I recently scratched down a post titled My Biggest Archery Issues, so it’s only natural to write another that reflects bowhunting specifically. Bowhunting is a never-ending journey for me and I don’t think I’ll ever master it. There is no shortage of ways to screw up an archery hunt, and I’ve been fortunate to be on more than a few of those receiving ends. Sometimes they make me feel downright helpless. The only way to improve in these areas, though, is to acknowledge them and act. So, down below I’m going to dive into a pool of reflection filled with My Biggest Bowhunting. At the end of this personal therapy session, I hope it drives you to tackle your own shortcomings and inevitably get better from doing so.
First up and hands down has to do with shooting distance. I practice a ton of long-range shooting with my bow. It instills a high level of confidence that I can bring along with me into the field. Sometimes this has a tendency to bite me in the ass though.
I am very familiar with what my comfort zone is in terms of shooting distance on an animal. There are many times during a stalk when I reach the edge of that comfort zone and halt. My thinking is “Why should I get closer when I can just shoot from here?” Sometimes, these longer shots work out just fine and others it goes bad. The real estate between the two can be nipped up if I were to keep going inside of my comfort zone, rather than just staying on the edge.
Every time I’ve pushed passed the edge of my comfort zone it ends with a very well-placed arrow and a short blood trail. Sometimes remembering this in the heat of the moment, though, is difficult especially if it’s towards the end of a hunt. What I really need to remember is this. Seizing opportunity is different than throwing it away.
Sometimes finding critters is difficult. And sometimes finding the right opportunity is equally difficult. When either of the two does show face I’m often stricken with a “get it now” feeling. As if this is the last chance I’ll ever get.
It reminds me of a deer hunt I was on earlier this year in January. I waited for 3 days before making a stalk, because the situation just wasn’t right. Then when the opportunity did present itself, I made a hasty move on a buck, and in doing so accidentally shot the wrong one. All because I thought, this was it. This was the only opportunity I’d get. Even though I was seeing tons of deer the entire time. It doesn’t quite add up, but it’s what I was feeling at the moment.
I’m incredibly grateful for the animals I’ve taken home from these “panic stalks,” but it doesn’t change what they are. Bowhunting is something I love entirely. From the bottom to the top and everything in between. To hastily rush an opportunity is to hastily try and end the hunt though. Which would be taking away from the “everything in between.”
Throughout the entirety of a hunt, there is usually a wave of highs and lows. At least for me, there is. There are times when I feel like I’m unstoppable and then others when I feel like I can’t take one more step due to helplessness. On the deep end of a hunt those lows add up. They start to weigh me down. When this happens reasons for cutting the cord become more visible with each passing day. Things like inclement weather, lack of animals, or a doubt in my equipment. I’ve had all of those irrationally send me home early in the past. This isn’t ok.
We are not clairvoyants here. There is no way that I can predict what will happen to a T in the future. It’s an educated guess at best. Here’s what I do know though. If I go home early, I will never know what could have been. This is something I’ve fallen victim to quite a bit. Weather is a big one for me. I’ve scooted out of camp days early because the weather forecast was awful. After arriving home and watching the weather, it was fine. Days lost are opportunities lost. What a shame. The thing I need to try and remember is this. It’s not over until it’s over.
I just came off of the roughest early archery season I’ve had maybe ever. It encompassed 3 missed bucks throughout 2 different states, and an empty cooler to show for it. Every one of these things crept into my mind and reminded me of their existence. So, this was more of a personal therapy session that I hope provided you with some perspective to bring along on your own hunts.
I’m leaving for an archery elk hunt in just a few weeks. While gearing up for that, I’m glad that these issues showed up again during the early season. Acknowledging they are there will aid in my decision-making in the future. Acting on emotion is rarely the right course of action. In the moment, though, it can be hard to see that. I’ve got my fingers crossed that my vision doesn’t blur on this one. With any luck, I hope to lay my hands on a beautiful Arizona bull elk. Fingers crossed and eyes straight ahead.
Wanna Learn How to Backpack Hunt? Check out my book Becoming a Backpack Hunter: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting the Backcountry.
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