Getting into archery and bowhunting can be a daunting journey! Rest assured, our team of experts here at Tooth of the Arrow Broadheads are here to help! We have complied a list of commonly asked beginner questions, to help you get the most out of the time you put into becoming a great archer and bowhunter!
The first thing to know about bow hunting for beginners, is that it is an art which takes a tremendous amount of time and practice to master. There are a lot of things you need to practice and study before you make that first trek into the woods with the intention of harvesting an animal with your bow. Here are some top tips for beginner bow hunters:
Study animal anatomy. It is incredibly important to understand proper shot placement when it comes to bow hunting. A misplaced shot can result in a wounded and lost animal, and a devastating experience. Proper shot placement fundamentals include targeting the vitals, being the lungs and heart. You will also want to learn to avoid large bones such as the shoulder and scapula, which protect the lungs to a large extent. Hitting an animal in one of these large bones will seriously impact how well your arrow penetrates and can prevent an effective cut through the lungs. When you avoid bones and successfully place an arrow in the vitals, animals will go down quickly, and you’ll be sure to make a quick and ethical harvest and recovery
Practice with broadheads on your arrows. While most of our practice on the range is with practice points, your broadheads may fly differently than those practice points. It is vital to make sure you screw on the broadheads that you intend to hunt with, and ensure they are hitting where you want them to. If any adjustments need to be made, you need to be proactive and make those adjustments before going hunting.
Never take a shot you aren’t confident in. When you are bow hunting as a beginner or an expert, it is important to make sure you are only taking shots at animals that you are extremely confident in. Taking risky shots rarely ends in success, and since we are dealing with the lives of other beings, you need to take that seriously. It is better to not take a shot and go home empty handed, than to take a risky shot and risk going home empty handed and leaving an animal wounded in the woods.
Assess your needs as an archer. Will you be using the bow for hunting big game, small game, or just for target practice? A bow for hunting big game must be more powerful than a bow being used for small game or targets, meaning you will need to get a bow with a higher draw weight. A bow used for small game and target can be set at lower draw weights, which will be more comfortable to shoot for longer periods of time, and will result in less lost arrows.
Small game such as squirrels, rabbits, grouse, and other game birds are the easiest animals to hunt with a bow, and the best place to start even if your long-term goal is big game bow hunting. Starting out with small game will give you more shot opportunities, closer shots, and easier processing after a successful harvest. It is important to get used to shooting at live and sometimes moving targets such as small game before going after big game such as deer, elk, and bears.
Start out at just 10 yards to get comfortable with your bow, and reduce the risk of missing and losing arrows. Once you are confident at 10 yards, back up to 20 and 30 yards to practice better accuracy and focus. As you get comfortable, you may be able to extend your range out to 60-70 yards, but it will take practice.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the topic further, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@toothofthearrowbroadheads.com
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