St. Augustine Marina

  Blow The Dust Off Your Compound Bow & Crossbows For Buck Season

Back in May, Ernie and Bubba from The Part Timers Hunting channel stopped in after hours to unbox and try their new Mathews LIFT compound bows in the Bow Center, gearing up for this deer hunting season.

Depending on your zone (we’re located in Zone C), you can expect to start bow-hunting bucks between August and October, with antler-less deer season beginning August 3rd. You can find a complete list of season start and end dates with specifications on the Florida Fish and Wildlife website as usual.

Now, we have no doubt that you have all the gear that you need – and luck– that you’ll need to land a 10 point buck this season, but just in case you missed a few items when you wrote up your ‘seasonal game shopping list’ we have a few recommendations you can consider next time you’re in town and get a chance to stop by St. Augustine Marina’s bow department.

Check Strings For Wear & Tear

Depending on how often you shoot your bow (or not), you might want to restring your crossbow or compound bow before heading out this season, especially if it has been a while since you have been out in the field.

Take a look at the strings of your bow and check if they look fuzzy, frayed, or brittle. If so, you may want to bring it in – we will restring and tune your bow for you while you wait. Most manufacturers recommend you replace your bow strings every 2-3 years – sooner if you hunt often (about ever 2000 -2500 shots, but who is counting?) This video by PJ Reilly goes over what indicators you should be on the look out for. 

Broadheads

If you are an avid bow-hunter of small and large game or just starting out, you may want to consider swapping out your broadheads this buck season. When hunting larger game like deer, you want to ensure a good blood trail from a precise (damaging) shot.

Fixed blade broadheads are more reliable and durable than mechanical broadheads, though mechanical broadheads have their strengths, fixed blades can work with virtually any game and provide the crippling effects mechanical broadheads can without the moving parts and price tag. It will ultimately come down to your own experience and comfort level. This article from MeatEater breaks down the best broadheads for hunting large game / deer – regardless of your choice, we can help get you set up. 

Keep It Simple

Sure, we have everything you could possibly want and need to kick off deer hunting season but consider your purpose and budget. Every item you take out into the field with you has to be transported, assembled, or fastened somewhere on your body which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to move through the brush as stealthily as possible.

While it may be tempting to load up a big pack or bring several scopes, tree stands, mounts, etc. unless you have a caddy, think about the terrain you will be navigating to track your game.

Experience and gear make little difference if you can’t keep up with your dinner (or scare it off jangling around out there!). Our staff will be happy to set you up with the essentials on your budget and at your level of comfort – no BS – and with a little luck, you will bag yourself an award winning, feast-worthy, kill this year!