Most hunters opt for firearms because they are easier to get used to. If a rare person wants to go in for archery bow hunting, he/she has to master the art first before attempting any real hunting!

Of course, plenty of practice is required. Additionally, the learner should be ready to recognize and accept his/her mistakes. Only then can steps be taken to improve upon those mistakes till perfection is achieved.

The dos and donts of archery bow hunting are listed as follows–

(1) All hunting gear should be carefully stored and maintained after every hunt, so that the weapons are in top condition for the next hunt. Before going archery bow hunting, it is necessary to check that the bow is functioning properly. To discover an out-of-tune bow at the hunting site itself is only going to bring sorrow!

(2) Many hunters fail to hit on target because they do not judge distance properly. The bow hunter can use a range finder to measure distances, before the actual hunt itself. This method is very helpful if the hunter is using a tree stand or a blind.

(3) The range finder also proves useful if the hunter prefers to be in a fixed position while archery bow hunting. It gives the correct distance and leaves no room for misjudgement. Trees act like natural distance markers, but rocks and branches can also be put to fair use.

(4) Accuracy carries more weightage than speed while archery bow hunting. So the draw weight should be something that the hunter can handle easily going beyond that is sure to handicap the action of the hunter. Additionally, if a tree stand is being used, drawing the bow is not going to be easy. It is even more difficult in a sitting posture. Thus, draw weight should be assessed carefully.

(5) Some people do not have the patience to wait and get the target into their sights before shooting. Archery bow hunting demands slow and easy actions, not overconfidence.

(6) Where deer are concerned, the aim should be towards the broadside. The shot is bang on target if the animal’s head is behind a tree or it is turned away from the stalker. The deer is a swift animal and easily spooked–so the hunter gets only one chance for a straightforward shot!

(7) Another fact concerning deer hunting. Frequent visits to the same specific location by a hunter are enough to signal the animals not to come anywhere near the place! This is because during every visit, he/she is leaving his/her scent behind. And smart animals can smell it!

(8) The most dreadful mistake that can be committed during archery bow hunting is totally missing the kill zone. A hunter is expected to know the kill zone of every quarry that he stalks. If the prey is just wounded and manages to escape, the hunter has left it open to a large amount of suffering. And this is explicitly forbidden.