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P-E-R-S-I-S-T-E-N-C-E: The Key To Bowhunting Success

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word persistence as "The quality or state of being persistent", with the definition of "persist" being "To go on resolutely in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning." Those who have a few bowhunting adventures under their belts realize that persistence is one of the main ingredients in successful bowhunts. An unknown author once stated, "Failure is the path of least persistence." Those who choose not to be persistent are doomed to failure. Using the word "persistence" as an acronym, I have created a list eleven conditions that I feel will lead to more enjoyable bowhunting adventures for all involved. They are not guarantees that you will kill more game, but rather ways to enhance your bowhunting satisfaction. Be persistent in these principles, and you'll appreciate the rewards.

Practice well before opening day. Some hunters make the mistake of shooting a few arrows just prior to hunting season and consider that sufficient. Such a huge blunder can cost them dearly when the moment of truth suddenly presents itself. You may only get one chance at game, so it is quite worthwhile to be as prepared as possible. Attempt to shoot at least a half dozen arrows a day for a couple of months prior to the season. Some dedicated bowhunters shoot daily year round. Practice from various distances to discover your effective range. If you plan to hunt from elevated stands, practice from them as well, as shooting downward at steep angles is more difficult than level ground. Keep your bow arm perpendicular to your body at all times, and bend at the waist to accomplish steep shots. Train yourself at yardage estimation, even if you have access to a laser rangefinder. Shooting your bow while wearing full hunting clothing (facemask and gloves included) is also sound advice, and may reveal problems early enough that they may be rectified before a hunt. Another often overlooked facet is broadheads. One should always make sure that their broadheads have the same point of impact as field points. Some packages of broadheads include a practice tip so that an actual broadhead doesn't have to be used. If one is not included, after practicing with regular broadheads, either replace the blades or sharpen them thoroughly. It only takes one or two shots into a target to dull the sharp edges.

Evolve with the changing times. Life on Earth has a history of evolving or being left behind. Hunters have evolved over thousands of years from the atlatl and dart to the present day modern compound bows. There is nothing wrong with using all legal means to harvest game, and unless one is a traditional archer, bowhunters have a lot of new gadgets at their disposal to increase hunting productivity. The invention of the internet has created a means of sharing vital information at an unheard of rate that far surpasses anything in history. Researching anything hunting-related is simply a mouse click away, making the internet an invaluable tool. Topographical maps and aerial photos can be viewed online, revealing many aspects of a hunting area without the hunter having to walk many miles and disturb game in the process. In the past, a map and compass were the norm in navigational tools. Now global positioning system (GPS) units allow for bowhunters to pinpoint their exact locations within a few feet, mark their own travel routes, as well as store the locations of game trails and sign. Clothing and footwear have advanced to the point where hunters are able to stay warm, dry, and as scent-free as possible at this point in history. Scouting cameras have taken the hunting world by storm. Relegated to the days of old are the string-type trail timers that would signal the time of a single animal's passing with no indication whatsoever as to what animal it even was. New calls are being released annually by top-tier companies as well. These mimic game vocalizations quite realistically. Obviously a hunter does not need any these "newfangled" items to kill game, but they are welcome additions nonetheless to those seeking every advantage they can attain.

Relocate to a new stand site if your current location is lacking activity. Too many bowhunters choose to stay in areas where they are either seeing sign or have seen game activity in the past, even if a few sittings this season have already proved unproductive. It isn't an admission of failure if your first choice isn't quite up to par and you relocate to greener pastures. A wise hunter knows when to change plans. The game animals you are targeting may be leaving the sign (if present) at night, or perhaps their daylight travel patterns have changed since then due to available food sources, human activity in the area, or other external influences. Perhaps the mast crop on a particular oak flat isn't as abundant as last season, or perhaps the local farmer has made changes in his planting of crops. Whatever the reason for the game inactivity, don't be stubborn to the point of missing out on opportunities at game. Sometimes game is moving just out of bow range, and simply moving as little as 50 yards or so can increase your odds dramatically. Other situations may require you to move a considerable distance. I consider unproductive hunts to be "in-season scouting trips", and use them to my benefit. Be open-minded, and fine tune your set-up as you deem necessary. Sometimes old habits are harder to kill than old game animals. Climbing stands are a great asset for the mobile hunter who wishes to adapt to changing conditions at a moment's notice.

Secure permission to hunt new locations each season, even if you already have productive places. This has more than one advantage. First, I'm sure that many bowhunters find it tedious to hunt the same location day in and day out, even if they do rotate stand locations on that property on a daily basis. Having more than one property to hunt adds a little change of scenery now and then. Secondly, it is quite difficult for the average bowhunter to enter and exit their stands without educating game to their presence. Too much human activity in a given area can force the game to go nocturnal. Many bowhunters underestimate an animal's ability to pattern hunters. You must realize that game spend their lives in a particular area, and know it like you do your own home. Unless someone was really cautious, you'd probably know immediately if they had been in your home. Thirdly, having more than one hunting location allows game to mature and repopulate. I avoid taking too many animals from a given property, and spread out the harvest over multiple properties to reduce the impact. Sometimes I set aside a property for a year or two and don't even hunt it at all. When I do return, the game will have more age on them. Don't overlook taking antlerless game animals to help curtail exploding game populations –– even many non-hunters understand the need to reduce herd numbers, and may allow you to hunt their land if they are having problems with them. Another thing to consider is the fact that many hunters lose hunting rights each and every year due to the landowners dying and their heirs selling off the family farms to new owners who won't allow hunting, or farmers selling out to land developers interested in creating new housing subdivisions. By constantly increasing the number of properties you have permission to hunt, you can offset these future losses should they occur. Don't be hesitant to knock on a few doors seeking permission each year, but try to do so early in the year and not a few days prior to opening day. Expect a few rejections, but keep plodding along, and you'll gain some new ground.

Involve others in your hunting adventures. I'm sure that everyone has friends and loved ones who would enjoy spending some quality time with them in the field. It could be your spouse, your child, a neighbor, a coworker, a relative or friend, or perhaps even a child of one of those persons previously listed. Unless we can, at the minimum, recruit new hunters to replace those who no longer pursue game, hunting will become a dying art that will eventually be legislated out of existence. One recent study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that the number of hunters in the last 30 years has declined almost 35%. The loss of revenue from hunting licenses and other related fees has created a financial shortfall for conservation efforts. Even if your chosen hunting companion is just a passive observer, they'll still treasure the memories and time spent with you. Introducing children to hunting also reduces the chances that they'll become involved in undesirable activities later in life. Ground blinds and "buddy stands" are excellent tools for sharing the hunting experience with others.

Scout during the off-season. Many hunters make the mistake of waiting until just prior to opening day to scout, which can prove to be very problematic. Game can be affected by even minute amounts of human activity, so that activity should be restricted to actual hunting if at all possible. Obviously there are times where pre-season scouting is not feasible, such as out-of-state hunting or gaining permission to hunt new ground after the start of the season, but it should be avoided if at all possible. By scouting in late winter/early spring, the previous year's sign will still be relatively fresh and readily apparent, considering the lack of vegetation at that time of year. Finding shed antlers is also a good indication that certain animals survived both the previous hunting season and winter. These scouting trips are also another time to include a friend or loved one in your outdoor activities. Also, don't neglect non-intrusive scouting methods such as topographical maps, aerial photos, and plat books. These methods can be just as productive as (if not more than) on-the-ground scouting.

Travel off the beaten path. Recent studies have proved that most hunters do not venture very far from a road. Steep inclines, waterways, and thick underbrush are a few things that deter hunters, but may attract game beyond them. These unhunted/underhunted areas are known for creating game sanctuaries. Animals key in on the fact that human presence is diminished or completely void in these areas, and once they realize hunting pressure in other areas, they will retreat to these safe havens. Studying topographical maps will help you narrow down these locations. Make note of where hunters have easy access from roads to flat or slightly hilly terrain, and eliminate them from consideration. Obviously this is of little consequence if the area is privately owned and doesn't receive hunting pressure. This advice is only pertinent to those who must hunt where others also hunt. As for dense, overgrown areas, these can only be found by off-season scouting, or perhaps limited success can be achieved by studying aerial photographs. Hunters who "go the extra mile" will more than likely be rewarded with sightings of more (and larger) animals, as well as solitude. Just have a plan in place to retrieve anything you harvest, as this is the "cost" of hunting far from everyone else.

Establish a positive image of bowhunting to the general public. Conduct yourself in a respectable manner, especially when in the presence of non-hunters. This begins at the moment an arrow is released at game. You owe yourself and the animal an ethical shot at the minimum. Wounded game can have a very negative effect on the way bowhunters are perceived by the world. We are human and unavoidable mistakes sometimes happen, but please try to minimize these instances by taking only broadside or quartering away shots within the effective range of the arrow and your shooting abilities. I have seen photos of live deer with arrows protruding from their foreheads, and images such as these can turn the tide against bowhunters. Be ethical. When in the field, don't litter –– carry out what you carried in. Time and time again, I see empty bottles on the forest floor. Close any gates that you open, and avoid tearing up the landscape with vehicles and ATV's. Don't parade around town with your harvested game splayed out all bloody in the bed of your truck. Be respectful of others. Take time to educate others on the sport of bowhunting, and promote it whenever possible.

Navigate wisely to remain undetected by game. This seems obvious to many, but even the most experienced bowhunters sometimes neglect to incorporate this aspect into their hunts. First and foremost, wind direction plays a huge role in any approach. Entering your hunting area from upwind is a recipe for failure, as game will pick up your scent before you ever see them and depart the area. Use a quartering wind or crosswind at the minimum. Use the terrain to mask your movements by utilizing low areas and ditches whenever possible, as these will minimize your chances of being spotted by sharp eyes. Avoid flat, open areas by skirting them if possible, as humans traversing them will be quite apparent, even in full camouflage. Using a small boat on calm rivers and streams is an excellent method for being stealthy. Just getting to your chosen spot is only half the battle. You must have a plan for exiting undetected as well. Wait until game animals have moved off before attempting to leave the area, or until the cover of darkness will aid in your departure. Creative bowhunters have even tossed small pebbles, acorns, etc. to "spook" game away without revealing their human presence.

Commit yourself to safe hunting practices. Each and every year, hunters are injured or even killed because of accidents incurred in the field through neglect, equipment failure, or other means. Make it a habit each season to inspect your equipment (especially treestands) for breakage and normal wear and tear. Replace anything that shows signs of imminent failure. ALWAYS wear a safety harness when hunting from elevated positions, as falls are the number one cause of hunter injury or death. There are many paralyzed hunters out there that so desperately wish that they could travel back in time and outfit themselves with safety harnesses if only given the chance. They wake up every morning to the harsh reality that their lives will never be the same. There are many others who weren't even as fortunate and were found deceased at the base of their trees. Even if you don't place much value on your safety, think of your loved ones. How would your death or debilitating injuries affect them? Always let someone know where you will be hunting on a particular day, and when you expect to return. GPS coordinates of stand sites would be excellent information to provide, if they are available. With cell phone coverage available in most places, there's not much excuse not to carry one afield in case of an emergency. Pay-as-you-go plans put them within the budgets of virtually all bowhunters.

Enjoy and cherish every moment afield. Even though this happens to be listed last, it is probably the most important bit of advice that can be offered about bowhunting. Make full use of your body's senses –– sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Relish in the green-up of Spring, and the beautiful colors of Autumn foliage. Bask in the glow of glorious sunrises and sunsets. Listen to the various woodland creatures as they go about their daily lives. Breathe in the fresh air and other scents of the forests and fields. Take a moment to feel a cold stream rushing through your submerged fingers, or the roughness of a tree's bark. Taste the fruits of the Earth, as well as the meat from your successful hunts. God has given us life as well as dominion over a bountiful planet and the animals that inhabit it. Be thankful that you are still healthy and capable of hunting, as there are many who are not so fortunate and desperately wish that they could hear once more the grunt of a buck, the bugle of a distant elk, or the gobble of a wild turkey.


October Sunrise




December Sunset