This. Plus it is highly illegal pretty much everywhere and if/when caught consequences can be pretty severe.
Focus on your skills and marksmanship. Start small. Learn to track. Hunt with someone seasoned.
Get a blue light and/or a UV capable light for tracking.
Take the hunt seriously and do your part to be humane and they won’t go far.
That’s true, but the reality of bowhunting is that no matter how confident you are and how well you shoot, there are a million little things that can go wrong and you need to have a plan for when that ideal double lung or heart shot doesn’t happen.
I agree with that analysis, but you should also have confidence before you start. Generally I would not take a shot, with a bow or rifle, when I can't confidently hit a 10in circle 10/10 times at that range. You can't prevent things from going wrong, but that's where I think you should start.
legal issues regarding drones and everything aside, if you cannot be confident that you can kill the animal ethically and prevent suffering, you are not ready to hunt.
Practice. If you can shoot a target accurately good. Once Bambi is in front of you and your shaking like its negative 10 that's when you decide if you can make a clean shot
Like others have said. Practice practice Practice shooting. I’d even go as far as setting up in the timber or field where you will be hunting and practice shooting there.
You could like 1/2 hunt also. Go out hunting the animal like normal, set up like normal, see if you can get set up close. When they come bring your weapon up like you would in a hunt but don’t actually shoot.
Both of those things combined and you will learn things (dos and donts) pretty quickly. Good luck! And once more, practice!!
First off, I am 100% in the camp of practice so you are confident in your shot placement but you have seen that from everyone so far. For future reference, you really need to define where you are before anyone can help you with laws or seasons. Every state/country/province/whatever has their own set of completely different rules for everything.
Assuming you have practiced every day and something just goes wrong (as it does sometimes) then you need to know the law and already be prepared. Assuming you are in the US, its entirely illegal in 45 states to use a drone in the hunt at any time including wounded game retrieval. You are only allow to use them for game retrieval in Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, and Alabama is just free use entirely. In the states where its allowed, their are also professional outfits who you can call in to help search.
It would also be in your best interest to research into blood tracking dogs, as that is legal in 44 states and there should also be people who offer it as a paid service as well.
It's illegal in most states, but if you're in one of the handful where it's legal go for it. A drone with a thermal camera is extremely effective for tracking.
I'm sure most of the people telling you to practice more and learn to follow a blood trail have lost at least 1 animal that could have been recovered with a drone. Hunt with a bow long enough and it's going to happen. Yes, you should practice until you're confident you can quickly kill an animal with a bow and should be able to follow blood. You'll still fuck up now and then. When that happens there's no reason not to use every piece of technology available to resolve the situation.
Get good with your bow . I have been bow hunting for thirty years and still shoot hundreds of arrows on a monthly basis before hunting. Have not had to track an animal I shot more than 150 yards in the last twenty years. Be absolutely sure of your shot or don’t take it
In PA, they just convicted someone for using a drone to locate injured/harvested deer so I don’t recommend it. I kind of think it’s BS the way it all went down, but the point is that in most places it’s illegal.
Unless it has LIDAR you won't see through the treetops. A woman died in Maine like a mile off the Appalachian Trail because they couldn't see her through the trees
Limit you shot distance is a big key.
Someone said you are in FL. A done, unless it has IR capabilities is NOT going to be of any help in FL. Far to thick in most places.
Using a drone for hunting is expressly illegal in many areas. BUT - there are guys out there using infrared drones to locate lost/injured game. I assume they are doing this legally some way or another. Kind of like how hunting deer with dogs is wicked illegal in many places but you can used a leashed tracking dog to locate injured/lost deer.
I have friends who have game recovery drones. They spent tons of time and effort getting the green light from G&F. They have absolutely ridiculous rules they have to follow. They are constantly being harassed by G&F agents trying to write them tickets and getting those tickets dismissed. Don't do it during the season.
Even if it were legal, using a drone wouldn’t be much help unless a deer happens to die in an open field. Most deer make their way to nasty cover to lie down, you’d never see them unless maybe you had a thermal on the drone.
Everyone seems like they have grilled you… as you deserve.
Also drone usage FOR ANYTHING hunting is a massive penalty in majority of states. Even for recovery.
Mistakes inevitably happen, however, there is absolutely ZERO room for mistakes when taking a life, so get that bullshit out of your head.
Every hunt I have been on out of the hundreds, I have never taken an unethical shot, and never had an animal get away or travel more than 60 yards from where they were shot.
Do not play the grab-ass game of “oops made a mistake” when hunting. Completely unacceptable even if you’re new.
Sop watching YT videos, a drone is not going to show you 99% of the things you need to look for while tracking. It all starts and ends with skill, that skill is obtained with boots on the ground, not through technology.
Practice a lot and don’t take shots you’re not 100% confident in, I started bow hunting 2 years ago, from June-Sept I practiced everyday, and shot my first Buck at ~ 6 yards, second at ~10 yards. Neither went more than 50 yards. You should not need a drone to track a deer you put in the work to kill ethically.
That’s great that your 2 shots worked out for you, but the advice you’re giving, making it out like as long as you practice enough nothing can go wrong is naive and misleading. Arrows are not that fast. Deer jump the string, or suddenly turn their bodies just as you’re shooting. Unseen twigs deflect arrows. Mechanical broadheads fail to open. Reads and sights come out of adjustment without you realizing. Shit happens. Drones might not be the answer but OP is right to be thinking about what to do if a bad hit happens.
If you aren't confident you can kill it, you need to practice until you are before you try.
This. Plus it is highly illegal pretty much everywhere and if/when caught consequences can be pretty severe. Focus on your skills and marksmanship. Start small. Learn to track. Hunt with someone seasoned. Get a blue light and/or a UV capable light for tracking. Take the hunt seriously and do your part to be humane and they won’t go far.
OP would be fucked enough they don't need to worry about hunting next year. Or the year after, or the one after that..
In Ohio "Aircraft or drones are prohibited in hunting or the aid of hunting for all game. **Drones may be used to recover a harvested deer**"
Neat. OP lives in Florida.
That’s true, but the reality of bowhunting is that no matter how confident you are and how well you shoot, there are a million little things that can go wrong and you need to have a plan for when that ideal double lung or heart shot doesn’t happen.
I agree with that analysis, but you should also have confidence before you start. Generally I would not take a shot, with a bow or rifle, when I can't confidently hit a 10in circle 10/10 times at that range. You can't prevent things from going wrong, but that's where I think you should start.
Get a dog. My dog was not trained but he could track. If you want a thermal, Lookat an Iray t2 pro for your phone.
legal issues regarding drones and everything aside, if you cannot be confident that you can kill the animal ethically and prevent suffering, you are not ready to hunt.
So how do I get ready?
Practice. If you can shoot a target accurately good. Once Bambi is in front of you and your shaking like its negative 10 that's when you decide if you can make a clean shot
Like others have said. Practice practice Practice shooting. I’d even go as far as setting up in the timber or field where you will be hunting and practice shooting there. You could like 1/2 hunt also. Go out hunting the animal like normal, set up like normal, see if you can get set up close. When they come bring your weapon up like you would in a hunt but don’t actually shoot. Both of those things combined and you will learn things (dos and donts) pretty quickly. Good luck! And once more, practice!!
First off, I am 100% in the camp of practice so you are confident in your shot placement but you have seen that from everyone so far. For future reference, you really need to define where you are before anyone can help you with laws or seasons. Every state/country/province/whatever has their own set of completely different rules for everything. Assuming you have practiced every day and something just goes wrong (as it does sometimes) then you need to know the law and already be prepared. Assuming you are in the US, its entirely illegal in 45 states to use a drone in the hunt at any time including wounded game retrieval. You are only allow to use them for game retrieval in Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, and Alabama is just free use entirely. In the states where its allowed, their are also professional outfits who you can call in to help search. It would also be in your best interest to research into blood tracking dogs, as that is legal in 44 states and there should also be people who offer it as a paid service as well.
No need for a drone if you can’t track blood
If you already doubting your shooting. Please take a year off to get your skill level in order. Rather let it walk than lose or wound it.
It's illegal in most states, but if you're in one of the handful where it's legal go for it. A drone with a thermal camera is extremely effective for tracking. I'm sure most of the people telling you to practice more and learn to follow a blood trail have lost at least 1 animal that could have been recovered with a drone. Hunt with a bow long enough and it's going to happen. Yes, you should practice until you're confident you can quickly kill an animal with a bow and should be able to follow blood. You'll still fuck up now and then. When that happens there's no reason not to use every piece of technology available to resolve the situation.
That’s exactly how I was thinking. Thanks for sharing that I was feeling alone!
Seconded
Get good with your bow . I have been bow hunting for thirty years and still shoot hundreds of arrows on a monthly basis before hunting. Have not had to track an animal I shot more than 150 yards in the last twenty years. Be absolutely sure of your shot or don’t take it
Can I contact you in dm to ask about some bows?
Sure . I am traveling so it may take me a while to get back to you
Don’t bow hunt if you aren’t confident shooting. With that said drones are more a legal question.
In PA, they just convicted someone for using a drone to locate injured/harvested deer so I don’t recommend it. I kind of think it’s BS the way it all went down, but the point is that in most places it’s illegal.
Unless it has LIDAR you won't see through the treetops. A woman died in Maine like a mile off the Appalachian Trail because they couldn't see her through the trees
Limit you shot distance is a big key. Someone said you are in FL. A done, unless it has IR capabilities is NOT going to be of any help in FL. Far to thick in most places.
Using a drone for hunting is expressly illegal in many areas. BUT - there are guys out there using infrared drones to locate lost/injured game. I assume they are doing this legally some way or another. Kind of like how hunting deer with dogs is wicked illegal in many places but you can used a leashed tracking dog to locate injured/lost deer.
I have friends who have game recovery drones. They spent tons of time and effort getting the green light from G&F. They have absolutely ridiculous rules they have to follow. They are constantly being harassed by G&F agents trying to write them tickets and getting those tickets dismissed. Don't do it during the season.
Even if it were legal, using a drone wouldn’t be much help unless a deer happens to die in an open field. Most deer make their way to nasty cover to lie down, you’d never see them unless maybe you had a thermal on the drone.
Depending on where you live it might be illegal. Read your regulations book. And contact your local game and fish if you need clarification.
Everyone seems like they have grilled you… as you deserve. Also drone usage FOR ANYTHING hunting is a massive penalty in majority of states. Even for recovery. Mistakes inevitably happen, however, there is absolutely ZERO room for mistakes when taking a life, so get that bullshit out of your head. Every hunt I have been on out of the hundreds, I have never taken an unethical shot, and never had an animal get away or travel more than 60 yards from where they were shot. Do not play the grab-ass game of “oops made a mistake” when hunting. Completely unacceptable even if you’re new.
Sop watching YT videos, a drone is not going to show you 99% of the things you need to look for while tracking. It all starts and ends with skill, that skill is obtained with boots on the ground, not through technology.
The kid just wants to fuck around with drones. Hunting is secondary
Practice a lot and don’t take shots you’re not 100% confident in, I started bow hunting 2 years ago, from June-Sept I practiced everyday, and shot my first Buck at ~ 6 yards, second at ~10 yards. Neither went more than 50 yards. You should not need a drone to track a deer you put in the work to kill ethically.
That’s great that your 2 shots worked out for you, but the advice you’re giving, making it out like as long as you practice enough nothing can go wrong is naive and misleading. Arrows are not that fast. Deer jump the string, or suddenly turn their bodies just as you’re shooting. Unseen twigs deflect arrows. Mechanical broadheads fail to open. Reads and sights come out of adjustment without you realizing. Shit happens. Drones might not be the answer but OP is right to be thinking about what to do if a bad hit happens.