Bow Hunting

Bowhunting can be summed up as a game of details. What separates a successful bowhunter from one who returns empty-handed is often the attention paid to detail before, during, and after the hunt. From picking out and tuning your bow to learning how to hunt mature whitetails without being detected.

ABOUT WHITETAIL DEER

As the most sought after game animal in North America, the Whitetail Deer has always intrigued both hunters and non hunters alike. Today, the whitetail, is the most widespread deer in the world. Scientists recognize 30 whitetail subspecies in North and Central America, and another 8 in South America. North America's whitetail population is estimated at 20-25 million animals.
The whitetail is by far the most popular game in the U.S., chased by some 11 million hunters each fall.

Deer usually inhabit a relatively small home range, until harsh weather conditions
force them to temporarily move elsewhere. Thus, deer in northern states have larger home ranges, since the winters are often long and brutal. Some northern deer travel 50 miles or more to suitable winter ranger. Weather is not the only factor that impacts on a herd's home range. For example, most whitetails in Colorado or Kansas have larger home ranges than deer in Virginia or Alabama. Out West, the habitat is more sprawling and open and the doe densities are not as high as in the Southeastern states. Thus, western deer are forced to move longer distances to feed, bed and breed.

The lifespan of a whitetail is 11 to 12 years (17 to 20 years in captivity). But most free-roaming deer never live that long; they are hit by cars, succumb to disease, killed by predators or shot by hunters. In heavily hunted areas, many bucks live only 1½ or 2 ½ years. Deer grow to about 6 feet long and stand 3 to 4 feet high. They are reddish or grayish in color, depending on their habitat and the time of year. The weight of whitetails varies, from 100 to more than 300 pounds.

Bow hunting for deer a real challenge

By Dennis Pirch

Believe it or not, it’s archery deer season again in the northern section of Arizona, which includes the Payson area units 22 and 23.
Unsuccessful January archery hunters can use that same tag for the three-week season that is currently under way. Arizona has a very generous split season in most units where an archer may spend as many as 50 days in pursuit of a whitetail or muley.
The many variables in bow and arrow deer hunting make the sport a real challenge to the most seasoned woodsman.
My limited experience of less than 10 years as an archer has revealed that the deer definitely have the advantage, at least when I am in pursuit. I have found that the best way to improve the odds is by spending time in the deer’s domain trying to learn their daily patterns when they are most active. Taking advice from other hunters who seem to tag a trophy deer every season can help teach those with less experience.
The Payson area has a phenomenal number of excellent archery deer hunters who are willing to share some of their tips of success, if asked. Well, I picked three and asked each for some advice they would be willing to share with other hunters. I found that the answers varied and all the tips would be stored in my aging brain for future use.
Mark Kile, who has taken three, trophy whitetail in the 100-inch range or better with his bow commented, “The early season with scorching daytime temperatures means water is the ticket. Being willing to sit or stand for hours on end will give a hunter opportunities to see deer and maybe that big one will show.”
Caleb Miller, another successful archer said, “Preseason scouting is a must. In the Arizona heat, the early morning and late afternoon is that window of time when deer are on the move. It is necessary to be in position with a pair of quality binoculars glassing all the haunts where that big buck might be living.”
John Ewing of Tonto Basin has a number of trophy animals because of his confidence at taking those long shots with his bow. His advice is, “Practice at various distances when at the range. Daily practice when possible increases that accuracy which is so important in all hunting. With the high-tech bows on the market it is possible to make that 100-yard shot if the archer has the confidence, which is created by having repeated that shot several times during practice sessions.”
The Payson area is a hotbed of successful archery hunting which attracts some of the best sportsmen in the West. Their knowledge of bow and arrow hunting would fill volumes of books on the subject.
If you have questions like I do, ask some of the locals and numerous names will surface that are successful with the “string and a stick.”
There is one week left in the early archery season. You still have time to purchase that over-the-counter tag and head to the woods.
Remember, safety and hunter etiquette goes a long way in promoting the great sport of archery hunting.
This weekend enjoy our Rim Country — God’s creation.

Five men plead guilty to trespass, hunting charges

MUSCATINE, Iowa — Five area men pleaded guilty this week to trespass and hunting violations on private property northwest of West Liberty on Dec. 13, 2008.According to a release from the Department of Natural Resources: Russell Stagg, 53, West Liberty, will pay a $182 fine and $1,500 civil penalty for unlawful possession of a deer.

Mark Stagg, 26, West Liberty, will pay a $182 fine and $1,500 civil penalty for unlawful possession of a deer.

Kenneth Meyer, 64, Lone Tree, will pay a $260 fine for trespassing. Andrew Meyer, 25, Lone Tree, will pay a $260 fine for trespassing.Eric Kirkpatrick, 39, Nichols, will pay a $260 fine for trespassing.

The men were charged by DNR following an investigation of hunters trespassing in Wapsinonoc Township during the second Iowa shotgun deer hunting season.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety and Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.

* * * Deer hunting season opens

It is finally that time of the year again for Georgia hunters. Firearms deer season opened Saturday, Oct. 18 and goes through Jan. 1 in the Northern Zone and Jan. 15 in the Southern Zone. Last year, more than 276,000 licensed hunters harvested over 300,000 deer.

"Regulated hunting is the most cost effective and efficient means of managing the deer herd," says John Bowers, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division assistant chief of Game Management. "In addition, sportsmen and women provide more than $30 million each year to fund wildlife conservation in the state through license fees and selfimposed excise taxes collected on the purchase of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and fishing equipment."

The division manages more than 90 wildlife management areas, comprising nearly one million acres of public hunting opportunities. For just $19/year, resident hunters can purchase a WMA license and hunt on these lands. Georgia's WMAs provide a variety of hunting options, including archery, primitive weapons, modern firearms, adultchild hunts, ladies-only hunts and hunts for the physically disabled.

"The annual WMA license is a bargain for deer hunters," says Senior Wildlife Biologist Brandon Anderson. "It is the best value hunting club in the state of Georgia - nearly one million acres of land for $19 a year."

All hunters should read the 2008- 2009 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations annual guide, available
at www.gohuntgeorgia.com or
* * * from license agents, for any special
county regulations, including eithersex days and antler restrictions and for specific WMA regulations.

All of Georgia's public lands open to hunting are mapped out as a line map, topographical map and a color infrared map (with many larger areas divided up by tract for easier
viewing) and now are easily
* * *
accessible online at
www.gohuntgeorgia.com . Search for maps by their geographic location or alphabetically by the name of the Wildlife Management Area, Natural Area or Heritage Preserve. These newly updated maps should serve as an excellent resource for hunters looking to plan their trips.
The season bag limit remains at 10 antlerless deer and two antlered bucks. One of the two bucks must have at least four points (one inch or longer) on one side of the antlers. There are no other statewide antler restrictions. All deer hunters must wear at least 500 square-inches of fluorescent orange above the waist to legally hunt during firearms season, except on archery-only areas.

Deer hunters using modern firearms must possess a valid hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record. If hunting on a WMA, hunters also must possess a WMA license. Hunting licenses are available online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com, at over 1,000 license agents or by calling 1-888-748-6887.