As a former Bowhunting Educator for NHFG, August is a great time to sharpen your bow shooting skills. Three D archery is a great way to prep for bowhunting. See Granite State Archery for the 3D schedule. If you haven’t begun sharpening your archery shooting skills for hunting, now is the time. Bowhunter Education classes should be available from NH Fish and Game. You have just over a month to tune up as it were for early season whitetails.

I usually do not hit the woods with bow till October. Primary to preparation for hunting is to get your arms in shape and regularly shoot your bow. And working on your tree stand climbing skills for safety. Be sure that you use and know how to use your tree harness correctly so that you do not become a statistic. This is perhaps where most accidents occur, falling out of your tree stand.

I am not going to touch on arrow spine (stiffness) but with a heavier broadhead than your 100 or 125 grain field points you may need a stiffer hunting arrow, so be aware. There are 200 grain and heavier broadheads out there. I am shooting 2018 xx75 Easton aluminum shafts with a 45lb recurve. This shaft can handle my 100g Muzzy broadheads and even two blade head like the Zwickey’s with a helical feather fletch.  Most compound bow hunters are mixed when it comes to broadheads. Some love the mechanical heads, some love the cut on contact traditional heads. You must choose wisely.  Heavier draw weight bows can drive the mechanical heads to open more easily than lighter bows. I am a cut on contact hunter and like fixed blade styles. I took 100 grain 4 blade Muzzy heads to Africa and on an elk hunt as well as deer. I love the trocar tip because it in perfect alignment with the shaft and cuts on contact. Bad to the Bone, they say!  With a 72 pound compound I had pass thru’s on every hit.

This little 6 point came in to a fawn bleat here in New Hampshire a few years back. I love to hunt with both rifle and bow. Just remember August is for Archery!

Good Hunting!

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