Newb bowhunting advice needed pls.

[wheel]

My 15 yo son and I have taken up bowhunting this year. We are complete novices, no mentors and everything we know we learned from youtube.

We have permission to hunt a small bush, roughly 5-10 acres. We have a pop up blind and my son has a call that he uses and last month we put out a lick. There are signs everywhere in and around the bush. Dozens of fresh trails every time we go. Droppings. The occassional rub marks on trees. It's like the deer circus is in town after dark. Yet to date, we've not even seen a deer. It's getting a bit disappointing for him.

I'm starting to think that either we are spooking the deer when we go in, or more likely that we are simply a pair of idiots sitting in an empty bush calling because there's no deer there through the day (we typically go in 2-3 hours prior to sunset).

So that's the background. Here's what we're thinking though. Next time we go, skip the blind. One of us sits at one corner of the bush, the other drives through. If there's any deer, we should flush them out like the group hunters do. If we don't see any deer then (and I believe we won't), then we relocate to a far corner of the bush were I'd like to believe the deer are coming from (there's another much larger bush about a mile away that I think is likely where they deer are originating from). then we park at that corner and try and call the deer in across the field from the other bush.

That's my master plan. Any flaws? Would also welcome any other tips.

[bowcrazy]

A couple of things I would suggest that I have learned over the past few years (all of which I learned from my rifle hunting buddies, books and youtube as well as being schooled by the deer):

1. I'd lose the pop up blind and get off of the ground. The deer don't naturally fear the trees and you can place your stand so the tree is between you and where the deer are coming from.

2. If the bush is thick the deer probably bed in it and getting in without them knowing you are there in the evening will be next to impossible if it is only 10 acres. You have to find out where they go to eat so that you can go in during the early morning before they return and be waiting for them.

3. You MUST be scent free. Wash your clothing in unscented detergent and rinse it a few times after. I also use baking soda and rinse them again. Air dry them outside and store them in bags with cedar limbs, corn stalks, leaves etc... I don't even wear my bow hunting clothes in my truck driving to my stand. Put out scent wicks with doe urine on them. It makes the deer calmer and very curious. They want to know where the 'new' deer is.

4. Be QUIET! Don't call unless you see deer. If you make noise when you don't know where they are then they will circle down wind of you to find out what you really are and they WILL bust you no matter how careful you are about your scent. You won't even know you were busted.

5. Trying to drive deer while bow hunting would be difficult at best and here's why. In a ten acre property if someone spooks the deer they are going to go flying out of it and rush off to another bedding area (the other bush). Tramp around in there too much and they will move permanently. They live there because people don't go in there. If they are running you won't get them with a bow unless you are really good.

6. To bow hunt deer you have to be able to get very close to them (typically 15 yards give or take). Instead of hunting one day watch the bush from a distance with binoculars and try to pattern the deer. It's much easier to watch what they do than to try and figure it out from tracks, rubs and scrapes.

7. Practice shooting from a stand before you hunt! The first year I hunted I had a deer come in 30 minutes into my first sit and I shot two arrows over its back. You have to bend at the waist not just lower your arms. It's a total rookie mistake.

I hope this helps and I hope you get your deer!

[OSO M]

I agree you need to scout from a distance glass and see if the deer are coming from your area in the evening and or going to your area in the morning. If it is their bedding area you may be spooking them when you enter. Remember having a successful season doesnt always have to end with a kill, i believe that if you get a legitimate shot with a bow that is success in its self. most of all have fun and enjoy the learning experience.

[ironhead]

Thats all good advice! Another possiblility is use of a trail camera. On the pop up blind,,,it is ok to use them,,but i find that i have more success rifle hunting out of mine if i put it out a couple weeks ahead of time and leave it there through season,,but i agree that using a stand is much more effective for bow. I set my pop up on the top of ridge lines and cover 3 hillsides with a rifle. I have never been a fan of calling either,,,too much you may as well be playing Guns and Roses.