Hey guys, I’ve been bow hunting for 3 years now and have yet to be able to take a buck with my bow. I’ve let the small guys go holding out for something I’ll put on the wall. So, I’m looking for recommendations on a place I can go and get it done. I’d prefer free range and I’d really like to be able to shoot something 120-140. I’d appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks
Daniel

Only 3 years your still new to bow hunting.
Give it time and keep at it, with a lot of practice and even more luck, it could happen

to the forum

I will give you the same advice a friend gave me years ago. If you have never drawn on a buck, or anything for that matter, you don't know how much nerves play a part in making a good, ethical shot. You need to go on some doe hunts or someplace with lots of pigs and get some experience drawing and shooting on live game. That will give you the confidence you will need when one comes along that you really want that you can get the job done. Know which shot you can make and what shot angles not to take. Never force a bad shot.

^^^Good advice.
Welcome to our forum!!!!

I second this….only way to get good at killing animals with a bow is to kill a lot of animals with a bow.

I would go on some doe or pig hunts muy pronto and get a body count going

I appreciate the quick responses and everything that comes with it haha. I’ve killed a few does and a couple of pigs in SC when I was in a club. I started bow hunting up there and got the bug. I went to western Kansas the last 2 years on public and couldn’t make it happen. Last year it was my fault, this last year was just rough all the way around lol.

I’ve been hunting with my dad for as long as I can remember, I’ve shot some nice bucks over the years with a rifle and I’ve kinda lost interest with it. Like some of y’all have hinted with, that sensation of drawing down on a deer with a bow is something else.

I’m just ready to have the chance at something I’d want to tell the story about over and over again haha.

I lost count of the animals I’ve killed with a rifle, but it’s well over 100. Started bow hunting in earnest about 12 years. I can say I would have never been able to fully appreciate a bow kill if I have never rifle hunted.

Now have moved into traditional archery and have been able to kill a few does and have racked up plenty of misses, some on nice bucks. Would never been able to fully appreciate a trad harvest if it wasn’t for the compound bow.

Part of the hunting life journey, I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor

Thank you and congrats to you on taking that plunge into traditional. That is a challenge I don’t ever know if I’ll have the persistence to take haha. I would definitely like to just shoot for fun, but I get frustrated when they are out of range at 50+ yards

On a whitetail I won’t take a shot much past 25 yards with a compound bow. My bows are fairly fast too, shooting a hunting weight arrow at 280 fps.

IMO there is WAY too much that can happen at distances past 25 yards to make it worth it. My favorite shot is 17 yards. That is the range, when I can get it, I prefer the most. I’ve killed a pig at 53 and a pronghorn at 84 so I’m not a stranger to distance, but Texas whitetail are just too springy.

With a recurve, 12-15 yards is the ideal. I’ve passed up 18 yard shots because I wasn’t comfortable with the scenario at that distance.