Equipment

As we come to the end of the first week of archery season, it's time to start talking about equipment. Don't feel pressured that you're rifle or especially your bow isn't sighted in because there is plenty of time left for both. So, let's get to it.

Archery

To begin, there are two types of bows:

Recurve:

This bow is much more simplistic compared to a compound bow. Although it is lightweight and easier to carry, the downside is that it relies on much more practice hit a target and requires much more strength to pull back the single stringed bow. 

Compound Bow:

Compared to the last bow, this one is much more complex and more expensive. The nice things about these bows are that they require less strength to pull them back. Due to the pulley system, the weight is distributed amongst the strings allowing for easier pull back. There is also more attachments that can be added to this bow including: a quiver (arrow holster), sights, and/or even a whisker biscuit which holds the arrow steady while drawing the bow back.

The main materials you need for a bow would be arrows, arrow heads which there are two types, practice and hunting tips, sightings (for a compound bow),a quick release which isn't necessary but very helpful, and lastly a target. The best way to learn to hunt with a bow is to practice daily. I would honestly recommend a compound bow as a starter bow because of the fact that its easier to use and you add sights. To set up the sight on a compound bow you usually have three to four pegs. Each peg should represent a yards away from you. So, for example, the top peg may be used for a deer at 20yd while the bottom one my be 50yd. To sight your bow, look down a peg at the yards you want and release the arrow. If you're too high lower the peg and vice versa.

Now go out and practice with your bow! If you want a challenge try aiming for this nearly impossible challenge that every hunter hopes to complete. I've only completed this challenge once in my life and it was a great feeling! So, here it is, as you shoot your first arrow at your target, you want to be so precise that you complete a Robin Hood. This is when your second arrow is in the exact same spot that it actually hits the second arrow dead on. Yeah you waste two arrows but its a great feeling knowing that you're that good!

Rifle

As i've said earlier in this blog, rifle season is my favorite season. Although its not as challenging, thats actually what can make it more exciting to novice hunters. Deer have a great sense of hearing and smell so being able to take down a deer 300yd away makes it easier and more enjoyable.

Now as with bows there are thousands of different rifles to choose from. Different calibers, different brands, even different models of the same gun. To make this as simple as possible I'm going to focus on one brand and the same model. The Remington 700, the rifle that i carry. To also make this as simple as possible the same gun can come in different calibers. Caliber refers to the bullet size. Look at these three guns:

These three guns are the exact same brand and model however, they are all different caliber guns. While one might be a .3006 (my gun), the other might be a .308 caliber. The difference in bullet size can make one bullet faster, .3006, while the other one might be slower but more powerful, .308. This is just a matter of preference. This also changes the sighting. 

For a rifle there are only three main materials you need for your gun. The scope (which isn't necessary but you reduce your distance dramatically, the bullets, and the gun itself. In order to sight in your gun you must shoot the same round of bullets through your gun. To make this as simplistic as possible, bullets may have more gun powder in some than others. This refers to the grain of the bullet. Maybe you're shooting a 165 grain or a 180 grain. It makes a difference. To help you understand how ballistics play into sighting here is a video that explains it better than reading. 

Finding your ballistics for your gun and bullet grain is as easy as looking it up on google. Take that knowledge and go out and practice! All this practice with bow your bow and/or rifle will pay off this season as you'll have a better chance of hitting your target and taking down your deer. 

Here is a fun video to watch and give you a good laugh to as of why you should practice!