The "turkeer" months are upon us, sandwiched in between the turkey and deer season. A times when the lemonade pours and the grill is more active than you are. Summer is here! Better referred to as the
off-season, to the majority of hunters. Reminisces of gobbling and strutting has ceased the mind, while the pursuit of old mossy horns slowly rejuvenates your soul.
Just the other day, I sadly stuffed my trusty Blodgett's Turkey Calls in my cluttered closet to gather dust until next spring. Although, after blowing off the rubbish, I was reinforced with glee. Odor Free Scent Killer that has been through it all, a grunt
call with a broken reed, and lastly the harsh memories of last seasons dismay was discovered. A clean miss on an animal that I've harassed my whole season of 03'. A specific deer that I have roughly spotted five times out of season and three times during the season. Some people say, "Third times a charm..." Well it's visa-versa for me. Buck fever, indistinct yardage and rushing the shot helped mister eleven pointer frolic away untouched. That is why I'm going to remind all of you to shoot your bow now, as in tomorrow. I've started smashing arrows with my new Whisper Creek Archery bow last month already. Consistent practice doesn't hurt anyone.
After several missing bird feeders my mother has given up on feeding them darn winged creatures. Little did she know all seven broken feeders lay quietly tucked away in the back of the garage with arrow holes accompanying. Every so often when pesky sparrow's grabbed a bite to eat, I couldn't help myself other than winging a Gold-Tip arrow at the agile birds. Can you believe all seven birds got away? With the expense of feeders, I retired myself as a sparrow hunter.
I was young, running around the yard with a kid bow like an Indian warrior after buffalo. I relish the moments of receiving my first bow. What an honor to say the least. With a Whisper Creek Archery bow, Tru-Fire release, Tru-Glo Stabalizer, Vital Bow Gear sight and rest, G5 Broad Heads, and Gold Tip arrows where can I go wrong? I firmly believe I have the best hunting-bow setup in the world. Hey, I have extreme confidence and repute in my bow. Your bow should symbolize you and be a part of you. In fact, the more you enjoy your bow, the more you enjoy hunting. Now, at the age of sixteen, maturity has taken its toll. I hunt with a grownup's bow and hunt real game, but...
Put it this way, shooting at birds are difficult. They are as nimble as jack-be-nimble and the candle stick. Dusting off small game will improve you as a hunter. It sharpens your skills that may need to be tweaked before your out in the big-woods after the
big-boys. Does a football player lift weight? Do bodybuilders consume excess protein? Is Martha Stewart a cheat? Does a bow hunter need to prep-up before entering the arena of antlers? My answer is without a doubt, yes.
I know of too many people who venture afield
without taking the time to sight in their bow, or even
practice! That is a scary thought. None-the-less, find
time to rip some arrows in the ten ring. Almost every
hunter has had a blooper here and there, why not
decrease the odds of that happening? Lets work on my
mistakes, because most archers have run into the same
trouble with buck fever, yardage and rushing the shot.
-Keep Cool-
The sound of crunching leaves and twigs may make anyone suspicious. Only more so when Bullwinkle is at the base of your tree. Your heart flutters like partridge wings and your body feels like hot air. To make it even better, your hands jitter, plus nitwitted
mistakes bungle-up all at once. That is why there are so many stories and tales about, "The one that got away." I happen to visualize the upcoming event. When a shooter buck comes strolling by, I make a judgment on what he'll do and what I'll do. Focusing on the animal like vultures on a deceased rabbit are what separates the meaning of a hunter from a killer. You need to could-shoulder any subjects, but the of punching an arrow through the beasts lungs. Once you start "thinking," you're done for. Thoughts of missing and clumsiness will drench you and it will and does happen. Plan ahead, don't let your mind tamper with you, and visualize the attack.
We sportsmen strive on these tiny moments that mean
so much to us. Hours, days or even years afield, when
that precious moment is given to you, you need to take
full advantage of the situation. Everyone is yearning
for their virtue calling.
-Chramin Ultra Soft-
I'm sorry, there isn't any time to take out your
tape measurer and compensate the distance from the tip
of your broad head to the opposite shoulder of the
buck. Or even your laser range finder, because the
average hunter cannot afford "another" hunting
accessory as it is. What ever happened to the good ol'
tissue on branch method?
Back when I was young, four years ago, my uncle
took me out bow hunting for the first time. We were
both crammed together like sardines in a can on a home
made stand nailed to a tree. Put it this way, the
stand couldn't be T.M.A. Certified if we both were
strapped with safety-belts! Anyway, Charmin toiled
each branch in front of us. Marking ten, twenty, and
thirty yards. This didn't cost you a leg and arm,
rather a trip to the mens room before heading afield.
My uncle obliterated many deer this way.
In the twenty-first century when a minute passes your behind two, there is a demand of new methods. So I embarked on a manner of dispensing my S&P Game Farm Deer Scent on wick's spread thirty feet apart. Basically, nailing two birds with one stone; It whirled the essence of deer urine through the hardwoods while supplying me the knowledge of distance.
If your fortunate enough to procure the twenty-first century laser range finder so-be-it, while I'll stick to the wallet friendly manner of t.p. Remember to pick off the trumpery when finished
hunting.
-The Blitz Assault-
Hunting can relate to the old story of "The
Tortuous and the Hare." Some hunters integrate with
the Hare by rushing themselves to a point of doom. The
last thing to do when a shooter buck is chipping yards
is hurry yourself. You'd be better off taking your bow
and tossing it over your shoulder, because the odds of
you piercing vitals is slim. You need to slow down and
visualize the attack like a middle line-backer reading
the quarterbacks cadence. Waiting for just the correct
timing to pounce on the opportunity.
In the tortuous's eyes, patience pays off. I know
of some people who stick a message on their bow that
reads quotes to help them relax and concentrate. I
find a small spot on the deer, focus on that single
spot, and release the arrow at that single spot. It
could be a marking near the vitals, or a clump of
hair. By doing this procedure, it secures you from
shooting the outline of the animal, while you should
be aiming at detail of the animal. That is why target
manufacturers put bulls eye's on targets. You don't
aim at the target, you aim at the bulls eye. When the
scene of action is upon you, you must rehearse the
shot you took yesterday. Every shot should be the
same. Draw back, find your anchor point, aim and
smoothly release. It's that easy, although easier said
than done. With perfect practice and true persistence,
you will soon find your "buck" shot.
-You Gotta Love It-
Each year more and more people get sucked into the
whole mess of bow hunting. I believe everyone likes it
for different reasons. I personally indulge on the
feeling of tension, high nerves, and glory. It's
almost the same as chewing gum. You can chew as much
gum as you want, but the fresh taste in the beginning
is what every gum-chewer desires. Once fulfilled, they
want more! Just like us bow hunters hunger more close
encounters with white-tailed deer. Hunting is nicotine
to our souls.