About The Everyday Bow Hunter
Helping Everyday Bow Hunters Hunt Smarter
I am Mike Manley, founder of The Everyday Bow Hunter. This site exists to help regular bowhunters prepare better, think more strategically, choose gear with confidence, and make better decisions in the woods.
My approach is simple: no gimmicks, no outdoor-brand fluff, and no advice that sounds good until conditions change. Bowhunting is a system. Scouting, planning, gear, execution, and adjustment all have to work together.
Who I Am, And Why You Can Trust Me
I served 21 years in the U.S. Army, including 14 years with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), with nine combat deployments across Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and the Horn of Africa before retiring as a Sergeant Major.
I was awarded the Soldier’s Medal, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Valor, three Bronze Stars for Service, and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, along with other awards from my military career.
That background shapes how I think about hunting. I care about preparation, observation, decision-making, and the ability to adapt when the plan changes. That is the same mindset I bring to bowhunting.
What The Everyday Bow Hunter Stands For
Field-Tested Advice
Everything I recommend should survive real hunting conditions. Gear, strategy, clothing, arrow builds, and tactics need to work outside of a perfect-day conversation.
No B.S. Reviews
I am not here to sound like a catalog. If I recommend something, it needs to have a purpose in a hunting system and make sense for everyday bowhunters.
Strategic Bowhunting
Bowhunting is not just sitting in a tree and hoping. It is scouting, access, wind, timing, pressure, terrain, sign, gear, and knowing when to adjust.
Why I Approach Bowhunting Differently
Years of tactical operations taught me a hard truth: the other side always gets a vote. In the woods, deer get a vote too. You can have a plan, but the wind, pressure, temperature, timing, and deer movement can change the moment you step in.
That is why I teach hunters to prepare, plan, adapt, and hunt with confidence. The goal is not to memorize a tactic. The goal is to understand what is happening well enough to make the next right decision.
- Read deer behavior instead of just hunting spots.
- Build a hunt plan before walking in.
- Understand when the conditions are telling you to move.
- Use gear as part of a system, not as a shortcut.
Where To Start
If you are new here, start with the system. These pages will show you how I think through scouting, planning, clothing, tools, and arrow builds.
Deer Intelligence
Understand what deer are doing before deciding how to hunt them.
Strategic Hunting
Turn scouting into hunt plans, access routes, stand choices, and better decisions.
Tools And Systems
Use the planning tools, arrow tools, and clothing system to put the strategy into action.
Beginner Bowhunting
If you are newer to bowhunting, start with the foundation and build from there.
Arrow System
Build hunting arrows by starting with the finished result, then working backward into the components.
Insider Portal
Get the worksheets, checklists, downloads, and deeper training that support the public system.
Follow The Everyday Bow Hunter
You can follow the blog, YouTube channel, podcast, and social channels for more field-tested bowhunting strategy, gear reviews, and system-based hunting content.
Contact Me
If you have a question, need help, or want to ask about partnerships or gear reviews, use the form below. If the form gives you trouble, you can email me at mike@archeryhunting.com.