When a person unfamiliar with archery thinks about archery, there are a few images that may come to mind. For many the image of Robin Hood winning a target archery competition is what they think of. For others, the use of archers in medieval warfare stands out prominently. Neither of these images is wrong, but the most prominent image that comes to mind, I’d imagine, is that of a hunter holding a drawn bow aimed at some sort of game animal, most likely a deer. It’s the classic picture of what archery is and while, yes it did revolutionize the way people did warfare back in the day, archery has always at its heart, been about bringing dinner home for family and friends. This is exactly what bowhunting is.
Obviously, bowhunting is a compound word that fuses the term “bow” with the term “hunting.” Thus one can conclude that bowhunting is at its core the practice of hunting with a bow which is absolutely correct. Bowhunting is the use of archery equipment, whether that be a compound bow, recurve, longbow, or crossbow, to hunt something. No surprise there I’m sure. So bow-hunting really breaks down into two distinct parts, the “bow” part which is obviously the archery component of bowhunting and the “hunting” part which is its own set of practices and skills that combine with archery to help a bowhunter “bring home the bacon,” so to speak (although that can be literal if they’re hunting boar).
So first we take a look at the archery component. To be successful as a bowhunter you’ll need to be accurate with your bow, which means knowing how to figure out ranges, aim, and have proper archery technique. You’ll also need to know what kind of equipment you need and how to use and maintain it. This means it’s important to know in advance what kind of animal you’re attempting to hunt so you know the proper poundage to use and what type of broadhead to employ on your arrows. It’s also vital to use the appropriate weight of arrows with the right spine so that your shots are accurate, but still fast. Finally, it’s of the utmost importance that you go out with your equipment already in tune so that you have the best chance of hitting your mark. Although bows are nowhere near the volume of a gun and as a result you might (strong emphasis on the “might” here as game animals are still understandably jumpy) get a second shot, there’s nothing worse than doing all the work to sneak up on an animal only to miss and have it run off, or worse hit the animal, but miss the vital organs so that it runs off into the woods and dies slowly and painfully from your botched shot. So remember if you’re going bowhunting, know what you’re after, get the right equipment, tune the equipment, and practice with the equipment until you’re accurate.
Second, we have the hunting component. Now I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not personally an expert hunter, but I am familiar with the basic principles that go into it. To be successful you need to be able to conceal yourself (including the way you look, the sounds you make, and very importantly your scent), you need to be able to gauge ranges, you need to know the animals your hunting, and you need to have an abundance of patience. For the stealth aspect, there are all sorts of techniques available to the hunter. Camouflaged clothing is practically a necessity. Not only does it disguise your appearance, but the thicker cloth typically used also muffles any noises you make from moving. Face paints are also available that will further camouflage any part of you that isn’t covered by clothing and will typically cover up your scent as well. There are other options available as well for the truly committed such as scents to spread around the area to cover up your scent and attract the animals you’re trying to hunt, blinds to make it nearly impossible for the animals to spot you, and decoys and calls to make it look and sound as though there are already some of that particular type of animal present in the area making it seem safe.
Range-finding is a skill that all hunters need to know, but it is especially important to the bowhunter. While hunters who employ guns can typically get close enough to their prey to aim a flat (or level) trajectory shot, bowhunters hunting at longer ranges must actually arc their shots to get the extra range. This is why the range-finding is so important. If you don’t know how far you’re trying to shoot you won’t know to what degree to arc the shot and thus could easily miss. This leads the bowhunter to a dilemma. Guess at the range (or use a rangefinder), arc the shot and possibly miss, but not spook the prey by getting too close or get closer so you can use a flat trajectory shot, but possibly spook the prey off while doing so. It’s a difficult decision and it really comes down to what skills you put more faith in, but ultimately the terrain will play a deciding role. If the land is open a long-range shot may be the way to go, but if it’s forested or covered with some sort of obstacles, it may be better to use the extra cover to get closer. That said, it’s easy to see that range-finding skills give the hunter more options and thus more chances to successfully complete their hunt.
Of course, it’s also important for a hunter to know about the animal that they’re attempting to hunt (or multiple game animals if they’re looking to do some opportunity hunting). This knowledge is important for the hunter because it tells them where to try and place their shots. A shot that hits the hind quarter on a deer, will hurt and frighten it and it will run off and maybe even die from the shot eventually, but it will take a long time. However, a shot to the chest will likely hit either the heart or the lungs which will kill the animal quickly and prevent it from running too far off allowing the hunter to get to the animal and finish it off (if the shot didn’t already) to minimize its suffering. Those organs are not always in the same place from one animal to another and so knowing about their anatomy is extremely important. However, it’s not just the anatomy of the animal that is important to learn about. Knowing their diets, defensive tactics, and their environmental preferences will help a hunter know where to start looking for their prey, and knowing their footprints typical shape, size, and depth can tell the hunter not only where they went, but how big they are, how quickly they are moving, and how many of them are together to see if it’s even worth trying to follow them. This information can save a hunter hours of time and help them be better prepared for their eventual encounter with their prey.
The patience, however, is not something you can buy or simply look up, it’s a skill that must be learned and mastered for any aspiring hunter. The art of simply remaining still, undistracted by technology, absorbed in one’s own thoughts and the awareness of your own surroundings. It can take a long time to master, but it’s a valuable skill to learn, not just for the hunter, but for anyone. If you’re having trouble with this one, perhaps some meditation, yoga, or even prayer will help you get into the appropriate mindset to learn the lost art of patience.
Bowhunting takes us back to the very core of what archery is all about. It involves an immense amount of skill, a great deal of preparation, and even a bit of luck. Still in the end, even in this age of grocery stores and fast food, where our next meal is only a short car trip away, bowhunting is still around to help us feed our families, reconnect with nature, and rediscover ourselves.
Research for this article was conducted at the following sites:
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