The sport of archery and bow hunting has been a part of the world's heritage for centuries, from Robin Hood to Native Americans. Every year, hunters participate in bow hunting by heading afield with archery equipment in search of different game species. To become a successful bow hunter, you must overcome the challenge by combining discipline, practice, patience, perseverance, skill, and outdoorsmanship.
Bow Types
As a bow hunter, you can use several different types of bows. Traditional bows, including recurve bows and longbows, are typically the most difficult to shoot. Made from basic materials, traditional bows have a limited shooting distance requiring you to have the game animal within 30 yards. The compound bow, introduced in 1970, combines technology, construction and lightweight materials to create a bow that shoots an accurate, fast arrow. Most states that allow bow hunting will allow traditional and compound bows.
Other Equipment
Along with your bow, you will need additional equipment for a successful bow hunt. Broadheads screwed into an arrow, made from aluminum or carbon, act as the projectile shot from your bow. To improve accuracy, you can use a mechanical release that attaches to the bow string and fires the bow. The arrow is held in place while at full draw by a rest that also guides the arrow away from the bow as you release the bow string. A bow sight is used to determine the angle to shoot the arrow based on the intended target’s yardage. Always check with the local and state regulations about bow hunting equipment before the hunt.
Methods
Bow hunting allows the use of different hunting methods. The most popular hunting methods include spot and stalk, tree stands and ground blinds. Spot-and-stalk techniques are common for Western big game animals, such as elk and mule deer. You use binoculars or a spotting scope to locate an animal and then plan a stalk to move within shooting range. Tree stand and ground blinds involve sitting over trails, travel routes, feeding areas or bedding areas until an animal walks along and presents a shot.
Game Species
You can choose from an extensive list of game species that can be hunted with archery equipment. Whitetail deer is the most popular game species, while elk, mule deer and moose are popular Western big game species. Other game species commonly harvested while bow hunting include wild turkeys, bear, sheep and caribou. The Pope and Young Club, a bow hunting records and conservation organization, tracks and manages trophy animals. If you harvest an animal that meets their minimum score, you can have an official measurer score your trophy and have your name printed in the bow hunting record books.
Hunting Seasons
The time frame on the bow hunting season varies from state to state and species to species. As a general rule, bow hunting seasons start earlier and last longer than firearms seasons, giving you an advantage to hunt game before they receive excessive hunting pressure. Nebraska, for example, has an archery deer season that lasts more than 100 days, stretching from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31. In contrast, the eight-day firearms season takes place during the middle of November. Likewise, the archery antelope season is open for nearly five months, whereas the firearm season lasts 15 days during October.
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