Dominate Archery Season: Tips and Tricks for Making the Most of Your Fall
Heading into the field with a bow in hand this fall? Remember these tips for a successful archery season.
Gear Up
A quick, ethical archery kill depends on a dialed-in rig you can confidently, accurately shoot. Before you hit the woods, ensure your bow is in top shape, all accessories and components are secure, and you’ve practiced plenty to consistently hit 10-rings. Ensure your other gear — including camo, boots, calls, harness, and optics — is organized and ready to go whenever the perfect front rolls in. Even though early archery seasons are typically balmy, be prepared to bring out the cold-weather apparel or rain gear.
Go Stealth
One of the best parts about bowhunting is the close encounters with bucks crossing yards below your stand. But to get and keep deer in such close proximity without giving yourself away, you need to prevent them from catching your scent. After each sit, gently wash our clothing with unscented detergent or freshen it up using an ozone generator. Take a scent-free shower and apply a scent-killing spray before you walk into the woods. But most importantly, remember to play the wind and only hunt a stand when conditions are right.
Make Some Noise
Your setup should be dead silent, but deer aren’t. So don’t be afraid to blind call occasionally when things are slow or draw a distant buck in with a couple grunts. Bleats can be effective too, and the snort-wheeze has been known to fire up dominant bucks in the peak rut too. When bucks are in the seeking phase, tickling the antlers can bring a buck right into bow range.
Switch it Up
Although you probably have your ol’ reliable ambush sites, don’t be afraid to change up your strategy as the season progresses. In early archery season, targeting the travel routes deer take to food or water sources is a solid bet. When the peak rut approaches, you can move in on bedding areas. During the late season, hit remaining food sources, as bucks try to recover from a grueling breeding period.
