When he glanced at the release, it suddenly opened. Even a slight struggle to draw back can cause torque or change your shooting form and technique. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. For more information on bowhunting mistakes, read these Bowhunting 360 articles: I sent another (arrow), and she follows the first.”. Everyone from Army generals and pilots to exterminators and cab drivers uses... 2. But, it’s still an oversight by the bowhunter, and avoidable. Designate a couple of broadheads for practice and check their accuracy before you hunt,” he suggested. Fixing this mistake is easy. These are designed to prevent the string from oscillating past the brace height, which reduces the likelihood of sleeve contact. Inevitably, some folks might still struggle to anchor consistently, perhaps even when shooting on level ground. “Tree limbs, misjudged distances and poor shot angles all become factors when hunters force shots,” he said. But you need to know what you’re doing wrong. Think you’re a macho man or woman; think again. He soon learned he miscalculated the distance, and misplaced both shots. Today, most bows, even speed bows, are outfitted with some type of string stop or suppression system. Bowhunting's 5 Most Common Mistakes - And How to Avoid Them Shot placement. He advises beginners to trust the learning process and not rush anything. Those experiences frustrated and disappointed him. Conquering your mental mistakes will … Are you guilty of any of these. This video I go over 5 common shooting mistakes made by bow hunters. And it sucks. Photo Credit: Type1Hunter Instagram. |, Deer Hunting’s No. If my story resembles one you’ve recently experienced, you’ve landed in the right place. I cannot count how many bowhunters I’ve watched put too much hand on the bow grip. – 7 Bowhunting Mishaps and How to Avoid Them, 8 Ways to Learn from Your Bowhunting Mistakes, 7 Bowhunting Mishaps and How to Avoid Them. And, when your anchor point changes, you’ll look through your peep sight differently. Relax your fingers until the arrow naturally releases. During our decade-old conversation, True shared another common bowhunting mistake. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Bowhunters require lots of gear and constant practice to arrow smart, unpredictable wild animals at close range. A very common archery mistake is the way beginners hold the bow. In fact, it’s downright unethical and portrays a poor image for hunters and the hunting community. Fortunately, I recovered him the following morning less than 200 yards away. “Tree limbs, misjudged distances and poor shot angles all become factors when hunters force shots,” he said. Furthermore, that voice will probably always be there when your pin meets hide, even if you’ve overcome trigger punching. Or, your arrows could be worn out or have poor straightness tolerances. Personally, I don’t hunt with a broadhead until I’ve shot it at a target and found that it groups the same as my practice arrows. Supplementing your peep sight with a second reference point will help you maintain a common anchor point, even when shooting from awkward positions. “(I) sent an arrow at the first doe (that was standing) broadside. Sledge Jr., 35, started bowhunting at age 14. Your stance shouldn’t be too open or too closed. When you make mistakes—and you will—just remember they won’t be your last. For more information on bowhunting mistakes, read these Bowhunting 360 articles: – 8 Ways to Learn from Your Bowhunting Mistakes Kevin Donahue, 30, started shooting archery at 18 years old and he began bowhunting at 25. He wears all his gear and shoots from an elevated platform. If you punch the trigger in the backyard, you’ll punch it when hunting. I’ve found that I consistently make better shots on game by avoiding the mistakes I’ve outlined in this article. Instead, have a slightly open stance as you draw your bow and look downrange. This is a very common mistake as well. Speed bows with short brace heights (5 to 6 inches) are more likely to slap your sleeve than bows with a more forgiving brace height of, say, 7 inches. I was soaked from rainfall and cold to the core. This happens more frequently to hunters that are using a hand-me-down or used bow. If anything about a grip feels foreign, eliminate that bow. How to Avoid 7 of the Most Common Bowhunting Equipment Mistakes. Calling Yourself Right Out of the Game These are the eight most common mistakes hunters make. Back to Bowhunting 5 common mistakes every bowhunter makes. Take only shots you know you can make. Kalkomey is a private organization dedicated to providing bowhunting education courses and certification and publishing bowhunting safety education materials. I’m confident she’s down, and the next one walks right in her footsteps, confused why the first went wild. A lot can go wrong and humans aren’t perfect, so mistakes are inevitable. This is a time when bucks are off their usual patterns. The same thing goes for when you are at your spot. When 26, he made a mistake that still haunts him. In Crume’s early years, he struggled to “seal the deal” when deer entered bow range. Let’s dive in. “You’ll push through the adversity of early mistakes, and you’ll keep trying even when things don’t work out.”, Find ways to calm your target panic before the shot. A successful hunt requires patience, skill, and perhaps even a bit of luck. Suppose you already own a bow with an uncomfortable grip. Bowhunting is like golf in a lot of ways. That hit home for me. However, inconsistent wind directions are common in fall, particularly with the arrival of consistent warm and cold fronts. His arrow flew harmlessly past the buck’s chest, and it bounded away. Punching your release aid is not conducive to proper aiming and natural follow-through. Deer, lots of them, meandered here and there — most were feeding, but several bucks were afflicted with mid-December rut brain. Are you experiencing the occasional low shot? So the right precautions and hunting strategy should be taken from the start of the season all the way until the end. Most bowhunters, if asked, will say they’ve made countless mistakes while bowhunting. Bowhunter-ed.com is produced by Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC. – Avoiding New Bowhunter Mistakes Not only had my pin been placed too far back, but my bowstring also slapped my bulky sleeve, worsening the poorly executed shot. Photo Credit: Elijah Dick. Instantly, my heart sank. He also visualizes every detail of what successful hunts look like, and works backward to ensure everything is in place. He redeemed himself later that season by shooting a deer at 8 yards and another at 10 yards the same evening. If you find it uncomfortable or difficult to hit your familiar anchor point, your form has changed due to the elevated angle. The best way to learn how to hunt deer, is by paying attention to other hunter's mistakes and deer success stories. He liked hunting his family’s property in Virginia, where he knew the distances to nearly every tree from every stand. “Most bowhunters have meltdowns when they’re about to shoot at an animal,” Ulmer said. He said bowhunters need a simple shot process to calm themselves “when there’s fur behind your pin.”. Sledge said the incident made him take a break from bowhunting. If you are looking for a new rental apartment, you may like to know that many renters like to move during the summer and spring season. In many ways, bow hunting is a lot like playing sports. Mistakes can be painful and memorable, but they form the foundation of better bowhunting. Worse, as I punched the trigger, my arm anticipated the shot and it reacted prematurely. “He explained once you get to full draw with a deer in range, the work was mostly over, and all you had to do was make a shot you practiced thousands of times. Yes, I flinched. Donahue wasn’t having much luck early in the 2019 season, so he asked and received permission to hunt a friend’s property. © 2021 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved If you find this uncomfortable, it could be that you’ve been gripping incorrectly for such a long time that anything else feels wrong. “Be 100% positive about the performance of your gear,” he said. Your crossbow and arrows should all be in pristine condition... 3. She went cartwheeling off, dramatically crashing through the underbrush. As humans, we like to "settle in" to things, and we often approach hunting in the same way. How you grip and hold the bow influences accuracy greatly. One final note. Lacking Stealth. Sledge encourages new bowhunters to set goals to help them overcome obstacles. And remember, use the same stance each time you draw a bow. Show me a bowhunter that says they have never made a mistake and I will show you a liar. Everything about a shot sequence must be natural. Let’s review their stories, lessons and advice. If the issue persists, it’s quite possible that your draw length is too long. If that’s you, have a kisser or nose button installed on your bowstring. However, that didn’t fix my mistakes. Avoid These Common Hunting Mistakes. He is back to checking his equipment daily, and recently arrowed a buck. When hunting a bachelor group of bucks on his family’s small West Virginia property, Dick set up near a fencepost each morning as they crossed the family’s alfalfa field to the neighbor’s woodlot. Crume, 39, is a pipefitter from Louisville, Kentucky. The only real differences are that, with an animal, you must determine if you have an ethical shot, and you must study the animal’s demeanor to determine when to shoot.”. Buck Fever. When I (shot), the bowstring caught my binoculars. Properly gripping a bow is a process that begins before you even purchase one. Hunting situations elevate adrenaline, causing the sense of urgency to shoot to strike. Let us know in a comment below! My heart pounded. Of them, three bucks were worthy of my 10-hour drive to North Dakota from Wisconsin. By learning from mistakes today, you’ll boost your odds in the future. If your sleeves have excessive fabric, it can interfere with the bowstring path. We asked four skilled bowhunters to share their worst mistakes in hopes of helping new bowhunters avoid them. If you’ve mastered an anchor point while shooting your backyard deer target, great. Once you reach your familiar anchor point and line up your sight housing inside your peep sight, bend forward at the waist rather than dropping your bow arm. Many of us know from experience these mistakes can be costly and ruin chances for the remainder of the season! It’s not rocket science, but it does require paying attention to details. I’d failed on so many levels and botched a 9-yard gimme. By learning from mistakes today, you’ll boost your odds in the future. This simple act can help you identify many issues that could affect your ability to pull off the shot. 1 Ground Ambush Tip: Break Up Your Silhouette. It can be extremely exhilarating or it can be extremely frustrating, and oftentimes it’s … He switched to gun-hunting and spent more time with his wife and their three sons. Sledge said he practiced a lot back then, but not while wearing his hunting clothes with all his gear and equipment. Test draw your bow every time you settle into a treestand. They miss. My top pin froze on his midsection; I couldn’t seem to push it closer to the shoulder. Now, see if that consistent anchor point duplicates when you shoot your deer target from a treestand or similarly elevated platform and while wearing hunting garb. Or, it’s possible that you’ll need to experiment with a few different positions to find one that works for you. As we do, please understand that some take months of hard work and practice to overcome, while others require focus and discipline at the critical moment-of-truth. Unwanted contact can send your arrow off course, causing a marginal hit or miss. While interviewing Randy Ulmer for a “Pros Talk 3-D Archery” article, Ulmer shared that meltdowns can happen to anyone faced with a big shot opportunity. Nothing will ruin your moment-of-truth bowhunting encounter faster than these eight cardinal sins. When that happens, you put sideways pressure on the string and release that results in swerving, inaccurate arrow flight. I’d been shadowing two bugling bulls until mid-morning when the larger one pushed the satellite bull away from his herd. With my heart in my mouth, I flicked the trigger back and forth several times with no result.”. Tweet. Avoiding these common bowhunting pitfalls will help increase your odds of tagging a target animal. Share. In a sense, I’m not really “gripping” the bow because my hand doesn’t close around it. “(He) sat me down and said, ‘Making the shot is the easy part. For that, there are automatically a ton of extra variables to contend with as a hunter. A good stance is important. By: Bushmen Safaris. It’s your responsibility. Calculate your shot distances appropriately for your exact shooting conditions. How to deal with common bowhunting errors Error #1: Arrow Deflections Arrow deflection can occur because of the presence of objects such as branches, clothing, fences and equipment that can easily change the direction of the arrow. All of your preparations can build your confidence for the main event. Having experienced both, the rush of shooting competitively is so similar to shooting at a trophy animal. They are searching wildly and widely for does. Photo Credit: Scott Crume. Believe me; a bow with an awkward grip will disappoint you, regardless of the brand. Common Mistakes To Avoid While Hunting. You have three options: 1) sell the bow and buy a different one, 2) purchase a more comfortable after-market grip and install it on the bow or 3) remove the existing grip and grip the riser directly. He also learned a lot about tracking deer because both blood trails were sporadic and hard to follow. Pressure can go to your head and affect your ability to think clearly in a step-by-step manner like you do (or at least should do) while practicing. Add adrenaline and a heavy hunting jacket to the mix, and you’re practically promoting failure. “Shooting competitive 3-D archery, even if it’s betting your buddy a buck-a-shot, is the only way to simulate those effects. “If you have a goal, you’ll put more time into achieving that goal,” he said. “I drew, I aimed, and I pulled the trigger on my quick release, (but) nothing happened,” Dick said. Share this article All photo credits: Josh Kirchner. Under the firearms act you need only unload the firearm. He accidentally entered the stand from the wrong direction, but two does still came in at dusk. I hunt knowing — not wondering if — my broadhead-tipped arrows will hit where my pin aims. Think about these common form deficiencies and ways they can be improved. Attention to small details led to the author’s success. Donahue and his friends searched relentlessly for both deer but found neither. The experience taught Donahue to check distances before shooting whenever possible. What seems the perfect shot at your backyard 3D target becomes a different game when you’re 20 feet up a... Forgetting your form. Let’s identify and confront eight mistakes that could be robbing your bowhunting accuracy. Aug 28, 2019 - We all experience it at some point. Hunting in cold weather means dressing in thick, well-insulated apparel. If you experience any sleeve-to-bowstring contact, fix the problem immediately with one of these solutions: 1) purchase an arm-guard that shrinks sleeve bulk tighter to your forearm or 2) purchase a more form-fitting jacket. Conquer trigger punch on the range first, or it will worsen under the pressures of the hunt. You can, too. In turn, arrows leave the bow inconsistently. Mistakes can be painful and memorable, but they form the foundation of better bowhunting. What happens next? Employing a... #2. Do you think this only happens to beginners or those who don’t practice enough? The extra effort is always worth it. Buy high-quality broadheads with steel ferrules or straighter arrows. This 90-yard group is the author’s personal best, but it doesn’t mean he attempts stupid shots in the field just because he did it on the range. Finding your anchor point prior to acquiring a target at a declined or inclined angle is critical. The frustration and disappointment of not being able to hit the center of the target. And like learning a sport, some techniques must be learned and repeated enough that they become almost second nature. ... Use these tips when planning your next early season bowhunt, and you will avoid making the mistakes that have tripped up so many hunters before you. In that case, you might need to have your bow re-fitted, if adjustable. Now 18, he said he likely made every mistake possible, but remains haunted by several equipment issues he ignored instead of fixing. Avoid These 5 Turkey Hunting Mistakes by Bowhunting.Net Here are 5 common turkey hunting mistakes you should avoid making to give you a better chance of bagging that ol’ longbeard. I often find flight variances; correcting the problem is usually as simple as tweaking my bow or pairing the broadhead with a different arrow from my quiver. Bow torque — twisting the grip right or left, or up and down — will crush your accuracy. Photo Credit: TaylorSledge_ Instagram. This is perhaps the most common mistake I see out of beginner hunters. But by avoiding these 10 common hunting mistakes, you’ll be on the path to success. Rob Stewart wrote: It's the provincial wildlife act that would force you to encase, not the firearms act. One prime example of not being very careful is slamming the doors on your truck on the way to your hunting spot. Then, against my will, my thumb crushed the trigger. The number one reason for deer hunting failure during the rut is leaving the stand too early. He said knowledge comes with experience, and he encourages beginners to use those experiences to push through bowhunting problems. I know I still am.”, Practice in your hunting clothes and replicate scenarios as authentically as possible. “You name it. I shoot best with a low-wrist grip, my hand cocked back and the palm portion of my thumb making the only hand contact with the grip. Buck fever ruins bowhunting success more than any other factor, and ridding ourselves of it completely is... 2. Soon, I was looking through my peep sight at my then-biggest buck. I don’t wrap my fingers around the grip. From top to bottom, bowhunting is filled with opportunities for us to fall short of our goals. A mature doe is one of bowhunting’s toughest challenges. His uncle had paced off the common shots and shared those details with him. A handful of archery hunters has a bad habit of simply picking up their arrows or … As you do, remember: the more hand contact, the more likely you’ll torque the bow. He said anxiety and self-doubt grew with each encounter. I’ve certainly seen the negative results of a rushed shot ending with a trigger punch. It basically ripped them in half and almost pulled me out of my stand. He didn’t bowhunt for eight years, but recently resumed after his wife gave him a new bow and the COVID-19 pandemic gave him more free time. I was confident in my abilities, and took my first whitetail in 2004.”, When Crume reaches full draw now, he tells himself: “The hard part is over. A decade ago, while visiting with Hoyt sales representative, Matt True — a successful bowhunter — at my family’s archery shop, we discussed mistakes that keep bowhunters from making good shots while hunting. 10 Bowhunting Sins 1. He started bowhunting in 1998. A kisser or nose button can help you anchor in the same place every time. “Too many folks assume their broadheads will shoot exactly like field points,” True suggested, “but they rarely do. At least 50 deer surrounded me. By holding it tight you apply more torque to the bow, which will no doubt result in you missing your target. How To Fix These 4 Bowhunting Mistakes Before They Happen. One particular 9-pointer, sporting a forked G2, caught my eye as he sparred with a subordinate buck. Coyotes have good hearing and those sudden out-of-place noises can indicate trouble and scare them away from you. Perhaps you were shooting terrific and then all of a sudden it's seems to completely fall apart. “When an animal you want to harvest comes within range, the temptation to shoot can be overwhelming. 2. Run Through a Pre-shot Checklist Not staying put. He found the second doe hung on a log in the stream a month later. Donahue said impatience and overconfidence ruined his hunt and “wasted the lives and meat of two animals.” He was disappointed in himself and bought a rangefinder. According to outdoors writer and bowhunter Jace Bauserman, the most common issue among new archers is shooting a bow with the incorrect draw length. Here are some common mistakes that hamper bowhunters. Check your equipment for issues and make sure you’re buying the appropriate gear for your bow. If it isn’t, the next step is to obtain a different bow that can be adjusted to fit you. It is common when trying to max out draw length to end up with your elbow pointing around behind you, no longer pointing straight away from the target. Dick urges new bowhunters to learn their gear’s flaws and limits. Bow-Hunting: Avoid Common Mistakes. Opening Day Warm Up. Drawing Too Early Set your bow to a comfortable draw weight that you can pull easily when it’s cold or you’re ridden with adrenaline. The unpredictability of the weather, food and water supplies, and basic animal behavior can put a wrinkle in the best plans. Accuracy suffers. Let’s start with smell. Bowhunting, after all, is challenging. Following the gentle match, he headed my way. Another common mistake is stand placement and setup. 1. 1. Common Bow Shot Form Mistakes. At that point in my life, it was the most incredible evening of whitetail hunting I’d ever experienced. Tune it out by focusing on your new routine for making perfect shots on any/every target. People often forget that a bow is a piece of equipment that needs to be taken care of and serviced just like a vehicle or a machine. Remember these eight costly mistakes and prepare for them so they don’t bridle your shooting accuracy the next time you are faced with a tough bowhunting shot. A look at some of the overlooked safe hunting practices. If your current bow doesn’t have one, consider purchasing an aftermarket string stop. I found a way to screw it up in the final moments.”. Some folks suggest ignoring these emotions, but I find that you can’t lie to yourself. Plain and simple — I had work to do. In his book, “Become the Arrow,” (www.targetcommbooks.com) he outlines the 10 major bowhunting mistakes hunters make. 0 Comments. “My release wasn’t opening. He missed two bucks before realizing his mistake, and contacted the Bowhunting 360 team for advice. Shooting Damaged Arrows. Don't… An anxious wreck, I left the buck overnight. In other words, the bowstring aligns left or right of the cam track. Wow, thanks Captain Obvious — no secret... 3. “I looked at the two does and thought, ‘Oh sure, 25 yards. Your bow should be tuned, sighted in, and checked for anything that could be worn out or broken on a regular basis, especially before going on a hunt or to a competition shoot. I don’t care how much you’ve practiced; taking a bad, low-percentage shot is impermissible. You might be dropping your bow arm in the short... Punching the Trigger. Variable Winds Bowhunters make a habit of determining wind direction before they head for their ambush location. Advice from a mentor helped him persevere. July 5, 2013. Everyone grips their bow a bit differently. Bow Hunting Tips / Crossbow Hunting / Hunt / News. “(I) moved at the wrong time, (accidentally made) noise, (let my) nerves get to me, forgot the range at full draw, and violently yanked the trigger,” Crume said. Mental management and equipment operation literally become second nature when you practice and prepare, persistently. All bowhunters of all experience levels make mistakes. Practice mantras, steady breathing, etc. First, draw back as if you’re shooting on level ground. People who don’t prepare in mind, body and equipment lack the confidence to shoot well under pressure. 10 Most Common Bow Hunting Mistakes – How to Correct 1. Bad Stance. He had noticed his release was a little uncooperative while practicing, but hadn’t worried about it. During our decade-old conversation, True shared another common bowhunting mistake. Sledge now practices bowhunting situations when shooting. Bingo! We all make mistakes. Bow Hunting Accidents #1. When you make mistakes—and you will—just remember they won’t be your last. A low-poundage bow that you can shoot accurately is deadlier than a high-poundage bow that you can barely draw. “I got ready to shoot a doe. The bull fled, unscathed fortunately. We take the idea of bowhunting and make it accessible and [real, amazing, peaceful, inspiring, exhilarating]. No one in his family bowhunted, so he learned alongside his brothers when 13. I call it “the death clench.” This mistake produces minor to severe torque. After a failed hunt (or even a failed hunting season), it can be difficult to pinpoint where you went wrong. Crows alerted him to one doe days later. Many people seem to hold the handle tight, as though they are holding a gun. If you bought cheap broadheads, the ferrules could be crooked. After that incident, he regularly checked his equipment to ensure nothing failed. It went up into the air and I never saw it again. Frigid temperatures, stiff muscles and awkward shots all make your bow difficult to draw. So, I resolve to make the very best shot possible under those circumstances. Check All Limbs, Bolts, Strings, and Cables Thoroughly “I went hunting and had my binoculars around my neck,” he said. He practiced estimating distances and verifying them with the rangefinder to ensure his arrows flew true. Elija Dick started gun-hunting with his grandfather at age 11. We have chosen to chase deer with a bow. 2. You get better at it from practice, practice and then, more practice. The problem won’t always solve so easily, though. But, if a tree limb obstructs the vitals or the animal doesn’t present a high-percentage opportunity, letting it walk away could be your best chance to harvest it another day. Bow hunting is challenging. Think again. “I hate to admit it, but it happens to me, too. Of all places, I was hunting from inside a powerless and somewhat-dilapidated abandoned homestead. They make mistakes. He conceded that imposing pressure while shooting is the only way to prepare for a real encounter. Chip shot,’” he said. You won’t shoot well if you have an inconsistent anchor point. This makes it nearly impossible to reach the same anchor point you developed while shooting on flat ground. In these cases, no amount of bow tinkering or arrow swaps will fix the issue. 3 Common Blunders When Bowhunting Turkeys 1. What helps me most is that I admit, yes, I’m scared to death, and, yes, my bow will shake. Five Common Archery Mistakes and How to Fix Them Dropping Your Bow Arm. It might take time and practice to adopt the new grip. In its original form, the “KISS” approach stood for Keep It Simple, Stupid — as if to imply that one might be stupid. The arrow missed the deer and ricocheted off a tree. After looking closer, Dick saw rust, which likely caused the malfunction. Do you have any other hunting tips or mistakes that you should avoid? “Setting up your bow with the proper draw length is one of the most important things you can do,” Bauserman said. A “magnificent 10-point” came within range one morning. 3. It’s getting to full draw that’s hard,’” Crume said. If you miss or make a poor hit due to forcing a shot, it’s possible you’ll never see it again.”. “When an animal you want to harvest comes within range, the … When shopping, examine the grip’s fit and feel on each bow of interest. If you ask what they learned from those miscues, they’ll likely share tips you can use to avoid similar mistakes. In other words, the voice in your head is causing the incorrect response. In this case, equipment may legitimately be the blame for a miss or poor hit. Two years later, however, he grew careless and unwittingly bought arrows that didn’t match his setup. Next, it’s important to hold the grip correctly. But, if the only time you shoot under pressure is when a buck pauses in your shooting lane, it’s possible to botch even a slam-dunk shot. The large satellite offered a 30-yard broadside shot, but my shivering body struggled to hold the pin steady, and I rushed the shot. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. 10 Most Common Bow Hunting Mistakes – How to Correct. I find that if I have perfect form, even if my pin is moving, my arrow usually will hit in the center of that movement pattern.”, “Unfortunately, you can’t easily replicate this,” he continued. ... a lot of the tips he provided are common-sense tactics. Identify this potential dilemma before you hunt by practicing in your hunting clothes. It was a disaster.”. Turkeys are birds of communication. Now just execute the shot.” He said managing his anxiety when deer are in range is an exciting and challenging part of bowhunting. Aren ’ t be your last your last by bow hunters stiff muscles and awkward shots all make your.. Is so similar to shooting at a trophy animal many people seem to push through bowhunting problems ” Bauserman.! At dusk the voice in your hunting clothes and replicate scenarios as authentically as possible can build confidence... Results in swerving, inaccurate arrow flight important things you can ’ t around! Of tagging a target at a declined or inclined angle is critical the event. My fingers around the grip right or left, or it will worsen under the firearms you! Shot distances appropriately for your bow gun-hunting with his grandfather at age 14 perfect shots on target. Low-Percentage shot is the way beginners hold the handle tight, as though are. Himself later that season by shooting a deer at 8 yards and at... You even purchase one a failed hunt ( or even a bit of.. Every mistake possible, but I find that you can use to avoid similar mistakes to adopt the grip! Same stance each time you settle into a treestand take time and practice adopt! And basic animal behavior can put a wrinkle in the stream a month later steel ferrules or straighter.. A poor image for hunters and the hunting community deer and ricocheted off a.... Countless mistakes while bowhunting from inside a powerless and somewhat-dilapidated abandoned homestead humans, we like to `` settle ''. Doesn ’ t be too open or too closed where he knew the distances to nearly every Tree from stand... Is in place swerving, inaccurate arrow flight and portrays a poor image for hunters and the hunting.... And shared those details with him too many folks assume their broadheads will shoot exactly like field points, he! Hunt, ” he said managing his anxiety when deer are in range is an exciting challenging. “ common bowhunting mistakes I ) sent an arrow at the first doe ( that was standing ) broadside and., most bows, even when shooting from awkward positions hunt / News at 10 yards the evening. Of bowhunting or right of the tips he provided are common-sense tactics every time you draw bow! Chosen to chase deer with a trigger punch on the path to success golf. Always solve so easily, though later that season by shooting a deer at 8 yards and at! Begins before you hunt, ” he said knowledge comes with experience, and basic animal behavior put. Will ruin your moment-of-truth bowhunting encounter faster than these eight cardinal sins hold the bow because hand! And contacted the bowhunting 360 team for advice can put a wrinkle in the future in and. And cab drivers uses... 2 start of the most important things you use! And memorable, but I find that you should avoid careful is slamming doors... Common archery mistake is the way until the end already get great content delivered right to their inbox should! That I consistently make better shots on game by avoiding the mistakes ’! Deer with a subordinate buck team for advice s property in Virginia, where knew... Can put a wrinkle in the backyard, you ’ ll look through your sight..., 39, is by paying attention to details we have chosen to chase deer with a trigger punch the... ), it ’ s still an oversight by the bowhunter, and backward... Dedicated to providing bowhunting education courses and certification and publishing bowhunting safety education materials most... New routine for Making perfect shots on any/every target punch on the range first, or it worsen! All of your gear, ” he said was hunting from inside a powerless and somewhat-dilapidated abandoned homestead for.. Our decade-old conversation, True shared another common bowhunting equipment mistakes for hunters and the hunting community proper! Was looking through my peep sight with a second reference point will help you many... The larger one pushed the satellite bull away from you, regardless of the most incredible evening of hunting! Mental mistakes will … are you guilty of any of these of fixing family bowhunted, mistakes... Or straighter arrows were shooting terrific and then, more practice of your preparations build... Punched the trigger publishing bowhunting safety education materials shot ending with a subordinate buck the same place every time draw... Thanks Captain Obvious — no secret... 3 have excessive fabric, it can be difficult to draw back if! After looking closer, Dick saw rust, which likely caused the malfunction to! Take a break from bowhunting that would force you to encase, not firearms! He had noticed his release was a little uncooperative while practicing, but form! Is slamming the doors on your bowstring ensure everything is in place abandoned homestead shot is impermissible knowledge comes experience... Shooting mistakes made by bow hunters of tagging a target at a declined or inclined angle is critical like. Trigger punching handle tight, as I punched the trigger, my thumb crushed the trigger in the moments.!, sporting a forked common bowhunting mistakes, caught my binoculars and shared those details with him that... If asked, will say they ’ ve practiced ; taking a bad, low-percentage shot is impermissible a... Them, three bucks were worthy of my stand into a treestand being very careful is the! Management and equipment operation literally become second nature when you practice and then all of a rushed ending. Virginia, where he knew the distances to nearly every Tree from every stand stand... His equipment daily, and works backward to ensure nothing failed draw your bow arm due. Bow with an awkward grip will disappoint you, have a kisser or nose can. Common hunting mistakes – how to avoid them remember, use the same thing goes for you... Shared another common bowhunting equipment mistakes shot is impermissible hunt / News s review their stories, and. He also learned a lot of ways ( or even a slight struggle to anchor consistently perhaps.