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Home , Arrowhead, Bowhunting, Bowstring, Bow and arrow, Bracer, Composite bow

Chapter Seven EQUIPMENT safety principles and practices.

Lesson 1: Introduction to In this lesson you will: unique hunting experience.

Brief History of Bowhunting

For thousands of years, people have hunted with bows and .

The bow was an essential hunting ’s teachings in the early 1900s until were invented renewed interest in bowhunting. in during the 14th Century. From that point until early in the 20th century, interest in bowhunting University of California, befriended Why Hunt with a Bow? decreased greatly. By the late 1800s, and treated him. Ishi passed along Hunting with a bow and no one other than tribal people living his bowhunting skills, including is unique because it provides in remote areas of the world hunted how to make bows and arrows, to close encounters with wildlife and with bows. The knowledge and Dr. Pope, Arthur Young and Will requires refined hunting skills. skills for making bows and hunting Compton. Later, these three men Typically there are fewer hunters in game with them disappeared demonstrated to the world the bow when these people passed away and arrow could be used to hunt or adopted the customs of modern big game. . All that remained of archery Though Ishi died of tuberculosis was target . in 1916, he launched the discovery Then, on August 29, 1911, of modern bowhunting. Interest in Ishi, the last Yana Indian raised hunting with grew without influence of white rapidly. In 1934, Wisconsin held Each bowhunter people, wandered into Oroville, the first bowhunting season in the has his or her per- California. He was about 50 years United States. Today, it is a popular sonal reasons for old, starving and emaciated. Dr. and legal method of hunting wild choosing to hunt Saxton Pope, a physician at the game in all states and provinces. with a bow.

TakeTake youryour HunterHunter EdEd onlineonline && earnearn $100$100 inin Rewards.Rewards. GoGo to:to: www.www. Outdoorroadmap.com/HunterEdOutdoorroadmap.com/HunterEd the during archery seasons. which may be padded with That can mean more opportunities leather (traditional bow), foam small leather to see wildlife and a more (modern bow) or other material patch to enjoyable hunt. to cushion the archer’s hand. protect the Here are some reasons why bowhunter’s people enjoy hunting with a bow. where the archer 1. Feeling the satisfaction of nocks the arrow for consistent, known as spending time outdoors and accurate shooting. a tab, used for being a part of nature shooting the 2. Enjoying the hunt in a wound tight around the middle of and traditional way using simple the bowstring to prevent wear to . hunting invented thousands of years ago or 3. Appreciating the challenges of pouch attached to bowhunting and developing Accessories for Bowhunting the bow or worn skills to become more accurate Except for the , each of by the bowhunter 4. Studying wildlife behavior the following accessories that holds the and preferred habitats, so the is optional equipment. bowhunter’s pursuit of wild game has greater arrows. meaning and value or sheath to protect a bowhunter’s forearm, Arm Quiver This chapter is an introduction also known as a . Guard to bowhunting. Check the regulations for the state or province you plan to hunt in to know the educational and skill requirements for hunting with a bow.

Lesson 2: Parts of a Bow In this lesson you will: bow. bows.

Parts of the Bow All bows have two main parts: section or handle of the bow; they store energy when the bowstring is pulled. ends of which are attached to the limbs. Additional parts for the bow include the following: the arrow on the riser or handle until the bowstring is released. bow, also known as the handle,

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depends mainly on how much or specially shooting an arrow from how little modern is designed glove a bow, also known as desired. Traditional bowhunters that helps protect Shooting loose. prefer the longbow or recurve bow Glove because these are simple, effective from injury when Different Types of Bows hunting tools. Modern bowhunters drawing and shooting a Today’s bowhunters can favor compound bows, compound longbow or recurve bow. choose from a wide variety of and recurve crossbows, bows, including: which give them the advantages of device attached to the modern technology. bowstring to help reduce noise. Silencer The compound bow was How Does the Bow The recurve bow and longbow invented in 1969 in Missouri ? are called traditional bows—they are by Hollis Wilber Allen. Its When a hunter pulls back on similar to the bows used by our early development since then has been the string to draw the bow, energy ancestors. The compound bow and extraordinary. Today’s compound is stored in the limbs. When a compound are modern bow consists of a system bowhunter releases the string bows—they use various inventions to draw back the limbs using the with a nocked arrow, this energy developed in modern times that transfers to the arrow, sending the make it easier to use them. arrow forward. The type of bow a hunter selects attached to the cams; when the

Special Terms for Shooting a Bow distance that an arrow will be pulled at full draw, where the apex of the string is at the corner of the archer’s mouth—the anchor point.

Draw Length

, measured in pounds, needed to bring a bow to full draw, also known as peak weight. the bowstring to the anchor point with an arrow attached in preparation for shooting.

Take your Hunter Ed online & earn $100 in Rewards. Go to: www. Outdoorroadmap.com/HunterEd The lever system shorter and more easily handled of the compound than a longbow. bow lets the A recurve made from a single bowhunter draw piece of is called a “self back on the string bow.” If it is made with natural until peak weight wood laminates or includes animal is achieved, which parts such as horn, sinew and glue could be 60 lbs. or to strengthen the bow, it is called a more. At which composite recurve bow. point the bow “lets off” to a much lower Longbow bowhunter draws the bowstring holding weight. The compound The traditional longbow also the pulleys turn, which causes the bow is relatively easy to hold at has been used by hunters for limbs to bend and store energy. full draw because the “let off” thousands of years. A longbow is typically as tall as the person the riser that holds the cables The compound bow has other who uses it. If it’s made from to one side to prevent arrow distinctive features. It has limbs a single piece of wood, is that are typically shorter and much called a . Common cables during a shot. stiffer than traditional bows, such used to make a as and recurves. Because longbow are: cable guard that helps keep the the parts of the compound bow bow quiet by preventing “cable are aluminum alloy, magnesium, slap” during a shot. carbon or fiberglass, its durability and performance are limb on a compound bow, also affected very little by changes in called bow eccentrics; its shape temperature and humidity. There is may vary across different bow no wood used in the main parts of Long Bow designs. a compound bow. The compound bowhunter that works in association launches arrows with a mechanical When animal horn, with the eccentric cam wheel to release, similar to a on a gun. sinew and glue are used to facilitate taking the bowstring to Also, bowhunters often use a construct a longbow it is called a full draw. sight system on a compound bow, “.” which may include magnifying Limbs of the longbow are on the bow enabling the user to scopes, laser sights, or a peep sight narrow and straight when the increase or decrease the draw in the bowstring and pins on the string is not attached. When weight. riser. The hunter should consult hunting regulations for the of the riser for attaching upper state or province where the Additional names for the longbow and lower limbs to the riser. hunt will occur to determine are: straight bow and stick bow. what equipment is legal for bowhunting. Recurves and Longbows the cam that pulls the limb tips toward each other when the Traditional Bows fixed draw weight, ranging from a shooting string is drawn. Recurve Bow low of 10 to 15 pounds for children Hunters have used to 60 pounds or more for adults. that the arrow is nocked to, as traditional recurve bows The draw weight of a traditional different from the power cable. for thousands of years. bow is determined by the bow’s The recurve bow is easy to design. As with all traditional modern bows that is a cutout of tell apart from other bows bows, when pulling back on the riser, allowing the archer to because its limb tips curve the string, the draw weight see through the sight. away from the bowhunter when increases as the bow is drawn. Typically, there is no attached to the bow to help reduce bows may be preferred for sight on a traditional bow. vibrations caused by the shot. hunting because they are Recurve Bow Instead, bowhunters use

Take your Hunter Ed online & earn $100 in Rewards. Go to: www. Outdoorroadmap.com/HunterEd three fingers on the shooting Compound and Recurve Recurve Crossbow hand to draw the bowstring and Crossbows use the gap between the arrow The modern compound point and the target to aim. crossbow is a compound bow This aiming technique requires mounted on a rifle . The practice, but can result in quick stock, also called a tiller, uses a and quiet shots. Bowhunters who locking mechanism with a trigger use a traditional bow usually to shoot the arrow, also called a launch arrows with bare fingers “bolt” when used in a crossbow. or with a tab or finger glove. Modern recurve bows and Compound Crossbow bow, which means the longbows may be made with crossbow must have various laminated natural woods a much higher draw or may use a combination of weight to transfer the different materials including same amount of energy wood and fiberglass. Bows made to an arrow. For this of wood and natural composite reason, crossbows materials must be kept dry to may be equipped with prevent damage to the limbs Many of the parts included on specially designed cranks to pull and string. a compound bow also are used the string to full draw and in the Traditional bowhunters may on the compound crossbow, cocked position. make their own recurve and including sight systems such as The disadvantages of the longbows following the designs the telescopic scope and laser. compound crossbow are it is used by people who lived in The recurve crossbow is generally heavier, more clumsy ancient times. essentially a short recurve to handle and slower to fire, The recurve bow and longbow bow mounted on a rifle stock. especially in comparison with the are simple but effective hunting Compared to a compound recurve bow and longbow. tools. The recurve bow is capable crossbow, the recurve crossbow Many states and provinces of storing more energy in its limbs is quiet when fired than the longbow. At full draw it is because it does not slightly easier to hold and aim than have additional the longbow. mechanical devices. Because of its design, the compound Many traditional crossbow enables bowhunters a bowhunter to enjoy making use a draw weight their own bows. that is greater than any other type of bow. Also, once the crossbow string is Before hunting with a crossbow, check the local drawn and the firing regulations to determine if it is allowed and for mechanism cocked any educational and skill requirements. with an arrow in place, it can remain in that condition for a whole day are adopting regulations to of hunting. This fact, in addition allow hunting with a crossbow. to the use of a stock, trigger and It is becoming more popular sight system, provides support for with hunters who have physical more accurate shooting, especially disabilities as as older during cold weather. hunters, women and young The draw length for a people. The crossbow can be shot compound crossbow is much accurately with one hand while shorter than for a traditional mounted on a rest.

Take your Hunter Ed online & earn $100 in Rewards. Go to: www. Outdoorroadmap.com/HunterEd Lesson 3: Arrows Field Points Judo Heads In this lesson you will: Arrow tips that archers use mainly for target practice are called field points. Typically, they are made

Arrow Tip Shaft Nock or Broadhead twigs, which helps bowhunters retrieve an arrow that missed the Bows shoot arrows. The four of and have a rounded point. target. For that reason, judo points parts of the arrow are: Field points are the most accurate are effective for stump shooting. style of arrow tip. Weights for field Broadheads points vary from 100 to 180 grains. Blunts Broadheads Bowhunters want an arrow that Field Point flies accurately. The quality of the Blunts arrow’s flight to the target and the arrow’s impact on the target depend on the best combination of these four parts. Traditional broadheads for wooden arrow shafts are made Shaft The arrow shaft is a long slender bowhunters use for Modern broadheads are made stick that may be made of cedar target practice at tree stumps of . Bowhunters typically (for traditional bows only). It also use broadheads for hunting big may be a tube made of aluminum, Blunts may be made of rubber or game, such as deer and elk. The carbon fiber, or composite (for steel. Blunts made of rubber are broadhead must have a sharp, example, aluminum and carbon edge that is wide enough fiber), or fiberglass for . hunting because they stun the to shoot well and kill the game The other three parts of the arrow animal without passing through its animal quickly. are attached to the arrow shaft. The body. Steel blunts are preferred for The most humane place to shoot arrow shaft must be straight for stump shooting because they are a deer is in the area just above the accurate flight to a target. more accurate than rubber blunts heart, where the broadhead cuts and are easier to pull from rotting into both lungs and major blood Arrow tip or stumps and downed trees. vessels, causing a quick, clean kill. The front end of the arrow that A broadhead is designed to kill strikes the target when the arrow is Blunts animals through loss of blood. As launched from a bow is the arrow the animal loses blood, it becomes tip or arrowhead. Arrow shafts unconscious and dies. The faster may be equipped with one of four blood is lost, the faster this process different kinds of tips, each of occurs. A quick, clean kill is more which serves a different purpose. humane for the animal. It is also Important aspects of the arrow tip better for the bowhunter because are its design and weight. The four a good shot can result in spending types of arrow tips are: field points, less time tracking the animal. blunts, judo heads and broadheads. Judo Heads Broadheads may have two, Judo heads are steel arrow tips three or four edges that are that have a small, dull point with very tough and rubbery so it points are designed for hunting is important that broadheads small game and birds, such as grouse be extremely sharp. Some and pheasants. The blunt point broadheads have replaceable stuns the game animal. In flight, to make sure the edges judo points will catch on leaves and

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blades should be sharpened or Lesson 4: Safety Rules for replaced often. Bowhunting Broadheads come in a wide In this lesson you will: variety of styles for big game hunting, including fixed and bowhunting equipment. mechanically released blades. Also, there are broadheads specially bowhunting. Match arrows to the designed for turkey hunting. bow and the shooter. Proper Matching of Nock Bowhunting Equipment At the back end of the arrow is To shoot a bow safely and the nock. On traditional wooden accurately, you must have the arrows, this is a notch cut into equipment matched properly. the wood and reinforced with Match the Arrows sinew wrapped around the shaft to Each Other to prevent splitting. On modern arrow shafts, the nock is made of inserted into the shaft. The Match the Bow to the Hunter nock must be fitted to the arrow at The bow must fit the the right place in reference to the fletching. It must also be straight strength (how much draw weight and fit the bowstring. The nock can be pulled and held), and connects the bowstring to the shooting style (traditional or arrow. Its purpose is to hold the modern equipment). arrow on the bowstring until the arrow is launched. To shoot a bow Arrows are designed for specific Nock safely and accu- shooting purposes. Always match rately, you must arrows to the purpose for shooting. have the equipment Always use identical arrows. matched properly. Also, match all bowhunting equipment to the type of game hunted. For example, to hunt larger game, select a more powerful bow and arrows tipped with heavier Also at the back end of the Match the Arrows to the broadheads that penetrate the arrow is a set of three or four Bow and Shooter animal’s body, hit vital organs and matched fins or vanes. These The bow has a maximum draw blood vessels, and cause a rapid vanes are two to five inches long length. At full draw, energy stored bleed out. and attached at equal spaces. in the limbs will be transferred Traditional arrows use feather to the arrow when the bowstring Safety Principles for Archery fletching (for example, turkey wing is released. For safe and accurate Equipment primary feathers). Modern arrows shooting, the arrow must be of the Following are some general use plastic fletching. The purpose correct length for the bow and the safety principles that all of fletching is to quietly guide the shaft must have the correct spine bowhunters must learn and follow: arrow straight to the target. or stiffness. When the bowhunter releases the string, the transfer of Fletching energy causes the arrow to bend get sore, and if the shooting as it takes on this energy. Arrow stance is not correct when shafts are designed to take up the releasing the bowstring, it can energy without collapsing. How leave a nasty bruise on the accurately they fly depends on forearm that holds the bow. arrow length and weight, type of Bowhunters also may use an arrowhead, and type of release— mechanical or fingers. clothes up tight against the arm.

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2. Keep broadheads in a quiver tips to develop accurate archery and covered at all times when skills for bowhunting. not in use—they are designed Wear hunting clothes when to cut effortlessly through skin practicing. If the hunt will occur and tissue, and they will cut during cold weather, practice yours just as well as they will shooting while wearing those cut an animal’s. Always use thicker, bulkier clothes. a broadhead when Start out by shooting at spot Learning to judge distance changing arrowheads. targets, to develop accuracy. After takes practice. 3. Inspect the bow limbs, riser, becoming good at hitting the bowstring and cables (if so spots, change to targets without to simulate aiming at game. in the limb or riser or if a string or cable should break, set at varied distances out to the the bow limbs may actually maximum range for accurate kill to the ground as soon as they shatter, sending bits of wood or shots. are shot. After about 20 yards or Practice shooting in real so, arrows drop quickly and will and releasing the bow without an arrow). Doing so may shatter Practice shooting at 3-D targets the bow limbs causing injury to set at varied distances. you or another person nearby. Shooting a bow is best learned from an expert. In addition, special kinds of practice are needed to prepare for hunting in the field.

Practice, Practice, Practice A broadhead can’t work if it never reaches its target. Experts at archery clubs and archery shops can help you choose the right bow correct arrows, and broadheads match your arrows. To fly straight, hunting conditions. If possible, miss the target unless the archer broadheads must be mounted on shoot at a portable target from aims high. Archers need to know the shaft perfectly straight, but even the actual blind or treestand, to exactly how far away the target is that may not make them fly the duplicate terrain, weather, lighting to hit it. same way as your practice arrows. conditions, times of the day, body The farther away the target is, Tips for Archery Practice positions, etc. the more accurately the shooter When practicing, follow these Practice with broadheads before the hunting season. Broadheads often fly differently than field points. Use foam targets designed to stop broadheads. used blades before hunting.

Judging Distance Use practice arrows with It is important that bowhunters know how far away the target is. Shoot only out to 40 yards, taking into your skill as an archer. Arrows, like bullets, start falling account your personal limitations.

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must judge the range. At longer When distances, even a small error in bowhunting, the judging the range will cause a only place to shoot mere wound or a complete miss. an animal is in the For this reason, most bowhunters center of the chest. will not shoot more than 20 or The heart, lungs, 30 yards, depending on their liver and many shooting ability. major blood vessels Also, when practicing or are located here. A bowhunting in a wooded area, on solid hit in the chest the ground or from a treestand, area will almost take into account the arrow will always result in a fly up in an arc to the target when quick, humane kill the string is released. If there are and a good blood leaves, twigs or tree limbs in its trail to follow. Also, path, the arrow will likely ricochet the chest is larger and miss the target. If the arrow than any other part hits a limb, it could break up, of the body in most making a sound like a rifle shot. animals, so you have a bigger target to Shot Placement for aim at and a larger Bowhunting margin for error. When hunting with a , Because shot the animal may be hit a little placement is so

The best opportunity for a quick, clean kill is when the animal is broadside or quartering away slightly. The bowhunter should not take shots when the animal is facing directly toward or directly away. At these angles, the vital area is guarded by large bones (shoulder and leg bones in the front, and hip and leg bones in the back). When hunting from a treestand, don’t put the stand too high above the place where the animal will most likely approach. The bodies critical, bowhunters need to of most game animals (such as quickly. This is because bullets deer) appear very narrow from work differently than broadheads. is located when a game animal is above, which means the higher up When a bullet hits a target, it has so facing different directions. in a tree, the smaller the target area much energy that the shock of the is. Shooting straight down on an impact can be enough to kill the to hit is inside the animal, and animal also is not a good idea. The animals are continually moving large back bone that protects the and shifting position. Also, many spine covers a big portion of the When hunting with a bow and bowhunters hunt from treestands or vital area and may stop or deflect arrow, it is important to pick out the other elevated positions, which also the arrow. changes where the arrow must enter is a small margin for error. the body to hit the target.

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