how to become a better hunter

[jtwalsh62]

I would like to become a better hunter. Hunting here in Tn and hunting out west is a big differnce. I have hunted out west many times and seem to make so many mistakes

[Leapingbare]

Learn from you mistakes..  

[Rogue Hammer]

If you weren't making mistakes you wouldn't be hunting..In all reality Leapingbare is correct on learning from your mistakes. It also helps to remember that prey animals are full time professionals at avoiding predators, at best we are part time amatures.

Alot will depend on how you measure sucess in a hunt.

[John Scifres]

Hunt a lot.  Spend a lot of time in the woods.  Keep your eyes open.  Hunt into the wind.  Move slowly.  Use your eyes more than your feet.  Be quiet.

[-Achilles-]

hunt only with spear...

[bigbadjon]

The only way to get better is to spend more time in the woods. Everybody has lots of advice on various quarry but the only way to maximize your chances is to be in the woods.

[bornagainbowhunter]

I think it is really productive to be in the woods in Feb-Mar.  The deer sign is usually still visible and you don't blow another hunters spot for him.  Walk around, cover alot of ground and pay attention to everything you see.  A buck will still travel on prefered trails, does will still be very active and you will learn where you need to be next year.  

You must learn the animal you hunt. That is the bottom line.

God Bless,
Nathan

[Michael Pfander]

I find that for me, the best thing to do is write down what has happened.  I try to go back and read my journal pages about the hunt before I leave.  I find it sharpens my awareness of past errors and I almost always read something I had forgotten about.  The last entry is always things to do differently.
MAP

[Airborne]

I had a really horrible year; but I probably learned more this year than my past successful years.  I have analyzed everything from strategy to the way I hunt to the areas I hunt and I think I have figured a lot of stuff out.  Looking back I am actually happy with my bad year because I learned so much.  No one has a magic saying or a magic method--you have to use scientific reasoning and analyze your specific situation--give it some thought--even put it on paper and you would be surprised at how you can solve your own problems.

[KEG]

I agree with the others, put time in the woods and learn from your mistakes. Also ask old timers, learn from their mistakes so hopefully you don't make them.

What also helped me to become a better hunter was having a mentor. When hunting mule deer our camp had both traditional and compound shooters. The person who helped me the most was a compound shooter. I learned a lot from him.

[jtwalsh62]

Here In Tn we spend so much time in trees  that when we hit the ground you that you are at such a dis that.
 Like Camo here well where what you want really don't matter but like out west where most of the hunting is on the ground camo is a big deal.
 here we hide out west it seem to be more important to be still and trust you camo.

[wapiti792]

I felt the same way 12 years ago. I went on my first elk hunt and realized I sucked at spot and stalk. I vowed to get better! Everytime it rained I would try to stalk "somewhere" whether it be a fence row or a little patch of woods. My skills have improved and not only have I killed elk, deer and turkies from the ground, it has opened up a new way of hunting. So I still hunt in trees, but instead of calling it a day at 10:00, I get a topo map out and think of a stalk, espicially if there had been rain or the wind is blowing hard. Good luck!

[Bowwild]

Hunting out west I suppose you have already taken a Bowhunter Education course?  If not, I'd recommend the course, even veterans can learn a few things from the course.  These days you can take the course on line without even paying a fee if you don't want to get certified. If you want to get certified it doesn't cost much and it's for life.

Besides that there are many things to bowhunting that are basic for anything you are hunting: equipment set-up, stealth, and shooting ability. Then there are the game-specific things you need to learn in terms of your quarry's habits and behavior.  You can learn much of this by reading and talking to folks who have been there.  

Of course as many here have posted, ultimately your trial will come by fire .... in the field pursuing the beast you have in mind.  However, I wouldn't hunt anything for the first time without researching it first.

My baby brother once asked me (back in the mid-80's) after watching me stalk and kill an  a mule deer doe, "how did you learn to tod that." I was caught off-guard and surprised with the question.  After thinking about it I told him I learned most of what he observed by hunting squirrels and groundhogs.

By the way, the doe was feeding with other does on an abandoned homestead. The homestead was surrounded by huge old cottonwood trees.  One of the trees was within bow range of the doe.  You guys know exactly what simple thing I did to close the distance. The stalk started at about 600 yards and ended up with a 20-yard shot.

[David Yukon]

The more time in the bush looking at the right things( looking for relevent signs) will make you a better hunter!! I think ground hunting make you a better hunter, some might desagree.

[Bowwild]

I agree with David that ground hunting can teach you a lot about the critter and woodsmanship.  Avid trappers are among the best woodsman I know.

However, I simply don't have the patience for hunting white-tail deer on the ground unless I'm in a blind.