Hello I just stumbled onto this site so thought i would introduce myself.
My name is Ray and live in Riverside, I have just gotten into hunting recently in the past 2 years. I used to go out quite a bit as a kid with my dad but once California starting getting strict with its laws and reducing the amount of places we could hunt Most of his favorite places are now housing tracks) he became frustrated and hung it up. Now that i have kids of my own i don't want them to miss out on what i can remember as some of the best times i ever had. Just feels like I'm starting from scratch trying to learn as much as i can and be ready for when they are old enough to go, so that i have some knowledge to pass on to them. I Just returned from my first white tail hunt in central Arkansas. The deer were not moving all that great and only say 2 bucks the entire 3 days i was in the woods, one was a forkie the other a little spike. I did see 2 does however and was able to get a shot on one of them but missed. I cant explain how disappointed in myself i was. I have been practicing constantly for over 6 months (i practice year round but specifically from a stand past 6 months) preparing for this shot and i blew it. BUT I did receive an education from a few pretty darn good whitetail hunters both gun hunters and bow hunters and that alone was worth the trip. Here is a list of a few of the things i learned.
1. Shooting at live deer is NOTHING like shooting at a 3D target, its like comparing taking batting practice to coming to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game winning run on third and 2 outs, there is just nothing you can do to prepare yourself for that adrenaline rush when it happens for the first time.
2. Deer are smart very smart, I watch a doe sit in the brush line for over an hour waiting for the sun to go down and it be too dark for me to shoot before stepping out in the open.
3. Hunt the wind hunt the wind hunt the WIND!!! I was set up in a great spot next to a creek with plenty of berries and acorns around we captured at least a dozen different deer traveling to this very spot for an evening snack. I was about 18ft up in a climber but the wind switched direction on me just before 5. I sat very still but off in the distance i could here that sound of a distress doe knowing something aint right.
4. Shoot your bow as soon as you get off the plane check you sights check your arrows check everything. I went straight from the airport to my stand changed clothes in the truck and went right to it. That's when i blew my shot. the next day at my buddies house i figured i'd better shoot a couple, and sure enough I was hitting high left on every shot. I check my markings (i mark my pins with a grease pencil) and they were off by about an 1/8" the way those baggage handlers toss bags around even being in an aluminum case i imagine anything can get shakin lose. It didn't dawn on me to check this I was so caught up in the excitement of going hunting i just climbed into my stand and got ready.
all in all i had a fun trip didnt get any deer didnt even see a hog, but learned a lot. spent some time in the woods, felt the adrenaline of drawing back on a deer and have an all new respect for those of you that get it done. to try and ease my pain my buddy did say "I aint never seen anyone smoke a deer their first time drawing on one" not sure if that is true or just trying to make me feel better but one thing is for sure I will be practicing like a mad man year around until next season. Most of my post will either be dumb questions from a newbie or talking about what i learned in my outings, hopefully other newbies can learn from my mistakes.
My name is Ray and live in Riverside, I have just gotten into hunting recently in the past 2 years. I used to go out quite a bit as a kid with my dad but once California starting getting strict with its laws and reducing the amount of places we could hunt Most of his favorite places are now housing tracks) he became frustrated and hung it up. Now that i have kids of my own i don't want them to miss out on what i can remember as some of the best times i ever had. Just feels like I'm starting from scratch trying to learn as much as i can and be ready for when they are old enough to go, so that i have some knowledge to pass on to them. I Just returned from my first white tail hunt in central Arkansas. The deer were not moving all that great and only say 2 bucks the entire 3 days i was in the woods, one was a forkie the other a little spike. I did see 2 does however and was able to get a shot on one of them but missed. I cant explain how disappointed in myself i was. I have been practicing constantly for over 6 months (i practice year round but specifically from a stand past 6 months) preparing for this shot and i blew it. BUT I did receive an education from a few pretty darn good whitetail hunters both gun hunters and bow hunters and that alone was worth the trip. Here is a list of a few of the things i learned.
1. Shooting at live deer is NOTHING like shooting at a 3D target, its like comparing taking batting practice to coming to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game winning run on third and 2 outs, there is just nothing you can do to prepare yourself for that adrenaline rush when it happens for the first time.
2. Deer are smart very smart, I watch a doe sit in the brush line for over an hour waiting for the sun to go down and it be too dark for me to shoot before stepping out in the open.
3. Hunt the wind hunt the wind hunt the WIND!!! I was set up in a great spot next to a creek with plenty of berries and acorns around we captured at least a dozen different deer traveling to this very spot for an evening snack. I was about 18ft up in a climber but the wind switched direction on me just before 5. I sat very still but off in the distance i could here that sound of a distress doe knowing something aint right.
4. Shoot your bow as soon as you get off the plane check you sights check your arrows check everything. I went straight from the airport to my stand changed clothes in the truck and went right to it. That's when i blew my shot. the next day at my buddies house i figured i'd better shoot a couple, and sure enough I was hitting high left on every shot. I check my markings (i mark my pins with a grease pencil) and they were off by about an 1/8" the way those baggage handlers toss bags around even being in an aluminum case i imagine anything can get shakin lose. It didn't dawn on me to check this I was so caught up in the excitement of going hunting i just climbed into my stand and got ready.
all in all i had a fun trip didnt get any deer didnt even see a hog, but learned a lot. spent some time in the woods, felt the adrenaline of drawing back on a deer and have an all new respect for those of you that get it done. to try and ease my pain my buddy did say "I aint never seen anyone smoke a deer their first time drawing on one" not sure if that is true or just trying to make me feel better but one thing is for sure I will be practicing like a mad man year around until next season. Most of my post will either be dumb questions from a newbie or talking about what i learned in my outings, hopefully other newbies can learn from my mistakes.
