Plan a Safe Archery Hunt

An archery hunt makes a hunter feel like part of the natural world. Archery is an ancient practice and hunting with a bow and arrow can make man feel more connected with his natural environment. Whether someone is an experienced archer or about to go on their first archery hunt, probably the most important consideration is safety. Archery hunting is far safer than hunting with ammunition. But that doesn’t mean accidents can happen. Be aware of yourself and your surrounding environment to keep your archery hunt safe at all times.

One of the most important safety considerations is that your bow is in good shape. A compound bow that is fired improperly such as being pulled back and released without an arrow, will sustain damage over time. The pulleys can loosen from having to absorb the shock repeatedly. If the compound bow wasn’t stored properly, it can be warped or have other problems that can cause it to release an arrow improperly and send it in the direction you don’t expect. When hunting season is out, you should store your compound bow in a temperature controlled area and treat with care.

In fact, if you love to archery hunt then there’s no reason your bow should be stored for a long period of time at all. The best way to get a trophy kill during hunting season is to practice when hunting season is out. Regular target practice is one of the best ways to improve your hunting. It will also keep your bow from suffering from neglect and the problems it causes. If you haven’t used your bow in some time, you may want to go ahead and change the string just as a precaution. On the other hand, if you’ve been practicing heavily, putting a fresh string on before hunting season may also be a good idea.

Accidents can happen when you’re not even using your compound bow. Just carrying the arrows and accidentally falling can be disastrous. That’s why you need a quiver that holds them firmly and shields the tips. It needs to be a sealed quiver that completely covers those tips to avoid accidental pokes. You’ll also want to make sure the quiver has cushioning in the bottom or you put cushioning in to keep the arrows from rubbing together and chipping or wearing down the tips.

In archery hunting there are few mistakes where the hunter actually thinks they’re aiming at an animal but it’s another person. Because 20 to 25 yards is about the average distance between you and the animal, that doesn’t leave much room for mistaking people as the game. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. You can’t assume that everyone takes the precautions you do as far as making themselves known to other hunters. Never loose the arrow unless you’re absolutely sure of what you’re shooting at.

Also, a first aid kit, extra water and a compass to help you in case you get turned around in the woods are good safety precautions whether you’re on an archery hunt or you have ammunition.

Photo Credits: erix!

Originally posted 2010-04-14 03:20:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Prepare for Elk Season

Hunters who enjoy hunting big game get excited when elk season approaches. One way that you can help yourself if you’re aiming for a trophy elk or any elk at all is by practicing a great deal long before the season starts. Too many hunters leave the guns and bows and arrows in cabinets when hunting season is out. What they need to be doing is setting up targets and practicing.

Not only is it important practice with the weight of the arrows that you’ll be using when you hunt, it is important to practice hitting the target. Do you think you have a better chance of getting a trophy elk if you’ve been practicing for a few months or if the first time you shoot at an elk is the first time you’ve shot in a few months?

Just like an athlete or any type of sportsmen, hunters should train and that includes target practice. It makes you more familiar with your weapon and how to use it in different weather. And that will help you when elk season starts. Vary your practice schedule, as well. Practice shooting at targets from a variety of positions and angles so that you’re better prepared for the actual hunt. Try crouching or shooting from a low position just as you might in a natural elk hunt.

Stake your claim on land as early as possible. You should go out and scout the area that you’ll be hunting in if at all possible to look for elk. Make sure that you know who owns the land you’re on and if it’s privately owned that you have permission from the landowner. Walk the land carefully before elk season starts. Become familiar with it and scout out areas where elk may be once you’re ready to hunt.

Don’t wait for elk season to inspect all of your equipment and make sure everything is in working order. If you discover something as soon as the season starts you could end up waiting too long while it’s being fixed and miss part of the season.

And scent is an important step that some hunters don’t think is necessary. Just because some hunters somewhere managed to get a trophy elk or deer without worrying about his scent doesn’t mean that it will work for you. Do everything you can to minimize your scent in the area. Always be aware of which direction the wind’s blowing in so that you won’t get downwind from any animals. You can buy a little spray bottle designed just for this or simply wet day fingertip and gauge the direction of the wind.

Elk actually have very heightened sense of smell, more than many other game, so do everything you can to minimize your natural scents like soap smells and smells from shampoo. Use unscented products as well as unscented laundry detergent. And make sure that your clothing isn’t exposed to anything with a strong scent like a campfire. Also consider purchasing a product designed to hide your scent from the animals.

Photo Credits: gavinrobinson

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