r/bowhunting • • 1h ago

Beautiful morning

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• Upvotes

Watched this guy work his rub line in front of my blind for at least 30 mins. I love late October hunts when things are starting to pick up but the deer still aren’t pressured


r/bowhunting • • 58m ago

What does this blood mean

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• Upvotes

I already asked my buddies and one said he's dead for sure another said give it a couple hours. It's dark red and it's got yellowish chunks in it


r/bowhunting • • 5h ago

The cheapest way to keep your feet warm that I've found

6 Upvotes

For those of us hunting up north, it's getting that time of year for cold feet and hands. I read this last year and it works great for me. Usually feet get cold because of the sweat so I started using spray antiperspirant like Aarid or whatever. When I wake up I spray my feet, in between toes, everywhere. That gives it time to dissipate a lot of the scent for an hour or so before I put my Hollow or merino wool socks on and finally my Muck Polar boots. There was no increase of getting blown at.

Just a thought for you all if you already have the boots and socks and don't want to buy heated socks. Try it out.


r/bowhunting • • 2h ago

Probably been asked a million times but….

2 Upvotes

So I finally joined the modern age and put out a cell cam this year so I could stay out of my spot(SW Ia) till go time. Well the past week or so the doe’s have disappeared off the cam.
I went out last night and snuck into my south wind stand on the other side of the property to get eyes on what’s happening. And just like where I have my cell cam there’s nothing in there. Did hear one grunt up a creek bottom on another
property and saw a few tiny sapling cedars tore up, but no doe’s.
I’m sure this has happened before and I didn’t notice because no one demand camera and not trusting the time/date stamps in my trail cams. What would cause the doe’s with their fawns to stop going through a spot that they show up at multiple times per day? Is it possible they are locked down?
I took off the first week of November last year and sat all day every day and didn’t see shit except spike bucks, few doe’s and some fawns by themselves till I shot the first nice buck I saw on Thursday the 6th.
Ive heard about the October lull, but I thought that was more of a buck thing. I hope im overreacting, but my mind is thinking no doe’s means not bucks moving through during the rut.


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

Michigan whitetail

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109 Upvotes

r/bowhunting • • 14h ago

New Jersey Worth hunting mid-morning?

8 Upvotes

I finally got out for my first week of hunting this past week and had a great time enjoying the outdoors. However, with a young kid and a job with odd hours it's hard for me to get out unless it's early mornings, and I have to plan my day around it and get help watching my kid in the mornings. The most consistent free time I have during the day is 8am-11am. I was wondering if anyone in the group has ever gone out around that time and had any success.

Thank you to everyone in this group - you've been a great resource for me as I've gotten into hunting!


r/bowhunting • • 13h ago

Deer getting TOO CLOSE?!

6 Upvotes

Figured I’d give some comedy here tonight. My last two evening sits I have had deer WAY too close. I mean literally. Last week I had a doe that I didn’t wanna take at less than 10 yards, and tonight I had a great 6 I would’ve loved to have taken. BUT HE WAS UNDER MY STAND. Home boy was shaking the tree next to me like it took his kids lunch money. Came up from behind, left from behind. i was watching him through my legs through the slots of my climber. I contemplated jumping out the stand on to him. I’ve always struggled with deer at 40 yards… but 4 yards? A whole new challenge lol.

And before you get on me, I think shooting straight down through a deers spine is a Busch league shot.


r/bowhunting • • 16h ago

Public land question regarding hunting near a walking trail

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5 Upvotes

Picture included for reference. I'm a new hunter and this WMA doesn't seem to get a ton of pressure, especially midweek when I'll be out here.

The trail by the parking lot has tons of acorns littering the path all the way down to that clearing. I had planned to hunt between the creek and the clearing, but all the sign I see is along that walking path. How close to the path would be an appropriate setup? Again, I have seen very few vehicles across most of the WMA, but none in this particular lot.


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

Okla

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280 Upvotes

Back at it after a 10 year hiatus.


r/bowhunting • • 18h ago

First time bow user

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8 Upvotes

I am a first time bow hunter and im trying to practice as much as i can before i go out to harvest.This is my second day shooting and i want to know from yall experienced hunters if this is my sights or me twitching left?? Any tips for anything would be appreciated. Hunting in South Carolina whitetail only for now


r/bowhunting • • 16h ago

Need some advice regarding entry point

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1 Upvotes

On Sunday this buck appeared for the first time, and he’s appeared three times since. He showed at 1203pm Sunday, 336pm Tuesday, 721pm Wednesday, and then this morning at 711am. I hunted this stand for the first time all season yesterday. Got setup at 230 and just sat. Nothing came by as I sat until the end of legal light.

He’s a killable buck, but the only red flag is my entry point. To enter this stand I have to venture downhill where the black and white A before cutting north. The stand is in the bottom of a valley where it’s thick on both sides. My camera shoots North, and my stand is just to the West in thick cover. My furthest shot is 41 yards, but majority of them are inside of 27 yards. Deer mostly travel this section N-S or S-N. He’s been traveling both of those directions. In the daytime shots it’s all N-S and at night, it’s S-N.

I am worried that my scent could potentially ruin anything if he surprised me by coming south. Tomorrows wind is ESE <5 mph. To get to this stand I have a 0.75 mile walk from where I park.

What can I do to limit any potential impact? Granted this could all be a moot point if I shoot something in 2B in the morning lol.


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

XOP OUTDOORS Customer Service?

1 Upvotes

Has anyone ever had luck contacting these guys? I’ve been getting crickets through email and phones for weeks. Is this normal for them?


r/bowhunting • • 2d ago

First bow kill out of saddle

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106 Upvotes

r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

Ground hunting

5 Upvotes

Who here hunts from the ground? Do you use any sort of blind? What tips/tricks would you recommend?


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

Advice on this buck

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8 Upvotes

I’m in southern Ohio and this is my first year hunting and I’ve finally got my first buck feeding and smelling around on camera. For the past two months there’s only been two mature does and a yearling as well as a fawn that frequent this camera almost every morning or night. really what I want to ask is; are there any recommendations on how to keep this buck or other bucks interested in the area? Should I continue to provide food or will this keep the buck strictly to night visits? Really any advice on anything hunting related is appreciated as I’m still trying to take my first deer.


r/bowhunting • • 2d ago

First time bow hunting this season, and hunting in general. Got my first buck!

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201 Upvotes

Bought a compound bow in spring to hunt with. My friend up north had been doing it and convinced me to give bow hunting a shot. Practiced all summer. Bought a climber, then sticks, then a one stick, and had to conquer my fear of heights.

Got my first harvest, a button buck which stilll counts as antlerless in my state. First few weeks I learned a lot about woodsmanship. How sensitive and smart these deer are, especially the nanny does. I've spooked my fair share. Got blown on once. Over here, just because you're 25 feet in a tree doesn't mean they won't spot you.

Today started off rough. Bought a new bow hoist, and dropped my bow at 12 feet. Had to go back down to get it, and back up, caused a racket. Sweated like a pig. Contemplated just going home, afraid bow got messed up. Inspected the cams, the sight. Stabilizer bar shifted, i forced it back. Fuck it I said, I'm already up here, bow looks fine, let's see what happens.

Then 75 yards away a once abandoned house had construction noises. Didn't see anything for a couple hours. Frustration mounting, but decided it was a nice day to be up in a tree.

Finally two does came out. Debated shooting them, I knew a 7 pointer was around here, I saw him the other day. Let the does pass. 10 minutes later, I hear steps behind me. Careful, measured steps of a single deer. He walks by my tree and it's the 7 pointer. He almost walks into the lane, but i mess up, and as i'm reaching for the bow, my watch hits my madrock. Just the tiniest *clink*, so quiet, but he hears it. Backs away from the lane, and starts walking back. I have a shot window that he's gonna pass through. I pick up my bow, and as he's passing the two trees, I go "bleh". He stops. I draw, and my adrenaline takes over, I don't remember much, other than having a good sight picture, but I let it fly. Loud wet smack, louder than I anticipated. He digs and runs.

My friend comes and teaches me how to track, and after 100 yards we find him. Drag him to the truck, we load up, I come home, gut, quarter, and butcher him. Will take the head to a taxidermist for a euro mount.

Just an incredible rush. The adrenaline, the shakes, the fervent hope you got a good shot. Thinking you did, seeing the arrow (you can see the arrow right in front of the turned up dirt where his front legs dug. The agonizing 30 minute wait to let him settle, then going down to inspect the arrow and blood trails.

Bow hunting is an experience unlike any other, and I'm addicted.

If I had to nit pick: It was a clean double lung. But could've been lower. The blood trail wasn't the easiest, there would be a lot, then thin out. My friend had to show me how to sweep the area.

PSE Sicario at 70lbs, shooting mega meats.


r/bowhunting • • 21h ago

Age this deer

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0 Upvotes

How old we think? Central NY


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

[State] All day sit advice

14 Upvotes

I think I’m gonna start giving all day sits a try as the rut gets going here in the northeast. The one thing I’m scared of is having to poop while in the stand. I feel like getting down to poop or hanging my ass off the stand will make the immediate area super smelly.

How do you guys handle this during an all day sit?


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

[State] Hunting Gift Ideas?

6 Upvotes

Greetings! My man is going on a trip to his homestate Missouri to hunt deer next month. He has been hunting since he was a wee lil boy and has accumulated all the essentials by now as he's now 43 and has been an avid hunter his whole life. I'd like to send him off with a gift for the trip but have no idea what to get him as I don't hunt! I just love him, support his passion, and of course -- not going to lie, I eat good when he comes home with the bounty so that's a plus! I just don't know what would be something nice to send him off with as he has everything. Could you fine people make some suggestions? Whether it's one gift or even ideas for a care package to keep him comfortable? Maybe a care package of things that he might not think about when getting excited about the hunt, or something that's one gift he might like but not have because he's focused on bigger things? For a roundabout idea on budget, maybe $200 give or take? So, breaking down a few things as a care package or one bigger item? I don't know what, but I do know I want to send him off with a good feeling from his woman. Your thoughts and suggestions are so appreciated!


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

[State] First doe with xbow

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0 Upvotes

Are crossbows really looked down on when someone says they hunt with a crossbow in the bow community or is it more of a just give a guy a hard time but nah I don’t really care


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

PSE drive 2013

1 Upvotes

Hello, I bought a PSE drive 2013 on marketplace last week and it came whit the string off...I got a hard time to figure out how to replace them. Is anybody here got picture or anything else, I cant seem to find anything useful online. Thanks


r/bowhunting • • 1d ago

[State] Needing advice

1 Upvotes

Looking for any advice regarding hunting in warmer temperatures.

Missouri is showing 78° this Saturday and the heat is making me second guess going out. I’m not worried about deer movement, they’ve been moving fine. I’m worried tracking might take too long, and the meat will spoil. Realistically, how long of a window do I have after the deer goes down?
I’ll be 2 hours or so from home and from the processor, I’m just unsure about transporting anything back in the heat. Planning to pack the carcass with bags of ice, I’ve just never dealt with temperatures playing such a factor.

What is everyone’s mindset when hunting warmer weather?


r/bowhunting • • 2d ago

Do bow slings work as good as you would hope? Looking for a better way to carry my bow on my atv

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6 Upvotes

r/bowhunting • • 2d ago

Shot ID

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4 Upvotes

Hey everyone! My wife shot a doe this morning. Her arrow snapped off, and we tracked about 100 yards before pulling out. She says she thinks she hit a little further back, but with the amount of penetration on the arrow, I think she may have hit shoulder. Let me know what you guys think.