by Kelly Sigler

Created on: August 03, 2008   Last Updated: August 04, 2008

The early morning sun shines brilliantly into the clearing, illuminating a large buck, mere feet from the hunter. His heart beats wildly in his chest, adrenaline pumping through his limbs as he nocks his arrow and slowly lifts his arm to take aim. As the hunter sights in on his target, imagining the exact location of the animal's heart, he draws back his arrow and lets out a breath to steady himself. The wind is in his favor, and the deer picks his way carefully through the trees, oblivious to the cautious hunter. He releases his arrow, letting it spin gracefully through the air, and prepares for the rush of excitement to come as he tracks his trophy buck through the forest.

If you haven't had this experience before, you haven't lived! Bowhunting can be an incredibly strenuous, exhilarating game of hide and seek, with the amazing highs to be gotten from a successful hunt, and the devastating lows of a missed shot. It's an addictive game, calling to us as the season nears. It is a sport that takes a considerable amount of skill and agility, and there are many tips and techniques available to help you improve your odds of getting a hit.

To become a successful bowhunter, you must learn to blend in with your environment almost as well as the trees themselves. Everyone knows to wear camouflage, but did you know that smoking or even drinking a cup of coffee before a hunt can make you as visible to animals as if you were waving a red flag in their faces? So unless you'll be meeting a good looking lady out there in the woods, just say no to cologne. Even scented deodorant can send those deer running. Besides camouflage and a lack of scent, your best bet to conceal yourself from game is a blind or stand. When using a blind, it's best to add some natural camouflage. A few well placed leafy branches can make all the difference between a successful blind and a failure.

Placement of your stand is of vital importance, as is reliable equipment. Just like their deer jerky, each hunter has a special recipe for success when placing his stands. As you're out scouting the area, keep in mind that the major trails you find aren't always going to yield the best game. Look for secondary trails that go through a bottleneck or corridor between two thickets, or a trail that leads right through some thick foliage. These will be your best bet for finding mature bucks or wild turkey. Place as many stands as you can to increase your chances of actually finding something to shoot, and as soon as a hot spot seems to cool, move to a different stand. Another ingredient for success is your equipment. Make sure that when hunting, especially in the Midwest, your bow and arrows are weather proofed and that you know how to adjust your bow and your aim to the weather, be it windy, rainy, or even snowing.

The most important aspects of bowhunting are to find a great ambush location, make sure you have reliable equipment, and above all, hunt smart. Smart hunters have respect for nature and other hunters, and know the rules of the game. As the season nears and that adrenaline gets pumping, remember these tips for a successful trip, and make the most of this incredible sport!

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