TRAVERSE CITY — Tuesday is the first official day for bow hunting season, and that means people are gearing up before heading out.
“We are super busy. People are coming in looking for arrows, tuning their bows, new strings. Some people are upgrading. It is a busy season and we’re just one at a time right now,” says Nick Wyskochil, an employee at Gauthier’s Archery in Traverse City.
Before hunters head out, it’s important to make sure your equipment is in good shape.
“Preparation is making sure that your bow is tuned, your arrows are flying straight. We check for the sights, the rest, your jaw, leg, how much poundage you have. Make sure that the strings aren’t frayed in any position. Cracked limbs is a huge thing that we take care of here,” explained Wyskochil.
Once you’ve prepared your bows and other tools, you need to make sure you’re staying safe out in the woods.
“A lot of people like to hunt from a tree stand during this time of the year. So that’s a huge safety issue. Just make sure you’ve got a good, sturdy tree. I’ve known people that have climbed dead or dying trees and have had some issues,” said Steve Griffith, DNR wildlife habitat biologist. “You can obviously get pretty hurt with a fall, especially if you’ve got equipment with you and things like that.”
Another tip is to make sure you leave your weapon and equipment below until you are secure in the tree. And even though you want to be close to your target, you need to be mindful of your surroundings.
“You want to know your target and what’s beyond it. Know what your bow or your firearm is capable of doing,” said Griffith.
Lastly, the DNR said it’s important to know rules and restrictions, some of which are based on location.
“Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, beyond – there’s a point restriction where one buck would have to have at least three points on one side. And if we take a second buck or take two, one has to have at least four points on one side,” said Griffith.
Once you successfully harvest your deer, you have 72 hours to register it with the DNR.
