This coming fall will be my first hunting season ever. I decided to go with archery because I like the idea of getting as close as possible to the animal. It just sounds fun. Thats not to say i won't ever hunt modern firearm but for now this is how ill learn. I'll be taking my hunters safety course fairly soon but in the mean time I'll be spending a lot of time getting to know the ins and outs of my new bow.

I went with the PSE Brute X. It just felt right out of the bows I shot today. I was comparing the brute to a couple diamond archery bows on the range today and probably almost got hurt. As I drew back on the diamond fugitive I was checking out I heard a loud crack. So I released tension on the bow and inspected it to find one of the limbs splintered pretty good. That sealed the deal for me on not going with Diamond archery especially since minutes before when I was pulling it off the wall someone came up and said they had seen two of them break. I'm just glad it didn't grenade on me. Haha. I'm guessing that bow had been dry fired or something but I loved shooting the brute anyway and I'm happy with it.

It came as a ready to shoot package so I'll eventually start upgrading the accessories as I get more into archery. I'll probably head into the knock point soon to get her sighted in and get some target arrows. luckily I have a decent sized yard too and I'll be able to practice 20 and 30 yard shots at home at least.

so, enough about me. I'd like to hear who all bowhunts? What got you into it and how long did it take for you to stick your first deer?

Here's my bow:

Not a bowhunter but I used blackpowder for many years. I agree with you on the getting close part.

Steely,

I've got the same exact bow just not the ready to shoot package and love it. Bought it last Dec. This will be my first year bowhunting. I've hit a couple of the local 3D tournys and have really improved my shooting. We have a great archery range up here in Mt. Vernon. Silver arrow bowmen. If you're ever up that way check it out. $2 to shoot the course.

Carl

Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure and bring my bow next time I'm up there. I hear there's a good outdoor range with deer targets at the kenmore gun range as well that I'll be hitting as frequently as possible.

I have bow hunted most of my life with only several short sabbaticals. You will enjoy your time. All bows are capable of limb failure and that hasn't been my experience with Diamond more than others. I am Matthews guy currently but have been loyal to Hoyt, Alpine, and high country in the past. My partner shoots PSE and is very happy with speed and performance. Being familiar and proficient with a mediocre bow is WAY better than having a great bow and shooting it marginally. my best advice is shoot your bow often, shoot more and then keep shooting. consistent form is the key along with muscle strengthening.

Say hi to Bill- he is very talented and will get you dialed in no time. He is also familar with the property we manage in Kettle Falls and has hunted it personally.

Ask him about

http://gallosprings.com/HUNTING_PACKAGES.html


It is a great program for a beginning archer.

that gallow springs outfit looks really nice. that may be perfect for me since I'm a complete beginner.

Gallo Springs is inexpensive, there are tons of animals and RV and I (but mostly him) will basically do all the work for you which makes it a great place to learn.



I took my son there for the first time last September-


http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/706583/1.html


Off my soap box now. Let me know if you want to know more, otherwise, good luck to you Drew.

JTD,

That story was awesome. Very cool that your boy was able to be out there by himself and take a buck like that! I'll definitely be looking into Gallo Springs this coming fall. My dad passed away when I was about two years old, so I didn't grow up around fishing and hunting. I only got into steelheading a little over two years ago and have been lucky enough to have friends who are equally as addicted to it as I am to help me shorten my learning curve. I think a trip to Gallo Springs could really kickstart my learning curve for hunting in general. At this point, I have no idea where to go this fall if I was to go out on my own somewhere. Maybe the wife would let me head out there for a couple days for my birthday in September.

Scott,

We'll have to do a float or two this summer and talk deer.

If you are diligent and committed, you're going to learn more about hunting than you could possibly imagine by choosing archery first. Muzz and modern will still be fun but you will have a different view and respect for them. Practice........... practice.............. practice.............. practice..........
Aim small..................hit big

I like that.

I recall hearing that before...






http://youtu.be/bdXoSLb3Ztk

Been archery hunting for about 15 years now (elk only). still like to touch off the old rounds for eastside deer.

Drew,

During the archery season you will see more game than you ever would rifle hunting.

probably satating the obvious but a couple of tips.
1. smell and wind direction is critical
2. get away from others. avoid the herd you see off the highway, everyone else has seen them as well. get behind gates and stay the night out there.
3. find a couple of good buddies to hunt with and work together
4. reprod...............

I've been shooting a diamond for 5 years now and haven't had any problems..... yet. Now you've got me worried. But great choice on getting into bowhunting. its a lot of fun and although obviously more difficult its very rewarding. If you're going to be after deer i HIGHLY suggest checking out Cameron hanes' dvd bowhunting trophy blacktail. He gives a lot of tips and of course kills some monster bucks... If you're interested in muleys i recommend checking out the late season hunt in the swakane unit. Loooots of deer. Good luck!

I'm a hunter.

Archery, muzzle loader, rifle.
Don't matter to me as long as I'm hunting.
Being able to utilize all weapons allows for better drawing odds these days when quality tags are so difficult to get.
Here in California, my deer zone isn't weapon specific, so I can hunt archery starting the second week in July and when rifle season opens in August continue hunting until late September.


That said the adrenaline rush of getting spitting close while bowhunting has few rivals in this world.

I killed a buck the first season I pucked up a bow and was hooked.
(All D.I.Y.)













I've got some rifle hunts ahead of me but I'm hoping for a high quality archery elk tag in the next few years as well.
Hunting bugling bulls with a bow is about as good as it gets.

that bull is incredible! I'd like to hear the story behind it. bet it was an insane rush drawing back and sighting in on that beast! I can only hope to get a chance like that some day.

That was indeed a great hunt.

Here is the story...

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/forum....html#Post79303


That was a decent bull for the unit I hunted and though I'm proud of the animals I've taken with my bow, my friends keep me very humble indeed...
My buddy has killed two bulls near that magic 400" mark.

Incredible story. Very well written. I felt like I was there watching it all go down. Why are those guys in the pic all covering their noses?

my first archery deer was taken on Tiger Mtn, up top near what used to be a tower of some sort. There was 3" fresh snow that late November day in 1977. A decent 2pt blacktail buck, following 2 does. One shot at 25 yards with my Jenning T-Star bow, 50-55lb draw. The buck piled up after going over 70 yards, blood all over the snow. Funny that was a large draw poundage back then; sights were metal pins that I colored the round tip with nail polish; no peep sight, you kind of shot instinctive but pins helped some and a 30 yard shot was a long shot. Alum arrow with simple two edge broadhead. if I hadn't passed on the does, there would have not been a buck down. That 2pt was a good 10 minutes behind those two does. >--> so Patience can help you in a lot of different ways when using stick-n-string.

I still rifle hunt too and multi season tag brought me back to archery. now with a 2nd home in AZ, my late archery season is in AZ for OTC deer during December holidays & full month of January.
now shoot a SBXT, custom cam, tested 73lb draw, 302FPS, Armortech sight w/fiber pins but still no peep sight but rather the Anchor Sight alignment device, super good alignment took eliminates the peep, improved my groupings and takes me to true end of shooting light. Unlike the peep where I always lost the last 10+ minutes of legal shooting light. Carbon express arrows, Slick trick broadhead. and my effective range, under good conditions, is now 65 yards.
>-->so practice will get you there for western range shooting yardage.
>--> my hunting range has increased but this holds true to this day: know thy wind direction and keep the wind blowing towards you.

Wow! That's what a bow looks like these days? Kidding, sort of. I used to bow hunt, and wheeled, or compound bows were just beginning to become popular. I shot a Wing, Red Wing Hunter recurve and sure wish I still had it.

Enjoy your new interest; it can become addicting like fishing.

Sg

Definitely proceed with caution as archery is one of the most addicting things I've ever taken up!

I spend a lot of time at Kenmore so shoot me a note if you'd like to hook up some day.

I've also got a ton of arrows you may be interested in as it took me a while to settle on a hunting arrow