Black Friday Score Newbie to Archery Hunting

[JestersHK]

Been researching getting into archery hunting, and now I have allot more to learn.  

Had a really nasty shoulder injury when I was a kid due to a bad car accident that left me with a compromised rotator cuff .  Its left me with limited range of motion, the ability to only throw 3/4 side arm growing up, and one of the ugliest fly rod casts you'll ever see.   

I could draw a traditional bow, but had allot of discomfort on the hold... I'm pretty sure I could of received the Dr.'s pass to hunt with a crossbow, but never went through the leg work to do it.  

This past firearms season my buddy had his crossbow out the day before opening day and it gave me the itch to start looking into it.

My wife surprised me Friday when she got home from her girls shopping adventures.  I was looking at a few different models and this one was on sale at Dick's.  It's a Barnett DOA model 375fps and 175lb pull.  I know they mark up their stuff a bit so the %50 off tag is likely more like 20-25% off, but it should make a great starter xbow for me.

Didn't really need another hobby, but this will get me some more time in the woods to chase deer and turkey around my crazy life schedule.

  

[Ketchup]

Good score Jesters.  I've been an avid bow hunter for over 25 years, hunting over 14 states with my archery equipment. Welcome to the sport and enjoy the peace that archery brings. 

[JestersHK]

Thanks Ketchup.

Looking forward to it, and learning a new skill is always fun for me too.

[Johnsfolly]

On ‎11‎/‎28‎/‎2016 at 1:49 PM, JestersHK said:

one of the ugliest fly rod casts you'll ever see

Hey I must have a shoulder injury as well. That can explain my poor fly casting.

Did you get out this season with the crossbow and if so how did you do with it?

I could have used a crossbow in my blind set-up. My shooting window is pretty narrow and the deer thus far have been pretty close, which makes me worried about shooting through my blind. So I have missed high so far on the shots that I have taken with my bow. My blind is on a property within the city limits, so no rifle or muzzleloader opportunities in that spot.

[JestersHK]

Haven't made it out hunting yet... I did get out today and started sighting it in.  Got it where I need it to be to do my rezero with broad heads.  

Running out of days lol, but I hope I can still get one more, it at least stick a turkey with it.

You hunting a ground blind?

[Johnsfolly]

I have only been bowhunting in a ground blind. I had my game cam out by the blind from early Oct through the end of Nov. I didn't have giant bucks, but had a bunch of day time photos of seven bucks and does galore. So I have just have not tried any other place with my bow. I'm starting to think of spots to set up with my climbing stand. I got a new range finder for Xmas to replace my broken one. Will feel more confident getting accurate ranges around me prior to a shot.

Good luck if you get out with the crossbow. 

[JestersHK]

Gotcha, I prefer blinds myself, I'll climb a tree here and there, but I've always had more success from the ground, or on the stalk.

Just gotta putout the time in out there too which had been my biggest challenge.  I even got a new trail cam sitting on my desk at work lol...