Bowhunting 101

[steadman]

I just got back from the opener here in UT. It was a good hunt with more to follow on a different thread later.
The reason for this post is what I saw others doing and not doing. I always thought that it was common sense, until I realized I had a mentor (my Dad, Thanks Dad!) who took me hunting since I was 6 or so. So I thought with most hunting seasons right around the corner, those wwho have more experience (I am by no way an expert) could share some advise with those who may not have a mentor, or may be new.
I do all my hunting out west as well, so those of you form the midwest or back east could throw in your regional advise as well.

[steadman]

I think the most basic and most crucial piece of advise I could give is: WATCH THE WIND!! Always try to keep the wind in your face, or as close as possible. A good cross wind will work in certain situations. I know everyone on here that has ever hunted has been busted by a swirling wind.

[steadman]

Here is a pic I took last night while sitting by a preferred food source and bedding area.
 
What do you think these two did wrong, that's without knowing the wind direction which was blowing down?

[rastaman]

They sure are hidden well!  If they weren't with you, i know you hoped they moseyed on down the path.....away from you...

[Bill Shepard]

I was taught to stay off of the ridgetops in Sniper School.  They kind of stand out like a sore thumb.

[pdk25]

Skylined.  

[woodslinger]

Look and listen more than you move. Even in the thick cover you should use your eyes and ears a lot more than your feet. When you move try to sound like you belong four legged critters don't sound like two legged critters. SLOW DOWN when you think you have waited long enough wait another 10 minutes and then move.

[Deff]

Yeh , that looks familiar. With no face paint or camo -- these look more like bird watchers than hunters though.  I usually don't see many skylined hunters until the general rifle season starts here. Then we have lots of little orange men marching two by two up and down the ridges. They are often proceeded by the roar of an engine, screeching brakes, slamming truck doors and a loud discussion of which way to go. I don't know if it is because of the bowhunter education class required to hunt in Montana or what, but most of the bowhunters that I've encountered around here have seamed pretty savy.
I'll have to admit though, that I tend to get a little sloppy during midday scouting or on stand-placement trips. Sometimes it's sooo tempting to get up on top to get the lay of the land figured out.

[steadman]

Well "bowhunters" are not savy here. These were the third group I had seen on this skyline. All of the people I saw popped over the ridge in the same location. They could have moved over fifteen feet and been in tree's and not skylined themselves.
Deff you are right about the faces. When I am after mulies, I always cover my face with something. Those mature bucks seem to pick that up.
Another thing that kind of confused me, was no one ever seems to stick to the shadows. Dad always put that in my head when I was young. That has paid off more than once.

[Ian johnson]

I am a begginer, but heres a trick, a month before the season opens, put a hunting jacket and a hat in your stand to look like someone is sitting in it, the deer see this every day and get used to it

[SoNevada Archer]

Hey I'm just jealous you have a Utah tag...non for me this year! Dang it!!
Good hunting bud.

[Swamp Pygmy]

I'm new too but this made alot of sense to me.

Don't sit on a food source. not only do they spend enough time there to remember what it looks like if something is out of place but if you mess up and spook them as we all occasionally do. They can easily be spooked from that food source completely.

If you hunt the trail leading to the food source, further into the woods, and you accidentally spook them. You have a higher chance of them not feeling threatened in the feeding or bedding area and will thus continue on the same schedule, and you can simply try to ambush them further or nearer on the trail.

IOW they will still use the trail you were hunting, just avoid the specific spot they encountered you. If you hunt the food source they can be spooked into taking an altogether different trail to a completely new food source that you won't know about.

[cam188]

They were helping you out pushing the deer right in your direction lol......