As we progress through the calendar year one date catches every bow hunters eye, October 1st. This day is special to many because it’s the opening day of whitetail bow hunting season in Illinois. It’s a day many look forward to because for some it’s their first taste of deer hunting since the season ended in the middle of January. Any bow hunter will tell you that there is nothing comparable to the feeling of being out in the tree stand again after such a long time off.
Bow hunting is unlike any other hunt because there are so many more factors that have to be accounted for before a deer can be harvested compared to firearm hunting. The toughest is the mental factor that plays into bow hunting. Several hours of shooting practice are necessary for a hunter to be comfortable with all the different scenarios they may face while they are in the stand; confidence in the shot is one of the biggest keys to success in the field. Other factors that must be accounted for are wind, distance, and scent. First year bow hunter and senior at Pleasant Plains Clayton Otto, had this to say when asked about how he feels about all the challenges and factors that go along with bow hunting, “I feel like these challenges will be easy to overcome with the preparation I have been putting into it. I watch videos of other hunters and I practice all sorts of different shot possibilities I may face. As far a scent control goes, I like to hang my clothes outside prior to my hunt to let them air out. Then when I get ready to walk into the woods I’ll spray myself down with some scent control spray.”
Justin Mably
-The Cardinal
