Bowhunting has a way of humbling you fast.
In Episode 109 of the First Generation Bowhunter Podcast, Adam Buchanan sits down with Brayden Staples of Dark Energy to talk about Brayden's first season as an archery hunter, the mistakes he made along the way, and why patience became one of his biggest lessons.
Brayden wasn't completely new to hunting. He grew up rifle hunting with his family and had already taken several deer. But picking up a bow changed everything.
His first archery season included dry-firing a brand-new bow the night before opening day, borrowing another bow just to get into the field, missing a buck at close range, learning how to stalk mule deer, and eventually getting within 77 yards of the buck he really wanted.
That's when Brayden made one of the best decisions of his season.
He put his bow down.
Watch Episode 109
In This Episode
Adam and Brayden cover:
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Making the jump from rifle hunting to bowhunting
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Mistakes from a first archery season
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Dry-firing a bow the night before opening day
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Why proper bow setup matters
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Missing a deer on your first day
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Learning how to stalk mule deer
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Knowing your effective shooting range
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Passing a shot when you aren't confident
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Why hunting with the right people matters
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Carrying less gear in the field
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Tracking and recovering animals
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Choosing arrows and broadheads
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Why you don't need the newest bow
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Keeping electronics powered in the backcountry
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Dark Energy batteries, headlamps and portable power
The First Bowhunting Lesson Came Before Opening Day
Brayden's introduction to archery hunting didn't exactly go according to plan.
He had purchased a new bow shortly before the season and only had a couple of weeks to get comfortable with it. The night before opening day, he was testing his fixed-blade broadheads when an arrow came off the string at full draw.
While reacting to the arrow, he accidentally hit his release.
Dry fire.
The cams were damaged, and the bow wasn't going hunting the next morning.
Instead of giving up on opening weekend, Brayden borrowed an older Hoyt from his brother, got it set up and headed into the field.
It's one of the first lessons from the episode for anyone getting into bowhunting: don't wait until right before hunting season to get your bow set up.
Give yourself time to get the bow fitted properly, tune it, shoot your broadheads and become completely comfortable with your setup before opening morning.
Your First Bowhunting Season Won't Go Perfectly
Despite all of that, Brayden actually got an opportunity at a buck during his first evening hunting with a bow.
A storm rolled through, the deer moved unexpectedly and suddenly Brayden had a buck running past him at around 20 yards.
He sent an arrow over its back.
And he wasn't devastated.
Brayden was excited that he'd managed to get within archery range of a deer on his very first day. More importantly, he'd missed cleanly rather than wounding the animal.
That experience became another piece of the learning curve.
Range where you expect an animal to travel before you need the information. Be ready for an opportunity to happen differently than you imagined. And understand that getting close enough to draw your bow can be an accomplishment on its own.
Knowing When Not to Shoot
One of the most important moments of Brayden's season happened when he and his hunting partner, Drake Staley, worked within 77 yards of Brayden's target buck.
Brayden wanted that deer.
But he had primarily practiced out to 60 yards and ideally wanted a hunting shot around 40.
Seventy-seven yards wasn't a shot he felt confident making.
So Brayden put his bow down.
It sounds simple until you're actually there.
You've spent weeks scouting. The buck you've been chasing is finally standing in front of you. Your friend is beside you with a camera. Adrenaline is running high.
Everything in you wants to make something happen.
Brayden decided that wasn't enough reason to send an arrow.
He knew there wasn't significant hunting pressure on the buck and believed he'd have another opportunity. More importantly, he wasn't confident he could make a clean, ethical shot.
Drake reinforced the decision by telling Brayden not to feel pressured to shoot just because he was there.
That's one of the best lessons in the entire episode.
Your effective bowhunting range isn't determined by what somebody on social media can shoot. It's the distance at which you can confidently make an ethical shot when an animal is standing in front of you.
Sometimes good bowhunting means drawing your bow.
Sometimes it means putting it down.
Bowhunting Teaches Patience
Brayden describes patience as probably the biggest lesson from his first archery season.
And he learned it repeatedly.
During one scouting trip, his plan was simply to watch his target buck and figure out where it was feeding. Because he wasn't planning to hunt that evening, he left his bow in the truck.
Naturally, the buck showed up much closer than expected.
Brayden ran roughly a quarter mile back to the truck while his wife kept eyes on the deer. He returned with the bow and attempted to work into position before another buck busted the stalk.
Another lesson learned.
If you're hunting, bring the bow.
Over the course of a season, experiences like that start adding up. You learn when you can move quickly, when you need to slow down, what gear actually matters and how small decisions can completely change a stalk.
That's part of what makes bowhunting so addictive.
Success isn't always putting your hands around antlers.
Getting into range is progress.
Making a mistake and recognizing it is progress.
Passing a bad shot is progress.
Good Hunting Partners Make a Difference
Although Brayden hunted alone much of the season, several of his experiences reinforced the value of having another hunter with you.
An extra set of eyes can help watch an animal while you're moving. Someone else can range a deer, watch the wind or simply keep you calm when an opportunity develops.
But the right hunting partner also knows when not to push you.
When Brayden was deciding whether to shoot his target buck at 77 yards, Drake didn't encourage him to stretch his limits for the sake of getting a kill or capturing something on camera.
He did the opposite.
That kind of influence matters, especially when you're new.
You Don't Need the Newest Bow to Start Bowhunting
One of Brayden's recommendations for first-time bowhunters is refreshingly simple: you don't need the newest equipment on the market.
A bow that's several years old can still be an extremely capable hunting bow.
What matters more is getting a bow that fits you, having it properly set up and spending enough time shooting it that you know exactly what it will do.
Brayden also recommends working with a knowledgeable archery shop when you're getting started. That's one lesson he learned the hard way during his first season.
The latest bow won't make up for an unfamiliar setup.
Confidence comes from shooting.
Bowhunting Gear Discussed in Episode 109
Brayden and Adam also get into plenty of gear during the conversation, including:
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Hoyt Torrex compound bow
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Easton 5mm FMJ arrows
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QAD Exodus fixed-blade broadheads
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SEVR mechanical broadheads
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G5 broadheads
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Rangefinders
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Binoculars
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Wind checkers
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Headlamps
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Portable batteries
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Solar charging
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Starlink Mini
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Darn Tough hunting socks
Keeping Your Hunting Gear Powered
Brayden is the marketing manager at Dark Energy, so the conversation eventually turns toward another increasingly important part of modern hunting: power.
Phones, mapping apps, headlamps, satellite communication devices and other rechargeable electronics have become part of many hunting setups.
Brayden talks about the Dark Energy Poseidon Pro as one of his favorite portable batteries because it can provide multiple phone charges while being built to handle wet outdoor environments.
Adam and Brayden also discuss larger power options, solar charging and using portable power with a Starlink Mini.
There's an interesting connection back to the main theme of the episode.
Sometimes having enough power, communication and a few comforts at camp can help you stay out another night.
And another day in the field can make all the difference.
FAQ's
What should a first-time bowhunter know before hunting season?
Get your bow properly set up well before opening day and give yourself enough time to practice with the exact setup you'll hunt with. That includes shooting your arrows and broadheads and understanding your effective range before you're standing in front of an animal.
How far should a new bowhunter shoot at a deer?
There isn't one distance that's right for every bowhunter. Your maximum hunting range should be based on the distance at which you can consistently make accurate, ethical shots under realistic conditions. Brayden had practiced primarily to 60 yards and preferred shots around 40, so he passed a 77-yard opportunity at his target buck.
Do I need a new bow to start bowhunting?
No. A properly fitted and tuned older compound bow can still be an excellent hunting setup. Proper fit, tuning and practice are more important than simply owning the newest bow.
Should a beginner get their bow set up at an archery shop?
It's a good idea, especially if you don't have experience setting up and tuning compound bows. Brayden recommends getting help from a knowledgeable bow shop after experiencing setup problems during his first season.
What basic gear should I carry while bowhunting?
Brayden keeps his setup fairly simple with his bow, rangefinder, binoculars, wind checker, water, jacket and a lightweight backpack. What you need will depend on where and how you hunt, but carrying more gear isn't automatically better.
What is the biggest lesson for a first-time bowhunter?
For Brayden, it was patience. Bowhunting forces you to get close, wait for opportunities and accept that even a great stalk may not end with a shot. Learning when not to shoot can be just as important as learning how to shoot.
Listen to First Generation Bowhunter
First Generation Bowhunter is built for hunters who didn't grow up knowing all the answers.
Hosted by Adam Buchanan, the podcast explores the learning curve of becoming a bowhunter through real hunting stories, mistakes, gear discussions and conversations with hunters and people throughout the outdoor industry.
If you're getting started in bowhunting or simply want to keep learning, follow First Generation Bowhunter:
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