the same whatever tool you use to hunt with. The thing that irritates me concerning bowhunting only is when people take bad shots that they should have passed on. Respect the animal and if it won't be a good shot resulting in a quick death, don't take it.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

I totally forgot about this one. I cannot tell you how many times hunters have done this when I hunt public land. Please get in the woods early, be quiet when walking to your stand and if you see a light flashing at you, respect the fact that the other hunter is there and find another spot.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

great advice so far...keep in mind that you can never practice too much....you owe that to the animal in your sights...you're about to enter a whole new world...best of luck to you and always be safe!!!

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Bowhunting is a whole different game, get all the info you can on it, tune your bow and now it's range and stick to it, also if the shot is not right don't take it know matter what, shot placement is the key.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Thanks for all the good advice. As with the gun I will only take a shot I have practiced and am comfortable with. I don't have a tree stand so i will be hunting out of a ground blind which I have been practicing from.
I thought the courtesies would be similar to gun hunting but just wanted to make sure. I'll have my young daughter with me and I want to teach her proper hunting etiquette.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

if hes never killed a few deer with a bow or nething shoot a small buck but id pass up the smaller button bucks or spike

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Ethics come from the heart! If you have to question yourself wether it's the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do....it's probably wrong. Follow your heart , use your brain , and.....HAVE FUN!!!

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

You'll definitely have fun bow hunting if you do things right. I kind of nonchalantly bow hunted my first two years, but ever since I started setting up right and got serious, I haven't looked at gun season the same. I honestly don't even look forward to gun season much anymore.

Oh yeah! Good luck to you!!

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

It's imposible. We are as multi ethnic in the hunting community as we are in society. You will always be "pissin" someone off. Learn to accept that people are different. Do your duty as a provider and a stewart of the land and you fine in my book.

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

Definitely some great advice so far and I congratulate you for joining our sport. I want to reitirate the earlier comment about respecting other hunters you see. Nothing chaps my behind more than having some dimwit walk into my immediate area and setup a treestand within 30 or so yards of where I am set up...

...despite the fact that a rather bright flashlight has been shining at him for the last 15 minutes!

RE: I want to do the right thing
 

:D:D:D