Hunting Articles
Back To Main The Fine Art of Bow Hunting
Bow hunting is often seen as one of those “manly” sports, but there is a small
contingent of women that partake in bow hunting and take the sport to new
levels. With bow hunting, people are getting in touch with the control of the
hunt and are learning all sorts of new things about getting in tune with
themselves and using their own bodily power to get in touch with the hunting
aspect. Without the use of a firearm, people find that there is less to hide
behind with a bow and find that the psychological aspect of bow hunting can be
somewhat intimidating.
With bow hunting quickly becoming a new favorite in those seeking old-fashioned
adventure, there are many new additions to the sport that people interested in
it should get to know. One important aspect about bow hunting is the breaking of
the “safety zone”. This must be done to get a clean shot at the prey. While
traditional firearms hunters can stay at a relatively safe distance from their
prey, a bow hunter must creep up on the prey and get inside a danger zone with
the animal. This means that the animal could charge or attack at any moment
within the danger zone. The hunter should be aware at all times because of this.
With some of the new additions in bow hunting, however, some of the guesswork
from the hunt is being removed. While many bow hunting traditionalists may be
against such new additions as GPS sensors and nigh-vision, others welcome any
ally that they can muster in this fight for survival and adventure. There tends
to be two different schools of hunters, but all hunters have the same goal in
mind whether they are traditionalists or “new school” hunters. The ultimate goal
of bow hunting is, of course, to bring down the ultimate prey.
There are several types of hunts that people go on. Big game hunts are popular
and include elk, wolves, mountain goats, caribou and mountain lions. Other more
dangerous hunters tend to go bow hunting after bears. There is a lot of demand
for bear hunting these days, especially archery related hunts. This is because
the danger involved with bear hunting delivers more of a rush than elk or
caribou hunting. Like running with the bulls, bear hunting brings a sort of
insane glee to the hunter and delivers certain thrills that they are not likely
to get anywhere else.
Many people book bow hunting trips or excursions with a variety of trip-leading
companies. These companies typically take a group of hunters into a particular
area that is noted for having a great deal of the animals they are seeking. The
hunting company trips come equipped with a guide that monitors the action from a
position of expertise and offers tips to the hunters in the party. Hunting trips
are often very reliant on the seasonal aspect of hunting, so those seeking a bow
hunting excursion should make sure they are paying attention to the top seasons
of hunting.
Much of bow hunting is reliant on the baiting or trapping aspect. The
aforementioned hunting trips typically supply bait to the hunting party. This
includes a knowledge from the hunting guide of placing the bait and finding a
spot to wait for the prey. As hunting guides are professionals, their advice
should always be heeded.
Typically, a hunting guide will take his or her party to a location in which the
density of the hunted animal is known to be highest. They will then set up a
camp or “base” and begin to look for baiting locations. Once the bait has been
placed in a variety of locations, a hunting area will be designated for the bow
hunters. As the hunters set up shop, the guide will typically go through a few
of the ground rules and safety techniques. After a short period of time, the
animals tend to appear and the hunt is on.