The author's first bowkill came just like everyone else's--from a lot of time in the woods.
I remember thinking to myself back when I first started bowhunting that taking a deer with a stick and string was nothing short of impossible to accomplish. Just the thought of getting a deer within shooting distance of a bow and then actually hitting the bulls-eye when it did get there was very overwhelming to me. I also remember being skeptical of the killing power of an arrow shot from a bow when the chance would ever present itself. Until you see it with your own two eyes, you’ll never completely realize how fast a well placed arrow can take down an animal as large as a deer. If you have never been fortunate enough to experience this life changing event, then hopefully some of the info provided in this article will help you carve out a path to some bowhunting success.
Once you spill blood with a stick and string, get ready, because you will become entirely consumed by it, and the thought of arrowing your next deer will dominate your thought process. I clearly remember the feeling of absolute amazement as my arrow found it’s mark for the first time at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA so many years ago. It took me 4 long years of consistent, nonstop bowhunting to finally taste the rewards of my labor. The memory and feeling of that day is burned into the back of my mind and soul, and it fuels my eternal bowhunting flame which continues to drive me today.
If you want to wet an arrow, it’s time to understand the basics; it’s time to score on a deer—any deer! Everything we talk about during this article will be kept simple and to-the-point, so hopefully with a lot effort and a little luck on your side, some of this basic knowledge will help guide you down the path to your first kill.
During the early bowhunting season, this cypress tree provides amazing cover for the author to remain hidden from passing deer.
The Sneaky Factor
As hunters, I’m sure we’ve all consistently heard over and over that the number one rule to stand-hunting deer is to not let them know we’re after them. As simple as this sounds on the surface, it’s far from an easy task. However, this one rule is the road map for everything else that you will do in the whitetail woods in your quest for your first bowkill. No matter how much scent elimination garments or spray we use, the hard-learned facts are that if we don’t keep our presence a total surprise, then we’ve already been defeated before even beginning. We need the deer to keep moving naturally during daylight hours, and then it will be just a matter of putting in our time on stand before an opportunity comes.
