Deer Hunting with Broadheads

Do you hunt deer using bows and arrows? Do you prefer a bow as your weapon of choice when hunting deer? Many hunters opt for bow hunting as it is a more stealth hunting method and involves more skill.

Some hunters prefer bowing hunting as they feel it is a less cruel way of delivering the fatal blow when compared to a bullet. When bow hunting it is crucial that you choose the right broadheads. In this article, we discuss tips to help you choose the right broadhead for bow hunting.

Choose the Right Broadhead

When bow hunting, it is important that you choose the right broadhead. This is very important for a successful deer hunt. There are many types of broadheads, ranging from the fixed blade to the mechanical designs.

Each broadhead design has its advantages and disadvantages. Fixed blade broadheads are known for their strength and accuracy, but they retain more energy than mechanical heads.

Mechanical broadheads, on the other hand, are designed to have wider cutting diameters for effective entry and exit wounds with greater tissue trauma, thus ensuring a quicker, cleaner kill. The choice depends on the individual hunter’s preference and the type of hunting they are doing.

Precision and Accuracy

Bow hunting is more of an art than many people realize. It is more precise and accurate and requires more skills from the bow hunter. To be successful with bow hunting, you must practice and hone in your marksmanship skills.

Most of the time, you will take your shot from a considerable distance and the precision and accuracy of the shot will depend on your skills. Hence, it is important that you practice regularly to improve your bow shooting.

Spend time at the archery range to fine-tune your shooting skills and ensure your equipment is properly sighted in. When practicing, use the same broadheads you intend to use during the hunt. This ensures that you are familiar with their flight characteristics and can make any necessary adjustments to achieve pinpoint accuracy.

Shot Placement

Shot placement is especially important for bow hunters. A well-placed shot will instantly take the animal down. While a wrongly placed shot will result in suffering of the animal and the chances of you locating it after the shot will be small. It will run off until it drops dead.

The most effective shot placement for deer with broadheads is the vital area, which includes the heart and lungs. Aim for a broadside shot when the deer presents itself at a right angle to your position. This provides the best opportunity to hit the vital organs. Avoid quartering shots, which increase the likelihood of hitting bone and not achieving a clean kill.

Stealth and Camouflage

Deer have very good eyesight, hearing sense, and smell. These help them detect danger, avoid predators, and find food. It is crucial that you remain undetected when hunting deer with a bow and arrow, as well as hunting in general.

The right camouflage clothing is crucial for hunting. Also, discipline yourself to eliminate the scents from your clothing, your hunting equipment, and boots. There are scent-control sprays and bathing soap that can be used to eliminate your human odor. If deer picks up your human scent, you can just call the hunt off for the day.

Moreover, learn to walk without making a lot of noise. As stated earlier, deer have very good sense of hearing, and if hear strange noises, they will leave the area for safer ground.

It is also important that you learn to detect the direction of the wind and move in a way so that the wind does not carry your human odor to the deer.

Be Patient and Still

It is important that you learn to control your body movements. Learn to move your eyes and not your head and body when you are glassing an area for deer. Once again, deer have very good eyesight and will pick up your body movements if you move your body when glassing instead of just your eyes.

Moreover, it is also crucial that you discipline yourself to be patient when you are watching deer in the fields. A tree stand or a ground blind can be use to conceal you from the deer.

Learn To Track 

One important skill to develop for hunting is tracking a wounded animal. Even if you took a well-placed shot, there will be times when the deer is a tough one to go down instantly. It will take off with such speed that it will continue on adrenaline when fatally injured.

This is when your tracking skills will be needed to look for signs of blood or other evidence to help you track a wounded deer for a good distance. Tracking markers, tracking dogs, and your hunting partners can help track down a wounded animal. It is often a race against the clock when tracking a wounded deer as the daylight quickly disappears.

Conclusion

Hunting deer with broadheads is a challenging and rewarding pursuit that requires skill, preparation, and a deep understanding of deer behavior. By selecting the right broadhead, practicing precision and accuracy, understanding shot placement, mastering stealth, and camouflage, being patient and still, and tracking effectively, you can increase your chances of a successful and ethical hunt.