Final Steps to Becoming a Bowhunter by Fall

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Bowhunter by Fall email series aims to help new archers prepare for the coming hunting season with month-by-month steps. To sign up, visit the TPWD Community Archery webpage and enter your email address.

Practicing: You should practice with your bow and arrows as much as you safely can, and you should mix up your approach. Practice at the distances that you are most likely to see your game when you are in your blind or stand. Change up your shooting stance depending on whether you’ll be sitting in a blind or stalking prey.

Shot placement: For the new bowhunter, it is critical to wait to shoot until the right opportunity arises and to know where to aim to hit the vital organs. Study animal anatomy and behavior to get the fastest, most humane kill.

Final preparations: With archery season opening in October, it’s time to organize your gear to ensure that you have the essentials. Create and share your hunt plan. In late September, there’s a final chance to do some scouting. Read up on how to track game and field-dress a deer.