Ask a water foul hunter or look up mudder boots... OR Scroll up, back to the posted pics of cranes and hunt them in those types of terrain. Study well shot placements to midigate fly and run aways. There may even be videos if not watch turkey bow hunting videos on shot placement. Study crane anatomy. THERE ARE MANY MANY THINGS US BOW HUNTER HAVE TO BECOME WELL VERSED IN , BESIDES EQUIPMENT. This is why some, not all, have issues with cross bow hunters that have never been taught to bow hunt.
With all due respect, bow hunting is a challenge, especially traditional archery. I have bowhunted for 30 years. I shoot a compound and it's no walk in the park. I spent one entire year shooting and hunting with a recurve bow. I was not successful. Meaning I did not take any game , I missed a deer and injured a deer ..I practiced a lot. A whole lot. My suggestion is to not concern yourself with the hunting part of this yet. Get the bow you want and become absorbed with archery. Learning to shoot, judge yardage, proper form. Then when you have gotten proficient, start your hunting journey. The only way to become a great bowhunter is to make mistakes and learn from them. No internet forum, youtube, or books can teach you woodsmanship. It comes with years of trial and error and success. Be patient, be a sponge for everything bowhunting. This is a lifestyle, not a fad or something you just " get into".. bowhunters are a different breed, there is a connection between the woods and your soul...let it happen on it's own. This is the one thing in this modern world that you can't take a short cut in..
You're absolutely right, I should focus on developing my skill with my bow first. You have my word, sir. I will take my leave from this forum and pursue archery, and become the absolute BEST damn archer I can be! I will return with proof of my skill development for you to judge in the near future, and with other questions pertaining to surviving in the wilderness.
No need to leave the forum my friend. You can learn a lot here, but there is no substitute for the real life situations. You don't need to prove anything to anyone. and any one that judges you is an ass. Bowhunting is a personal deal. Hunt the way you learn and the environment that surrounds you. Everyone of us have failed in this game at some point...more than once. But if you are a true bowhunter at heart, it will never leave you. You will understand that one day. I promise.
Damnit Vab quit scaring away the noobs. The vets of the forum learned long ago what my opinions worth and quit asking questions.
Followed pretty much the same path as okiebob. It is good advice. Got a samick sage with a 30lb draw, then purchased a 40lb set of limbs when I was proficient enough to hunt. I haven't connected with a deer yet with my recurve. But there is always next year. Have you considered a compound bow? The learning curve is not quite as steep. But hunting whitetails is still a challenge with any bow.
As far as hunting and retrieving game in a marshland goes, I can't help you there. Never hunted that type of terrain. I think it would be best to seek out someone local who actually hunts that area. If there is a pro shop nearby, I am sure you will find someone who can offer some helpful advice. And like Vabowmen said, feeling over your head is okay! Best way to learn is to get out there.
I would recommend that you get a Mission Switch. They run in the area of $400.00. You can easily adjust poundage and draw length. Most compounds only have about a 10# weight change so if you get a 35# draw more than likely you end up at a high draw weight of #40's. Missions go up to 60 or 70# not sure. You will also need a rest my favorite is a QAD drop away around $100 then you will need a bow quiver, arrows, lighted nocks 3 for around $30.00 and I highly recommend a caliper release for beginners, hunting points a good cheap reliable head is a NAP Thunderhead about $30.00 for 6 heads. bow case, peep site and d loop, silencers and finally s bow sight ($50-$125) should be adequate make sure it is a lighted sight. If you are hunting Sandhills them you might be inside a blind and often it is dark and hard to see sights that are not lite.. 35# will kill a deer if a good hit is made but I recommend not hunting deer with less than 50#s. You want the arrow to pass completely thru the deer so you have a exit hole for blood. I was shooting my bow at 70# never had a hit deer go more than 150 yards. I have gotten older and now it is at 60#. Now at 72, 60# is getting hard so I am forced to purchase a new bow or change the limbs. I would recommend that you work out some kind of packaged deal when purchasing all these things together based on what I have shared you will spend around $750 for new. or try to find a good used compound all set up for around $400 -$500 with draw weight that is from 50 - 60#
Do you want to eat sandhills or shoot a bow? Most effective cheapest weapon if you want to eat and be a sportsman a single shot hinge action 12 gauge is crude but effective. I would not use a bow to hunt a bird that has endurance flight capabilities like a goose or a sandhill. Nobody wants to see a bird fly away out of site with an arrow sticking in it.
