Friday, May 26, 2006
Hunting Whitetail Deer Is A Part Of Who I Am
Granted, I hunt more than the average bow hunter. I bow hunt by personal preference, and even though I do hunt with a firearm and muzzleloader at the appropriate times of year, bow hunting offers me thrills that are virtually impossible to find with other hunting methods.
Fooling deer up close and personal is part of the bow hunting mystique. A firearm hunter can send an airmail package into a buck at 300 yards, but I’d rather have them so close I can hear them breathe.
Bow hunting means getting in tight to a buck. It means a combination of sitting still, not making a sound, and letting the buck amble in close for a certain killing shot. It’s true that hunters could do that with a firearm, but it’s just not the same.
Bow hunting offers far fewer advantages for the hunter. Unlike firearm deer hunters with the chance for a long-range kill, bow hunters are limited. They must allow the buck to walk close, thus increasing the possibility of making a mistake and spooking the animal.
Most of my bucks are shot at 15-20 yards. So it’s important to me and other bow hunters to know how to eliminate human scent, and control our nerves when a deer steps out.
How tough is that? Many hunters feel their heartbeat speed up as the buck gets closer, and they begin to hyperventilate, the shakes set in, and their hands feel like they are all thumbs. They get all antsy and twitchy, and it’s difficult to pull their bow under the pressure of a nearby buck or doe.
Bow hunting, much like fly fishing for trout, is a contemplative mans sport. More thinking goes into each hunt, and sportsmen must learn to control their nerves. They need to feel relaxed, go with the flow, capture the moment in their minds, and learn to think and react clearly and decisively when the moment of truth arrives. It’s not always easy.
Once they know that the deer has antlers, utter concentration must follow. They must know when to draw without causing the deer to see any movement. They must study when is the best time to draw, and where is the ideal place to aim.
Sure, I know, all bow hunters must learn these things. Unfortunately, many hunters do not learn the proper mechanics of how and when to draw, and how to aim for a specific spot. They must learn to take the ideal shots and pass on all opportunities that could result in a wounded and lost animal.
We must be intimately familiar with our bow, and have the utmost confidence in our ability to accurately place an arrow in the proper location. Some hunters can consistently do this and some cannot.
Bow hunting is a combination of mental thoughts, a strong commitment to making each shot count, and being respectful of the game we hunt. There is no room in bow hunting for disrespectful hunters or those who don’t care if they wound and lose an animal.
This is a pastime that is easy for me to become emotional about. The shots are close, the margin for error is mighty slim, and we’re often staring at an animal that may only be 10 yards away. Our bow must be silent when drawn, our clothing must be soft and quiet, and we can’t make any sudden noises.
Bow hunters who shoot a buck or doe every year have earned that animal. I have nothing against firearm hunters, and always hunt with a rifle and/or muzzleloader every year, but I strongly believe that more hunting skill is required to down a whitetail with a bow than with a firearm.
Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hunters who lack the patience and skill to become an excellent bow hunter have my sympathy. Many don’t have a clue what they are missing.
For me, bow hunting offers me a sacred challenge to pit my skills against a high-strung animal. And I know, and am proud of that knowledge, that when I kill a deer with my bow that I’ve succeeded in a very difficult hunting arena.
And, for me, it’s not how large the antlers are but what drives me is the increased challenge of the hunt. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard