For the avid hunter, there are few methods more exciting than bowhunting - hunters often progress from rifle hunting to bowhunting to challenge themselves, learning a new set of skills and gaining the sense of accomplishment that comes from taking down an animal just a few short yards away. Whether you're hunting on a private ranch or in the wild, on a guided hunting tour or out on your own, your hunt depends on getting so close to the elk or deer that a sudden movement or scent can send them running out of range, so there's an extra element of chance involved. You can increase you chances for a successful bowhunt, though, if you keep a few basic bowhunting secrets in mind:
Don't overhunt a stand. The more you make your presence known in an animal's habitat, the higher the chance that they'll figure out your patterns and avoid the stand. Set up several stands, and rotate between them.
If you hunt deer and elk in rainy weather, waterproof your arrow fletches. This can be done with an inexpensive can of scent-free hairspray - spray each fletch with three or four light coats of hairspray, allowing them to dry completely between coats.
Keep an eye on the wind. You want to keep your scent from blowing in the direction of any bear, deer or elk in the vicinity - so if the wind isn't favorable at the stand where you prefer to hunt, find another stand. You can do everything in your power to remove your scent before you head out to hunt dear and elk, but thousands of years of evolution have given animals an advantage when it comes to picking up predators' scents.
Practice in the off-season, honing your skills for deer and elk hunting season. Practice shooting, tune your bow, arrows and broadheads. Check and double all of your equipment, tighten all of the fittings on your bow, and practice shooting so you'll be ready for elk and deer season.
Make the weather work for you. If the weatherman predicts rain or snow, that means there'll be a noticeable change in temperature and barometric pressure or temperature. Deer, elk and bears sense changes in the weather, and usually become more active, heading out for last-ditch feeding before the inclement weather hits. The best times to hunt deer and elkare either right before or right after major storm fronts.
If you plan to hunt in extremely cold weather, dial back your draw weight a few pounds - it's a small thing, but backing your draw weight off just five pounds will make it easier to draw your bow smoothly in very, very cold weather. Also keep in mind that when you switch from lighter gloves, jacket and headwear to bulkier cold-weather gear can change your anchor point considerably. Before you head out, retune your bow while wearing your colder weather gear for better accuracy.
Bowhunting is an exciting, challenging sport that's caught the imagination of thousands of hunters. With a good bow, a few bowhunting secrets, you'll see increased success on your deer and elk hunts.