Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2024 i Bowhunter

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…

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…

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN a sucker for a good set of camo. Maybe it’s my Southern roots or my instincts as a bowhunter, but there’s just something cool and eye-catching about them. Whether you’re from the old-school camp where there were just a handful of choices, or you favor the latest patterns and technological designs we use to hide our form today, there certainly seems to be no shortage of options to cover us from head to toe. Take ScentLok (scentlok.com), for example, an obvious pick if you want to dress for bowhunting success. If you’re planning to pack a saddle this season, you might want to check out their [1] Saddle Hunter Jacket and Pant ($199.99 each). Teaming up with John Eberhart, the godfather of modern saddle hunting, this midweight…

OZONICS HR600 Ozonics has taken its ozone technology to an entirely new level with the HR600 ($699.99), a completely redesigned model that produces up to 20 percent more odor-destroying ozone than before. Built for bowhunters, the unit includes new overhead air intake and fan locations, promising whisper-quiet operation, while the battery provides up to 13 hours of run time in standard mode, allowing for all-day sits on just one charge. The HR600 also includes a removable coil, allowing users to change the coil themselves, if need be, rather than sending the unit back to Ozonics. Plus, it’s easily controlled via the app or remote control (purchased separately). ozonicshunting.com CUDDEBACK CUDDELINK ZOOM IR Tired of trail-cam shots where the deer are too far away to see well or clearly? The ZOOM…

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…

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…

STANDING FIRM on the legacy left by company founder Fred Bear, the “Father of Modern Bowhunting,” Bear Archery strives to keep moving the sport forward by building bows that make archery accessible and affordable to all. Bear’s new-for-2024 Whitetail Maxx is the perfect example of this mission — a get-it-done rig with a price tag reminiscent of bow catalogs from 25 years ago. Part of the company’s Legend Series, the Whitetail Maxx features the same EKO Cam found on the flagship Persist, along with Bear Muscle split limbs, composite limb pockets, Caged Maxx riser and contoured grip with side plates. In addition to the parallel position of the limbs at full draw, shock and vibration are minimized with KillerWave limb dampeners, a rubber-tipped string stop and four rubber string dampeners.…

IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR with the crossbow world, you know Excalibur is not only one of the oldest and most trusted manufacturers, they also have reached near-legendary status for their “crossbows without cams” platform and the almost indestructible rigs they produce. For 2024, the company has introduced the RevX, which continues the Excalibur tradition with its no-cam platform and Armor Tipped, High-Output Express recurve limbs. An integrated ChargerX crank-cocking mechanism easily and safely manages the 413-pound draw force, while a Premium Trigger and Ceasefire Technology handle the launch sequence. In addition, a compact and stout aluminum riser with built-in limb pockets and broadhead scoop is outfitted with an oversized foot stirrup and vibration/noise dampeners. Using Excalibur’s 350-grain ProFlight bolts, the RevX can launch bolts up to 400 fps. Built-In Control Excalibur’s…

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…

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,…

ANYONE WHO BOWHUNTS knows how important having good lighting is. Well, I just tried out a terrific trio of lights — two headlamps and a multipurpose light from Streamlight — and I was beyond impressed by both the quality and functionality. The first, the BearTrap 360, is an awesome, versatile, rechargeable utility/work light that’s perfect for many functions related to the bowhunting lifestyle. For starters, it features a sturdy base; vice-like, spring-loaded clamp design; and integrated magnets, all of which combine to allow you to attach the light to almost any surface. Plus, it has a pivoting body that can be rotated 360 degrees horizontally and 270 degrees vertically, letting you easily adjust and direct the light to where it’s needed. With three spot and three flood modes, the BearTrap…