Main Discussion Area > Shooting and Hunting
How to learn to hunt with a selfbow?
ssrhythm:
When I decided to hunt with a recurve, I learned a lot about what I’d been doing wrong all along. I knew my range and set up on sign in areas that only allowed for 20 yard snd in shots...and Shazam, I was seeing far more deer than when I was setting up in trees that allowed me several 100+ yard shots in multiple directions. Go get in the woods ad hunt...every failure, success, and draw will educate. Do not pass any legal deer that is within your comfort zone and standing in a good position to shoot.
ssrhythm:
I’m with Pappy sort of. Your best chance of shootings deer in a spot is the first time you hunt it. That said, there is a first time each year...each big weather change...each rut etc. So, I shot a big 8 in Ohio in a spot I call “the rock.” I’ve rarely hunted there when I haven’t seen a decent buck. That said, there have been a few times I’ve hunted there...1st time that year...1st time since seeing the rut kick in...that I’ve seen and heard nothing. Had one of those times been my first sit and I gave up on it, I’d have missed out on a lot of incredible close encounters. If I finds good looking spot, I’ll pick a tree, makes plan, and hunt it when Ican or when I think it’s going to be a good day. If I get skunked, I might decide to give it one more go, as a spot that has a lot of sign ineluctable will not be bypassed two or three days straight. IfI still get skunked, I’ll hit elsewhere until something major changes...Brit weather, moon, or rutting activity. Also, since 2009, I spend all day in the stand, and if I can’t, I spend as much time as possible. If you are hunting a spot with lots of sign and only hunting in the afternoons and not seeing anything...might be more of a morning or midday spot. So don’t necessarily give up on it.
Bad juju:
In my opinion opinion scouting is huge. The more you know about the area and how the deer move within it make a big difference. With Whitetail I start scouting in the summer but don’t truly put in effort hunting till the rut.
I am of the opposite opinion of the first sit being the best. In my opinion once you have experience with an area and adapted from past mistakes is when you truly dial in a hunting spot. Knowing how different conditions affect the deer in your area helps you decide what locations are best. Knowing the areas that see heavy rut sign like scrapes and rubs each year
It may not bring you instant success but often leads to consistent success long term over seasons
Fox:
Okay thanks everyone... scouting does definitely seem very important... cause I don’t know where the deer are now, I haven’t seen any the last 4 times I’ve been out. So I go out in the evening, and I’ve been hunting in the valleys .. mostly, some on the ridges. There’s tones of acorns and squirrels up on the ridge, should I move up there ? Or find a trail going from valley to ridge? Sorry so many questions!! Thanks again .
Pat B:
Next time you scout look for rub lines and scrape lines. These will tell you where the deer have traveled. Rub lines are good early on in the season but scrapes are good now. When you find a scrape line keep checking it for recent activity. Both of these are "sign posts" for deer and at least scrapes will attract bucks from elsewhere looking for a hot momma.
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