Lile Outdoors: Bow hunting in full swing on base

  • Published
  • By Airman Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  (Editor's note: This is the fourth article in a series about hunting.)

Bow hunting season opened in Mississippi at the beginning of October. With rifle season still a ways off, some Airmen pick up bows in order to pursue deer early in the season.

"I love both rifle and bow hunting," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith, 14th Medical Operations Squadron NCO in Charge of Force Health Management. "Rifle hunting isn't easy, but it's a lot easier than bow hunting. Bow hunting is significantly different; no longer do you have to be within 200 or 300 yards of the deer but 50 feet."

Airmen wanting to pursue the unique challenges of bow hunting have to be extremely careful not to spook the deer at such close range.

"You have to be more accurate with your equipment, and there are a lot more variables that go into bow hunting compared to firearm hunting, such as scent control," said Brian Coleff, Assistant Airfield Manager. "You have to be really careful. Don't fill up your gas tank while you're heading out hunting or the deer will smell it, and keep all your [additional] clothes in a plastic bag with some kind of scent control."

Finding the right bow can be difficult. When looking for a new bow, Airmen should ensure it is the correct size for the individual.

"When researching what bow to buy, you can look at a hundred different websites and they are all going to tell you a hundred different things," Smith said. "I have three different brands of bows and they all fit me. Find an archery place that will let you shoot the bow before you buy it and find something you're comfortable with. You don't have to have an 80-pound drawback bow, 60 pounds is what the average hunter would use."

Airmen don't need to have the newest or the most expensive gear in order to hunt deer.

"If you want to get into bow hunting, go out and find a bow in a yard sale or a pawn shop," Coleff said. "Get out there and give it a shot, enjoy nature."

Though some hunters enjoy bow hunting, it can be frustrating at first.

"Don't get frustrated, if you get frustrated you will set the bow down and never pick it up again," Smith said. "When you actually harvest a deer it's a real thrill. Once you make that one great shot it's going to keep you coming back from all those shots you missed."