Pennsylvania is embarking on its 75th statewide archery season.<\/p>\n
First launched in 1951, Keystone state hunters have been toting stick and string in pursuit of whitetails, and modern archers have plenty of choices when it comes to gear.<\/p>\n
For instance, bowhunters must determine if they\u2019d like to hunt with a crossbow, compound bow or traditional recurve\/longbow. A reputable archery shop is an important place to start, but finding a willing mentor or introductory class to learn is even better. Whatever type of bow one chooses be sure it has everything required to operate properly, including a quiver to hold arrows or bolts. Compound and traditional bows shoot arrows, while crossbows fire shorter, stockier bolts, and be sure to consult a professional when selecting arrows or bolts, as it can be unsafe to use the wrong thing.<\/p>\n
Many arrow shafts are designed with specific draw weights in mind, and some crossbow companies make it so that only their brand of bolts can be used. It\u2019s very important that your arrows or bolts match your bow, so ask an expert for help, and once sighted-in, continue using that same size and brand of arrow\/bolts for consistent results.<\/p>\n
The tips, which come in different sizes and weights, matter too. A pro-shop can steer you in the right direction, so projectiles stay well-balanced in flight.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll essentially need two types: field tips, which are small, blunt target points for sighting-in and practice; and broadheads, which include larger fixed or expandable cutting blades for hunting. It\u2019s important to practice regularly in the game of archery, and while some might opt for membership at a local archery club, others prefer the convenience of practicing at home if they can do so safely.<\/p>\n
At bare minimum, a cheap block or bag target is important for regular practice. These travel well for any field corrections that might prove necessary, and they come in handy for discharging cocked crossbows at the end of a hunt.<\/p>\n
Many compound hunters utilize a release aid, which clips to a d-loop on their string for a smooth, consistent arrow release. There are many different types of releases, such as wrist sling\/index finger triggers, thumb triggers and back tension models.<\/p>\n
Others use finger tabs or gloves for a more traditional approach, while crossbow hunters require a cocking device to set their draw in advance. Whatever you choose, you\u2019ll never want to leave home without these important tools specific to your equipment.<\/p>\n
One of the most significant advancements to archery, the rangefinder, uses a battery-powered laser to measure the distance to a target and presents a numerical yardage value so you know where to aim. Sure, archers have judged distances for centuries, but they\u2019ve also missed unnecessarily whenever they guessed wrong.<\/p>\n
Rangefinders are worthwhile simply because they accurately acquire aim points, resulting in less avoidable mishaps. Select one with built-in angle compensation technology, which automatically calculates drop distances for elevated shots from tree stands.<\/p>\n
Tree stands help mask the movement of draw cycles and take advantage of prevailing winds to blow scent away from where deer are expected to travel. These can be hung as standalone platforms, ladder stands, saddle platforms or climbing stands.<\/p>\n
Each has their pros and cons, but be sure to safely practice shooting from the stand before hunting and always wear a safety harness. Several companies sell archery-specific harnesses, but most tree stands also include a generic harness in their packaging, and consider pairing it with a lineman\u2019s rope or lifeline to stay tied-in for the duration of your hunt.<\/p>\n
While a friend of mine harvests deer with traditional equipment while wearing plaid shirts, most bowhunters try to blend in with camouflaged clothing. Look for something that fits snuggly and doesn\u2019t interfere with shooting your bow. You\u2019ll be able to hunt longer if you\u2019re comfortable, so match the garment\u2019s qualities \u2013 quiet, windproof, and water resistant \u2013 to the weather.<\/p>\n
Pair your boots to the terrain you plan to hunt. If walking a long distance, go for those with quality ankle support. If climbing hills, make sure they\u2019ve got great treads. When hunting in cold weather, look for insulation. If crossing wet areas or attempting to contain scent, think about a nice pair of knee-high rubber boots. There are plenty of options on the market.<\/p>\n
House essentials like your wallet, keys, hunting license and tags, flashlight or headlamp, compass and\/or smart phone in a small backpack or waist pack. Also add a bottle of water and a few snacks to help make it through the day.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget field-dressing equipment so you\u2019re prepared if you\u2019re fortunate to harvest an animal. You\u2019ll need a sharp knife to remove entrails, disposable gloves, zip-ties or a safety pin to attach your carcass tag to the ear of the animal and a sturdy drag rope to haul the deer out of the field. I also include plastic baggies to save the heart and for trash cleanup.<\/p>\n
There are scores of add-ons too. For example, scent containment spray, a grunt call, doe bleat can, binoculars, first aid kit, gloves, video camera, face paint, hunting journal, GPS, water filter, and various other items make their way into my hunting pack on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
Times sure have changed since 1951, and hunters have more options heading into this 75th\u00a0bow season than ever. Whatever your preference \u2013 gear up, stay safe, and enjoy this wonderful pastime in the Pennsylvania woodlots.<\/p>\n
Contact the writer at wildlife@scrantontimes.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania is embarking on its 75th statewide archery season. First launched in 1951, Keystone state hunters have been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":257192,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[708,28,30,29,726,289,802,25029],"class_list":["post-257191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-outdoors","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-news","tag-sports","tag-things-to-do","tag-top-stories-cvc","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}