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.
MY YOUNGEST SON GRADUATED high school this spring, and by the time you read this, my wife and I will have dropped him off at college to begin his studies and military training as an Army ROTC Cadet. We are proud of his commitment to serve our nation, though a bit apprehensive about our new life as empty nesters. One of our son’s favorite high school activities was drama club, a group that staged multiple musical productions each year. Every show required months of rehearsal, set building and other preparations, culminating in “tech week,” a weeklong frenzy that included multiple run-throughs of the show, complete with costumes, sound equipment, lighting, etc. This gave each cast and crew member multiple opportunities to practice every detail — no matter how small or…
AS I GET READY for another serious bowhunting season, I am once again reminded of just how important shooting equipment is to success. Many factors go into filling your game tag — major and subtle hunting strategies, lots of shooting practice before and during the hunt and iron-clad persistence no matter how frustrated you might become, not to mention a healthy dash of good luck. That said, careful bow-and-arrow setup should be a foundation for all the rest. My favorite Bear Alaskan XT is a fine bow right out of the box, but no bow shoots perfectly without adjustments. Here’s how I went this summer from un-boxed to incredible broadhead accuracy. First, I maxed out the 55-70-pound draw weight to accommodate all animals I plan to hunt in 2024. Seventy…
I LOVE DOUGHNUTS. I feel better now that I’ve come clean about that. And while the headline of this column is titled “Dropping Weight,” this article isn’t about you or me shedding pounds. Rather, it’s about dropping our bow weight, which is fortunately a lot easier to do. The trick is in just how we drop that bow weight without sacrificing the things we still want…like doughnuts. Just kidding! I mean things such as kinetic energy (penetration) and a flatter trajectory. Having worked in three archery pro shops, including managing an archery shop, I have learned that most people don’t have their traditional bows set up for optimum performance. That can mean multiple things. For instance, I often see people with shorter draw lengths shooting long recurves so they aren’t…
MY HEART RATE surged as antler tips emerged from the junipers 100 yards away. This bull was fired up! Drawing at the first glimpse, I kept my sight pins on the bull as it approached from left to right. He paused at 40 yards, bugling so loudly it nearly blew my hat off. It’s always nerve-wracking when a bull pauses while you’re at full draw. Too long a pause means you might have to let down, and elk are experts at catching such movements. Luckily, this bull was eager to find a cow and didn’t linger. Once again, I pivoted with him as he continued his approach, which is a movement that’s difficult for an incoming bull to detect. As long as you don’t move your feet and maintain a…
AS ARCHERY HUNTING seasons begin across the country, there is certainly no shortage of news of interest to sportsmen. From Louisiana, where the state will hold its first black bear hunt in nearly four decades, to Idaho, where moose are being impacted by a parasitic worm, here’s a look at some of the most interesting stories regarding our wildlife and conservation efforts. Louisiana Holding First Bear Hunt Since ’87 After being on the Endangered Species List for nearly 30 years, the Louisiana black bear has rebounded to the point where the state will offer a limited hunt for the animal later this year. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission earlier this year voted to support a bear season that will run Dec. 7-22. The hunt, which will award 10 permits…
SUMMERTIME IS SPECIAL for bucks because it’s all about the boys. The clusters of bucks, or what I like to call the “frat boys,” will form shortly after the rut or in late winter and stay together until they shed their velvet. Although some yearling bucks will remain with their mothers from the previous year, these groups of male deer help each other because there’s safety in numbers. For example, an extra set of eyes can aid in the detection of predators, especially after a hard rut. We know does and bucks will utilize different habitat types during this time of year. Research has shown the separation of the sexes across the landscape helps both does and bucks. Bucks will be focusing on food sources such as corn and soybeans,…
