To be a successful bow hunter, consistency is the name of the game. Being prepared may be the difference between success and failure.

There are many things to account for when it comes to bow hunting: You start with your marksmanship, and you then move to stand set up. Clothing and gear cleaning, scent elimination, and storage then soon to follow.

Your archery skills are the first thing you should address before you attempt to bow hunt. You should be pulling your bow out in the spring and shooting on a regular basis to develop a shooting style that is comfortable for you. Remember to relax your grip on the bow, gently squeeze the trigger, and follow through on the shot. A bow sling will allow you to shoot the bow with an open grip. This will prevent you making a poor shot, because you squeeze the bow on release, and torque it without one. A smooth trigger pull is also important. Put your sight on the target, and slowly apply pressure on the trigge, with the sight radiating around the center. The shot should surprise you as it breaks. This is the feeling of a perfect shot. If you punch your trigger, you will be pulling your bow off the target with the shot. With a relaxed hand, the bow will smoothly rock forward on the release. Only grab the bow once the arrow has hit the target. This will ensure you are doing nothing to shake or cant your bow on the shot.

You must then determine your maximum effective range. Shoot targets and site in, out to your farthest sight pin. Shoot ten arrows. If any of them get outside of a six-inch circle, you will be risking a bad shot on an animal if you try a shot at that distance. Set up your stand sites to suit your personal shooting distance. This will help you prevent making a poor shot.