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Hunting & Fishing First bow hunt.....Need advise

athanasios23

athanasios23

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 28, 2009
733
178
38
New York, USA
#1
Im going on my first bow hunt this year and just have a few questions. Im hunting my gf's fathers property which is leased to a farmer who grows corn on 20 of the 30 acres...I plan on setting up a ground blind along the tree line and hopefully catching deer as they move from the woods to the field which they feed on daily.

The ground blind I have has shoot through mesh on it..Does the mesh affect the flight of the arrow or does it just pass through the mesh like it is non-exsistant?

I am also using rage expanding broadheads. Will the blades expand when they hit the mesh?

Any info or experience will be appreciated...
 
#4
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

No personal experience shooting a compound launching device through mesh for hunting. However, have witnessed buddies launching 100gr fixed broadheads (Muzzy) thru meshed ground blinds using crossbows during 25yd shots to a field bag. Groupings with and without mesh were not measured.

On the research side, several broadhead manufacturers claim vis a vi videos and published data that mechanical (expanding) broadheads slice through blind mesh with little to no impact on flight performance.

IMHO, the POSSIBILITY exists for the mesh to partially expand (open) the mechanical blades & negatively impact the arrow fletchings. Check out www.americanhunter.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1687&cid=55. The article summarizes the test findings of shooting .308, shotgun, and arrows thru mesh. Bottom line: mesh affects arrow performance.

Not a compound bow user. Hunt on Lone Wolf "Assault" Hang-On Stand armed with a Scorypyd RDT-125 Crossbow with Gold Tip Laser II bolts (Q nocks) and 100gr RamCats broadheads. Whitetails beware!
 
#5
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

Do NOT NOT NOT shoot the mechanicals through the mesh especially a RAGE which have a hard enough time staying closed when just carrying them in the quiver.
 
#6
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

I have no experience with the mechanical s as they are illegal here, how ever its always a good idea to practice before you go out. You need to shoot through your blind to see whats going to happen. Just like sighting in and getting your bow tuned. If you are going to shoot at a deer through the blind, you need to practice shooting that way.

Speaking of practice, you cant do enough, especially if you are just getting into bow hunting.
I shoot at least 300 arrows per week starting 1-2 mo before the season.
 
#7
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

+ 1 on what ARP said . Wear your camo inside the blind and limit you movement . You should do fine if you due your part.Have a great hunt and good luck !
 
#8
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

Brush the blind in well, make sure it appears dark on the inside, wear black, and you shouldn't need mesh, especially if the deer have had some time to get used to it. I wouldn't shoot mechanicals through mesh, I've had blades come loose from weak rubber bands mid-flight on Rages and they did some funny things in the air.
 
#9
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

+2 on what ARP said. I had the misfortune of letting a big buck walk out of range last season due to a rage being all buggered up when I drew it back. They do a hell of job knocking them down but this season I'm switching to fixed. Anyway I wouldn't risk shooting them through the mesh. If It was me I would just camp up and take the mesh down and shoot through a hole/opening in the tent. You could always try it out and see.
 
#10
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

I had my blind set up in my yard last night and was practicing out of it. Granted it was only 25 yds, but there was no POI difference with or without the mesh up. During good light conditions I like the mesh, I feel it gives me a little more flexibility in movement. Lowlight I prefer no mesh, as it makes things a tad lighter in the blind IMO. I'd never take a 50yd shot from the blind, so I can't speak for POI differences out that far as I've never tested it.
 
#12
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

I would say try it and see. That way you know for sure what it's going to do with your exact setup. People can tell you their experiences but they may not be using the same equipment as you. Whatever it costs will be offset by knowing what's going to happen instead of wounding/losing an animal.
 
#13
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

As previously mentioned, put it out there at least 3 days before.

dont shoot mechanical heads through mesh

keep the back flaps closed and wear black
 
#15
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ARP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do NOT NOT NOT shoot the mechanicals through the mesh especially a RAGE which have a hard enough time staying closed when just carrying them in the quiver. </div></div>

2nd that!!!! Anything that can go wrong usually does and on a hunt- its the shits! I shot rage broadheads and I wouldn't trust them to pass through mesh without a blade getting flung out, sending your arrow on an erratic trip.

Watch your wind! It will be a deal killer before they ever spot you.
 
#16
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ARP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do NOT NOT NOT shoot the mechanicals through the mesh especially a RAGE which have a hard enough time staying closed when just carrying them in the quiver. </div></div>

I have to agree and honestly I wouldn't trust shooting a fixed head through the mesh.
 
#17
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

the rage's havea a high chance of opening shooting through the mesh. They're made to open relatively easy when they hit something... Ideally, the tip of the rage should open the mesh enough for the broadhead to clear, but it's just too much of a chance for something to go wrong.

pay attention to the wind. Ignore all the bullshit "scent killer" products out there. Use dirt to seal up the bottom of the pop up blind. Just pile it up 8-10 inches high all around the bottom of the blind. This will prevent air from having yet another avenue to pour out of the blind.

You want it to be dark as possible inside the pop up.. don't wear camo, wear black. The inside of the blind should be black, so should your cloths. Wear a black facemask too, as your face is probably the brightest thing inside the pop up. If there are any windows that you have no way to shoot out of, get some lack duct tape, and seal them up where no light can get in.

Shadows, bright spots, and you, are the worst things for that pop up.

Set it up as soon as possible so the deer get used to it. If you're going to hunt with the windows down, then leave the windows down all the time.

make sure there are no branches rubbing on the blind. They probably won't bother the deer, but they will bother you, and make you think they bother the deer, and sooner or later, they will rub a hole in the material.


 
#18
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

i would ditch the Rage broadheads, and get some Muzzys or Slick Tricks. Expanding broadheads lack penetration if you hit bone. The ones I mentioned will punch through a shoulder blade fairly easy, and not deflect off like the expandables. Scent is going to be your worst enemy hunting deer from a ground blind. It would be much better if you could get into a tree stand, ladder stand, or climber. If the ground blind is a must, pay very close attention to the wind, and know where your scent is going to travel.
 
#19
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

I have used Rage broad heads before, as previously stated they are prone to deploying if jostled around. That being said they are more accurate in my crossbow than any others I have tried. Definitely would shoot through the mesh many times at a target before letting one fly at a deer.
 
#20
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

And remember if you get hooked on bowhunting and your hunt proves to be successful and the land produces some nice deer you may want to think about keeping your GF around for a while....
 
#21
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

I'd recommened shooting fixed blade too, just make sure your bow shoots them well. It's not uncommon at all to have a fixed blade have a different point of impact from a field point if your bow isn't tuned just right.

I shot a deer last year with a 2 blade rage, and it went in, hit the shoulder on the opposite side, and came back out the same side it went in.

very dead deer since the broadhead ripped him a new one, but there was no blood trail due to having no exit hole...
trailing deer in south texas with no blood trail sucks.
 
#23
Re: First bow hunt.....Need advise

Wear a black top and black ninja mask inside the blind. Leave the shooting window open. Brush in the blind for deer. You ain't got to do a darn thing for turkeys they are stupid critters and see in 2D. As for mechanicals, I am a huge fan of the Grim Reapers. Fixed blade then Muzzy gets my vote.
 
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