Call 'em the "dirty dozen" - seemingly minor details that can spell success on your next hunt.

Details, details. Bowhunting for whitetails is a game of details. As much as we might want to believe in our prowess as mighty hunters, our bowhunting success depends less on machismo than on how well we can manage annoying little details.

How many times have you heard someone describe a hunt, ending with, "If it wasn't for that dang twig, I'd have gotten my buck," or "He was right where I wanted him, and then my stand squeaked." They seem to believe it was a brutal thunderbolt of misfortune that dashed their dreams, when in reality failure was their own fault - preventable, had they minded the small details.

I've learned, mostly the hard way, some important nuances required to take a whitetail with a bow. I learned a few more just last season, to which a couple very healthy whitetails can attest.

Here is my list of a dozen details that can add up to the major accomplishment of taking a whitetail with a bow.

1. Acquire the right equipment. While you don't want to start thinking you can buy your way to whitetail bowhunting success, the right gear can make all the difference in the world. And when it comes to equipment, perhaps the most important tip I can give you is to use the best broadhead you can get. The one place where you don't want to pinch pennies is in broadheads. If you must, use a hand-me-down bow and Salvation Army clothes, but only the best broadheads money can buy...Read Full Article