Any type of hunting requires discipline, know-how and planning. It is every hunter’s responsibility to make sure that they have all their ducks in a row, so to speak. A bad outing can be outright dangerous.

Bowhunting is no exception.

Anybody who has ever tried it usually gets hooked as it is one of the most rewarding ways to take down a game animal.

To help get you started and on the right track, we’ve put together this simple guide.

Selecting the right bow

To know what kind of bow is best for you, you’ll need to understand everything about the bow itself. Did you know that compound bows have 14 parts? Getting familiar with those parts and how a bow works is the first step.

The right bow should be the right size for your height and arm length. It should not be too difficult to draw, even as a beginner. The draw is measured in pounds, as in how many pounds of force it takes to pull it back.

Practice, practice, practice

Before you go out and buy a house in the mountains to decorate with all those buck antlers, you need to get good at the fundamentals. 

Hit the shooting range as often as your schedule allows to learn how your bow works. 

You’ll need to find the right stance needed to get off the perfect shot. The draw is tricky to figure out and can only come naturally after doing it over and over again.

Lastly, your aim is not going to be on point in the beginning. You’ll need to learn the right techniques for your aim to be true.

Study animal anatomy

Your shots need to be precise to inflict minimal damage to the target. Aiming to kill is essential to now allow the animal to suffer. 

Understanding its anatomy will help you find the kill shot much easier than just shooting and hoping for the best. Of course, not many hunters can be 100% precise, but it should be the goal.

After the shot

Once you’ve shot the animal, you need to be able to recover it. This can be quite tricky. 

Before you do anything, you need to take stock of the situation. Try to remember where you hit the animal. If it was a heart or lung shot then it won’t have gotten far. Anywhere else on the body could allow the animal to live for a bit and could be far from the stand where you are. 

Wait around 30 minutes before you set out to track it. Once you have gotten down from the stand, nock an arrow and follow the blood. Be ready to shoot again if you come upon the wounded animal. 

Have fun and be safe

Adrenaline can be pumping and it can be quite emotional to hunt. Just remember that you are there to enjoy nature and have a good time. If you come home with a trophy, even better!