89importeater Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 well just wanted to know how long it took for everyone to feel comfortable enough to go deer hunting with a bow months/years or whatever. thanxs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow i got my first bow when i was a sophmore in high school (about 10 years ago)....because of sports i never really got into it to much...after high school i started to shoot every so often. and then one year...i'd say about 5 years ago...i really started to get into it....and been at it ever since, up until then i was never really confident enough to get out and hunt...its still hard for me to get out due to the fact i have no place within 30 minutes for me to go...i have yet to harvest a deer with bow or gun, but i am devoting myself entirely to bow hunting until i kill my first...i may get my muzzleloader out during ML season but i dunno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow 3 years after I started shooting a bow at an indoor range. The last year before I started hunting it was 3-4 times a week at the range and also at home in the yard. I cheated...LOL...I setup Mock scrapes at 20yds to the left of the tree I was in and 40yds to the right. The second day hunting with a bow I had a deer take forever coming down off a hilltop stopping every couple steps to look around. It looked like it was just about 6 feet past the 40yd scrape so I held the sight pin just on the top of it's back and released....Thwack...done deal I was only shooting a single pin sight at the time and I knew where I had to hold and where the arrow would end up at different yardages because of all the practice the year before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
struttinhoyt Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow prolly a year or 2...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switchback29A1 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow The old expression you get back what you put into is very true in this case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow One year..but not without the help of an AWESOME pro shop staff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ILclimber Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I was 13 yrs old when my Dad bought me my first bow, I think I was in 7th or 8th grade. He bought me a used Browning bow. I shot everyday for about 3 weeks. Lucky for me, first night in the stand with a bow, I harvested a 120 lb doe. I have been hooked ever since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow The second year I had my first bow, I hunted with it. I shot almost every single day throughout the first summer and belonged to an indoor archery club through the winter and following summer. I shot 3-D courses also before I felt that I was capable enough to hunt big game with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I bought my first bow in the summer of 1987, and I was hunting that fall feeling very comfortable. Hindsight is 20/20, but at least I thought I was ready. I never even got close to drawing on a deer that first year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow freshman in high school, started shooting alot, then alot became every day, i practiced adn practiced cause i knew my first shot was gonna have to count, i even use to climb the tree in the back yard with my climber and shoot from it, then sophmore year in high school i started deer hunting and everything paid off that first shot ever was a double lunger and she didnt go 30 yds, and still to this day i am practicing when ever i get the chance, cause when that buck of a lifetime comes you dont want to be so so at your shot placement you want to be dead on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nwmobuckfan Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I think I bought me first bow in August and hunted that October. Saw some deer but didnt connect till the next fall. Been on since then!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo_hunter Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow 2 or 3 months shooting alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow About a month before season, I was 12 and my dad had gotten into bowhunting himself. I had this little recurve that might have been 25 lbs or so of pull. The dad took me along and realized I was serious so a month into season he took me to a pro shop and I got a compound Darton bow and all the accessories needed. I even got to hunt by myself. I shot everyday after school and couldn't wait to go hunting in the evenings and weekends!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow When I first bought a bow(a 1989 Bear Whitetail legend) in 97 off of a guy on the job. I kept it in the closet for 3 years and never touched it. In 2000, I was looking for a greater challenge hunting whitetails, so I took the bow out, had a pendulum sight installed and practiced, practiced practiced. The very first morning out hunting I shot a doe at 25 yards and have been hooked ever since Later that morning I upgraded my hunting license to a Lifetime archery license. I knew it was something I'd be doing a Loooong time. I have since upgraded to a Mathews Outback, but have deep sentimental feelings for my old Bear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cshippy Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I shot an hour every day for about three months until I felt pretty confident, then I shot 3-D all summer until confident at that. Got skunked the first year, took a small 7-point the second year. Been ate-up with bowhunting every since. I think you just have to shoot until your confident shooting at various yardages and from a stand. just dont take shots your not confident with, even (especially) if its a big buck and you really want to. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I think it wasl ike 2 years after I took my hunter safety course and got a license, that I took the bow course and started bow hunting. started with an ancient hand-me down bow then upgraded to a used Hoyt Mystic Rebel bow which I still use now. Have been blessed with a deer each year bow hunting so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow for myself it only took about 3 months of practice before i " thought" i was ready for deer hunting. like a few on here i didnt even get to draw my bow. for the people that i have seen get good shooting form help and equipment help at a good archery shop , the learning curve is a lot quicker for those guys.. it takes most of them about 2 months of solid practice to get good enough for them to feel confidant at there range. that means they knew where to draw the limit on how far to shoot. some were good out to 40 yards. some knew not to shoot at anything past 30 yards. some it was nothing over 25 yards. shooting a bow is only part of the problem. knowing when to draw done on a deer, knowing where to set a stand and knowing the range to the target are just as important as the actuall shot itself. whatever your self imposed range is stick with it. to many guys say they wont shoot past 25 yards. then put a big buck out there at 40 and they shoot almost everytime. its tough to pass on a big deer, but if you know you have no chance making the shot then dont shoot. its important to know how to pass a marginal shot if its presented and not just fling arrows at the brown. practice hard and work on making everything in your shooting form the same each time you shoot an arrow . Shoot Strong Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow The first time I went I really only went cause a friend invited me. I really wasn't ready. I did good at the range but lacked knowledge and skill in other areas. That was YEARS ago and I never even drew on a deer. My friend moved away, I moved away and gave up bowhunting. Last year, I took up bowhunting again after over 20 years of not doing it. Ordered a new bow, it was on back order and got delayed and time was ticking. Once it arrived, I practiced daily for hours for little over 2 months, wore my shoulder out and had to stop shooting just a couple weeks before season opener. I shot a few times before the opener and was shooting well with minimal shoulder pain so out I went. I turned down many shot opportunities simply because I wasn't comfortable with the shot. I stayed within my range even when an 8 pointer tempted me severely to go beyond. When I finally did take a shot, I shot over its back. Next time I shot under. Next time over and a final opportunity was under again! I failed to get my first bow kill but my season was one awesome learning experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. I didn't wound a deer either and thats important to me. Another season approaches now and I'm more ready than ever. But I'll never forget those first experiences thats for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAbowhunter86 Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I have been shooting bows since I was 5, but I got my first real hunting bow when I was 13 I practiced about 5 times a week for 2 hours or so each day and by the end of the summer I was ready. I only hunted a few times each year tho. Last year I decided I was going to get a deer with my bow and I was stopping until I did, after about 25 hunts with no chances I shoot an old doe on Nov. 3, 2005. It was an great feeling now I am back to shooting 3- 4 times a week and I am ready as ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TnLungBuster Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I'm going to say about 8 months (rough guess) and it took me three years till kill one with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerdanmagic Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow I've always rifle hunted (since about 6yrs old), but I just started bow hunting 2 years ago. I bought my bow in early September, about 3 weeks before bow season here in Oklahoma. I shot nearly everyday for three weeks, and by October 16 I had connected on my first 2 does. Its all about having the confidence in yourself and in your abilities. I knew I was ready and rock solid out to 25 yards that first season, and when the chance presented itself, I was ready. I shoot year round now, and I'm always trying to improve. I don't think there is a magic time frame as to when you are ready to hunt, I think that its different for every hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest varmint101 Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Re: how long did it take till hunting with a bow Well lets see. I got my bow out of layaway early to mid August. I shot darn near every day if not every day and shot quite a few arrows. Oct. 1st I went out, saw deer but didn't have a shot. Oct. 3rd went out again. Saw spike buck, stopped him and at 23yds took the shot. Ran 80 yards and died. Hey, this isn't so bad! lol. In my opinion which probably doesn't mean much, if you get your bow a month or two early and practice as much as you can you should be ok with a compound. I mean practice too. I went behind trees and poked around, sat on a chair and practiced, I even went up on top of the garage (I don't recommend anyone do that, but I did) and practiced because it would've been close to the angle of my treestand. Practice enough so you have complete confidence in yourself. Then when it comes go time you can do it and you know you can. Confidence is key with just about anything. You can do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.