 “ROOKIE
ERRORS - 10 DEADLY SINS OF NEW BOWHUNTERS”
Starting To Trophy Hunt Too Quickly, And Shooting Too
Quickly Or Waiting Too Long
EDITOR'S NOTE: Good bowhunters can become better bowhunters
if they don't commit 10-deadly sins that decrease their
odds for bagging any deer and especially trophy deer.
Here's 10 of the most-common mistakes that even good
bowhunters – sportsmen who have taken several
deer with their bows and who have hunted for four or
five years - make that I've identified by hunting with
through the years.
Starting To Trophy Hunt Too Quickly:
Most bowmen want to be trophy hunters. Once a bowhunter
gets into the sport and begins to read about Boone and
Crockett or Pope and Young trophy deer and the archers
who take these kinds of animals, he'll set a goal for
himself to become a trophy hunter. However, most of
these sportsmen don't put in the hours or take enough
deer to become good hunters - much less trophy hunters.
 And
I think these hunters are making a very big mistake
and missing out on a lot of fun. As a trophy hunter,
the outdoorsman may hunt a season and not even see a
Pope and Young set of antlers. A buck must have extremely-large
antlers to make the book. He'll have to let numbers
of nice deer walk by without ever harvesting them.
One of the best reasons for becoming a bowhunter is
to take deer with a bow and bagging deer with a bow
is what the sport is all about. Therefore the hunter
who becomes a trophy hunter too quickly misses the best
of bowhunting, because he's so obsessed with taking
a trophy. Another problem associated with becoming a
trophy hunter too soon is if a bowhunter hasn't bagged
quite a few deer with a bow, he's probably not mentally
ready to take a trophy, even if the shot presents itself.
If the hunter's ever going to have shaking knees and
shortness of breath before a shot and be so nervous
he can't hold his bow steady - it will happen when a
big set of antlers comes into bow range. Only by learning
to deal with the emotional problems that directly affect
arrow flight in the woods can the hunter expect to be
successful. And only by taking numbers of deer can the
hunter learn to control his emotions at the moment of
truth.
 The
bowhunter who wants to become a trophy hunter should
have bagged at least six to 10 deer with his bow before
he tries to become a trophy hunter, and 20 deer would
be even better. In my opinion, this idea of being a
trophy hunter has been over-rated. I don't think everybody
should hope to become a trophy hunter. And like many
other outdoorsmen, I don't consider trophy hunting the
ultimate in bowhunting. I bowhunt because I like it.
I still enjoy taking a doe or a smaller buck if I've
had to hunt hard to bag the animal. I don't think that
an archer must become a trophy hunter to be a good bowhunter.
Shooting Too Quickly, Or Waiting Too Long:
Many good bowhunters don't harvest deer as often as
they can because they don't know when to take the shot.
They either shoot before they have good shots or wait
for the best shots and never get their shots. Experience
is the best teacher that a bowhunter can have, because
a hunter must learn when he should take a shot. But
my rule is that when an animal presents me with a good
shot that I feel I can put him down with, that's the
time I shoot. I don't believe that you should ever hurry
a shot. However, I've also found that you shouldn't
wait on that best shot, because many times deer won't
give you the shot for which you're looking. I've waited
around for that best shot before, never had it presented
to me, and watched a nice deer walk away from me. Don't
play with a deer, don't watch a deer, and don't take
a head-on shot either. But when you've got a good shot,
take the shot.
 To
learn more about bowhunting, order “The Masters’
Secrets of Bowhunting Deer,” which contains information
from more than 50 top bowhunters, written by John E.
Phillips. You can send a money order or a check for
$13.50 to 4112 Camp Horner Road, Birmingham, AL 35243
and specify the book you’re ordering, or pay by
PayPal by sending the money to nighthawkpub@mindspring.com.
You also can learn more about the book by going to http://www.nighthawkpublications.com/hunting/mastersbow.htm
where you’ll also find a direct link to PayPal.
TOMORROW: IGNORING THE WIND,
AND OVERUSING A STAND
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