EPISODE SUMMARY

Podcast: Live Wild with Remi Warren

Episode: 229 | 5 Bowhunting Mistakes

Date: April 2, 2026

Main Theme / Purpose

Remi Warren dives into the nail-biting final moments of bowhunts, reliving a recent New Zealand fallow deer chase and breaking down the five biggest mistakes bowhunters (himself included) make when trying to close the deal. Through storytelling, tactical tips, and candid self-reflection, Remi aims to teach hunters how to avoid these pitfalls and become more successful in the field.

1. Story Time: Fallow Deer Bowhunt in New Zealand

00:03–33:15

Remi opens with a detailed play-by-play recount of a recent bowhunt for fallow deer in New Zealand. This sets the stage for a discussion on mistakes, as Remi is candid about blowing multiple stalks and shot opportunities. He describes observing bachelor herds, stalking huge bucks in rugged country, and the challenge of getting within bow range.

Key Highlights:

• Scouting & Glassing:
  • Remi, along with his wife Danielle and kids, starts off glassing for deer in open country, expecting difficult stalks due to the terrain and alert animals.
  • “These deer don’t give you second chances... they're really keyed in.” (Remi, 02:30)
• First Stalk - The Big Bedded Buck:
  • Spots a mature buck bedded under a cliff ledge. Danielle helps spot and guide him via radio while filming the action.
  • In his approach, hidden satellite bucks that weren’t initially visible get spooked, blowing out and taking the shot opportunity with them.
  • Remi tries to relocate the buck, but with no luck.
  • Memorable Moment:
    “He was probably 5… has to be less than 10 yards, like directly below… that little bit of impatience killed me.” (Remi, 13:25)
• Second Stalk – Another Buck:
  • Attempts a stalk based on visual landmarks, but without exact location marking (wishes he’d used GPS/pin).
  • Accidentally gets in too tight and bumps the buck before getting a shot.
  • “If I would have just waited back even further... probably could have just waited back even further back. He probably was maybe 15 yards away.” (Remi, 17:50)
• Third Stalk – A Second Chance on the Big Buck:
  • On the last day, relocates the bachelor group with the big buck and carefully plans another stalk.
  • Manages to crawl into a perfect ambush, sets up camera for self-filming, waits for the wind, and weighs patience vs. urgency in shooting.
  • Ultimately takes a shot at the bedded buck, but the deer “jumps the string”—evades the arrow at the last moment.
  • “That arrow is flying perfect, perfect… probably the last 10ft and he jumps up and it’s like, goes right under him, right where he was bedded.” (Remi, 27:40)
• Consolation Doe:
  • Takes a well-executed shot on a doe, aiming low, and ends the trip with some success, but not the hoped-for big buck.

Takeaway/Reflection:

• Sometimes you do everything right and it still doesn’t pan out:
  “You can do everything right up until that very last moment… that’s maybe the difference between success and failure.” (Remi, 30:30)
• Remi explains that he’d rather have a well-executed stalk and shot that doesn’t connect than succeed by accident or poor execution.

2. Top 5 Bowhunting Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

48:30–1:20:45 (after sponsor segment ends)

Remi systematically breaks down his five most-common bowhunting mistakes, using examples from the hunt story and others.

#5: Misranging

• Problem: Incorrect yardage estimation—either through hasty ranging, animal movement, or equipment/user error—often results in missed or bad shots.
• “Sometimes it’s hard to get a range… you don’t want to pop up, expose yourself, and alert them.” (Remi, 54:08)
• Tips:
  • Range key landmarks and use math to estimate animal locations as you stalk.
  • Count down estimated yardages as you close the gap.
  • Use your rangefinder for quick glassing at close ranges.
  • Turn the rangefinder sideways or upside down for a lower profile.

#4: Getting Busted by the ‘One You Didn’t See’

• Problem: Hyper-focusing on target animal leads to missing other deer/elk that bust you.
• “The ones that you don’t see… catches you every time.” (Remi, 58:15)
• Tips:
  • Always keep your head up and on a swivel, scanning and glassing as you move.
  • Use binos/rangefinder for close scanning.
  • Sometimes, strategically bumping non-target animals can work out if they go the right direction.

#3: Not 100% Sure Where the Animal Is

• Problem: Losing track of bedded/hidden animals, leading to getting too close or positioned poorly.
• “You’re simultaneously assuming they’re exactly where you left them and that they have moved.” (Remi, 1:01:26)
• Tips:
  • Take photos from your observation point as location references.
  • Use map pins/GPS tools.
  • When in doubt, hang back and glass; be patient instead of rushing into the unknown.

#2: Impatience

• Problem: Rushing the moment—getting antsy and moving for a shot before conditions are optimal—often results in bumping animals or poor shots.
• “Impatience got me on two stalks... Sometimes you get one chance, sometimes none, you gotta make the right play.” (Remi, 1:05:18)
• Tips:
  • Let animals stand up naturally whenever possible.
  • Evaluate which scenario you’d regret more: waiting too long and losing wind/animal, or acting and bumping the animal.
  • Trust your skill and plan rather than letting nerves force your hand.

#1: Jumping the String

• Problem: Deer or other animals ‘jump the string’—reacting to the sound of the shot and dodging before the arrow arrives.
• “Jumping the string is probably one of the biggest misfactors in archery.” (Remi, 1:10:35)
• Tips:
  • Assess the animal’s alertness and likely reaction before shooting.
  • Aim lower than center mass on alert animals to compensate for ‘string jumping.’
  • Remi often creates mental 'decision scenarios' to help with regret: Would you rather miss low and clean, or aim high and risk a non-fatal hit?
  • “Sometimes you got to ask, what will sting less if it goes wrong: missing over or under?” (Remi, 1:13:15)

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the heartbreak of perfect execution and still falling short:

  “Sometimes you think that second chance… I did everything right, in my opinion on that one. I did what I thought was right and it didn’t work out. The buck bested me. And that to me is what I love about bow hunting.” (Remi, 31:55)

• On trusting the process:

  “I think I would personally rather have the well executed plan, stalk and shot and it just didn’t work out than the like, winged it, hope and a prayer and oh, got something, right?” (Remi, 33:10)

• On never seeing all the deer:

  “The ones you don’t see… it happens to me every once in a while, but I really put a lot of emphasis on, you know, being careful, the ones you don’t see.” (Remi, 58:19)

4. Timestamps for Key Sections

• 00:03–02:10 – Remi Warren introduction and podcast overview
• 02:10–33:15 – New Zealand fallow deer bowhunting story: detailed stalks, mistakes, and reflections
• 33:15–48:30 – Sponsor/partner content (skipped for summary per instructions)
• 48:30–1:20:45 – “Top 5 Bowhunting Mistakes” breakdown and remediation strategies
• 1:20:45–end – Reflections, recent events, conservation efforts, closing remarks

5. Tone and Language

• Conversational, Story-Driven, Humble: Remi is refreshingly honest about his own mistakes, narrates with vivid outdoor detail, and peppers explanations with humor and encouragement.
• Practical & Encouraging: “If you can kind of anticipate and factor in those [five mistakes], you’re going to be a lot more successful... over the course of an extended period of time, you're going to be more successful in the long run.” (Remi, 1:18:40)
• Passionate & Reflective: Throughout, Remi emphasizes growth from failure and the unpredictability that makes bowhunting so compelling.

6. Key Takeaways for Listeners

• Even the most experienced hunters will make mistakes—it’s all about learning and improving for the next opportunity.
• Being methodical, patient, and continuously scanning the environment for variables (range, additional animals, wind shifts) makes a substantial difference, especially in the red zone of a bow hunt.
• Accept the nature of bowhunting: sometimes, despite perfect execution, it still won't work out—and that's what makes it worth pursuing.

In Remi's words:
“Happy Easter… until next week: guess the jump… shoot straight.” (1:22:00)