rookie hunter needs help

[rookieray]

I am new here and as my username indicates am also new to hunting. I am not sure why it has taken me so long to find this sport, for I have always been a country boy and this seems to be something most country boys do, maybe because my family doesn't hunt and it was never presented as an option growing up. Anyways this summer I finally took the hunter safety course and received my first deer tag. I can honestly tell you that I have never been so excited or anticipated something so much before in my life. I spent the summer reading everything about hunting I could get my hands on, I have thoroughly exhausted this site, I have now looked at every picture and read every hunting story and now I am on the forums reading previous posts. I figured at the beginning of summer that I would be using a rifle and in fact it never really crossed my mind to use a bow, but as I read more and more stories of bow hunting and saw pictures of those bucks in velvet it started to greatly intrigue me. I started out thinking I would just carry a bow while I scouted for rifle season just in case I saw a monster buck, but as I started practicing in the back yard I began to realize how much I really enjoyed archery and now for over a month have been shooting almost every day. So now my whole mind set has changed and all I want to do is harvest my first buck with a bow. I have now been out in the field a total of eight times in the past two and a half weeks and had my first success my very first time stepping into the field. In the first ten minutes of my very first hunt I spotted a nice forked horn and through a span of 20 or so minutes I was able to stock within ten yards. Unfortunately the tree I was hiding behind didn't offer a shooting lane, so I sat there for the next 15 minutes wondering what to do next, I ended up trying to move to a different position but by then my quarry knew of my presence and had enough. I was not able to shoot or even draw but being that close to a buck was so exciting that from that moment I knew I wanted to take one with a bow. If I had had a rifle my hunt would have been over from the moment I spotted him, he was only 100 yards away from the first time I saw him. I guess that incident was beginners luck because my next six times out hunting I only saw three deer none of which were bucks. But my last time out which was labor day I found the buck that I wanted, he was about 80 yards away when I spotted him down a slight ravine, he was a beautiful 3x3 with deep forks I was able to get my binos on him before he fed behind some brush, I noticed that he had already scraped off all his velvet. I tried stalking down and around him making my way back up the ravine I saw him in but never spotted him again. I am sure as soon as I stepped off the path I was on he heard me and snuck out of there the opposite way I was headed. Needless to say I have not been able to sleep the past few days I have been dreaming of him ever since Monday. Well I am sure I have rambled on way to long (I can't help it, hunting is now all I want to talk about, just ask my wife) so I will get to my question. I hunt in California in the foot hills of the Sierras in zone D-6 and it is very dry every step is like stepping on a bag of potato chips making it very hard once you see a deer to get very close. I am pretty sure I know where my 3 point waters, but I don't know how deer water, do they only drink at night the same way they feed or do they also drink a few times during the day. I am willing to sit by this watering hole all day if I have to but I don't know if it is worth it. I realize this may be a stupid question, just attribute it to my vast inexperience. I would greatly appreciate any advice on how to bag my buck. Thank you

 

[alpinebowman]

welcome to the wonderfull sport of bow hunting rookie. I applaude you on what you have been doing so far. all of that shooting you are doing is good just make sure you get a little shooting in during the season so you keep familiar with your bow. as far as the deer go don't get discouraged. I know when I first started bowhunting it seems nothing happens fast enough but soon enough you will learn patiance. I too know how much hunting on cornflakes will test your patiance and discourage you but just keep at it. I finnaly got a buck this year and I have been hunting hard for 3 years in a new area and it paid off with a 170 inch beuty in full velvet. and to get him I probably spent 100 days in the mountains in the last 3 years. most of that time was going through what you are going through trying to figure the ins and outs of archery hunting and animal behavior. so the more time spent scouting and hunting the better. this was only my 4th year archery hunting and I can tell every year you will get better and better.


Now for that wiley 3 point. I would watch the water hole you think he is at and see if you can see where he comes and goes. It is going to be better to get him while he is going to or from the water hole because he won't be as skitish while traveling to and from the water. you can still hunt the water hole but make sure you have good cover and make sure the wind will be in your favor. this goes back to finding out were he comes and goes from. So if you can set up down wind and have good shooting lanes there shouldn't be a problem. Remember deer are fast. I have had feeding deer jump arrows at less than fifty yards so stay close if you can or intercept him on the way to his water hole.

good luck Rookie

alpinebowman

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->

 

[rookieray]

alpinebowman,

Thanks for the encouragement and advice, I really appreciate it.
Its nice to hear from someone who is still fairly new to bow hunting (at least compared to some of these guys who have been doing it for 20 plus years) and can still remember what it is like that first year. I will definitely try and setup along the trail leading to and from the water hole, hopefully tomorrow evening and maybe all day Saturday.

Congratulations on your buck, I am not even sure if they have 170 class bucks around my area.

Thanks again

Rookieray

 

[mmwb]

Yeah, if you can get set up for him as he travels, you may get a great opportunity. If you can watch him bed, you also may have an opportunity for a stalk. Watch the wind and don't EVER think you can get away with trying to cheat on the wind. Go slow, very slow. Take your shoes/boots off for a stalk. Loose the pack and any other bulky items. Some put a heavy wool sock on for a stalk. A very few go bare foot. Be patient leading to the shot, wait for it to stand up if it is bedded. Wait as long as it takes. Be patient after the shot. Give him time for the broadhead to do its job and be patient on tracking/blood trailing him. Sounds like you are already doing some excellant hunting. Good luck to you!