Thread: swtiching to bow hunting

With no experience I'd recommend getting some proper instruction from a experienced bow hunter/archer to work on getting your technique is spot on, and learning a bit about how the gear works. Real important to get a bow that fits, that means you should probably go to a archery pro shop such as archery direct to get the right gear or at least see what you should get. Bow fit, technique and being very repetitive ensures your shooting will be consistent and accurate.

I spent a fair bit of time looking at options and couldn't justify a new set up so kept an eye out for a good 2nd hand set up - knowing what draw length I needed and what weight I could comfortably shoot- it took me 8 months for the right one to pop up. I only learnt how to bow shoot (previously has never picked one up!) last July and have a Reflex Growler compound bow. Its older but shoots well and is accurate - good reviews in the States. Its adjustable and I have it set at 68lb - started hunting with it set at 55lb. I'm left handed and was lucky to find this one second hand for very cheap, the guy who used it (hardly) was the same height as me with similar arm length, this gave me the confidence to buy the bow and it fitted me well.

Keep things simple for hunting, I just use carbon 400 spine arrows and muzzy broad heads - bought through Archery direct. That's what came with my bow and that's what I learnt to hunt with. Some people go crazy with adjusting their set ups, but I like to just grab mine and go hunting, not muck about with it. Practice heaps, sort out your grouping at short range then work on extending range and being consistent. I can pick my bow up anytime, and group 3 arrows in a tennis ball sized group at 40m. Have killed deer out to 45m - most have been within 30m though. I don't hunt exclusively with a bow, some people do, but I take it for a couple of walks a month. Have managed to shoot 8 deer with mine now, a couple of goats and heaps of hares and rabbits.

Bow hunting is a new challenge, it teaches you how to stalk again - and teaches you patience. Get into it, its fun.