Hello all! This should bring me up to about 5 posts total in almost nine years, lol.
I keep getting into and the falling back out of traditional archery. This time I hope to stay a while and get to know some of you.
I purchased my first ever retail bow about a month ago "bear Montana #55" and was excitedly getting ready for hunting season here in Ohio now that I have relocated. Before, my brother used to build bows but has since moved on to other preoccupations so I was in the market for one.
I had an almost romantic notion of picking it right back up and being a proficient killer immediately. Ready to spot and stalk. Ready to make a perfect hit on anything I shot. I'm kinda feeling naive now and realize that not only am I not ready to hunt this year, I was probably never ready in years past.
I have learned now that I would rather wait this year out, get better at the range and on the stumps, and not risk wounding an animal that I am not ready to harvest. I would feel just awful if I shot a deer somewhere that would only cause a slow and agonizing death, or at best a debilitating injury that lessens it's chance to survive and thrive.
My question is how long did it take for you all to feel competent enough with your bows to go out and hunt larger game? Maybe I'm a slow learner but this is how I feel about my skill level right now.
It's torture right now to flip through my books and magazines and know I won't be out there but I know that nothing worth doing is ever quick and easy.
Jordan
"Tonytwotimes505"
There is no time line. The minute you try and force one into it, you have already lost.
Relax, have fun and work on Form. The rest will follow.
Welcome back :thumbsup:
Jordan,
I can sympathize as it took me 10 years to kill my first big game animal with my longbow - AFTER I felt ready. That was some time ago and have had some success since then but I hunted within my limits early on. If you find you can reliably shoot to 12 yards, I suggest you get out there enjoy the experience, and exercise the discipline this endeavor needs by only shooting within your limits. You might be missing a lot by staying out of the woods.
Best regards,
Todd
I shot trad for fun for 2 years, not really thinking about hunting. Then when my groups started looking good at 16-18 yds, I thought....maybe I could hunt? I have been shooting for 4 years total (4 days a week). Hunting for the last 2. No kills yet...the possum in the yard didn't count. I missed my first shot at a hog a month ago, so there's progress. Go hunt hogs, all year long, no pressure. IMHO, shooting and hunting are two different skills, I still have a lot to learn about both. Best wishes
You are ready now. When i realized i would never be as accurate past 20yds with my trad bow as i was with my compound i had to accept it and start hunting within my limitations. First it was 10yds. Then after practicing for a long while my limit increased to 15yds. I finally got myself a custom bow that really fit me and arrows tuned perfectly for it and i started feeling really confident to 25. It is a process but the main thing is committing to your trad bow. For me until i completely got rid of the training wheels I would practice all summer with the trad bow then go to the woods with the compound.
I am of another thought. I believe that the "rest of the story" is as important as your ability to shoot. How to hunt, how to scout, how to put yourself into position for a kill. How to act during that time just pre-shot.
You don't get that from reading, you have to go out and do it. I say, if you are proficient at 5 yards, go hunt, but keep your shots at 5 yards or less until you graduate to more. Then you get your experience.
You have to learn a lot of things, go learn. Just be able to "know your limitations".
ChuckC
You'll know when your ready, I personally rushed it(got a not in February and was hunting October the same yeast) and an animal lost it's life to me and was not recovered....
My option only, if your not 100% sure your ready then your not, I'm not saying you still won't make mistakes, but you can't let that fear keep you out of the woods.
Some days I shoot and I feel amazing can't seem to miss. Other days I put the bow away and say to my self your not ready practice more!!!
Practice, practice, practice if you are confident at a given yardage, like what was said above, then get out there and enjoy the woods, just don't go outside that comfort zone
Tony,
I truly understand what you're saying Brother, been there... I shot for over a year before I had enough confidence to hunt. I was lucky to meet a fellow that shared with me the importance of tuning and good form. Once the confidence came, I was back to old form and putting an arrow where it needed to be. Good luck and stick with it, I have found traditional archery to be very challenging as well as rewarding.
Ben
You can be the best shot around and still not be able to hit the kill zone at a live broadside deer at 5 yds.
Only way to know is to hunt.
You might not be ready to hunt deer but I think you should get out and hunt. Small game is waiting for you, squirrels, rabbits. That will get you in the woods and help you learn how to move in the woods
It took me a couple years to figure it out with traditional equipment. I hunted the first year I started shooting but maybe I shouldn't have.
It's not for everyone so if your finding that attempting it has/will keep you out of the woods then go with more efficient equipment.
I was fortunate enough to be young when I started and had much more time to practice than most.
Thanks guys. Lot of good support. Half the battle this year on top of not feeling ready is the cost to get out of state permits. I just moved back to Ohio and just can't swing the cost between one daughter with another one on the way.
One income can be tough but having my wife take care of the kids is a great thing for them.
The other thing to think about is distance. I hadn't shot traditional since I was a teen. Been at it about a year and 15yds and in I feel good about it, past that not so much. Just adjust your max distance accordingly. I'm sure there are guys on here that 20-25yds is a reasonable range for them, it's not for me. My stands are set up to give me a 10-15 yd shot now; with the wheel bow I probably averaged about 25yds.
Your decision shows the ethics and standards of a good hunter and TradGanger. I applaud your responsible choice.
I lost a wounded deer 4 seasons ago to a high hit at only 7 yards. To this day I relive that shot and feel that guilt. The toughest distance in most pursuits is from inside one ear to inside the other.