Entry Level Cross bow

[werner.reiche]

I just reread your reference.
Yeah, not really the same message werner. "but you must be very good at getting your range to deer accurate"
How are you achieving this without hours of practice?

It doesn't take hours of practice to estimate what is 10, 20, 30 yards...But that aside, for hunting, I don't guess at the range to the deer - I pick points around the stand where I expect the deer to be and measure to them. So I know if the deer is standing right at the apple pile - that's 30 yards. The little pine partway to the apple pile is 20 yards. The big rock to the south is 20. The dead pine is 15 yards behind me. Where the deer come out of the spruces is 42 yards. Markers like that...

[MikePal]

I normally set up my stand when I'm not hunting...find or set up range markers - rocks/trees. Throw out the black box target and take a few shots to make sure things work as I expect.

If I'm hunting the evening and I get there early enough, I'll take a couple of practice shots. If I hunt the morning, I'll take a couple of practice shots when I'm leaving. These are field points that I shoot into the ground - usually at apples - since I'm usually hunting over apples - I drop this routine when the ground freezes.

So with all that knowledge of what’s required to practise in prep of a hunting season…you still agreed that the OP should buy a bow and head out with only a little more than a month left in the season…and the late winter season no less, when everything is working against you.

That was my point….he would be better off waiting till next year when he can better prepare himself for the hunt.

Seems you agree, it's more than just shooting a good grouping into paper and heading out.

[werner.reiche]

Sure its more than targets and paper. But I'd think if he spent one Saturday getting his bow figured out, set up a stand and figured out his ranges around the stand, he'd still get a few days of hunting in - I think he's in 65 and that would be 7 weekends up to Dec 31.

I guess I'm assuming he's serious about it in that late season bow hunting is a bit tougher than October - cold, bulky clothes and all.

If he waits for next year, he'll be in no better position at the start of September with the season opening October 1, albeit he'll be doing October hunting, not December hunting.

[JUDGE]

Sure its more than targets and paper. But I'd think if he spent one Saturday getting his bow figured out, set up a stand and figured out his ranges around the stand, he'd still get a few days of hunting in - I think he's in 65 and that would be 7 weekends up to Dec 31.

I guess I'm assuming he's serious about it in that late season bow hunting is a bit tougher than October - cold, bulky clothes and all

If he waits for next year, he'll be in no better position at the start of September with the season opening October 1, albeit he'll be doing October hunting, not December hunting.

100% agree it's not Rocket Science.

[pbonura]

100% agree it's not Rocket Science.

Also agree 100 percent.

[MikePal]

If he waits for next year, he'll be in no better position at the start of September with the season opening October 1, albeit he'll be doing October hunting, not December hunting.

Thankfully he's opted to wait till next year, because he 'WILL' be in a better position to hone the skills over the summer. Rushing into in now, in late Nov, with the short days and cold conditions is less than ideal, a lot more challenging and would run a greater risk of wounding a deer.

[TPM]

Practicing simulated hunting scenarios at home is what MP is really referring to here and there's lots of them.
20 yards in an open field and 20 yards in the woods are 2 completely different looking images.
If you can't distinguish the difference, you're missing or wounding animals. Only experience puts that knowledge into your memory.
You aren't achieving that by sighting in your bow with a handfull of arrows.
I learned at a young age that "what can go wrong in bowhunting , will go wrong in bowhunting.

Good post. I shoot a fair bit of 3D and while it's not actual hunting it is good practice for hunting season. I've watched many people who have no problem hitting a dot on a target bag at known distances become quite humbled the first time they shoot 3D. Throw in awkward shooting positions, unknown distances, different target angles, difficult lighting conditions and a few obsticles between you and the target and it's a whole new ball game. I'm with Mike on this one. A little practical practice time before hitting the field may not be a bad idea.

[fratri]

Maybe the best of both worlds...buy now and practice until you are comfortable... that may be next week or........ next year, never to early to start practicing...

[JBen]

At the end of the day, so long as he is legal and ethical, its all good no matter what he does.

Its really not "that" hard to shoot a x-bow and be consistent under 25, especially if you have experience shooting.

Its really not "that" hard to stand in your lanes and place small stumps or logs at 20, 30 40 or if that not an option flag trees with marking tape/other at ranges.

This is where I hunt in 47 (Loring deer yards).
The 20 is right on the trail they use (right to left in the image)
The 30 is the tree
The 40 is a stump (look carefully) and the buck I lost last year was right at it. I pinned for 41-42, ranged the shot for 43 afterwards.
The 50 is the log on the ground behind that
The Doe in the background is at 65
No ranging and little guessing involved and maybe 20 minutes work.


I don't lift my bows until Ive sat in a stand, and ranged trees/other and committed them to memory.

No matter how much time someone spends practicing on the range, be it a day, be it a year the real test will be the first time a buck is in the X hairs, and no one knows until they are in the moment.

[Species8472]

and the late winter season no less, when everything is working against you.

I won't get into whether it's a good idea to head out with a month left in the season and minimal experience but I would disagree that late winter has everything working against you. Other than the cold (and you can dress for that) I find this the most productive time of year to hunt:

- The options available for food are reduced and once identified can be very productive.
- During the last 2 weeks of december the big bucks are mostly done with the rut and are focussed on eating as much as possible from these limited sources and become easier to pattern.
- The snow makes identifying runs and bedding areas much easier.
- Much easier to see blood trails and track in the snow as well.
- Another advantage is during the last 2 weeks of december the orange army is long gone and the deer are a lot less spooky.
- Light conditions are better during the last few minutes of legal light with no leaves and snow on the ground.
- recovery via toboggan is easier than dragging on earth
- sight lines are better with better odds of detecting movement with the leaves off the trees.
- less chance of spoilage if it is an involved recovery