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.
THE GREATER CHALLENGE presented by traditional archery is undeniable. The first factor that comes to mind is modest arrow speeds. Today’s modern compounds launch hunting arrows at 280 to 300-plus fps, and even with such speeds, we still have problems with quick-reacting game “jumping the string” and altering our shot. An arrow fired from a traditional bow is at least 100 fps slower — a fact that should put an animal’s ability to react to the sound of a bow front and center in the minds of any and all bowhunters who choose to draw down on an animal with a stickbow. Then there is the stickbow’s modest effective range, compared to those who use a compound with sight pins and a release, and feel comfortable shooting at an animal…
“ANOTHER 60 MILES,” I groaned, as I crossed the U.S. border into Canada. I had been white-knuckle driving across ice and snow for nearly 10 hours, and I was tired. But the thought of big Alberta mule deer kept me going. My pal and outfitter Duane Nelson was waiting in camp, and we planned to be glassing vast stretches of prairie the next morning. I enjoyed excellent bowhunts in 2022, yet despite my success, shooting critters last year was unusually difficult. The 500-mile drive from my home in Wyoming to southern Alberta seemed like déjà vu — because it was. I had already made the 1,000-mile roundtrip journey just days earlier. Duane’s area in southern Alberta only allows November deer hunting four days per week, and I had opted to…
THE MULE DEER SPIKE came right up to the decoy and stared at it. I was so temped to take him with my recurve, mostly because he was right in my wheelhouse — 10 to 15 yards away and fixated on my decoy. The only reason I hesitated was because I was in a large blind with two cameras running so I could document the muley’s reaction to the decoy. In full disclosure, I was also holding off because the larger mule deer buck in the group was looking hard at the decoy as well, and I was hoping for a shot at him. It was peak of the rut, and I was experimenting with a new prototype decoy — and possibly risking ruining my hunt that morning to see…
WHEN AN ARROW flies at high speed, it is subject to air resistance. This is what allows the arrow’s fletching to produce drag. Fletching that is larger and has a strong degree of helical will consequently produce increased resistance — an element that optimizes flight recovery and stabilization. This aids in steering the arrow better. The same can be said with the surface area of a broadhead, whether it be a fixed-blade or mechanical. It has the ability to “catch air” and steer the projectile one way or the other. However, as long as the fletching does its job of catching more air than the broadhead, it will remain in control and guide the arrow with as little oscillation as possible. Of course, this only applies if the broadhead turns…
OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, this column has been based on the latest deer research conducted by some of the top deer biologists in the country. These scientific findings are not simply someone’s opinion; they’re peer-reviewed results. My job is to excise the big science words from this research and present the findings so the average bowhunter can understand and apply the results in their neck of the woods. More than ever, many hunters now are interested in acquiring deer data from true professionals who aren’t just trying to sell a product. And except for a few magazines and websites, this data seems to be harder and harder to find. The number-one e-mail question I receive from Bowhunter readers is, “How do I become a wildlife biologist?” My answer to…
Although it sounds cliche, practice truly does make perfect. That said, there are elements to a good archery shot that go far beyond just slinging a few arrows, and now is the perfect time to tune up your rig and yourself. Having a properly tuned bow is important, but accuracy when it really counts starts with developing a shooting process that is consistent in any situation. For me, that process consists of: • Having a consistent grip. • Visualizing the shot. • Drawing to a consistent and solid anchor point. • Calibrating or floating the sight pin on the kill zone. • Focusing on the spot you want to hit, rather than on the pin. • Developing a surprise release. • Following through until the arrow hits the target. Regardless…
