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I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

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I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

Old 10-14-2002, 01:39 PM
  #1  
Nontypical Buck
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Default I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

How do ya'll kill deer with a longbow/recurve ? I have one friend who can't shoot nearly as well as I can (which aint that good) and he hasn't killed a deer in 7 years. I have another buddy that has missed 7 out of 9 deer I think, but he's a good shot, better than me. I spent this past weekend hunting and I had a 4 point (not legal in AR) 7 yards away, and after he left and I decided to get down, I took a couple of shots from my stand. First shot was about 4-6 inches from where the bucks imaginary vitals would have been - about a 15 yard shot. Would I have wounded that buck ? I dunno.

I guess I am just questioning if I got what it takes to kill deer with my longbow. I haven't even drawn on one yet and I can see a multitude of things that make it so much more difficult. Hope I find out soon, but I don't know that I can live with missing and/or wounding/losing a deer, you know ??


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Old 10-14-2002, 02:05 PM
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

Stealthy, Wounding is something we all worry about and its bound to happen to each of us sooner or later.

If your more comfortable shooting a compound while hunting I say go ahead and use it, You owe it yourself to shoot what you feel more deadly with.

I will say this much, there are some people shooting traditional bows who really should go back to compounds or rifles in extreme cases, but they are just to stubborn to admit that they cant hit the broadside of a barn.
Same holds true for some compound shooters.

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Old 10-14-2002, 02:09 PM
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

Hey Stealth,
I haven't taken the first shot at an animal with a recurve, but I think the principles would be the same as with any bow. Practice, of course, should condition you to be capable of physiacally making the shot if you shoot only within your limits. But, a huge part of making the shot on an animal is mental. It has taken me a while to try and overcome that part of bowhunting. I still don't have it mastered but I am at least to the point where I don't picture myself blowing an opportunity any more. If I have a whitetail within my effective range, I am confident that I can kill him now. I know that would probably not be the same for me with my recurve because I am not confident in my shooting ability, but once I am, I don't think it will be a problem if the deer is in my range. I guess my main point is that some people have a very hard time overcoming the mental part of making the shot, call it buck fever or whatever.
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Old 10-14-2002, 03:40 PM
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

I think there are 2 keys to killing deer with traditional equipment. 1st, keep your shots close. 2nd, confidence! Expect to hit where you aim. This takes lots of practice for most people. One other bit of advice, when you practice, practice at your hunting ranges only. I have fun with 3-D but a month before season, I'm shooting broadheads at close ranges.(15-20 yards) It's a great confidence builder. It works for me. Dick

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Old 10-14-2002, 04:15 PM
  #5  
Typical Buck
 
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

All I can suggest is what works for me. Confidence is the key to success with any weapon while hunting and if you don't know what your setup is going to do under all shot situations, there's no way you can have confidence in it when you're under the gun, so to speak.

If you don't shoot broadheads year round or when you are able to shoot, I suggest you start. If you hunt primarily from a tree, then the majority of your practice needs to be from a tree at the same height as your hunting stand will be and at every conceivable distance, angle and body possition that you expect to see while hunting. If you use a lifesized deer target, place it to where you need to shoot between rocks, trees, brush, over limbs, under limbs and other obstacles. No doubt in my mind that if you do this type of practice enough, it'll make you a much better shot. In the off season, find a place to hunt small game and do lots of roving with your bow. Use the equipment that you expect to use for deer. It won't help to use gear in practice that you won't be using to hunt deer with. Stick with one bow and make sure that it's tuned to a &quot;T&quot; and that your arrows are flying perfectly with broadhead attached. Practice, practice and practice some more until you know exactly what you have to do to thread the arrow into the vitals of your prey. Before you know it, you'll have all the confidence in the world in your weapon and you'll start bagging critters. Assuming of course that you do everything else right.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
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Old 10-14-2002, 04:59 PM
  #6  
Nontypical Buck
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

Cliff_N_Di - I think everyone would be more accurate with a compound, carbon arrows and a release. Very, very few people can hit coke cans at 25 yards literally every shot - with a compound thats very possible.

I have learned I think that theres a HUGE difference in equipment used in bowhunting and heck, I aint even killed a deer with my longbow yet ! I shoot well enough, and I have been using broadheads, out of a treestand in my backyard with hunting clothes on at a Blue Ridge deer target - I simulate hunting as closely as possible.

I gotta say though, I still wonder how I'll be at the moment. I have never been one to lack confidence, but at the same time I'm a realist and keeping composure and picking a spot at a deer - hmmmmmm, its going to be a LOT tougher than with a compound !!

Wahya - I hope you're right. I have a whitetail hunt in KS in three weeks and I've waited 2 years to draw another tag to go out there. I KNOW I'll see some 150 class + bucks, I don't know that I could handle missing or wounding a deer like that, you know ?


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Old 10-14-2002, 05:50 PM
  #7  
Typical Buck
 
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

Yep, I do know. The second year that I hunted with a recurve, 3rd year shooting the bow, I blew a give me shot on a huge 4X4 Mule deer. His rack extended well past his mickey mouse ears and was tall and well defined. I nelt a whole 7 paces from that beautiful buck and I blew the shot. I wanted to cry as I watched him stot over the rise and out of sight. I'd hunted him for a solid week and it took almost 2 hours to get in close to him for the shot. Most of it belly crawling, lol. I was thankful that the arrow didn't wound him instead of glancing off of his antler. Guess what I was looking at.<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good luck on your hunt. Think possitive and make your shot. If it's meant to be, you'll be taking home a great tasting critter with a whole lot of antler.
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Old 10-14-2002, 10:35 PM
  #8  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

your time will come my friend! Take the experiences for what they are worth as the memorys down the road are more worth the kills inbetween!

http://www.geocities.com/tradbow007/...dventures.html
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Old 10-15-2002, 12:59 AM
  #9  
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

All I know is how it is for me.... I find shooting at game easier than shooting targets. I tend to focus a lot more when its the real deal. All the form qestioning thoughts out of my head, my primal predatory instincts take over and I'm focused so hard on the animal that its like I can almost anticipate each move it makes. Its like I can see inside the deer and know where the arrow has to go. I rarely remember drawing my bow, just seeing the arrow sail through the air on its way to the animal. The few times that I have missed while shooting at animals have been the times that the nagging, second guessing, guestions have been going through my head. If I find myself in the position like that its already over and I might as well put my bow down and watch. Another thing for me that is a bonus is that I tend not to get &quot;buck fever&quot; until after the shot. I'll darn near fall out of the tree 2 minutes after the shot but be stone cold and steady at the shot. It doesn't always work that way but generally so.
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Old 10-15-2002, 07:16 AM
  #10  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: I dunno .............. how do you guys do it ??

Stealthy,

I practiced and hunted with a recurve for about 18 months before I got my first shot opportunity. I made a slight error in judgement, I thought the deer had stopped walking, and I shot him a bit high and in the front part of the back ham on the right side. Fortunately, the broadhead cut a main artery and went through the back part of the spinal column.

The 7 pt buck fell four times crossing back over the power line he had crossed coming to me. I didn't see him, but I heard him fall as he stepped down into the woods on the far side of the power line. I heard him thrashing around for about an hour.

I finally went over to check him out after he quieted down. The blood trail was very easy to follow on the frozen snow. One final shot through the lungs and the buck expired in very short order.

Take your time, and have the dofidence you can hit where you are aiming! And take lots of pictures of that first longbow kill.

I've been carrying and shooting a longbow since last season and hope to get my first harvest with a longbow when I go to West Virginia in November.

Bill

Praise the Lord, He is worthy
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