Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Bowhunter

THERE IS DEBATE over who first uttered those words. Some claim it was Mickey Mantle, but whoever it was, he was an enlightened man. As I write these words, I just finished a workout in preparation for a mountain goat hunt. I’m happy to say one thing was missing — pain. No pain in the knees, ankles, hips, or back. I’ll shoot my bow later today and will feel no pain in my shoulders or elbows. I’m blessed —so far. The latest rage is the “hunter athlete.” Bowhunters, young and old (mostly young) are taking their passion to the next level by going to the extreme to get in shape. They train in gyms and take part in long-distance trail runs, then combine those efforts with extreme mountain-based 3D shoots.…

AT DAYBREAK, I was practically moaning in my one-man tent, sore and achy from the previous day’s workout. I had endured a strenuous, eight-mile hike through the Nevada backcountry while carrying a hefty, multi-day pack. However, I knew the August sun wouldn’t wait. The potent rays promised serious warmth, and it wouldn’t be long before the area’s bucks ventured into the thick cover to take refuge from the midday heat. I snugged up my lightweight boots, grabbed my hydration pack, along with a handful of energy bars and snacks, and shouldered my bow. Before long, I was picking my way through the aspens, angling up to a rocky, alpine ridge. The trees and large boulders scattered along the slope kept me hidden and off the skyline. As I moved around…

BACK WHEN I MANAGED an archery shop, it seemed every week a customer would come in all excited to start the sport of archery with the new bow they had picked up. Usually, the stories were all very similar. The bow had only cost $20, and it came from a neighbor, friend, garage sale, or pawn shop. It was always sad to me because they were so excited, but unfortunately the condition of the vast majority of these bows made them unsafe to shoot. It’s not always just the archery neophytes who make this mistake. I have seen experienced compound shooters who thought they would dip a toe into traditional archery get fooled as well. It’s the alluring thought of trying traditional archery without investing much. To be completely honest,…

THE BEGINNING OF the archery deer season is nearly upon us. September is a great time of year to pattern both bucks and does, and in many parts of the country, you get the added bonus of possibly killing a buck in velvet. That is, if you can hunt early enough that a buck’s testosterone level hasn’t increased enough to create the urge in him to shed his “fuzz.” A buck’s core area in September might be less than 100 acres in size, and it can be consistent from one year to the next. A core area is defined as where a buck spends 50 percent or more of his time. Keying in on a buck’s core area prior to velvet shed is an easy way to pattern a deer…

For most of my life, I've had two major passions: football and bowhunting. Unfortunately, these two passions don’t blend well. Every September, while my friends and family were out bugling for bulls, I was in the heat of football season. Balancing these two loves has been one of my greatest challenges. I would find myself calling my dad every night after football practice, just to ask how the hunt was going, wishing that I could be there. Well, my plans got altered a bit last season. Currently, I am a fourth year inside linebacker at Western Colorado University. In March 2020, while the students at my school were on spring break, the Coro navirus outbreak was heating up. The school made the switch to online learning, and everyone was told…

It was opening day of Arizona’s midyear archery season; my tripod was set up, binoculars locked in on top, and I was now just waiting for the rising sun to provide me with enough light to start glassing the mesquite and prickly pear-ladened landscape. This season opens August 21, and for many it is an opportunity to escape the heat by heading north to hunt the high country. I prefer hunting the low desert, where temperatures consistently top 100 degrees and the rattlesnakes are plentiful — I typically encounter at least one rattler per outing. To say the least, you must be careful where you place your hands and feet in this environment, while also being cognizant of your body’s hydration levels. Despite these conditions, not much can pull…

HE WAKES TO find himself sweating. The sun’s westerly arc has moved his shade. He slowly sits up, reaches for his pack, and drags it to him. He deliberately dons it without rising. He seats his poles firmly into the earth, leans forward and pushes hard, slowly lifting his haunches from the ground. His feet slide and his knees buckle, so he sits abruptly. His head sags between his legs, and he sighs. Long minutes later, he again gathers himself and orders his legs to stand. Once more, they mutiny. He slips his arms from the straps, and then crawls into the shade of an aspen clinging to its precarious existence among the cliffs. A secret known to none; he has always dreaded the physical hardship of mountain hunting. He…

A TROPHY IS A TROPHY Dear Bowhunter, As I was reading through the July 2021 issue, I came across Chuck Adams’s article, “Thoughts About Trophy Hunting,” and it really hit home with me. I have been hunting whitetails since 1978, when I was a kid in Nebraska, and have been lucky enough to harvest a few deer over the years. I made myself a promise back then that if I took a buck, I would show my respect by having it mounted, so I would always have that memory of the thrill of the moment. I have taken some heat over the years for some of the “little deer” I have hanging on my wall. I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done, and I do my best to take any and…

I HAD BEEN HUNTING the same big Wyoming elk for nearly two weeks. The 6x7 had distinctive antlers and lived on a heavily timbered ridge where I could find him almost every day. But due to unpredictable wind, plenty of satellite bulls, and alert cows in his harem, that bull kept giving me the slip. Everything changed on a warm morning in late September. I heard the bull’s distinctive bugle just after dawn, as I trotted along a well-traveled elk trail. Suddenly, a menacing “woof” exploded in front of me, and a high-shouldered, silver-backed bear lumbered into view barely 20 yards ahead. The grizzly was on the same trail as I was, and I hustled downhill with bear spray in one hand and my .454 Casull handgun in the other.…

THE WYOMING SUN had been merciless the first few days of my hunt, making the odds good that a mature buck would eventually slip in for a drink. I just needed to decide how long I was willing to sit in my portable hot-box blind under such conditions. In three days and nearly 40 hours and counting, I had only a handful of does and two small bucks to show for my efforts. Needless to say, I was beginning to wonder if my last-minute plan to head to the Cowboy State was going to pan out. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned when bowhunting, regardless of the species, it’s that sweat equity and patience generally pay off. And when I saw a group of a half-dozen does appear over…

THIS COLUMN was written by Russ Mason and me. Russ is the former Wildlife Chief for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and presently is the DNR’s Executive in Residence at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. I currently serve as a Director on the Board of The Nimrod Society (nimrodsociety.org), and Russ serves as an adviser to The Nimrod Society. Our Know Hunting column is about that Society. Russ’s perspective on many issues, especially the values of hunting and the future of hunting are unexcelled, and it’s an honor to work with him on this column. Two major issues should concern all hunters about their future. One is pretty obvious: The decline in hunters. That decline became evident 20 years ago, and it has continued ever…

Anchor. Center the peep. Stare down the spot. Thwack! I watched another arrow bury itself into the X-ring. As I reached into my quiver for the next arrow, I dreamt of settling my pin behind the shoulder of a big mountain caribou and breaking a perfect shot. In a few short weeks, my dad and I would be on a plane headed to Canada’s Northwest Territories for a 10-day mountain caribou hunt. I had visualized and made hundreds, if not thousands, of shots just like that in preparation for the hunt. I knew I was ready; I just needed to get within range of a big bull. After a series of five flights, my dad and I stepped off the final plane at our basecamp. Excitement continued to build as…

IT's a sickening feeling when you come within inches of the goal, only to fail. Many a “shoot er” buck has walked by a bowhunter unscathed. This is true even for deer that were within range but didn’t offer shot opportunities. Such is life for dedicated bowhunters If every archer got a shot at each buck they saw, their tro phy rooms would look a lot different. Unfortunately, not all hunters take advantage of all the tools at their disposal to increase the number of shot opportunities they get. THE PERFECT SHOT ANGLE An untold number of campfire discussions have cen tered on what the perfect archery shot looks like. Some say it’s broadside. Others prefer deer to be slightly quartering away. Either one works, but most people prefer the…

I ADMIT. Given my bilingual language skills, crossing over to the world of whitetails has led to a learning curve with multiple highs and lows. Like many experiences, a few successes here and there give you confidence to push the envelope, not unlike brushing up on a foreign language via a guidebook during a flight to that country. A couple of impromptu catchphrases, where a citizen acknowledges your intentions, leads you to push the limits of language. Before long, you decide to engage in an exchange of restaurant menu options that unbeknownst to you, turns out to be a discussion of toilet water color. So much for your attempt at United Nations diplomacy! The same can be true of talking to whitetails. Instead of an extended dialogue, consider embracing the…

JOHN MUSACCHIA wasn’t the type to sit around. A hard-working Brooklyn native who had retired comfortably with his family to Marathon, Florida, after selling off a very successful New York-based restaurant, he soon had other adventures in mind. John had been shooting stickbows since the early 1950s and had taken a slew of North American big game, but now he dreamed of settling his aim on African plains game, and maybe a Cape buffalo. And that’s exactly what he did in the summer of ‘72 in the brushy grasslands of Mozambique. While John and wife, Barbara, had a mostly tranquil trip to beautiful Southeast Africa, his encounter with a big buffalo ended with a rifle shot and left John understandably shaken. His broadheadarrow combo just couldn’t handle the buffalo’s thick,…

Marginal Meat Salvage Overnight animal recovery can present problems after an arrow hit late in the day. Where legal, it is wise to attempt a follow-up with lantern or flashlight, if you are sure your critter is dead. Never push a crippled animal after dark because it might go a long ways and complicate retrieval. Trailing in the dark is foolish in grizzly country, and a poor blood trail can make finding your animal impossible unless there is daylight to help. In most places, you must legally salvage all edible meat — even after predators eat their fill. You should document the sad results with photos, tag what’s left of your animal, and trim up any meat that’s left. Be sure to check local laws or call a game warden,…

WHAT STARTED OUT feeling like a manageable load, now felt like an anchor. I was in agony. Every joint in my body hurt. The Kifaru Hoodlum pack on my back was topnotch, easily allowing me to adjust the balance of weight between my hips and shoulders, but I was now at a point where it didn’t seem to matter where the weight was. Everything hurt, and my body was angry. My son, Lane, had taken a bull just below timberline, the story of which is featured in this very issue of Bowhunter . What you won’t read in Lane’s story, however, is about the toll packing that bull out took on his ol’ dad. I’d hunted that country a ton in my younger years, and had experienced similar packouts in…