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How to learn to hunt with a selfbow?

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Morgan:
I believe in sixth sense, sometimes, something doesn’t feel right and you don’t know why, always good to listen to that. Not necessarily a good thing to constantly question yourself, but maybe your inner self told you something was wrong with the shot and not a good idea to loose. It will come, and unless the game is a necessity for groceries, the hunt is where it is at anyway. If it was all about killing game, you probably wouldn’t be toting a stick and string around in the woods. That was a good experience you had. Congrats.

bjrogg:
Like Morgan said . Sometimes it’s just enjoying the moment. Sometimes I just pick up my phone and take a picture instead of a shot with my bow. Sometimes I don’t do either.

Getting close isn’t the hard part. Getting off that perfect unseen shot is the really hard part. I have had bucks so close I could spit on them but couldn’t get a shot off. Especially on the ground this can be very difficult.

I do like a few things to help my odds. Like Ed said I try to setup so they walk past me and give me a slightly quartering away shot. This gives me a larger target. A nice access to the vitals. It also puts their eyes ahead of me. I don’t try to stop them. I would rather shoot at a slowly walking calm animal than a alert animal standing still looking my way. I consider hunting with a selfbow very similar to hunting with a shotgun. Just at closer range. I swing, point and shoot. I one motion.

From a tree stand you have advantage of being able to see them without them seeing you better. Also scent is while still important not as much so as on the ground. Shooting from tree is different though. I like to have stand oriented so my shooting lane is to my left. (I’m right handed). It is difficult to turn and shoot to right from tree. Even straight forward is a bit difficult. Practice from tree if you plan on hunting from one. I also find I need to bend at my waist and square up my upper body to target. If I don’t I shoot a foot high every time.

Most important of all. Have fun. Enjoy being out there. Watch the animals and they will teach you their ways.

Nothing ever goes exactly as planned. Expect the unexpected.

Bjrogg

Hawkdancer:
Slightly off topic:  Woody, Allyn T, you mentioned the sunk lands, as in the area around Pine Bluffs and New Madrid in the " swamp east"?  Of Missouri
Hawkdancer

Allyn T:

--- Quote from: Hawkdancer on October 04, 2020, 11:20:31 am ---Slightly off topic:  Woody, Allyn T, you mentioned the sunk lands, as in the area around Pine Bluffs and New Madrid in the " swamp east"?  Of Missouri
Hawkdancer

--- End quote ---
It's a conservation area south of salem MO and north of Eminence MO. It's around 40,000 acres

Hawkdancer:
Found it on the MoDc website -  I left MO in '66 and migrated westward.  Never got to hunt that area.
Hawkdancer

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