Anybody Shoot Through Mesh?

[JimB]

Our antelope season starts this coming Sunday and I will be hunting out of a box blind.Pop up blinds just won't hold up when the wind gets bad.The antelope spend a lot of time glaring at the shack when they pass and I'm nervous about making any movement when they are close.

Last year's antelope was at 8 yds.The farthest shot probably wouldn't be over 15 yds but you never know.Normally I draw the bow out of view of the window and swing it slowly into the opening,aim and release.I hate shooting that way but it seems to work.My preferred way of shooting is to aim as I draw,anchor,hold a couple seconds and let it go.

I was wondering if mesh over the window might calm the antelope a little and I'm sure it would allow me to move as much as I wanted,without them seeing.

I have heard the stuff works well but it sure goes against the grain,shooting through something to get at the animal.

Does anyone have any experience shooting through mesh?Any tips? Does anyone know of a source to get some?And yes,I'm getting a little pumped.We were offered the opportunity to buy 2 extra doe tags to go with the either sex bow license and they go on sale tomorrow.Thanks guys.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Make sure its very tight fitting. I have killed several deer out of pop up all the shots were thru mesh. I have had no problems other then mental, the idea at first was a little weird to me as well.  Good luck

[Bowwild]

I have killed two turkey shooting through mesh. I too was concerned about shooting throught the stuff -- I don't even like a weed in my shooting windows!  However, the blind I bought came with spare mesh for every window. So, I set it  up and tested shooting throught the mesh at various distances I would consider shooting. I didn't find any affect on arrow flight at 25 yards or less. I would recommend that you shoot the mesh straight on insteadh of at an angle though.

I will be using a different blind this season and I will shoot through the mesh a time or two before I trust it (Double Bull Darkhorse).

[kevgsp]

I have shot 2 turkeys through mesh, no problems at all. Shoot a sharp pointy cut on contact BH. I prefer it, allows you to slow down and focus on shooting not worry about getting caught on the draw.

[Mudd]

Shooting through mesh isn't usually a problem. I shot through a bunch of it in the back yard before I could be comfortable about it in the woods.

You know what? It works just fine!

Good hunting!

God bless,Mudd

[rastaman]

i've shot deer out of a doublebull ground blind shooting thru the mesh.  The only problem i've had is depth perception especially early in the morning or late in the evening.  i would practice shooting thru it if possible.

[David McLendon]

I had shot deer through the mesh, it really messes with my depth preception and a two blade broadhead tipped arrow makes more noise going through than a three blade 160 grain Snuffer. The three blade cuts a bigger hole for the fletching to pass through so there is less of the shucking sound from the feathers contacting mesh

[LBR]

I use an Ameristep Penthouse.  It does mess with my depth perception until I get used to it, but I have killed rabbits, deer, a fox, a squirrel, etc. from it.  I've shot 2 blades, 3 blades, and blunts with no noticeable affect to accuracy, with the longest shot being about 23 yds (the fox).  Friends have used it and made kills out to 26 yds or so--that longest shot was on a whitetail, and the young lady that made it was pulling maybe 32# and killed it with a 2-blade Ace.

No complaints here.

[Charlie Lamb]

It messes with my head so I have to shoot a few shots to familiarize with it.
   
   

[joekeith]

As long as it's tight you shouldn't have any problems.  

[1bjd]

Practice practice practice. Especially if its early or late in the day when the light is low.
Big broadheads for sure.

[JimB]

That's very encouraging.I guess I should give it a shot.It is a wooden blind so getting it tight won't be a problem.It doesn't take much to mess with my head.I'll see what I can come up with.Thanks again for all the input.

Every ground blind I own has mesh in the windows. I love the stuff. The only bad situation I have run across in all the years I've shot through it is this:  You need to shoot through perpendicular to the mesh or no more that 45 degrees . I have had very sharp angle shots mess me up twice. The first time I just though I messed up some how. The sceond time I learned what the problem was.

As stated above, it does mess with depth perception so you need to practice out of a blind through the netting before you try to hunt with it.

To me, the worst (and maybe only) down side to the mesh is that it cuts out about 10-15 minutes of shooting time in the evening. The first time you hunt out of a blind with it and it gets too dark to se good any more, you will get out and say to yourself "wow, it is still plenty light outside".

Simply put, it works GREAT!!!!

Bisch

[Gray Buffalo]

Yes I have and I can tell 2 things that caused me problems. Depth of field and depth of field. I set up in the back yard and my arrow consistently hit low. Took the mesh out and was point on. I feel the mesh distorts one’s depth of field.

[JimB]

Bisch,that's very helpful.There is a good chance I may have to shoot at an angle but I doubt it would ever be more than 45.I can just imagine how the depth perception would be.I will be set up on an open gate and most opportunities will be antelope following a 2 track,past the blind,to the gate. So I should be shooting at a known distance and I know where my point should be at different distances,so I could verify with that if I have to.

[JMartin]

Gray Buffalo, same problem I have. I just can't get used to it.

[Tom Anderson]

I don't care what anyone says - shooting through mesh HAS to affect arrow flight.

[Don Stokes]

Tom, Joebuck told me it does, so he aims 3mm higher to compensate.

[longarrow]

Hunt from popup every year for the pass 8 years. Shootin' thur the mesh takes some gettin' used to. Couple of things...MAKE SURE the front tip of your feathers are glued DOWN good...one of the biggest mistakes hunter in ground blinds make, it dosen't take much for the front of the feather to SNAG on the mesh!!...Make sure mesh is streached tight...practic from the blind well in advance....watch the direction you set the blind, sunlight plays heck on the mesh and can make it impossible to see. DON'T KNOW ABOUT LOPES' BUT DEER IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY WILLNOT ACCEPT A "BLACK HOLE"..a window without mesh.