bow hunting techniques

WyoAces · Feb 16, 2005

I plan on doing my first bow hunt next season. A mule deer hunt to be more specific. When you watch all the hunting shows on TV it is always whitetail hunts. Sitting in a treestand waiting for the next whitetail to walk down the trail 15 yards away. I was hoping some of you muledeer bowhunting connoisseurs could leak some of your bowhunting knowledge this way. From what i understand there is a lot of spot and stalk..same as hunting with a gun. Its the whole 100 yards in part i can see me having a problem with. Any pointers that you think might help myself and i am sure a few other people on the sight would be appreciated.

Benado · Feb 17, 2005

After you get to within 100 yards you have to keep the wind right at all times and only move when the deer is not looking at you and can't see you in his peripherial vision. I think the key is to stay patient-if you hurry, you'll blow it. Another thing is don't try to sneak up on a herd of 10 deer-less deer mean less eyes, ears, and noses. Maybe the best thing is to watch a deer bed, let him get comfortable, and then move in for the kill. It all looks easy on paper, but nothing can replace experience.

Idahoelk · Feb 17, 2005

If you lose the thought that its gonna be anything like rifle hunting you will be in the right frame of mind. You will need to close the distance to 40 yards or less. This takes patience, extreme attention to details like wind direction,cover between you and the deer to sheild your movement, sound can be what blows alot of stalks given the wind doesn't give you away. Camofladge is very important. I'm not a scent freak but I do use cover scent to try help out. But the bottom line is you need to turn into the absolute sneakiest stealth freak in the world and hope the wind holds out. Hunting escape routes once you learn them can work too. Bowhunting is usually a solitary approach too. I have never been able to close the distance with someone else stalking too.It is the hardest thing to do in hunting that I know of but the rush when it all works is unmatched too. Good luck once it gets in the blood its there for good have fun.

ddy58 · Feb 17, 2005

Another thing that might help is try hunting saddles or other places you might be able to get into position for a shot. Also if you hunt thicker country if you are real sneaky and walk real slow most of the deer you see will be within range already.

coonhound40 · Feb 17, 2005

I agree with the method of finding an area that is conductive to archery hunting, meaning a lot of irregular topography or timber. The mistake I made my 1st few years of muley hunting was trying to stalk a buck with nothing more than a little scruby sage or 12" grass. Lots of 70 to 100yd encounters but no success.

I started working hard the last couple years to plan my hunts around cover, for me the most successful has been still hunting timber. Patience is absolutely the most important piece of muley hunting. This applies to stalking in the open or still hunting the timber. That urge to hurry to see over that next ridge or into that small opening just ahead is so often the time I let my guard down and blow a buck out right under my nose.

This year I worked hard on the slow methodical approach and harvested my best buck to date. 25 1/2" wide 173 gross 4 x 4.

Which ever method you take, hunting muley's with a bow is one of the biggest highs you will ever experience. You are the one making things happen. A totally different game from sitting and waiting for something to walk by.

You go Muley you may never go back, Good Luck!!!

Hawkk33 · Feb 19, 2005

Welcome to insanity. Bowhunting deer or elk is an obsession that will keep you on your toes and coming back year after year. Everything said every piece of advice offered here is valuable and you should pay heed to it. But in the long run its putting advice and real life experience together in the field that's most important. Good luck.

slider · Feb 20, 2005

You might try setting up in a saddle and having your partner slowly push the Deer through it!!! Alot of stalk's are blown when you bump a Deer you did not know was there!!! After you watch a Monster Muley bed down pick your stalking route apart with a spotting scope!!!Good Luck

bittersweetmuleymeat · Feb 20, 2005

"Letting the deer get comfortable", as somone put it, after they bed is very important. If a buck is settled down, lets say by 8:30 on a sunny september day, 11:30-12:30 would be a good time to be closing the last few yards if possible. Alot tend to get up and stretch or feed a little mid afternoon. That can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on where you are at on your stalk. Closing in when they are in the deepest of slumber is great. Sometimes they will even lay their head on the ground.
My favorite rule I try to follow (and unfortunately sometimes dont) is if you are stalking a buck bedded (generally speeking most of the time he will be out of sight from you) when you are getting close and you dont see the buck DONT ASSUME YOU SPOOKED HIM, or that he moved off. If you dont vissually see him bust HE IS STILL THERE. On more than one occasion I have second guessed myself when I was within 75 yards and couldnt see buck WHERE I THOUGHT HE WAS, and made a careless step thinking I had failed only to have the buck bust up right where he had been the whole time. TRUST YOURSELF!
COWCALL, Yes I did say cowcall. I have used this technique for years on open country stalks where muleys share their homw with elk. I dont cowcall unless the buck is nervous about sound or movement. A few soft cowcalls has settled alot of bucks down for me. I have gotten away with snapped twigs and rolling pebbles when I use a cowcall.
Have fun!

Drake · Feb 20, 2005

I have been bow hunting mule deer for the last 5 years, I have bought 6 mule deer tags, and have harvested 6 mule deer all on public land, some in the desert, some in the pines, midrange junpers, and above treeline, the most important thing i have found is staying in the woods, not going back after a mornings hunt and sleeping but by devoting myself to the animal I am hunting, I would have to say spot and stalk is the best aproach to hunting big mulie's, as said before bed them up if they are bedding in the timber beat them in there wait for them to come to you, follow them till they bed wait 30 mins for them to put there head on the ground, sneak up and shoot them at 20 yrds! also i recomend if you find a good buck pattern him and place a tree stand, only hunt this when conditions are perfect and dont try still hunting his bedding ground, move to another location to do your mid day still hunting, it takes you 1 time to jump a big buck out of his secret spot for him not to come back.
I learned this one the hard way.
find out what area's hold alot of deer for still hunting
and find out where 1 or 2 big bucks are, study them spend time with them and when season comes dont give up on them.
Archery hunting can be very discouraging at times dont give up,
anyone one can second me on this stalking a big buck under the 100 yrd mark is the most heart pounding electrifing experiance that you will ever do, when you can't swallow and you heart is thumping in your ears WOW it's something unnatural for sure

Buy a bow tech shoot it lots scout a buck and spend 20-40 days with him good luck.