My First Archery Hunt!

South Dakota Mule Deer

Kicking off my first archery hunt was due heavily to the pressure and presence of family! My family has a heritage of hunting deer in the north woods of Wisconsin and likely even further back to the wilds of Scandinavia. My first hunting experience was holding a lever action 30/30, sitting in the cold November winds of Wisconsin. If you know me, you know that experience never really settled in as my primary love. It took a few years, but I found my love of hunting in the pursuit of winged critters, it turns out I’m a bird hunter to the core! That’s a story for another time, though. I’m edging towards 40 now, and this year I had a first. My brothers convinced me to pick up a bow and try to stick a Mule Deer.

I will say right up front that this hunting trip was humbling and exciting. I’d spent months preparing, but nothing could truly prepare me for the wide-open spaces, rolling hills, unpredictable winds, and the unique hunting that South Dakota offers. South Dakota's landscape is foreign for the Wisconsin woodsmen and, honestly, for most hunters in the US, with prairies, badlands, scrub oak drainages, and draws that seem to stretch forever, offering countless ways for both the game and the land to test your skills. It is also my closest option for this wild adventure.

This experience was a challenge and a fantastic learning experience. The first step in the adventure was finding a bow. I’m a budget man, and my close friends would say I’m cheap. My family and friends jumped in helping me work through the abundance of archery options. Buying and borrowing used bows was right for me and my situation. I purchased a used Matthew’s Mission bow my brother found for me. I chose this option because I know that Matthews provides a quality product at every level and the price was right! I had the bow adjusted with a local archery shop, but I plan to pass it along to my boys as a starter. I also borrowed a bow from a friend and practiced with both as a backup. There are loads of options out there, and the guys at HuntXP would love to help point you in the right direction or find a local bow shop you can trust. I will stick to sharing my experience on the hunt; they can help guide you toward a better understanding of archery.

Prepping for the trip was multifaceted. First, once I had a bow in hand, I was married to help from friends and family with experience. I was shooting regularly, asking questions, embracing that I was bad and didn’t know what I was doing. Humility, in my experience and opinion, is foundational to all learning, especially in person-to-person learning experiences. I’m a huge fan of modern learning platforms, such as blogs, YouTube, etc., but nothing can replace the treasure of learning from friends and family.

The days start early, well before the sun could light the horizon. This isn’t unique, but it never gets old. Camping somehow seems so much more…well, just more when you’re doing it to hunt or hike. I know when I’m tent camping just to vacation, I never feel the urge to roll out of the covers early!

My bow in hand, I hiked to a ridge overlooking a patch of timber where I’d scouted some whitetails. The crisp morning air carried that wild scent of sage and pine—an instant reminder of why I chose this pursuit. As I settled into my spot, the quiet solitude of the surroundings was broken only by the occasional rustle of the grass or the distant call of coyotes.

One of the biggest lessons I learned quickly was patience. The prairie demands respect, and rushing a shot is a surefire way to go home empty-handed. Hours passed, and just as doubt began creeping in, a doe appeared, cautiously moving through the brush. My heart raced, adrenaline surging. I drew back my bow, trying to calm my breath. Time seemed to slow as I focused on the shot.

That first day in the field didn’t end with a tagged deer, but it left me with something just as valuable—experience. South Dakota’s terrain was tougher than expected, and the wind played havoc with my scent control and shot alignment. But it also fueled my determination.

Archery hunting in South Dakota is about more than just the hunt. It’s about embracing the challenge, learning the land, and refining your skills with every arrow you let fly. That first hunt was the start of a new addiction—one that I’ll chase every fall, bow in hand, ready to take on the prairie again.

If you don’t get a deer, you might as well be with the best guys ever.