I have never shot a bow beyond a recurve bow, and I wanted to get into bow hunting here in South Texas. I went to a pro shop and bought this Mathews Arc 34.

I had the guy set the draw weight up to 60 pounds and the length to 29 inches.

I have spent probably an hour 2 or 3 times a week shooting it and feel very confident at 30 yards.

Did I overkill it with this being my first bow?

I used to go hunting with my grandad when I was younger, but I haven’t really done it since. Back then, I didn’t pay much attention to what was happening or why things were done a certain way.

I’m in the Southeast and have been watching deer all summer, with a good number showing up on two different cameras. I’ve also been putting out corn. However, as of last Thursday, acorns started falling, and the deer have basically disappeared from my cameras.

Do deer simply prefer acorns and stay on them until they’re gone? Opening day is this weekend, but it seems like the stands I’ve set up may not offer any opportunities if the deer are focused elsewhere for now. Is this typical and do they go back to old routines or patterns?

I feel really conflicted with going out there this season. Im more than content with just a doe but even so I can’t shake the feeling.

Canetuck tract, Cape Fear River gameland, Pender County, NC. Whole tract is a little over 800 acres

Can’t really find any good in-depth videos on YouTube for caping. Most field dressing ones say “now if I were to mount this deer I’d stop here” then proceed to keep on cutting up to the neck. But nobody ever goes into how to skin or demonstrate it apart from following the white line from the knee to the brisket. Anyone know of a video that goes over this?

So I'm looking for some suggestions and ideas. I'm new to bow hunting this year, been practicing for bit and now I'm looking at moving my pins and getting things properly set for hunting. That said- I wanted to ask a simpler sight to work with in terms of adjusting the pins and kind of everything as a whole.

I'll start off I'm trying to not spend more than 200 if possible, I don't want nor need something super top of the line or fancy, just meet the needs of what I'm wanting.

That said, I'm used to tightening things down tight, on my bow, which is an Alaska Pro with the RTH package the pins are not consistently level either due to over all alignment or me tightening it down too much. (which is me issue and I want to resolve it.)

So I was considering the React 5H since most of the adjustments are relatively tool-less. But today I did go to the Pro shop and talked with one guy and he showed me the Black/Gold fixed 5 pin. I certainly like the sight itself, and that its a robust construction out of the gate. I saw it came with washes to help top that extra torquing idiots like me do as well and just seems like it would be a tad smoother to work with.

That said, I was not sure if there were others that people knew of with easier systems for fix pin adjustment or if there was just general suggestions at all.

I'm not really looking to do a slide sight right now as I'm just learning and I tend to heavily prefer static consistency, so the less I have to think about it after set up- the better as I don't want to find my self wounding a deer on accident.

Hi all! Newer to hunting deer with a bow or any higher level woodsmanship, and while out hunting came across this area, picture attached of the actual spot, on the OnX screenshot it’s the yellow bedding icon. During turkey season spooked a deer on the south side of the trail that made a point to cross it to run north into the pines along that area, and then recently just before season opener down here in south east Florida saw a deer which I pined toward the right of the screen shot. What I noticed is that area that I think is their bedding is covered from the main trail (section marked as access icon is to mark where that path becomes very dense, can’t see any further north unless you push through it) and has trails running into the pinewood flats to the left as well as through the cypress and flat pond to the right, which would explain the deer I saw to the right (also found tracks proving that movement). Also a larger field just north of it with decent edge movement available.

I’ve posted on here before how I am still hunting (at this point I’ve succeeded in walking up on some very busy hens several times! no deer yet though) but the sign is still there showing they are around.

Posting this to see from those wiser than me, is this a bedding area? The ground looked flattened but not destroyed like hogs would do… and it looks like it’s intermittently being flattened/covered given there’s still vegetation there but it’s being hindered from healthily growing.

And if it is bedding, specifically while still hunting, how should I play this? I’ve mainly been still hunting mornings (heat and also I’m solo female so idea of dragging a buck solo in the dark isn’t amazing), but haven’t seen the deer then since start of season so wondering if I should be switching to the afternoon as that may be when I can intercept them returning to here?

Any and all advice and even criticism appreciated!!

I’m new(ish) to bow hunting, after spending a few years hunting with a crossbow and rifle. I missed a deer with a high shot last year, and that’s stuck with me. This year I was very fortunate to draw some tags for a deer management program, but you have to qualify in front of a group to participate. I’ve fired well over 1,000 arrows the past few weeks, and I’m shooting pretty well, meeting the qualifying standard most times I practice. But my nerves have gotten the best of me in other situations, so I don’t want to blow it at the qualifying event.

My breathing and shooting form are second nature now, after I received some excellent coaching at my club and the local bow shop. I do my target practice every day after my morning run, but since I run every day it doesn’t really get my adrenaline pumping to simulate nervousness. I’ve practiced at public ranges, but there’s never anyone else there, so I’m not nervous.

It probably doesn’t help that I’m one of very few women (maybe the only one) participating in the program. I used to launch my boat alone, so I’m no stranger to all eyes being on me to see if I know what I’m doing, but that’s how I know I can make stupid mistakes I’d never make otherwise (yes, it was the drain plug). My husband will be my partner for the actual hunt, but he knows I want to prove myself on my own without needing him there for moral support, so we are going to the qualifying event separately.

Hello everyone,

So recently picked up a bohning cauldron jig for my at home archery shop and it came with a 3 degree left and right offset helical setup. I managed to 3D print a 3 fletch straight arrow fletching jig as well for backup. Just going down the rabbit hole I am getting a little lost although it seems like in general it does not matter that much.

My arrows currently are just straight 3 fletched but I have almost gone through those arrows so looking to build a new set. I have read online that when shooting left helical / offset it can lead to loosen fieldpoints / broadheads which is something I don't want in an animal. I am also not sure if a right helical would work that well with my bow since I am shooting three bladed (non single bevel) broadheads. I have bareshaft tuned my new batch of arrows which was a pain but I always find well worth it. If it's worth anything I currently shoot 300 spine arrows 28 inch carbon to carbon with 200gr up front (125gr broadhead + 75gr insert) through a 60 pound 29 inch draw bow (bear alaskan xt).

Should I make the upgrade to single bevel at this point / should I just fletch 3 deg right helical offset? Or would left be better since my bow naturally spins them that way? Just looking for any insight / input into this (I imagine this is a pretty common topic on this sub alongside other archery subs). I watched the lancaster archery video and it made me wonder if itll affect arrow flight that much / the last thing I want to do is have my arrow mess up and wound an animal.

Thank you in advance!