Doing It The Old-Fashioned Way Bow Hunting

Using a bow when deer hunting has long been practiced by our early ancestors since the beginning of time; lacking the technology that graces us today, our ancestors had to utilize skill, terrain and luck to bring down their prey.

Today, hunting enthusiast have revived the ancient practice of bow hunting as opposed to rifles and shotguns. Though it might take a while to get used to it, this is definitely challenging and fun.

Knowing your equipment

Before going deer hunting, it is imperative that you are familiar with various equipments used in bow hunting. Unlike using shotguns and rifles which utilize power and range, bow hunting utilizes terrain, accuracy and skill of the hunter to adapt to his surroundings. And the proper tools of the trade will definitely bring out the hunter in you.

There are 3 bows that a hunter can utilize when bow hunting: we have the stick bows, recurves and the compound bow. The stick bows and recurves were used by ancient bow hunters and are made of wood yet they differ in design.

Compound bows are the new development in bow hunting. This type of bow utilizes cams and pulleys to draw the limbs back. The stiffness of the limbs gives the compound bow its power, much more significant than the old-fashioned stick and recurve bows. Also, weight is a crucial factor in handling a bow, since your power and accuracy depends on how you keep the bow steady before firing.

Arrows are also important for a successful hunting. Arrows also comes in 3 types: cedar, carbon and aluminum shafts. Cedar shafts are best used with the old-fashioned bows like the stick bow and recurves; while carbon and aluminum arrows are for the more powerful compound bows.

Bring down the prey

Different prey requires different arrows, especially when you are using a compound bow. When going out for a moose or an elk, then the heavy aluminum arrow would be perfect since the weight will give the arrow its extra power. For lighter prey like deer, a lighter shaft like the carbon arrow would be perfect since you will need the extra range that is more common for lightweight shafts.

Also take note that the carbon and aluminum arrows not only vary in weight and power, but also in price. Carbon arrows are lighter and much sturdier, that's why they're more expensive than the heavy aluminum shafts.

The perfect hunter

When utilizing a bow in hunting a deer, it is best to utilize the terrain rather than brute force. Since you are at a slight disadvantage when it comes to power, you have to use strategy in bringing down the buck.

One method used by bow hunters is shooting on top of a tree. This will give you the additional power and the range that your bow lacks. You can lure the buck out with a deer call or a rattle and wait for them to come into range.

Once you see movement and the buck is coming your way, you have to cock your arrow and pull back on the drawstrings and wait for it to come in your line of sight. This is necessary since you want to be ready when the buck comes into range, and getting the right tension on your bow will definitely take some time.

Waiting for the right moment might take a while to get used to since the compound bow is heavy, plus the force that applied while pulling back will definitely wear you out fast. If you miss the first shot, the buck may not bolt since the bow hardly makes a sound once shot, so you can cock another arrow and take a second shot if the buck is still in firing range.

Bow hunting is definitely a challenge, but the skill and experience that you get out of it is something that you should be proud of.

Deer, the Other Meat

So the hunter managed to down a deer, performed some field dressing and loaded it in the back of the truck straight to his home, now what? Remembering a joke from Larry the Cable Guy, I guess it can be marinated for 6 months, tough as hell them deer jerky.

But there are numerous deer recipes to choose from, and it's not only just roasting it over a pit, but the process takes several hours since deer meat is indeed tough. So what does the hunter/chef do?

Roasting a deer takes a bit of preparation and lots of patience since it requires at least 12 to 16 hours of cooking. It's going to kill your electric or gas bill in a day, but it's well worth it or risk losing your dentures. Deer meat, once soft and tender, is like eating beef only better, or at least depending on what sort of seasonings used. One way to save up on paying those bills is to cook it over an open fire and use a poker to regulate the flames. It's crude but effective and a great excuse to drink beer outside while waiting for the meat to tenderize.

Among the deer dishes most people have tasted is the roast venison. Scrumptious, not to overbearing when it comes to the meat. It involves setting the meat in room temperature for 8 hours before storing it in the refrigerator. This way, the pores will open up, allowing the marinade to enter until cooled. After the ingredients such as stewed tomatoes, sliced red onions, brown sugar and garlic are added in a crock pot and cooked on low for 10 to 12 hours. It takes time, but the wait is well worth it. Different States offer their own version of the venison roast and some add a little twist of their own, but it would be too many to even include in this articles so it's best to do a search for deer recipes on the internet.

There are other types of recipes but the cooking time can kill anyone's patience. It would have been interesting to just let it cook for like 30 minutes and come out laughing when they couldn't cut the meat with a chainsaw. Since most of the recipes involve having natural tenderizers like ginger and garlic to eliminate the smell, it will be up to the hunter whether to be brave and patient enough to start cooking the deer.

Deer Hunting the Old Way

Today rifles and shotguns are the more prominent way when it comes to hunting deer and other animals, consider the earlier settlers, where instead of a blunderbuss, the best way was using a bow.

Bow hunting is another way when it comes to hunting deer. Meant for the dexterous, bow hunting is a more delicate science and not just a sport, where the hunter must determine what sort of bow would be comfortable to use. This is nothing like Robin Hood and his longbows, I mean those were the only bows back then aside from crossbows. The difference here is to know where your draw length is, or the distance and strength on pulling the bow.

Several bow types like compound, stick types (the English longbows) or something like Rambo would use as long as there are no explosive heads. Never mind the brand for now since a lot of manufacturers have been making some of the best bows out there for hunting. And if a beginning bow hunter thinks it's all about shooting arrows, guess again. Since most modern bows can be tuned according to the weight of drawing, it would be beneficial for those with weak arms or probably of advancing age. Just because a strong or heavy bow will kill just about anything, guess again.
There's science involved to know if the arrow's trajectory is as flat as possible depending on the weight of the draw. For instance, killing a whitetail deer with an 80 lb. draw has a high risk of failure or the arrow falling off the rest comparing with a 60 lb. draw. Accuracy is the key when it comes to archery, and a sturdy and easy-to-use bow is the ticket for the perfect kill.

There are other things to consider, like what sort of shaft can be used. Similar to using a certain ammunition for a rifle, arrows can either be the cedar, aluminum, or carbon. Aluminum shafts are sturdy, lighter and much cheaper than carbon, and the best ammo to use for the hunt. In fact, it doesn't stop there. Fletching or plastic type vanes are an integral part to make sure that any arrow shot will be flat and swift. Depending on the condition and user, vanes won't be affected by cold or wet conditions in comparison to feathers, while the feathers offer a quieter shot once released.

It takes practice and being comfortable with a bow in order to hunt the old fashioned way, and it makes no difference if the person lives a modern lifestyle or deep into the woods.

Deer Hunting on Higher Ground

Traditional deer hunting usually involves having to wait out the buck at ground level, well-hidden and making as little noise as possible. OF course there is a thing called elevated positions where hunters can sit atop a tree or on a hill. This provides a more vantage view of the whole area and a better chance of targeting that trophy buck. Today, tree stands have been a common tool for most deer hunters and provide a better edge when it comes to hunting.

Choosing a tree stand isn't that hard, but all that counts is the safety and the necessary equipment that goes with it. At first, setting up the tree stand prior to the hunt would be vital, at the same time a challenge since the hunter must choose a good place to set up where deer population may be dense. Though some State laws prohibit nailing or setting a permanent tree stand near or in a tree, it would be best to purchase the collapsible type. It's worth the investment rather than getting a used one since most of the safety features are either missing or no longer in top condition. Better to spend on something safe rather than spending it on hospital bills, or a funeral.

As for using tree stands, a hunter never climbs on one with his equipment. Better to use a haul line to lift the equipment once he's on top of the stand and nothing that exceeds the maximum weight capacity. Probably just binoculars, your rifle, ammunition and some water will do. Accept no substitutes. Really. When you think your safety harness for your tree stand falls short of a piece or a few inches, never replace it with something else. Instead it's better to call your dealer for a new replacement.

In case the tree stand model has some sort of upgrade, it's good to get it early before planning the next deer hunting trip. Sometimes even the current models need a little more safety parts and there's never too much of a good thing.

The rules of hunting haven't changed, just got more sophisticated as tree stands and the like have been part of a modern deer hunter's gear. It might cost a pretty penny to have one in the garage, but the importance of safety aside from gun handling is an important step to know that your life is safe and protected, for a thrilling hunt.

Deer Hunting Gun Safety

If hunters were like Elmer Fudd, then gun safety would be something to laugh about.

The reality of hunting with rifles is that, a rifle is a weapon that can kill any living being, especially people. Though our fascination with guns has been around since as long as the States have been discovered, not a lot of people know the safety rules and precautions when it comes to rifle handling. Best to leave it with the National Rifle Association to learn proper rifle handling and it will definitely save the hunter's life as well as others.

Keeping the rifle pointed in the safe direction is the most important part of handling a rifle. Better to shoulder the rifle while trekking through the forest until you find your intended trophy buck. Depending on the circumstances, the best direction is where there are no targets. Make sure that you don't load any ammunition since some hunting regulations don't allow loaded rifles while hunting and will be carried by the proper personnel.

Keep the finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Most accidents and deaths are the result of having a twitchy trigger finger even if the target is just dead ahead. It's better to be patient until the hunter is given the perfect opportunity to take aim and pull the trigger. That way it also exercises self-control.

Another tip is to know what your target is and what is beyond it. What makes this interesting is perhaps another hunter is at the opposite side of the firing area so it would be bad to be caught in the crossfire. No need to yell 'fore', but every hunter has a designated guide to make sure that only one or two hunters are within the perimeter.

And as for ammunition, always make sure that its designed for the rifle in use. Sure there are dozens of ammunition types for a specified rifle, which is basically stamped on the barrel. And as for operating the rifle, it is important that it's kept maintained without any defects or damages. A misfire might cause a lot of trouble.

These are some of the rules handed by the NRA when it comes to rifle handling. The hunter needs to know and practice them since hunting is almost the same as taking a life. Knowing these deer hunting gun safety rules will ensure a successful hunt in the future and something to brag about once that trophy is hanging on the wall.

Deer on Your Sights

For any sportsman who comes to appreciate the fine sport of deer hunting, sometimes it's important to know and keep in mind that you're taking the life of an animal. To any deer hunter, amateur or professional, a split second decision to pull the trigger or shooting the arrow can either be a clean kill, or injuring and maiming the deer with little or no hope in recovering it. Indecisiveness will only make any hunter feel guilty in the end once you have that deer in sight and the shot takes place.

Comes to show it's not always easy to kill something.

But with relevance to deer hunting, it's important to know some of the most popular shots needed if you wish to take home that trophy. One thing to know is the basic anatomy of a deer, and it also includes vital parts that once hit, the deer will go down.

Broadside shooting is by far one of the most popular, even with a little error margin involved, there is definitely room to hit any or all the vital parts needed for an ethical kill. The sight must be unobtrusive of any elements like leaves, branches or the very tree you're hiding in, and from there you take aim and fire. This is a great and easy vantage point especially in open fields or where most deer are likely to cross.

Quartering is also a popular method where the deer is set on a more isometric level, almost like shooting from 2, 5, 8, or 11 o'clock positions. There are two types: the quarter away shot is a slightly easier approach when it comes to shooting positions, since the deer will have to face away from you. Common areas will include shooting the heart with a rifle or bow and through the exit hole for a clean shot. Another type is the Quartering away, and often a more difficult shot, considering the bone structure of a deer may be a bit dense at the frontal part. An exceptional skill on marksmanship may be needed if a hunter is to make the shot through the heart.

Finally, the head-on shot can be difficult, but otherwise has two primary targets that are used. Aiming for the neck will break the neck and the initial shock will cause to deer to go down while the chest area may take both heart and lungs, bringing the deer down.

As always, whether you go for the broadside, quartering or head-on positions, always remember than a hunter has no room for second thoughts once taking aim. If not, it would be much better to be patient when the opportunity arises before taking that deer in your sights.