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All my rifles are cleaned and put up for the year
and the web browser is busy checking out draw
requirements for next year’s big game hunts across
America. The shotguns are still warm with waterfowl
still around, but this is the time on the year that I am SO
glad I bow hunt!
The weather is finally getting to those low
temps I grew up with in Northern MN, which means
hunting season, and we finally gets some days off in the
middle of the busy weeks and can head to the field
without using our paid days off
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And did I mention,
big game hunting with a bow right now is at its best
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Bow hunting Whitetails is my primary love, but
there’s so much more to do with a bow. In a couple
months we will be down on the big lake with night
lights bow fishing, In between there is target practice
in the back yard with the kids and chest thumping shoot
offs with the friends over at H&H computerized range.
There is never really a time of year when one cannot
use their bow and chase something
Another great thing about bow hunting is the
availability of locations and tags. You can get seriously
close to home hunting grounds with a bow in your
hand. I have spots that are no more than 2 miles from
my house and I live in the city
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As for tag
opportunities, they are almost a given in most states.
Those states that you looked at and projected a 3-5 year
draw wait you can probably get that same hunt with a
bow in the very first year you put in.
Each of these topics really deserves a full page
of discussion but for today let’s talk about the first step,
shooting a bow. I know of allot of folks that simply
think they can’t shoot a bow and I am here to tell you
that is plain hog wash. Now, if you have a torn rotator
cup or old shoulder issue from falling of a horse one to
many times, then I say get yourself a cross bow and lets
go hunt! If you aren’t in that category then let’s go get a
bow.
Now don’t go running to your buddies house
and try and crank back with his 70 pound mean
machine, it is not needed. Your first gun was not a 700
Mag with long range optics so let’s start with the 223 or
30-30 version of bows you started hunting with.
The legal draw weight to hunt big game in most
states is 40lbs. To compare today’s bow to what you
may have tried before, just know that my 11 year old
pulls 20 pounds, 14 is up to 25, 16 year old is at 35 and
my wife is at 42 – btw, those are just my girls
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The
advance of let off, triggers and overall design, I think
that over 80% of adults can pull 40lbs and if not, start at
30 and work up to it in 3 or 4 weeks, yes, it will be that
quick to get your unused muscles strengthened up.
The next most common rationalization I hear
when people say they don’t bow hunt is hitting a target.
I will go back to the open sight 30-30 again and will say
you couldn’t hit a grapefruit 5 out of 5 at 30 yards when
you started with it either. Well, you will be able to do
just that at 10 yards the day you get your bow, within
15 days at 20 yards, and then depending on your eyes
and drive, at 30 yards in a month. These new bows
have sights that make it that easy. Now add that over
50% of deer are shot at less than 30 yards each year and
more like 60% at less than 50, you are not missing out
on anything that you would have been able to shoot if
you had a rifle in your hands
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The last comment I hear is, I don’t have the
patience to bow hunt. Well, I used to think that one too
but once you get a bow in your hands in the field your
patience level simply goes up. One thing that is a real
helper on this is weather. We are sitting on our blinds
and stands in late September and let me tell you, sitting
still in nice warm weather is soooo mush easier
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Playing the wind is no different with a bow or rifle and
when you get to increase your opportunities across 5
months instead of 3 weeks you see that your rifle is just
not needed.
If you don’t believe me on any of this, drop me
an email and lets go shoot. I personally have bows of all
sizes and weights in my case and stopping by any of the
local stores will open a target range at no cost for you to
throw some darts. I will guarantee you walk out ith a
new bow purchase and it will be the best money you
have spent in a long long time!
Network Larry