Do you want to challenge yourself even further as an archer? Do you feel left out when all your buddies take their Recurve bows or compound bows into the woods leaving you behind? No need to worry, in this article we will explain to you exactly how to use a bow and arrow to hunt deer.
As far back as 25,000 BC, bowhunting was an ancient sport. Bow & arrow hunting is a rewarding sport requiring unwavering patience, impeccable skill, and exceptional aim. Hunting with bows & arrows is more difficult than hunting with rifles since you need the deer close to you to shoot. The range of a bow hunter’s shot is restricted to 2.3 yards to 42 yards, depending on the circumstances.
How to Bow Hunt Deer
Step 1: Practice
Do you have any experience as an archer? Use the warm summer months to practice, perfect your archery form, and hone your skills before trekking into the woods in late fall or early winter.
The weather will be cold, so you will need to wear long sleeves and layers of clothing. As wearing long sleeves can restrict your range of motion, so you should practice wearing these types of clothing before wearing them.
Step 2: Scouting the area and deciding where to hunt for deer
What is the habitat of the deer? Find out where the deer are and what kind of environment they prefer.
It is common for deer to roam in dense areas like cedar thickets or old swamps where humans find it difficult to travel, Larger bucks prefer shady, high-altitude camps.
After deciding where to hunt, scouting the area is crucial. Scouting doesn’t mean going out a few weeks before bow hunting season. There is a high level of alertness among deer as the bow hunting season approaches. To track deer habits, start scouting as early as August to find out where they are and scout them often.
In order to find the best deer bow hunting spots, you will want to leave a trail camera in or near your tree stand.
Prepare the hunting area by baiting it. Deer enjoy corn, apples, and carrots, which reminds them that they are in a good territory and encourages them to stay. Baiting laws must be followed, and baiting should be stopped about ten days before hunting.
Early in the hunting season, rattled antlers in an attempt to attract and lure larger bucks,
Step 3: Make A Plan
Prepare yourself before you go hunting by knowing when to go. What is your goal for the day?
It is a good idea to have more than one tree stand.
You have a limited range when hunting with a bow and arrow. It is recommended that you position your tree stand within 20 yards or so of the area(s) you intend to hunt.
The scent you leave behind does not disappear instantly; it lingers for hours or days. Consider changing your position to surprise the deer. When and from what tree stand you plan to hunt on that day should be decided in advance. Plan your schedule – if you are hunting with others, determine when and where you will meet.
Step 4: Hunt
Hunt Early, Hunt Late, and Hunt Often
Want to know how to increase your chances of catching a deer? If you’re not in the woods, you won’t see a deer!
Spending more time in the forest increases your chances of seeing a deer. Make sure you get out there early in the morning and stay until late at night. You have a better chance of getting a deer if you bow hunt early in the season.
Scouting early gives you an advantage over lazy hunters who wait until the last minute. You already know where the best hunting spots are, but they don’t. More hunters in an area mean more chances for deer to get spooked and move to more desolate regions.
Step 5: Shooting The Deer
Standing makes shooting a bow and hunting arrow easier and more accurate. While the deer is still far enough away, stand up and try not to make any noise or draw attention to yourself.
Your goal is a one-shot kill. In order to kill a deer, you need to hit its vitals. Your arrow should be aimed right, behind a front leg, at the neck, or at the brain.
Step 6: Finding the Deer
You did everything right and shot your first deer. Now, what?
You should not follow or look for the deer right away. Whenever you feel your deer is dead, start looking for it as soon as possible; wait approximately fifteen to thirty minutes before following it. Trying to catch the deer too soon might make it retreat further into the woods, which will give it time to lie down, bleed out, and die.
You don’t want to wait too long or you’ll forget where the deer went. Although you want to let the deer die, you don’t want the meat to spoil. Once you think the deer is dead, you can start tracking it.
If you can’t see the deer, follow the blood trail and signs that a deer just ran through.
Once you’ve found your deer, ensure he’s dead and drag him out of the woods. You may need an extra set of hands for this task.
Hunting deer with a bow and arrow: Tips for Success
There is nothing more precious than silence
Obviously, you found the perfect bow & arrow deer hunting spot. Others were lazy and didn’t bother to find a good spot. It is important not to give away your secret location to anyone.
Become as stealthy as a ninja
Whenever a deer knows you are nearby, it will go on high alert. Make yourself invisible to deer by following these tips.
- Mask your human scent with scent-eliminating products
- Make your hiding spot appear more appealing to deer by using deer scent attractants
- Soap with no scent is recommended
- Hunting boots with rubber soles that will not leave deep treads are recommended
- Deer calls can be used to attract deer while you lie in wait
Make sure you have your hunting license with you
To hunt deer with a bow and arrow, a hunting license is required. A hunting license can be purchased online through the DEC website or at a sporting goods store.
Hunting licenses will have all the information you need to hunt, such as the dates of the deer season, how many deer you can hunt, and what kind of deer you can hunt.
Hunt Water Sources
In order to survive, deer need to drink water. Watch and wait for the buck trails leading to the water source.
Be Patient
When you wait, good things will come your way.
Getting impatient and giving up can cause rustling sounds that scare off deer if you become fidgety and move around. Additionally, moving around a lot will emit more of your human scent, which will make your hiding spot obvious.
A shot taken too soon can result in completely missing the deer, alerting other deer in the area and scaring them away or hitting the deer but missing the vitals and the deer taking off to suffer a long, painful death.
Know What You Are Hunting
In order for you to become a better, more informed, and more efficient hunter, you will need to learn about the habits, the life cycles, the movements, the body language, the likes, and dislikes of deer.
Equipment
You should pack your backpack a day or two before you go into the woods. Ensure you have all the necessary equipment to hunt and kill your deer. You can ruin a day of hunting by driving miles and then walking back to find you are missing a crucial piece of equipment.
You’ll be in a tree stand at least 20 yards away. You can improve your focus and see further by using a pair of binoculars.
It is recommended that you bring a backpack or a fanny pack in which you can carry all of your essential items. While walking or waiting in a tree stand, be sure nothing falls out of your pocket or hand, and make sure your hands are empty and ready to grab your bow.
*The most important piece of equipment is your bow and arrow. This is the weapon you will use to shoot your first of many deer. you can add some accessories too like Armguard, Release, Gloves and Quiver for make hunting easy
* Deer cannot see color well, so a neon, bright orange piece of clothing will not make you stand out, It will, however, stand out to other hunters.
* Because you are going into and leaving the woods in the darker dawn and dusk hours, bring a fluorescent light to help maneuver your way through the woods. This will also come in handy when you are tracking the deer you shot.