WHEN TO DRAW

One of the biggest obstacles when staring down a big whitetail is deciding when to draw. There is no easy answer. First, consider the buck’s travel path. It doesn’t do much good to draw if his current path doesn’t have the potential to bring him by your stand. Drawing too early often means you’ll have to let down your string — something that creates a lot of movement. Second, look at the buck’s speed. If he’s moving briskly (most often during the rut) and you expect him to pass through a shooting lane soon, the top priority is to draw and be ready. If he’s taking his time, then so should you. Drawing undetected is a big first step, but obstacles remain. You still have to send an arrow to a rather small target through space often cluttered with branches and leaves. Identify openings that could present shot opportunities ahead of time.