Bowhunting

Say the phrase "against the wind" to most people and they'll think of a great Bob Seger tune.

Mention it to a bowhunter, however, and you are likely to hear a lecture of how critical wind direction is to success.

One day, two bow hunters, three deer down! In this episode, pro-staffer Kable McAlpine and son, Alec, bring home some venison for their Indiana freezer.  Plus: watch to see how the GrowingDeer team solved the problem of a hard to hunt field using Redneck Strategies along with more food plot tips. 

Bow hunting is a close game. You peer through the nearby maze of tree limbs and leaves and down into the brush below a tree stand, looking for a deer on a nearby trail, possibly pausing to feed on acorns, apples or other foods. Often times you can't see very far around you because of the dense early-fall vegetation.

I began hunting whitetails on public land when I was much younger. Being younger meant I had a lot more time to spend in the marsh and woods exploring the harder-to-get-to areas where I could escape the crowds.

While technically easy to prepare for, my first black bear bowhunt proved to be more of a lesson in black bear research than I imagined. Here are some basic pointers to help you prepare for your first bow hunt for black bear.

The evening sun made a soft halo over the combine as it penetrated the cloud of husk dust as the neighbor combed his corn field. It was November 6th, 2011, that I found myself situated at the base of a large ridge face with a lowland cedar swamp to my rear. I had an excellent view outward with a great backdrop to keep me hidden from being sky lined. Deer on the ridge above me would have a hard time seeing me with their elevated vantage point; I would be a blur in the poplars bordering the swamp below them and behind me.

Anyone who shoots a compound bow knows that a good sight is critical. Without it, you stand less of a chance of shooting tight groups or arrowing a deer in low light or at extreme ranges.