Let's say some of you bowhunting buddies are the typical, don't tune their bow, only target shoot the week before the season type. I have two friends that bowhunts that fit this excatly. One bought his bow at Cabelas where they likely didn't help him tune it. He only shoots the week before the season and doesn't do much shooting during the season. How do you handle it? I'm sure most of you know a bowhunter(s) like this simply because the majority of bowhunters are like this. Should I push my aggenda onto him and offer to help him tune or just leave him be?
Does he kill deer? Everyone handles these things a little different, but if it ain't broke... don't fix it. Would I go hunting without tuning my bow? Absolutely not. Do I encourage others to tune? Yes. Especially if they are having trouble shooting. You can take a horse to water... but you can't make him drink!
I personally know more than two but, there are only two I concern myself with at this time. One of which is my brother who hunts with me on my land. Last year he didn't touch his bow until the week before season started. The years prior, he didn't shoot it until then either. The difference from last season and all others is I had never shot a bow and when I did I was hooked. I got an old used bow and started practicing every chance I could which encouraged him to shoot between hunts when he was here and some when he was at home. Seamed he didn't want to be out shot by his older brother that had just started shooting. lol He harvested his first ever deer and it was with a bow last season. He had shot at more than 5 and missed everyone until he started practicing. I encourage him every chance I get to shoot more. Any time the subject of hunting comes up I just ask him, "Have you been shooting any lately?" If the answer is no then I simply make a comment like "don't you think you need to? Season is coming up soon." This usually gets him to shoot some. The other is a guy who is a life long friend of my brother and is wanting to hunt some with us this year. I know he never practices and in seasons past he has not even shot it unless it was at a deer. He has yet to harvest one with a bow after 6 bow seasons. I tuned it for him a few months back on my home range. I am going to press the issue with him practicing. He is not a good shooter at all and if he comes to hunt and doesn't pass the test, He won't be going into my hunting grounds. I know this may sound a little extreme but I have a lot of deer on my property and chances are really high of him seeing one. I don't want injured deer running around because I let an irresponsible "animal shooter" on my property.
Now that I would have an issue with and would be having a conversation with him. I would try to be kind but explain that wounding an animal when you haven't done everything in your power to avoid that is just unethical. That is a bummer to hear.
I only have one friend that bowhunts and I offer to help him tune, I offer to tune it for him. In the past I have even gone to his house, picked up his bow and brought it home to tune. Nowadays, I recommend he start shooting months ahead and he usually will, I also offer to help tune or tune it but that is where I leave it. I have found that bugging someone to do the right thing usually usually ends up reducing the amount of time they want to be near you :D.
First he must understand ethics and the importance of a well placed shot. If he did this and still doesn't practice, that just tells me he doesn't care. This is just me but, I wouldn't want to be in the woods with someone like that. I am huge on ethics and respect for the animals though. IMO, guys like this give anti hunters fuel to use against hunter.
I know exactly what you're saying... I do have a friend that is kind of like this. He's actually the one that got me started on bowhunting. We will go shoot occasionally, when he does, his sights are off and he's not very consistent. His main problem is that he doesn't really have the time. I just keep encouraging him to bring his bow over when he comes. When he does come, I will sometimes "check my tune". When I do, he will sometimes as well. Just think though, some hunters don't check their scope year to year...
If I go shooting with someone a week before hunting season and they can't hit the broadside of a barn, I have no problem in telling them what I think of their shooting. Of course, do everything in your power to make it a positive experience. If it's a friend you want to keep there shouldn't be an issue with airing your concerns. Unfortunately, there are more people I've stopped hunting with because of ethical issues than not.
Yes I do suggest it, but I'm not over bearing with it. I've gotten into conversation with many friends that bowhunt about having a well tuned rig...only to have it fall on deaf ears! There's actually a couple of shops locally that my buddies love to go to because "they know their stuff". One of the shop owners told my friend he didnt need field points because they wouldnt fly like broadheads. Personally I've only been impressed with one shop and its about an hour away. Not tuning or thinking tuning is simply adjusting the sights seems to be the culture in this area.
Different people have different ethics. What is ethical to one person might not be ethical to another. I am not one to tell other people how to hunt generally. I don't think the guy is hunting unethically. I know he has passed on iffy shots in the past and it takes a person with good intentions to do that. He just needs a nudge in the right direction. He wounded a deer. It can and does happen to the best bowhunters. Could he have done more to prepare? Yes. Could he have done less? You bet. Scary to say but he probably is still in the upper 1/2 of all bow hunters. There is a lot of scum in this sport I'm ashamed to say. Quite honestly, people that post and visit a site like this typically are in the top 5% of all bow hunters in doing things the right way. This is the cream of the crop really.
I have a brother that lost his hunting privalages on my property last year due to shooting a fawn. He shot it in the brisket with a shotgun. It was so small we didn't find it until it started smelling. To me that was enough to say he didn't give a sh** about the animals or preserving the herd here. So he had to go. It was harsh but, he knew how I would feel about this when he did it.
Seems like a lot of hunters own bows just to hunt the bow season until rifle season opens. I'm new to hunting but don't care to hunt with a rifle. I'd like to just spend more time bowhunting.
Unfortunately that is the case more than not. And now crossbows are legal here as well. That has opened the flood gates on guys that just want that extra month and a half to hunt. I personally will be only bow from now on.
I would just ask him if he wanted to come and do some shooting with you and say hey while your here why dont we tune your bow thats what I've done with a few of my friends. I'll give them a call like once a month to see if they want to hang out and do some shooting more often than not they will. I know they wouldnt shoot if I didnt ask them.
Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to say that your friend was unethical, just saying I've had to deal with that a lot.
I usually ask them if I can tune their bow for them. I think one year Rob and I (more Rob than I) tuned everyone of my friend's bows. I'd bring them up to Rob's and we'd get it spitting darts and then I'd help them resight later one.
No problem. I didn't take it that you thouht we is unethical. But I understand the concern he might not be ethical in the amount of prep he was doing.
I'd say most all of my bowhunting/fishing friends are far more into tuning bows than I am. Some are some are chronic tinkerers and others just switch from 3d to hunting and know what they want out of thier bows and how to get it. If I needed any major work done to my bow, I'd give it to Deb. She knows that stuff way better than I ever will. Fine tuning I usually do, since it seems to be hard for a righty to really dial in a lefty bow. Particularly since I shoot with rather weird form. I don't have any problem telling people they need some adjustments if I see their arrow doing weird stuff. (this is obvious in bowfishing) I have yet to see anyone take tuning advice as an insult. On the other hand, when I shoot with friends we regularly give each other motivational cheers such as.. 'You suck!' 'What are you aiming at?' etc... :D
Most of my very close bowhunting buds tune their bows or at least try keeping on top of It. One of my close friends doesn't and It shows with his penetration. He's complained about the penetration trouble and I've brought It up to him and told him what's wrong and what needs to be done but yet has he listened to me. I finally told myself the hell with It, I ain't saying nothing anymore If he ask's again. I can't stand It when someone ask's me for help but won't take the steps to then fix the Issue.
