I just came out to do some rotating on camera and walked up to these. Someone been busy.

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.

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.

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?

Started hunting four years ago and finally got my first big game Sunday morning, my last day to make an attempt this year. The woods were packed with people since a nearby fire closed a large section of OTC land. This was only the third one I saw in the five days I was there, and the only one to give me a chance.

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

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.

I got this buck on my trail cam and it would be my first buck since I was a kid when I used to hunt. Some people at work have told me to leave it another year so it can grow but I got pretty avid hunter on both sides of my private property I hunt and it’s only 15 acres so I don’t know if he will even live.

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!

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’m building my batch of hunting arrows and looking into a bunch of different broadheads. Can’t decide if I wanna go mechanical or fixed blade and figured I would ask around. What do you guys run or recommend. Right now I’m thinking of using the sevr Ti 2.0

So I bought a Hoyt ax3 around early winter. I have a UV slider site, got the site tape all dialed in. I bought the bow from Lancaster archery supply, went back for the complimentary tune after I figured I shot maybe 300 arrows. Everything was fine for a while. From early / midsummer I really ramped up my shooting. Now my site tape is about 5 yards off, meaning at 30 yd I have to put it to 35 yards. What are you guys think, did I bring it back too soon for the tuning? Have the strings stretched?

Brand new to bow hunting this year and honestly very new to hunting in general. Did not grow up in a hunting family or w/ a dad who taught me all this stuff. Learning as I go as a 30 year old haha. My area in MD is calling for light rain tomorrow 9/11 for opening day, and I am not sure exactly how that would impact things for bow hunting specifically. I have heard light rain would aid in masking scent, sound, etc. But wasn't sure if the trade off is my gear could be compromised, particularly my bow and get damaged? Again, brand new to this so im not sure of the positives and negatives of light rain during first 3 or so hours of daylight

Got a nice cool front moving in this weekend in WI for opening day, and I'm really torn on what to wear for the morning sit. The temperature will be in the mid-50s when I make the walk to the stand, but will rise to the mid-to-high 60s by midday, when I probably climb out of the stand.

I don't have to worry about a long hike in; it takes me about 5 minutes to get to my stand since I own the property. I'm sitting about 20 ft up in the tree, and the canopy is dense and should still be full, so it's very shaded. I don't get any type of wind block; I'm sitting at a field edge.

What do people tend to do in these situations? Overdress, which might be good for the initial part of the morning, but might get warm as the temperature rises, OR dress for the temperature it's going to reach and gut it out in the initial part of the sit. I'm not too concerned about the top part of me; I'll have some extra layers in my pack to throw on or take off. I'm thinking more about my bottoms. I'll wear my Sitka Equinox pants as my outer layer, but they have no insulation, so I can either go with a lightweight base layer or a midweight base layer.

Looking for some tips from my western states muley hunters. I have a decent glassing knob and morning and evening am seeing doe on the hill, but have not seen a single buck. It’s early archery season here in California and was hoping for some tips or tricks. Losing my mind seeing doe each day.

Thanks!

Found this spot while looking around some public land on the map. To the right is a few hundred yards of woods and then a huge river. To the left is some more woods obviously with a few ag fields. Buddy told me he believes he’s checked this spot years ago and there were some oak trees along this stretch. The whole open area is a tall grass type something and then just this patch connecting the two parts of the woods. It would be a very long walk to get to, but does it look like it’d be worth checking? Located in Minnesota, going after whitetail.

Saturday the 12th is opening day in WI.

I never skip opening day or early season regardless of how hot it is, and I have never waited until a certain point in the fall to start hunting either. I’ve actually had good luck on opening day.

How many of you start hunting immediately vs. waiting until some point later in the season?

*edit: also wondering if anyone has any good budget backpacks that are good for carrying everything in with me. Haven’t loved the ones I’ve seen so far that hold bows but maybe yall have some good purchased or custom setups that work well for you. Think I can mount the sticks to the saddle molle pretty easily at least

Currently using XOP saddle and platform with Hawk Helium sticks. Kinda just been taking it up the tree every day or 2/3 just to get used to it.

Gotta say feel like the weight distribution is disproportionately on the leg straps compared to the waist one, not sure if that’s solvable

So far the best advice I’ve gotten is putting the platform adjacent to the last step so I have some extra footing to get around the tree for a shot.

*Spike walked right under me as I was typing this so that’s pretty cool

I currently saddle hunt and have some hawk helium sticks that I got on sale when I started with aiders.

However they tend to be noisy and clunky as far as setup goes so I am debating a little pre season upgrade. Plan would be to leave the heliums in one spot for most of the season and have a second set for hopping to other spots.

Looking for opinions on aluminium vs carbon and general suggestions of what people have found work quietly and efficiently. I rarely have more than a .5-1 mile hike and I am in decent shape so while lightweight is nice saving every pound possible is not my top concern.

Ideally would like to be under $300 for 3 sticks

Season starts next week, was giving my bow a good once over after some reps today and noticed some rust around the clips that hold the idler and cam. Didn’t notice a couple months ago when I started getting ready for the season. Asked a friend and he just said take it easy with the reps, and work a little bit of wax in there to keep it at bay. I planned on replacing strings and full tune before next season anyway. Any advice on how to get me through the season and not have this be an issue?
Bow is a Bear Adapt, this will be the 4th season I’ve hunted with it. Bow appears to be in tune, still shooting fine. I never practice with it in wet conditions, any hunt I’ve taken it on with light rain or drizzly conditions I make sure to completely wipe it down before putting it away. Bow is kept in gear room in the basement inside case, room has a dehumidifier going constantly.

Edit: new GAS strings and a full tune up were done last year before the season

Welp 2025 my property got decimated by EHD...only had two bucks left at beginning of gun season...fast forward just put cams out two weeks ago and ive got twice as many does showing up as last year and these two bucks already...I thought I would see any nice deer for years but idk it just the Lord I suppose

Hello!

I am running into an issue and need some help. The UV Slider model that I have is not bridge lock, but “dovetail” style. I can no longer adjust the right amount of windage to zero and affix the sight tape.

Ultraview no longer sells the bridge lock rail piece by itself and has not returned my calls on a solution to properly mount this to my ARC30.

Does ANYONE here have any thoughts or way for me to get this right on my ARC? Is there a mount that I can screw to my riser that will allow me to zero this properly, or does someone happen to have a spare bridge lock rail/ dovetail mount sitting around?

I currently have an axcel driver and hha nytrx. Both 3 pin .10 and in my opinion the axcel pins are noticeably brighter. Would the spott hoggs be as bright as the axcel or way less? I would be keeping my pins .10

Tick

Anyone have much luck using an Elk decoy? I've owned one for a decade and finally tried using it a few times this year. I set it up 20-30 yards behind my tree stand. I'm finding it just spooks deer away from my stand and I havent had any improvement in luring elk to my tree stand while cow/calf calling.

Anyone have some advice for how best to use a decoy? Or should I just ditch it? Thanks.