Bowhunter brings you expert advice from legendary Bowhunters! Each issue is filled with updates from major bowhunting organizations, coverage of bowhunting locations across North America, complete coverage of the sport and much more.
IT WAS FOUR DECADES AGO, a time when I was just learning the ins and outs of hunting western North Dakota. Several buddies and I were hunting mule deer and I’d made a less-than-ideal shot on a buck. The wide-open terrain, and the lack of posted signs in those days, allowed us to stay on the buck, keeping his blood pressure up and the blood flowing. We kept going. And going. We were so intent on recovering the buck, which we did, that we lost track of time. The darkening sky started spitting a few snowflakes, and an ominous feeling began to swell in my gut. We’d hiked over hill and dale in ranch country, under a heavy overcast sky, carelessly looking mostly at the ground. And we were a…
THE CLIMAX OF ANY BOWHUNT IS THE SHOT, BUT FOR MANY, THE CHASE IS AN EQUALLY WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE. THE TIME SPENT behind glass watching summer hayfield and setting up countless trail cameras waiting for the results to flash across your phone can be consuming. Your mind often drifts, wondering where he is or what he’s doing as you stare at mapping software and try to put the puzzle pieces together. As your intel increases, so do the waypoints as you narrow down your options. Although I firmly believe in the proverb that a “bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” that wasn’t the case last season. A certain buck first grabbed my attention in 2020 when his image flashed across my computer screen. Finding his shed antler…
THE LAUNCH OF THE LATEST BOWS ALWAYS DRAWS THE EYES OF SERIOUS BOWHUNTERS. THERE SHOULD BE a lot of thought put into picking the right hunting bow. And although the “cool factor” is certainly important, weight, balance, speed, stability, efficiency, forgiveness, and noise are really the buzzwords to focus on when it comes to making that final decision. Let’s face it, today’s flagship bows aren’t cheap, and you’ll spend more than a grand when your bowhunting rig is complete. But when you start taking these new bows for a test drive at your local pro shop, you’ll realize they’re worth every penny. Although we all have our personal preferences, I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with any of today’s compound bows. The variables from brand to brand are…
WHEN IT COMES to consistently putting meat in the freezer, few things are as crucial as arrow choice. The arrow leaves the bow, cuts through the air, and drives a broadhead home. If that arrow is of a subpar build, or is over or underspined for your bow’s poundage, problems can occur. From stout bone-breakers to ultra-thin wind-slicers to shafts designed to appease the need-for-speed crowd, finding the right arrow for your bow setup is paramount. Here’s what I mean. IT WOULD BE WISE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING NEW ARROWS AND IMPORTANT ADD-ONS. Last season, the tag gods finally smiled down on me and I drew a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit in my home state of Colorado. It took me 19 years to draw the…
WHEN IT COMES down to it, we all strive to be successful in the woods. For most of us who work and have a family, the season only lasts a week or two, maybe three, with a few weekends sprinkled in between. Needless to say, we want to make the most of the time we have because there are only so many Septembers, only so many Novembers. Certainly, having good woodsmanship skills goes a long way in that process — maybe more than we realize. But the equipment we choose to carry also plays a significant part, especially when it’s time to release an arrow. Having a finely tuned bow with functional accessories, like those found in this article, is the foundation of that moment of truth. We may only…
ULTIMATELY, WHAT YOU decide to thread into your arrow inserts is entirely up to you. There are piles of quality heads on the market — fixed, mechanical, and hybrid — each explicitly designed for a purpose. My advice: If you have confidence in a backstrap-getter, don’t change just to change. In bowhunting, confidence in your gear is critical. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. However, if you’ve had some issues, it might be time to test and tinker and find a new killer broadhead. When deciding which broadhead is right for you, it helps to jot down some notes. For instance, if you’re a whitetail hunter who doesn’t shoot past 40 yards, you can go with a fixed, mechanical, or hybrid model. All will be super-accurate and do what…
