My dad used to be the patriarch of the family, but since he passed, that kinda falls on me. Have some nephews that are avid deer hunters, archery and guns. One is a big bow hunter, except he sucks at it. Just heard of yet another story where he stuck a nice buck, followed the blood trail, but lost it. That seems to happen once or twice every year and usually on the Friday before rifle season starts, so that then screws up what could have been a successful rifle hunt.

Since he would technically have as much right to do what he wants as I do, how does one go about correcting a slob without starting a family feud? My thought is to mention how many deer he has lost and if he wants to keep bow hunting, bring in some does to demonstrate some skill. Until then, leave the big bucks alone?

… just show him this post lol

That would be aggravating, especially if he has no desire to improve his skills. You're probably just gonna have to tell him what you think and let the chips fall where they may.

Is he hunting on family land? If so, insist he hire a guy w/tracking dog to find his deer. The expense will either convince him to do a better job (or he will just keep quiet about what happened). If not family land it isn't really your business and about all you can do is offer to help him track so you can teach him how to recover his deer.

Sounds like family land

If so and there are multiple heirs/owners then you are probably in for a big drama fest. Unless you have the majority on your side. And then if he has an undivided interest you are probably stuck with how it is.

Good luck

A friend in Iowa puts people on doe probation. Loose any buck, three consecutive doe kills before you can kill a buck. You are banned if you violate probation.

If it's family land, leave it alone. If it bothers you that much, find another place to hunt.

Lol. Starting a family fued over a deer isn't always worth it.

[font:Arial][/font][i][/i]I witnessed a hunter shot a doe out of a tree stand years ago and then just walk back out to his car
I reported it to the land owner, who didn't believe me at first since the shooter was his close personal friend.
I told him the arrow color on the shaft & here the doe headed off to ~
next day the land owner found the doe ~
he made the shooter come back out, tag the doe and then told him he was done hunting on the property.
it needs to be addressed

Most people are much calmer shooting a doe, helping the odds of a clean kill.

… what you’re going to want to do is… snatch his bow out of his hand and break it over a tree… then jerk his britches down and blister his bare bottom with an easton full metal jacket

If he can't hit a pie plate consistently @ 18 yards with a longbow..

Hes out of the club

Yes.......family land. There have been other issues too. My dad pretty much allowed them to do things he would have never let me do, so that is their expectation of the rules. There are three of us siblings now.....so will have to have a meeting over holidays to hash this out. Try to find a diplomatic way to lay clean things up. In many ways this is bit like the pigs in Animal Farm, where all the animals are equal........it's just that some are more equal than others.

About 50 years ago, I got yelled at by an uncle for hunting on his land, which we farmed for him. He lived 100 miles away. Hunting on family land you farmed was part of farming it back then. But I respected his wishes and never went back. I also pretty much steered clear of him for the rest of his life, except I was pallbearer at his funeral. Would hate to get relations like that going.

HayDay, you asked for advice. Mine is likely worth what you pay for it. Grew up in MO and have a few nephews myself.

If by patriarch you mean someone who tells everyone what for and how it is, your plan with your nephew will inform him of your opinion. Other than that, what will it accomplish? Far too often folks want to associate a patriarch with a dictator. If that is what you want, your call, but your suggested plan would probably fall along those lines.

If by patriarch, you mean someone who is sought out by family members for wisdom and counsel, I would suggest another tactic.

The young bow hunter sounds like he needs an informed mentor, someone to disciple him in proper shooting and hunting ethics. And the one being mentored or discipled has to be willing to be led in that manner. It takes both parties agreeing on a path forward to be beneficial. Will the nephew allow you to come alongside of him? I hope there is a relationship built where he will. I can also tell you from personal experience that sometimes a nephew chooses a path quite different and no matter how much influence you wish to have, they will not permit it.

But in the interest of doing what you can, after the season, maybe you go shoot with them at their place, or invite him over to do some shooting. Rabbit season in the winter would be a challenge with a bow and great practice with some cheaper arrows. Many ways to approach this but the most influential will be a practice of things are more caught than taught. Inviting him into a relationship of influence and then practicing the skill sets necessary to have the outcomes you hope to see. Probably culminating in some shared hunting trips and amazing memories if you are fortunate.

One of the greatest influences of my life was a three times removed cousin I readily called uncle. Frankly, it was almost a father/son relationship. We roamed the hills together while he was still able and even when he was less so, we shared several deer camps, talked on the phone nearly daily and had an incredible relationship. He came into my life in my mid 20s when I first met him and we had 20 wonderful years together. Still miss him to this day. He was willing to teach and encourage and occasionally correct. I was willing to be led in that direction. The day I was able to witness to those at his funeral with the gospel message and then help clean out his house was one of the most sad days I've experienced and one in which I truly understood what a value we had with each other.

But if you do not have a heart which will bring you into an influential relationship with him and invest in him, he'll see right through it. And if all you want to do is preach it to him as how he ought to do something, you'll feel better, he'll be informed, but the relationship may color what he absorbs and what he does going forward. From experience there too I'll tell you, it has been far less effective than I wish it were.

Invested time and relationship will have the most lasting influence. Remember, my advice is probably worth what you paid for it, and it's only my $0.02 from walking a similar path and failing miserably. But I've also been fortunate enough to now recognize how it can be done well after experiencing it and can attest it is the better way.

Best of luck and many blessings.