new to bow hunting

Practice a lot from different angles, ranges out to 50 yards.

Also shoot with the same stuff on you will be wearing in the field such as your camo and a pack.

go to a shop that has a selection of bows for you to shoot. find one that fits you. your grip, comfort level with how the bow feels in your hand (not drawn). then find a bow that your can draw with ease - dont jump right into a 70 lb bow and think you can shoot it with consistant accuracy. get a bow that is adjustable like say 55 - 70 lb draw. start with it in the 58 - 60 lb area and shoot that. see how it feels. as you shoot more, and get used to the bow and accuracy improves. move the bow up in lbs to around 65, then on up to around 70. just take your time, make sure you are accurate first and foremost. wounding an animal and not being able to find it does haunt you for a LONG time. anyone who bowhunts will tell you, it happens. and yes in fact it will happen at some time. but work accuracy first and then work into the higher lb bows. my brother shoots a 60 lb bow that shoots in the 230 feet per second range and takes a number of deer every year. so dont let them sell you on the newest and fastest bow out there. STICK to your budget! - you should be able to get a good package for around $250-300.

Hope some of this info will help. I am sure some other folks will second some of what is mentioned here. good luck on getting a bow, you will never be the same afterwards. lol

DG

thanx for the info, I actually got my bow about 6 months ago and have been shooting since i got it, i'm comfortable shooting out to 40yrds. i guess i was looking for more hunting styles and methods.

I got ya. what kind of terrain are you hunting? dense forest or open areas with vantage points, burn areas? this will definately make or break a hunting style. here in az we have large amounts of open area with high vantage points. for mulies we mostly spot and stalk. i use binos on a tripod, sit and glass an area for about an 1 - 1.5 hrs, then I move farther down (next drainage or basin) and do the same. check under every tree and under every rock outcrop. If you are trying to hunt them in the forest areas, do your homework. get in there and find the bedding areas, feeding locals, and where they travel - as you would any other way. set yourself up either in a treestand or a ground blind. I use natural ground blinds as they seem to work for me better. hopefully this is more the info you are looking for.

DG

ps just cause im curious, what bow are you shooting? what broadheads?

what area are you thinking of? i/m from central oregon and have hunted alot of areas in the state. maybe i can give some input. elk or deer? blacktail [ which there is some killer hunting right by you] or muley, rosevelt or rockies?

I've hunted all over the state, the coast all the way to far eastern oregon, i haven't really decided where to go this year yet. I think i prefer eastern oregon due to the terrain but i really want a nice blacktail as well. as you know killer they are hard to find. As far as elk go its either the coast os over in the starkey unit where i've hunted for bout 6 yrs now, that unit has some very nice deer and elk. if you can give some advice cause like i said before i've only rifle hunted.

desert-

i got the pse stinger bow package for 399. it feels good and shoots great. i'm shooting easton carbon arrows and muzzy 4 blade 100gr broad heads. so whats the huting like down there? I've always wanted to hunt in AZ. And to answer your question on the terrain here it varies from dense rain forrest on the coast with great elk herds to high plains in centeral oregon to slow rolling hillsin eastern oregon. i do have a ground blind i use from time to time. I prefer to spot and stalk though.

well there is kind of a lot of difference depending on what you are hunting. we find our elk up on the rim - mostly ponderosa pines. depending on where we find them either in the canyons or out on the juniper pine flats. Some HUGE Bulls in both locals, only thing that sucks is that you have to get drawn.

I find mulies ALL over. some in rugged mountain settings, rolling hills - most of the time, but there are large numbers of BIG Bucks out in the desert flats. but MAN are they hard to get on and follow through that crap. also find them in the rolling hills where sage is king. you have to get drawn for rifle or muzzy.

White tails (coues deer) we find all over the high country - with the elk. also down by the border in the forests down there. they LOVE really steep country and are hard to find at times in the brush and cactus. again draw for rifle and muzzy.
- you can pick up an OTC archery deer tag for either species, bucks only - no doe tags here.

i also like the spot and stalk method, simply because i cant sit still long enough to sit in a tree stand or most ground blinds.

DG