First year of trad...Bad!!!

[AAFE]

Well ive just got into trad not very long ago and
the season opens in 1week and well to put it frankly my dad dont want me to go hunting with my lb i can only shoot accurately out to 15yards but im still learning..Hes shoots a new bowtech thats screaming at like 325fps while im shooting my savvanah-LB and he dont think i can kill one with my bow so idk if i can hunt with trad this year he dont think i can get withing range of a deer and he says all il do is wound one with me LB he trying to get me to stick with my bowtech but im sick of wheely bows im dying to go all trad!!! Im setting up in a soybean field thats like 60 yards wide by 80 yards long im in the middle of it with 2 trails to the right of me and 1 to the left so hopfully i can catch them coming by me
if dad lets me go with my LB i sure hope so..Its kinda kard when all the guys at the lease are shooting 4-5inch groups at 50-60 yards and i can only get a 6 in group at 15 is there any tips that yall could help me with to get a good close shot i want to hunt trad so bad i just can't explain how bad i want to go all trad im really sorry for taking up all yalls time reading this but i need help  :(

[Leo L.]

Just get out there.  Keep practicing and try to get your shot to within 15 yds.  Your LB will certainly put the hurtin' on a deer.

[Over&Under]

Exactly what Leo said.  Keep within your known accuracy distance, pick a spot and show everyone just how well a LB does on deer!!

[osprey1]

I'm new to this too but as long as you stick to your maximum effective range which is 15 yards then I say go hunting. Rememver its not the killing but the hunt that important. You may not even get to raise your bow at an animal this year but I bet you learn a lot just the same. Last thing you need is to wound an animal so stay below your max effective range. Lots of deer are taken at 15 yards and less. Good hunting, stay safe, cherish every hunt and respect your quary.

[gregg dudley]

Doesn't matter how old you are, your dad is your dad.  He will give you grief now, but when you kill something, he will tell the story loudest and longest.  Just be sure you stick to your limits and take high percentage shots,  GOod luck!

[JStark]

It sounds like you might need to be convincing him that you will stick to your range of 15 yds.  If you do it, and you don't get a deer, are you okay with that?  If you do it and do get a deer, think how cool that would be!

[thetruth]

What Osprey said, every time you step off the trail you learn something new.

[tradtusker]

give it a try everyone has to start somewhere, if you are comfortable out to 15yards than stick to shots within that range. let your dad know that you at least want to give it a good go and take it from there.

[Stone Knife]

15 yards is a good range to shoot deer, be patent and let them come in, if there to far let them walk. Have you showed your father this site? with all the successful archers here with game taken at the ranges that your shooting good at. Also your dad most likely just wants you to have all the odds stacked in your favor and may be overlooking what you want, dads do this at times it's common practice.

[barebow]

Part of the reason for hunting with a longbow is to take the challenge to the next level. One measure of success is to see how close you can get to a deer before shooting it, not how far away you can be when shooting at one. Lots of people can sneak up to 35 or 50 yards from a deer, but to have a deer walk right by you within a few feet may require more skill on your part and is surely a lot more thrilling. I'm sure you understand that maybe it's hard to convince others to accept your feelings about how you want to hunt. Keep that feeling and continue practicing and enjoy shooting your longbow. But, for now enjoy hunting with your pa and consider doing things his way to make him happy. The day will come soon enough when you will be able to decide for yourself when and how you want to do things differently.

[Killdeer]

Good advice here regarding your Dad. Ya gotta obey your Dad, that is just how it is while you are 16 and his son.

You sound like you have the maturity to realize your limitations (I am another close-stalker!) and live by them. I am not in your shoes, so I won't presume to guess what your decision will be, but likely there is one that you will think of, that you can live with, that won't damage the trust that you and your father have in one another. That trust is far more important than any hunt.

Killdeer  

[BroMark]

Originally posted by Killdeer:
Good advice here regarding your Dad. Ya gotta obey your Dad, that is just how it is while you are 16 and his son.

You sound like you have the maturity to realize your limitations (I am another close-stalker!) and live by them. I am not in your shoes, so I won't presume to guess what your decision will be, but likely there is one that you will think of, that you can live with, that won't damage the trust that you and your father have in one another. That trust is far more important than any hunt.

Killdeer    

That's some salty advice right there...  

[BRONZ]

Killdeer, your poise is always impressive.

AAFE, you've got some great advice on here, especially regarding your maximum effective range-- which is extremely important.  Something I think you're missing is confidence.  You, and you alone, have to feel like you can make a killing shot on game within that range every time you step into the field.  I bet there is a good possibility that your father is recognizing your aprehension and frustration with your longbow-- and is therefore recommending you carry a wheelie bow with you this year.

If you're not already, start practicing with a 3D or 2D deer target instead of "dots" and develop that "site-picture".  Build your confidence, and don't compare your abilities with a wheelie shooter.  After all, your abilities are just that:  your abilities.

[wingnut]

It's hard being a dad in this situation.  As you know I'm lucky that my son, Jason has hunted with me all of his life.  It was his decision that moved us from compounds to stickbows.  It was hard for me to give up the sure shot kill and learn to shoot the stickbow.  I chose to go along with him on the journey.  Not just to support his decision but to join him.  

If you hunt with the LB, keep your standards high and be ready to come home without a deer but with a lifetime of experience.  There is a big difference between 50 yds and 15 yds.  You can do it.  And the journey will be full of excitement and disappointment.

Good Luck!!

Mike

[SirRobin77]

Hey
 I know what you mean about your dad ribbing you about using a LB. My dad is doin the samthing about my recurve and im 30!!
This  never goes away my friend but just relax as your skills progress with your LB the old man will warm up to it. Or you could just tell him that you dont want to shoot a bow with training wheels anymore it makes to easy. LOL! No dont do that just joking.
Goodluck.
God Bless
Matt

[blueline]

If you want to kill a deer take a rifle. If you want to learn to hunt take a Long Bow. Make sure you are hitting your ancor every time you shoot your bow. I say practice practice practice because when it is the moment of truth it will have to come automatically.

[GingivitisKahn]

Yep - you need to honor your father and do what he says.  Worst case - you get to go hunting with him but you have to use equipment you've outgrown.  That's really not the end of the world.

In the mean time, you can bust your butt in the backyard *ruling* at 15 yards or 16 or whatever you are comfortable with.  Who knows - maybe you'll swing him over to the trad side one of these days.

 

[bowkid64]

dont let it get under you skin, i tried to go traditinal about 3 years ago but turned away from it form the ribbing i got from other people, i finally got over it but it can be intimidating confidence is so important with shooting animals, but you can do it, some people still seem to think deer are armored tanks, so get that longbow after them deer.

[Pat B]

When hunting, most of my shots are 15 yards or less. If you can hit what you are looking at at 15 yards, just wait for the opportunity for a good shot. When you do make the shot maybe you can convince your Dad to come over and give your kinda shooting a chance.  You never know!     Pat

[John3]

15 yards is plenty... Stick to your effective range and hunt hard. Do it right when you get a chance..  Those lease guys shooting 50-60 yards.... This is supposed to be a close range sport. 50-60 yards with a modern device, hand held string release, extended sight/stablizer, wiz-bang arrow drop away rest... ect, ect... Might as well use a open sighted 30-30.

Remember this is all about the chase, not the ability to kill out to 60 yards. Are you good enough to get within 15 steps....?