Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Bowhunter

IN SOME WAYS, it’s fitting that this Editorial, my 100th as the Editor of Bowhunter Magazine, lands on our annual DIY Special. As a rookie bowhunter back in 1981, I would never have dreamed of being in this position today, but I believe much of the credit goes to my long history of DIY hunts. My bowhunting roots are deeply embedded in those early years, when all my adventures were cultivated by two things: The knowledge I gleaned from reading Bowhunter and other resources; and my alliance with like-minded bowhunting buddies. We banded together, did the research, shared the preparation, the costs, the effort, the excitement — and most importantly, the rewards. We learned about decoying pronghorns, ambushing whitetails, calling elk, and baiting bears. We took breathless breaks on mountaintops,…

ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I was conducting archery seminars at a sports show in Northern California. Just before I went on stage, a gentleman walked up with a book in his hand. It was a leatherbound first edition of Saxton Pope’s 1923 classic, “Hunting With The Bow And Arrow.” The man opened the cover, and there was Pope’s original signature, plus a sheaf of yellowing papers that appeared to be arrow-testing notes handwritten by Pope himself. I was shocked when this fellow told me he had found the book in a local pawn shop and purchased it for $10. He wanted to know what it was worth. I had a seminar to give, but I asked him to meet me after the presentation. My excitement faded when the fellow failed…

BACK IN COLLEGE, my wildlife professor had us take a quiz on aging 10 deer jawbones. We were using a technique developed in 1949 by deer researcher Bill Severinghaus from New York, based on tooth wear and eruption. To this day, this method has been the standard in aging deer for all wildlife biologists, and I was very proud to see an “A+” on my quiz. Aging deer has become somewhat of an obsession for many hunters. How cool is it when you know the exact age of your buck! One of my all-time favorite bucks only scored in the low 150s, but he was 9½ years old. Obviously, having a deer live this long, let alone being fortunate enough to tip him over, is something I’ll most likely never…

IN OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE, I presented problems Western states are having with the use of trail cameras. At that time, I noted that Utah was considering some changes. That has now happened and here is the new law. The Utah Legislature passed HB 295 during the 2021 legislative session that instructed the Utah Wildlife Board to make rules governing the use of trail cameras in hunting. The game agency surveyed 14,000 big game hunters asking for feedback on potential changes. The survey showed that the majority of hunters opposed using trail cameras that transmit images in real time. So, from July 31 to December 31 each year, cameras that have internal storage memory as well as wireless cameras that transmit images to a hunter’s smartphone, cannot be used. Private landowners…

“WE’RE PROUD TO BE WORKING TOWARDS OUR 10 MILLIONTH LIGHTED KNOCK!’”— CURT PRICE, PRESIDENT TRUST ME WHEN I SAY it’s tough for the Bowhunter Magazine & TV team to imagine a time when we couldn’t thrill at the sight of a Lumenok-equipped arrow glowing down range, but it really wasn’t that long ago… “Actually, my inspiration came early one morning in the fall of ’98, when I’d rattled in a nice 10-point,” Curt Price began. “That buck bought it hook, line, and sinker, but then he busted me trying to draw. I was still able to get an arrow off, and I thought that maybe I’d shot high, but I wasn’t sure. Dad always said, ‘You’ve got to find the arrow!’ So, I climbed down and searched, and searched, and…

ARCHERY ARTIFACTS are like gold — they are wherever you happen to find them. But if you wish to own a piece of bowhunting history, there are excellent ways to get on track. Nice collectibles, including Fred Bear items, are regularly advertised online. As I write this, for example, a fairly low-number Fred Bear Signature Takedown Bow is being offered on eBay. Fewer than 300 of these consecutively numbered bows were produced in the 1980s before Mr. Bear passed away. Each was signed by Fred and features a flawless finish, 22-carat gold-plated hardware, and a handsome hardwood presentation case. If you Google “archery collectibles” or similar phrases, you might be pleasantly surprised at what’s available. Estate auctions and other auctions also can be good bets. One of the niftiest collectible…

MY PACK SEEMED to get heavier as I eased up the switchbacks toward the basin. Not that it was light when I started nearly a half-dozen miles back, but now my 6,000 cu. in. pack was feeling more like 7,000; and the combination of altitude, age, and the heavy load had slowed my pace considerably. As I’ve gotten older, seeking solitude has become more important than actually notching a tag; however, truth be told, I was hoping my extra efforts to go off-grid would be rewarded with both. After reaching a cluster of pines and setting up camp, I brewed a cup of coffee in the chilled mountain air and watched the sun fade behind the horizon. The silence was truly deafening. It always is in this part of the…

THE WESTERN HUNTING ADVENTURE has become increasingly popular in recent years — and for good reason. Hunting elk and mule deer can take you to the most remote and breathtaking places in America, and yield plenty of delicious table fare, too. Many hunters from across the country have done all the research on tag options, points and outfitters, and plan their hunts far in advance. But have they planned to be “Western lethal?” These hunts will bring new and challenging circumstances to those who are new to the West. So, what does it take to be Western lethal? Attention to detail! The Bow The first step in being a lethal bowhunter is optimiz ing your bow. Just as your favorite squirrel rifle isn’t suited to taking deer, not all bow…

PLANO ® AW2™ ULTIMATE DOUBLE BOW CASE The AW2 Ultimate Double Bow Case ($249.99) will safely transport your bow, arrows, and accessories, plus a backup bow. The Dri-Loc™ seal and dual-stage latches safeguard against water/debris. The wheels are a godsend in airports. It comes with a pressure-release valve, lockable tabs, and a heavy duty carry handle. Plano, planomolding.com. ALPINE ® WAYPOINT™ QUIVER The Waypoint Quiver ($54.99–$56.99) works with most vertical bows, crossbows, and recurves. Available in 3 and 4-arrow models (holds standard and micro-diameter shafts), this quiver system holds all types of broadheads from mechanicals to the biggest fixed blades. It has a compact molded hood with an open cavity to prevent dulling of blades. Alpine Archery, alpinearchery.com. CBE ® TREK PRO™ The Trek Pro bowsight…

IT IS DAWN of opening morning. The hunter waits patiently, nestled amongst chiseled craigs, well above timberline. His nephew, Zach, sits across a spectacular gorge in full sunlight atop a dizzying cliff face, looking through powerful optics. Two hours after sunrise Zach finally signals that he has found the buck. Hallelujah! Zach indicates the buck, “Old Unkillable,” has moved a great deal farther up the massive drainage and much lower in elevation than where he’s ever been spotted before — most likely spooked there yesterday or earlier this morning. It will be a long and difficult stalk indeed! This mule-eared colossus had previously always been seen close to the top of the ridge, above timberline and within a mile of where the hunter had made his spike camp the night…

WHEN I LOOK BACK at my last two decades of bowhunting, the majority of the shots I encountered were pretty rapid. In other words, I didn’t have a lot of time to analyze and prepare for the shot. In those instances where I responded quickly but smoothly, I achieved success; when I didn’t, I blundered the opportunity. Nowadays, when preparing my equipment and mind for hunting season, I plan for worst-case shooting scenarios. This means striking fast — and accurately — when the situation calls for it. Here are some details I think about to improve my success at the moment of truth. Practice For The REAL DEAL During the off-season, I enjoy shooting my bow in the backyard. My routine is to shoot two to three arrows at each…

I KNOW LIFE isn’t all rainbows, sunshine, and lollipops, but there is no reason your bowhunting opportunities can’t be. I’m always looking for fun, reasonably priced adventures to have with my bow when most of the big-game seasons are over. Bowfishing is often my go-to for helping fill the void between spring turkey and fall deer season. However, while bowfishing is a blast, it can get repetitious. So, what are some more fun options for traditional bowhunters during the slower times of year that will also provide some great meat for the table, if successful? Alligator hunting is one of my favorites, because it’s so different. I’ve heard some folks refer to it as “bowfishing on steroids,” but I personally feel it’s more like bowhunting than bowfishing for the simple…

THE ARROW’S IMPACT resulted in a resounding thump, and the buck instantly disappeared into a thick backdrop of evergreens. I didn’t see exactly where it hit, but I felt confident. This was back in the days prior to modern laser rangefinders, so I paced the yardage off as I approached where the buck had been standing. My 35-yard distance estimate had been fairly close. Now I really started to get excited. Excitement soon turned to anxiety when I couldn’t find blood. I searched for quite a while before Jeff showed up to give me a hand. Jeff and I bowhunted a lot together as teenagers, and this was to be one of our biggest successes to date. We started following tracks I’d found exiting the scene. As we walked a…