Editor’s Note: Good bowhunters can be better bowhunters, if they don’t commit these deadly bowhunting sins that decrease their odds for bagging deer, especially trophy deer. Sometimes even good bowhunters – outdoorsmen who have taken several deer with their bows and who have hunted for 4 or 5 years – make these mistakes. I’ve gathered this information from some of the top bowhunters I know.

Not Being Alert in a Stand When Hunting Deer:

Many outdoorsmen brag about how long they sit in their tree stands, waiting for deer to show-up. But if the hunter in his stand is asleep, daydreaming or not hunting (actively trying to see and take a deer), then the length of time he spends suspended between heaven and earth has no direct bearing on his success as a bowhunter. Even good bowhunters may make the mistake of staying in their tree stands when they’re not hunting. When you catch yourself falling asleep or not actively looking for deer, the best thing to do is leave the tree stand and come out of the woods. When you’re hunting, you should be hunting. If the hunter isn’t alert and anticipating seeing a deer, he’s more likely to shoot too quickly or inaccurately or make noise and spook the deer.

Waiting on a Perfect Day:

Often bowhunters, especially trophy hunters, are waiting on that perfect day to try to bag a buck. They come-up with excuses for not hunting like, “The weather’s too hot, too cold,” or, “There’s too much or not enough wind.” But many bowhunters consider the perfect day to hunt a trophy buck as any day you go into the woods. The more days you’re in the woods, the greater your chances of bagging a trophy. Remember, you can’t take a buck – any buck – sitting at home watching TV or drinking a cup of coffee. You have to be in the woods.

To learn more about bowhunting deer, check out John E. Phillips’ book, “How to Hunt Deer Up Close: With Bows, Rifles, Muzzleloaders and Crossbows,” available in Kindle, print and Audible versions at (http://amzn.to/11dJRu8).