My buddy calls me and states he is going bowhunting this weekend. He states he had practiced twice yesterday and will practice the next 2 days. Has never ever bowhunted before and is using his brother's bow. Probably has no clue if draw length is correct. I try to tell him he needs to do more then this before going hunting and he owe's it to the animal. He is going hunting. Im kind of torn about this. We are hooking up later today and he will get a ear full in a positive way.

By the way his brother has not hunted with this bow yet. This bow use to belong to me and he never went and
had it setup for him.

Well....at least the animals have YOU. Maybe you can get him set straight on his effective range. Maybe you can help him determine it.

Good luck.

Hand someone a bow and they think they are a bowhunter. I personally think he should set out this year and get some practice in. Like you said, he owes it to the animal to make a safe ethical shot. Just my opinion..
Has he rifle hunted before??? It would help with his nerves but still without a lot of practice I think he should wait....

Yes he has rifle hunted for about 10 years now. He is a good friend but screw loose.

I'd do everything I could to get him to sit out a year on hunting with the bow. Maybe ask him to tag along with you for some experience, have him film the hunt or something, anything so that he doesn't feel real offended and so that he can experience first hand the differences between gun hunting and bow hunting.

As long as he only shoots at does what could he be hurting? Thin the herd right. As long as its legal we should support him right?
Its good to get new people involved in hunting ,our numbers are shrinking ,congrats on a new bow hunter!
If he needs a safety belt I have an extra I will donate. Saftey first.

Well I don't like the fact that the bow is not set up for him but let me ask a question. If a guy is a reasonably good hunter andgets a bow set up for him (correct length, not too much weight, correct arrows, etc.) how long or how many sessions would it take to become proficient (2-3" groups) at 20 yards, with some tutorage? I have set up many friends that were hunters but were new to bowhunting and the amount of time it took to get proficient at that range and understand the equipment was minimal and most of the guys I'm talking about took off like a shot and are die hardbowhuntersto this day. Now did that translate to immediate bowhunting success? No, not by a long shot but with a little guidancethey were confidentand proficient enough tobowhunt in ashortamount of time. Becoming a good shot with a bow is just a small piece to the bowhunting puzzle, they still had to learn how to bowhunt and learn how different it is from gun hunting. JMO

I would say meet with him, check out how the bow fits him, make sure he isn't overbowed, check the arrows and other equipment and if all of that checks out then tutor him at 20 yards on basics (stance, draw, anchor, aim, release, follow-thru). Go from there and see if you can get him on the right track, nothing like a good mentor.

I definately don't think he needs to sit out a year especially if he is relatively intelligent and is open to listening and already knows his way around the woods a little (has hunted before).

Jim....seriously....where did that come from?

Fraley,

I know what you are saying. I ha a couple buddies just like this that drive me crazy. Last year my buddy who hunts the land right next to me didnt practice all year gets in a stand and shot a 167" net. It is just frustrating. Not that he shot a big deer but that he doesnt put in the time for the animals. I know how many he has wounded and missed over the years. I can say that my first bow was a hand me down. I had no idea what draw length even was at that age. As long as you are shooting good groups I dont have a problem at all. Not saying that you shouldnt have the correct setup just know that you have to start somewhere.

I thought that does were vermin and should be shot on sight. Its only 4.5 year old deer that are Worthy of serious consideration.

Go to the deer hunting forum and you will read about kids that have never shot a deer belittling others for shooting "management bucks"











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