Bowhunting is an exhilarating and millennium’s old sport. In every civilization since the creation of bows, bowhunting has been seen as an art of the strongest, most agile, and most enduring individuals. Just like the hunters themselves, bows must as well be strong, agile, flexible, and should all have the ability to work in all kinds of environments and never fail to serve the hunter.
Whether it is by being insidious while stalking prey and firing with virtually making no sound. As any sound in that situation can alert the prey, and make it run away at the last second.
The situation can also be in a rainy climate, where the grip of the bow needs to be sturdy enough to not get by the lack of friction because of the falling water. The bow should also be able to give you a sleek and fast draw so that you can fire at a moment’s notice in the times of urgent action.
The bow is not just a weapon, but an extension of you. It is a limb that you add and masters with every shot. You should be able to control the strength you put inside every shot and also understand the mechanics of aiming.
The bow must be flexible enough to not break under the tension of your string, but at the same time, should be strong enough to handle the stress. The bow must be light enough to be carried on your back but heavy enough to give you a powerful shot.
The arrows must be selected according to the bow, and according to your need. The bow that works with small woodland creatures, will not work with large wild beasts, and will only make them charge at you.
The bow’s agility also depends on the nature of the material it is made up of, wood, fiberglass, and carbon are the most preferred materials, but not the extent of the option.
In this article, we explain all you need to know to get started with bowhunting, including; parts of a bow, understanding bowhunting, types of bows, and the conclusion.
Parts of a Bow
A bow in the traditional sense only has two parts, the spine, and the string. But the modern bows also come with removable parts in the form of Takedown bows, and so they can be divided into four different parts:
Limbs:
There are two limbs in a bow. These are the upper limb and the lower limb. They can differ in different types of bows but are usually made to curve under the stress of the string so that strong arrow launches can be done.
Riser:
Risers are the middle parts of the bow, which the limbs attach to. The riser is where you hold the bow with. They are strong and rigid and should have a strong grip. They also help you aim and balance the arrow before firing.
Stabilizer:
The stabilizer is a rather modern part of the bow, used in contemporary archery events. They are long sticks that help stabilize your bow and hence, giving you a better and more accurate shot.
String:
The Bow String is the most essential part of the bow. They have to be flexible, strong, and elastic. They attach to the limbs and bend them under pressure and are used to fire the arrows.
Understanding Bowhunting
Bowhunting is the sport of hunting game animals. Game animals today are the animals that are free from government regulations and therefore are game for hunting for sport.
In history, bowhunting has been the most preferred method of past time. Kings and nobles enjoyed the sport and took great pride in their hunts. But today, they are used to fund wildlife reserves in poor countries.
Like in Africa, where bowhunting is legal and is commercialized, this is where seasonal hunters visit, pay for being allowed to hunt, and the money from the hunt is sent to develop wildlife reserves where endangered species can thrive without any human intervention.
For ages, bowhunting has been a way of humans connecting back into our animalistic origins. It lets us understand our mortalities and makes us respect the animals and owe them the sustenance they provide us.
All you need is your bow, your quiver full of arrows, and a bag of essential supplies, and you can go out in the jungles and woods to be part of the natural law. It is as dangerous as it was all those years ago, but once you survive and conquer, you come out stronger, grown, and respectful.
But, if you are a novice, and have never held a bow in your life, then it is advised that first, you should take professional help and hunt only under the supervision of a seasonal hunter.
Types of Bows
Now four types of bows are used for Bowhunting, and here they are:
Longbows:
Longbows are the traditional bows, which have never changed in the way they look. The materials they are used in creating them have turned from wood to fiberglass, but the look and the power remain the same.
Crossbows:
Crossbows are the semi-automatic bows, which reload themselves. You do not even need to pull the trigger, as the trigger does it on its own.
Their bows are shorter in length than traditional bows, but that also gives them more agility. The only setback is that they make a click sound while corking, which can work against you during the hunt.
Compound Bow:
Compound bows are the kind of bows that use a leverage system by using pulleys on the string and hence bending the limbs of the bow even further. These are very popular among long-range archers, as the increased stress provides powerful shots.
Recurve Bow:
Recurve bows are the bows that are much like longbows, except the limbs of either tip of their limbs are curved. This curving provides the string to stay in a stable position for longer and hence giving sturdier and faster shots.
Conclusion
The key points to remember before starting on Bowhunting are:
- Consult professionals and learn archery if you are a novice.
- Do plenty of research on your body type and strength level and hence the corresponding bow you will need.
- Choose the type of bow that fits best with you.
- First, begin hunting alongside professionals.
- Slowly build up your level and then begin your solo adventures.
Good luck!
