If you are a novice bowhunter, you are probably hunting for tips on how to make sure that you are as ready as possible when you go on your first adventure. Because we know the feelings that you are experiencing, we have prepared a couple of tips that seasoned hunters swear by! So, check them out and be sure to use them!

Practice, practice, practice

Just like in the case of any other activity that you want to get good at, the best thing that you can do is to practice. Even more importantly, you have to practice by mimicking the conditions that you are going to have to face on the field.

For instance, if you plan on using a blind, set up the blind in your backyard and practice shooting from it. Similarly, if you intend to hunt from a tree stand, climb a tree while wearing the appropriate gear and shoot from it. This will help you work up the angles needed when shooting downward.

If you can find an archery shooting place near your home, the best thing that you can do is to visit it as frequently as you can, especially during or near the hunting season. This will allow you to practice your shots. You can even turn your backyard into an archery range.

What’s your dominant eye?

If you are a novice, the first thing that you have to find out is what is your dominant eye. To do so, it is recommended that you try one of the two available tests, the Porta test, or the Miles test.

You can find instructions on how to take these tests at home, with a simple online search. While some archers can shoot by keeping both of their eyes open, not everybody can enjoy the same level of accuracy when doing so.

According to statistics, around 70% of bowhunters have an eye dominance that is the same as their handedness. In other words, those who are right-handed, have their right eye as their dominant eye, and those who are left-handed, have their left eye as dominant.

However, this is not true for all hunters, as some of them are cross-dominant. This means that they are, for instance, left-handed, but they have their right eye as the dominant one. If you are cross dominant, the specialists argue that you should invest in equipment that is in correlation with your dominant eye, and not your dominant hand.

Scent control is essential

When you are hunting, it is essential that you keep your scent concealed. To do this efficiently, you have to know how to position yourself correctly. When you are hunting for deer, you should never hunt in an area where the wind blows toward the deer, as this will allow it to smell your scent.

This is particularly important because bowhunting implies that you have to get much closer to the deer than in the case of hunting with a firearm. If you are standing against the wind, the prey will pick up on your scent, and, more than sure, it will fail to show up.

Another thing that you can do to conceal your scent is to wash yourself with scent-free products such as special soap and to use activated carbon clothing. If you manage to hide your scent, there is a higher chance that you’ll see more mature does and bucks.

Concealment equipment

It should go without saying that, an integral part of any type of hunting is investing in and wearing concealment gear.

The equipment that you select should help you blend in with the surroundings and it should cover most of your skin. To cover your face, you can opt for a face paint kit that is simple to use, as well as efficient.

To be prepared for any circumstances, it is also best that you pack a flashlight, maps, as well as a well-stocked first-aid-kit with you.

Be familiar with the anatomy of the animal

There is nothing more cruel a hunter can do than to shoot without killing the prey. In the case of deer, you have to shoot at the lungs of the deer, as this is the most lethal area on its body.

From an ethical point of view, the only two areas that you should shoot at are to the heart or the lungs. If you are not confident that you can take down the deer, it is best that you refrain from taking a shot.

To avoid any unnecessary cruelty, it is advisable that you invest in razor-sharp broadheads. By doing so you can make sure that the animal that you hit will have a quick, and, in a way, more humane death.

Understand the behavior of the deer

You should never go hunting without having a clear understanding of how the prey behaves. Even if you fail to come home with a trophy, a hunting experience is still an opportunity for you to observe the habits of the prey, in a wide array of circumstances.

For instance, you can gather info regarding the most common trails that the animals frequent. This piece of info will surely come in handy the next time you go hunting! Using a trail camera could help you on this!

Be patient!

When we think about hunting, we only imagine the sense of victory that we feel when we manage to kill the prey. However, to get there, you have to be incredibly patient and to wait for the best conditions.

If you are out of luck, no matter how well prepared you are, there is still a chance that you won’t get to see any deer. So, before you set up on your hunting trip, prepare to be disappointed.

Even if your hunting trip is not successful, this does not mean that you cannot enjoy the entire experience that it represents. Therefore, no matter the result, remember to breathe in the fresh air and to make the most of the opportunity of seeing wildlife in its natural habitat.

Avoid extreme shoots

Because a broadhead cannot not have the same power and force as bullets do, it is widely recommended that you stay clear of any extreme shoots. For instance, you should refrain from shooting the deer while it is still behind cover, or if you are not confident that you can pull it off.

Besides, remember that it is ok if you decide to let the deer go. Sometimes, no matter how much work you have put into training for your hunting expedition, you might not feel like taking that deadly shoot.

If this is something that you experience when you are out in the woods, keep in mind that this is normal, and not something that you should repress or feel ashamed about. After all, hunting is much more than simply killing, it is all about the experience of being in nature alongside your best buddies.

To conclude

If you understand and use all of the tips that we have talked to you about in this guide, we are confident that you will enjoy all the hunting experiences to come. If you are still unsure that you are ready to go hunting, our advice is that you keep practicing until you get comfortable with the gear.