Bow Hunting - A passion and a way of life
I first started bow hunting in the state of Pennsylvania to have the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and in the woods. I looked at it as a way to do more scouting for rifle season, to get closer to nature and to learn the sport of archery. Little did I know that bow hunting would soon become more than an obsession, but a way of life. It seems that each year my “preparation” times get earlier and earlier. In my area the season starts at the end of September, but practice for me starts in late spring. Bow hunting is a meticulous sport with a great need to pay attention to every detail, no matter how small. Many other archery hunters would agree.
My favorite bow hunting quarry is the Whitetail deer. This incredible animal is one of the most sought after trophies in North America. He’s wildly and cunning with an instinct for survival that is surpassed by very few large game animals. There are many techniques when bow hunting the Whitetail. My preference as a bowhunter is from a tree stand. I try to find a good tree off of several paths that cross or connect. I set up 10 to 15 yards off of the trail being very careful of the wind direction; cover around me and shooting lanes that offer the best shot to harvest an animal.
I mentioned earlier about being closer to nature. It’s amazing what a hunter is able to see when bow hunting. With so much attention being taken in the preparation of the sport, the washing of the clothing, tuning of the bows, matching the camo to the area you hunt, you’re more like a ghost in the woods than a hunter. Sitting very still and quiet when bow hunting a sportsman can observe nature up close and personal. I’ve had hawks and owls land in the same tree as me, within yards, and never even know I was there. Foxes and coyotes pass right under my stand. I couldn’t even begin to count or name the different species of smaller birds that I’ve been able to watch within an arms length of my position.
For me, bow hunting was never about the harvest, but has become something so much more than I’ve ever expected. This ability and privilege to enter the forests in this manner has taught me more than I could have ever learned from any book. More about wildlife, nature and respect for the outdoors than I thought I could learn in a lifetime. One of the most important tips I could give to anyone who has the chance to take up the fantastic sport of bowhunting would be to do so as quickly as possible. If you can, remember to take a youngster out bow hunting with you, you’ll make a friend and an impression that will last a lifetime.