Make sure you have a string on your bow and use arrows and not sharpened sticks you break of the branches of trees.

Gary

Practice BEFORE the season, and only take shots at 25 yards or less.  You will get more venison that way.

BEAR

Broadheads are what kill game when using archery equipment.

Buy the best that you can afford, but know that they will work.

A good broadhead test is to take a piece of tanned hide or other suitable material and stretch it over an arrow tipped with a broadhead.  Now, using extreme care, push the stretched hide down over the broadhead.  You're essentially mimicking an arrow impact on a game animal's hide.  The results may surprise you! 

Good broadheads - typically the knife-point types (e.g., Zwickey) and some chisel points (e.g., Muzzy) will penetrate the hide with ease.  Others, especially those with a conical point won't hardly penetrate at all.  In fact, I did this and it bent an aluminum arrow before penetrating the hide (Wasp broadheads to be exact).  Imagine what performance that would have on a game animal!

SHARP BROADHEADS and plenty of PRACTICE!!

Any one contemplating an archery hunt in Idaho I hope this info helps

In any hunt,including general any weapon seasons and short range hunts,

It is unlawful to pursue or kill big game animals:

With arrows or bolts having broadheads measuring less than 7/8 inch in width and having a primary cutting edge less than .015 inch thick

With any bow having a peak draw weight of less than 40 lbs up to or at a draw of 28 inches

With an arrow wherein the broadhead does not precede the shaft and nock

With any chemicals or explosives attatched to the arrow or bolt

With arrows or bolts having expanding broadheads

with arrows or bolts having barbed broadheads, A barbed broadhead is a broadhead that has any portion of the broadhead forming an angle less than 90 degrees with the shaft or ferrule

With any electronic or tritium powered device attatched to an arrow or bow

With any bow capable of shooting more than one arrow at a time

With any compound bow set at more than 65% let off

With an arrow or bolt and broadhead with a combined total weight of less than 400 grains

With an arrow less than 12 inches from broadhead to nock inclusive

ARCHERY ONLY SEASON

Any person hunting in an archery only season, including controlled hunts, must have in possession their license with archery permit validation.During an archery only season it is illegal for hunters to use any firearm, crossbow, or imlement other than a long bow,compound bow, or recurve bow or:

Use any bow equipped with magnifying sights

Use any device that holds a bow at partial or full draw EXCEPT handicapped hunters possessing a permit may use a device that holds a bow at partial or full draw..applications are available at IDFG offices

This is a synopsis of the regs only. i hope this is the right place to post it and i hope it helps any one planning an Idaho bow hunt

Mike

When practicing your bow for the upcoming archery season consider your practice targets.

I usually use a large sight-in target to get myself tuned up before season.  Some folks can shoot year round, either through competition or indoor ranges and that's great if you have access to them.  I don't.  So, I usually start a few months before hand.  I use a very large target, like the "Block 4X4" or something similar with round targets on it.  As Chuck Adams mentioned in Bowhunter's Digest, it's great to use targets that are completely covered by your pin at the distances you're shooting.  The perfectly sized targets force you to concentrate harder.  It works too! 

After getting practiced up for some time and everything sighted in if it needs it, I'll move to actual game targets.  For me, my primary animal taken with a bow is whitetail deer.  So, I've got a lifesize foam deer target made by Blue Ridge Archery to practice on.  I honestly think this to be CRITICAL.  As any hunter can tell you, deer don't have bullseyes.  By having the target, I can practice aiming and shooting on deer.  When I first started using deer targets, I was amazed at where I was holding that consistently missed the heart.  I was always in the lung/liver region - a killing shot, but still a heart-shot, if possible, is the best.  Foam game targets also allow you to practice from elevated positions (such as from treestands) and also allows you to practice on various angles the game may be presenting you in the field while hunting.

So, invest in some good quality targets of these two types and you'll be one more step ahead in the ballgame.

Good luck!

Mike, rereading this thread reminds why I don't hunt in Idaho.

BEAR

Don't forget to put your broadheads on, before you go out on opening day!

Don't ask me how I know!

gary murray wrote: Make sure you have a string on your bow and use arrows and not sharpened sticks you break of the branches of trees. Gary

I used to use homemade bows and arrows as a kid.  Had a ton of fun missing stuff mostly.  I got a store-bought arrow and went to the woods.  I hit a squirrel straight up in the canopy over a creek.  Amazed myself.  The homemade arrows weren't nearly as fun after that.