Petersen's Bowhunting 2019-01

Tested: 2019 HOYT CARBON RX-3 & PRIME LOGIC CT3
Welcome to
BIG BUCK
CENTRAL
Top 5 Deer States
for the Next 5 Years p. 30
LATE-SEASON
BLUEPRINT
Right Place.
Right Time.
Tagged Out! p. 36
GAIN THE
ARCHER’S EDGE
Your Off-Season Action Plan
for In-Season Success p. 44
• Arizona Coues Deer

Quest p. 40
• Levi Morgan’s Advice for

Awesome Accuracy p. 14
We’ll show you ghosts.
or computer. 24/7 intel that leaves nothing to the imagination. spartancamera.com

JAN/FEB 2019
F E ATU R E S 30
The 5 Hottest Deer
30 Destinations for
the Next 5 Years
Looking to Tag a Trophy Whitetail?
Look No Further Than Our
Fab Five!
BY CHRISTIAN BERG
36 Late-Season Case Study

Post-Rut Can Be Prime Time —
In the Right Place
BY BILL WINKE
40 Finish Early and Stay Late

On an Arizona Coues
Deer Hunt, Tagging Out
is Only Half the Fun
BY EDDIE CLAYPOOL
44 Growing Yourself in
the Off-Season
For Serious Bowhunters,
There Is No Downtime
BY JOHN DUDLEY
48 Don’t Blink! 48
Father-Daughter Bowhunting
Ends Way Too Soon
BY GREG BRUSH
52 What I Lost To Win

Finding Triumph in
the Face of Tragedy
BY NATHAN “TATE” HALE
2 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

MEET THE
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28 TECHNICAL BOW TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY JON E. SILKS
Hoyt REDWRX Carbon RX-3
56 TECHNICAL BOW TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY JON E. SILKS

Prime Logic CT3
58 FIELD TESTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Browning Trail Cameras, Skull Hooker
BY BOWHUNTING EDITORS
p. 56
62 NEW GEAR
An expanded look at bowhunting products
p. 62
p. 28
p. 58
D E PARTM E NTS
6 FIRST SHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What Goes Around Comes Around
BY CHRISTIAN BERG
RAD O
12 THE INBOX FREE podcasts available
Readers speak out about their sport and magazine from iTunes,
or listen online @
14 CHANGING THE GAME . . . . . . . . . . . BY LEVI MORGAN bowhunting.podbean.com
Facial Contact
16 BOWHUNTING 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY BILL WINKE

Game Changers
TODAY!
20 WHITETAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY JASON SNAVELY
Deer Science and Bowhunting Success
24 BETTER BOWHUNTING . . . . . . . . . . BY RANDY ULMER • Winke’s Wisdom:

Part 1 of 3: Peep Sights
• Broadhead Battle:
26 CROSSBOWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY BOB HUMPHREY
Crossbow Safety
64 THE DIY GUY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY EDDIE CLAYPOOL

The Buck • Leasing 101:
Statement of Ownership is on page 57
FIRST ®
QQ SHOT BY CHRISTIAN BERG
THE MODERN BOWHUNTING AUTHORITY
What Goes Around An Outdoor Sportsman Group® Publication

PUBLISHER Jeff Waring
Comes Around
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR Christian Berg
ART DIRECTOR David J. Siegfried
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Taylor J. Pardue
I
f there’s one thing bowhunt- for revenge. It’s just that I’ve been EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sally Burkey
ing has taught me — painfully, chasing whitetails with a bow long FIELD EDITORS
enough to know my 2017 season was HUNTING SOLO Eddie Claypool
over and over and over again
the exception, not the rule. CROSSBOWS Bob Humphrey
— it’s humility. Simply put, a life- With that, fast-forward to late Sep- GEAR TESTING Jon E. Silks
time isn’t nearly long enough tember of 2018 in southern Ohio, BETTER BOWHUNTING Randy Ulmer
to master this game; and no BOWHUNTING 101 Bill Winke

where I kicked off my deer sea-
matter how many victories you son with an opening-week hunt at ADVERTISING SALES
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Danny Farris
record in your hunting journal, Whitetail Heaven Outitters. As any (660) 988-3481 danny.farris@outdoorsg.com
bowhunter knows, you always hope ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Mark Thiffault
I guarantee the next defeat is for cool weather on an early-season (800) 200-7885 mark.thiffault@outdoorsg.com
never too far down the road. hunt. But in this case, I was greet- ADVERTISING SALES REP Jeff Millar
(717) 695-8081 jeff.millar@outdoorsg.com
Some of you may recall my fea- ed with a serious spell of extended
PRODUCTION
ture article in the November/De- summer that included temperatures MANAGER Brittany Kennedy (717) 695-8089
cember issue, Making It Look Easy, approaching 90 degrees each day, brittany.kennedy@outdoorsg.com
COORDINATOR Leah Jaroh (717) 695-8087
that chronicled the incredible deer- along with high humidity that made leah.jaroh@outdoorsg.com
hunting success I enjoyed in the fall just walking from the truck to the
ENDEMIC AD SALES
of 2017. I won’t rehash all the details, treestand enough to get soaked in NATIONAL ENDEMIC SALES
but the bottom line is I hunted a your own sweat. On top of the heat, Jim McConville (440) 791-7017
WESTERN REGION
total of eight days to kill four bucks an extremely wet summer resulted Hutch Looney
in four states — including a 13-point in a record mosquito hatch, mean- NATIONAL AD SALES
Kentucky velvet buck that grossed ing that much of the time spent on ACCOUNT DIRECTOR – DETROIT OFFICE
Kevin Donley (248) 798-4458
181 3⁄8 inches and a 13-point Kansas stand was consumed by swatting the NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE – CHICAGO OFFICE
giant that grossed 182 6⁄8! blood-sucking parasites off my skin. Carl Benson (312) 955-0496
DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING /NON-ENDEMIC
To call it a season for the ages Not surprisingly, deer movement Anthony Smyth (914) 693-8700
would be an understatement. Need- in those conditions was extremely
less to say, I was the envy of all my minimal. On the irst day of the hunt,
bowhunting buddies, and photos of I saw a doe, a fawn and a 4-point BOWHUNTING, (ISSN # 1049-9768) is published
9 times a year, including one double issue; Jan/Feb,
my bucks earned me my proverbial buck. On the second day of the hunt, Mar (Gear Guide), Apr/May, June, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct,
15 minutes of fame on social media. I saw the same three deer. And it Nov/Dec, by OUTDOOR SPORTSMAN GROUP ®, 1040 6th
Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703. Periodical
More than a few folks declared me one wasn’t like my experience was an postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing
of America’s luckiest deer hunters and outlier. Although a couple solid offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change (form 3579)
to Bowhunting, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0539.
wondered if I’d kill a 200-inch buck bucks were taken over the course of Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 500 Rt. 46
East, Clifton, NJ 07011. Canada Post Publications Mail
next. Several others asked whether the week, most of the more than 20 Agreement No. 41405030.
I could share a little bit of whatever bowhunters in camp reported little SUBSCRIPTIONS INQUIRIES: Should you wish to change your address,
order new subscriptions, or report a problem with your current subscrip-
deer-hunting “magic” I possessed. deer activity, and certainly not much tion, you can do so by writing Bowhunting, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA
50037-0539, or e-mail us at bngcustserv@cdsfulillment.com, or call
I have to admit, it was pretty cool. movement from the many shooter TOLL FREE (800) 800-4269. BE AWARE THAT PETERSEN’S BOWHUNT-
I felt as if I could do no wrong in the bucks captured on trail cameras in ING ONLY ACCEPTS SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS FROM AUTHORIZED
AGENTS! WE MAY NOT HONOR REQUESTS FROM UNAUTHORIZED
deer woods, and that great bucks the days leading up to the season. AGENTS, AND YOU THEREFORE MAY LOSE YOUR MONEY IF YOU BUY
FROM AN UNAUTHORIZED AGENT. If you are offered a subscription to
would ind me no matter what stand On the afternoon of the third day, Petersen’s Bowhunting, please call 1-800-800-4269 to determine if the
agent is authorized. For more information on subscription scams, please
I was in. Still, even as I racked up my guide suggested I move to a new visit www.ftc.gov.
(pun intended) success after success, stand near the top of a steep, hard- Subscription rate for one year is $17.97 (U.S., APO, FPO, and U.S. pos-
sessions). Canada add $13.00 (U.S. funds) per year, includes sales tax
I felt a growing unease in my gut. Af- wood ridge. Climbing in shortly after and GST. Foreign add $15.00 (U.S. funds) per year.
Occasionally, our subscriber list is made available to reputable irms offer-
ter all, any rational bowhunter had 3 p.m., I sat and stared blankly into ing goods and services that we believe would be of interest to our readers.
to know the winning streak was un- the empty woods for the next four If you prefer to be excluded, please send your current address label
and a note requesting to be excluded from these promotions to:
sustainable. And as the season turned hours. Finally, at 7:20 p.m., I caught Outdoor Sportsman Group® • 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY
10018-3703 • Attn: Privacy Coordinator or email your label informa-
into the off-season and I had more movement about 80 yards out in front tion and note to privacycoordinator@outdoorsg.com
FOR REPRINTS: For Reprints/Eprints or Licensing/Permissions, please
time to relect on my incredibly good of the stand. Quickly focusing on the contact: Wright’s Media - TOLL FREE (877) 652-5295.
fortune, my mind became consumed spot, I could see deer legs moving in CONTRIBUTIONS: Manuscripts, photographs and artwork must be sub-
mitted to the Editorial Ofice with a SASE. The Publisher assumes no
with an ominous thought: Dude, you the fading evening light. responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please send to:
Bowhunting • 6385 Flank Drive, Suite 800 • Harrisburg, PA 17112-2784
are going to pay for this. You are going to Moments later, the body attached (717) 695-8085 Fax: (717) 545-2527
pay for this big time! to those legs came into view, and I PRINTED IN THE U.S.A
Oh, it’s not as though I actually could tell it was a buck. Lifting my
believed the deer gods were out binoculars to my face, I conirmed

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FIRST
QQ SHOT
®
my suspicion; this was the
wide-racked 10-pointer my PRESIDENT & CEO Jim Liberatore
guide had shown me on the
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PUBLISHING
trail camera. In spite of the & BRANDED MEDIA Mike Carney
challenging conditions and
EVP, GROUP PUBLISHER & OPERATIONS Derek Sevcik
virtually nonexistent action, it
looked like things might work VP, CONSUMER MARKETING Peter Watt
out after all. VP, MANUFACTURING Deb Daniels
Realizing I only had about DIRECTOR, MARKETING Kim Shay
10 minutes of shooting light
remaining, I knew time was These trail-camera photos show the SENIOR DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION Connie Mendoza
of the essence. Still, as the buck ap- wide, 10-point buck Editor Christian Berg DIRECTOR, PUBLISHING TECHNOLOGY Kyle Morgan
proached, I told myself not to rush and missed during his early-season Ohio hunt
OUTDOOR SPORTSMAN GROUP DIGITAL
wait for a high-odds shot opportunity. with Whitetail Heaven Outfitters. After
days of battling excessive heat, humidity EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, FISHING Jeff Simpson
After giving the buck several minutes
and swarms of hungry mosquitoes, Berg DIGITAL EDITOR, HUNTING Drew Pellman
to slowly feed its way in my direction, finally had his opportunity when this buck
the deer turned broadside and took a showed up at last light and presented a For questions regarding digital editions, please
step forward that moved the front-side 30-yard shot. The Editor’s arrow deflected contact digitalsupport@outdoorsg.com.
shoulder blade away from the vitals. It off a tree and landed in front of the buck. MEDIA FISHING
was the shot every bowhunter outdoorsg.com bassfan.com
hopes for. However, there was loridasportsman.com
TELEVISION lyisherman.com
just one problem — a dead oak outdoorchannel.com gameandishmag.com
thesportsmanchannel.com in-isherman.com
tree stood directly between my worldishingnetwork.com
stand and the deer, partially HUNTING
SHOOTING
gunsandammo.com
obstructing my view of the bowhunter.com handguns.com
bowhuntingmag.com rileshootermag.com
animal. gundogmag.com shootingtimes.com
No problem, I thought. Just petersenshunting.com irearmsnews.com
northamericanwhitetail.com
wait for the vital to clear the wildfowlmag.com
tree and make your shot. Copyright 2019 by Outdoor Sportsman Group®
Moments later, as the buck All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written
fed contentedly, I carefully exam- at all. And considering all the factors permission.
ined the shot angle and felt conident working against me on this hunt, I Bowhunting® is a registered trademark of Outdoor Sportsman Group® in
the United States.
I had clearance to the right of the tree felt fortunate to have seen a shooter
The Publisher and authors make no representations or warranties regarding
for my arrow to pass by and ind its buck, never mind launch an arrow. the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information contained in
mark. Coming to full draw and set- Although I still had two days re- this publication. Any reliance or use of the information is solely at your own
risk, and the authors and Publisher disclaim any and all liability relating
tling into my anchor position, I cen- maining in the hunt, I arrived back thereto. Any prices given in this issue were suggested prices at the press
time and are subject to change.
tered the sight housing in the peep at the lodge that evening resigned to
Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are not
sight and settled the 30-yard pin on my fate, and I was hardly surprised legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions.
the buck’s chest. Slowly releasing when the remainder of the hunt
the safety on my tension-activated passed with nothing more spotted Cover Photo: JOHN FORD
release and pulling into the shot, my than a doe and a fawn.
arrow was soon on its way. Due to notoriously early maga-
I barely had time to see the orange zine deadlines, I sit here typing this
streak from my Lumenok leave the column without knowing the ulti-
bow before a loud whack told the tale mate outcome of my 2018 whitetail
of woe. My arrow had delected off season. It’s only mid-October, and
the tree and missed the buck com- there is yet far more opportunity
pletely! My heart sank as the startled in front of me than behind me, in-
buck leapt, then ran about 20 yards to cluding a prime rut hunt in Central
my right before stopping and trying Kansas and a late-season hunt in Illi-
to igure out what had just happened. nois. Add in my local hunting efforts
In desperation, I grabbed another around home in Pennsylvania, and I
arrow from my quiver, nocked it and may yet tag a trophy or two.
pleaded with the universe to give me Then again, I may end up eating
another opportunity. But in my heart, a steaming bowl of tag soup. Be-
I knew the truth: that was my oppor- cause in bowhunting, as in the rest
tunity. So many times in bowhunting, of life, what goes around deinitely
one shot is all you get, if you get one comes around.

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THE
INBOX
Eddie Hammers His Point It’s About TIME for
I generally go straight to the last Sunday Hunting!
page to read Eddie Claypool’s col- Hunters United for Sunday Hunt-
umns. I’m more than touched by his QUESTION ing (HUSH) continues to advance its
most recent, The Journey (p. 80, Nov/ mission to remove the prohibition
Dec 2018). I’ve been bowhunting
OF THE MONTH: on Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania.
since the mid-1960s and still love The state’s hunters face a big barri-
every minute of it. Eddie hits the nail er to hunting — lack of time aield.
on the head with the evolution of my In fact, lack of time is the No. 1 rea-
thinking and bowhunting goals over son given when surveying former
those years. It’s most enjoyable now, hunters who are no longer buying a
at age 63, when I can just enjoy the hunting license. It is also the biggest
whole picture of each day without barrier for recruiting new hunters to
any pressure from myself or others our ranks.
to put another animal on the wall. Over the past year, HUSH has
I’ll be out there in a wheelchair if made tremendous progress in its
necessary one day, too. efforts. The Pennsylvania Game
Tom Weigand, Shellsburg, Iowa Commission (PGC) has issued a res-
bowhunting@outdoorsg.com. olution supporting the removal of
Straight Talk on Arrow Spin the prohibition and requesting it be
In Levi Morgan’s article on arrow weighs more than 500 grains travel- given regulatory authority to sched-
vanes (Choosing the Right Vanes for the ing at 280 feet per second. ule seasons including Sundays.
Job, p. 16, September 2018), he talked I shoot a Mathews NO CAM HTR The PGC is the expert on wildlife
about natural arrow rotation and with a 75-pound draw weight and management and is tasked by Penn-
how most right-handed bows launch 29-inch draw length. My 505-grain sylvania law to do just that. It’s time
arrows with a left rotation and to arrows max out at 250 feet per sec- the legislators allow the PGC to do
letch arrows the same direction. I ond. John, what bow are you shoot- its job.
tested this, and my arrow has a left ing? I want one, too! Many conservation organizations,
rotation from my right-handed bow. Mike Hambuchen, Conway, Ark. including the United Bowhunters
This being said, according to the of Pennsylvania, QDMA, NWTF,
article I should be letching with PB Responds: One of my advan- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
a left offset or helical vane orien- tages is my longer draw length. and RMEF, have also declared their
tation. If this is true, most people Since I have a 31-inch draw, I nat- support for our mission.
today are letching wrong. Left- urally get approximately 15 feet Recent polls have shown more
hand letching jigs are hard to ind. per second more speed compared than 80 percent of Pennsylvanians
What are your thoughts on this? to a 29-inch draw. As for my gear, support our mission, and we believe
You have a great magazine. Keep I’m shooting a Hoyt REDWRX the state’s legislature will ultimate-
up the good work! Carbon RX-1 Ultra at around the ly repeal the prohibition. However,
Dave Shirley, Blythewood, S.C. same poundage as you. Keep in more help is needed to ensure our
mind that, with most bows, the success. Sen. Dan Laughlin of Erie
PB Responds: Yes, that is correct! If cam setting your bow uses for your has introduced a bill that removes
the arrow naturally launches with draw length can affect eficiency the prohibition while also strength-
a leftward (counterclockwise) spin, and speed. For example, I chose a ening trespass laws. We encourage
you should letch a left offset or he- cam number that lets me shoot it Pennsylvania bowhunters to con-
lical. You are also correct that most in the longest slots for that cam. tact their senators and urge them to
[right-handed shooters] are letching It really helps maintain speed. If, support the bill.
their arrows the wrong way. I think by chance, you have a cam num- When it comes to Sunday hunt-
this is mainly just from a lack of ber that forces you to have it in the ing in Pennsylvania, it’s about
knowledge. shortest position to get your draw TIME! Join our grassroots effort to-
Changing the Game length, then you could be losing day and help make Pennsylvania’s
Columnist Levi Morgan more speed than you would with it hunting community as strong as
in a longer slot. Finally, remember possible.
I’ll Have What He’s Having that added weight in the middle of Harold Daub, Halifax, Pa.
In the September 2018 issue, John the bowstring — brass nock sets, Executive Director,
Dudley has a ine article, 5 Parts kisser buttons and peep-sight tub- Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
to the Perfect Arrow. In it, he states ing — greatly reduces arrow speed. facebook.com/huntersunited
he prefers to shoot an arrow that John Dudley forsundayhunting

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BOWHUNTING
QQ 101
Game Changers
Of all the new bowhunting tools Field Editor Bill Winke has seen over the past 30
T
wo products have changed years, none have increased his effectiveness as much as trail cameras and trailer
the way I hunt more than blinds. The cameras have helped Winke understand how deer use his property in
any other advances that a much deeper way, and they have kept him from hunting an area when the timing
wasn’t quite right.
have come along in the past 30
years. In most cases, these two
breakthroughs have made me because I would know more about But these cameras also reduce the
the deer I hunt as a result. Each year, amount of time I spend hunting ar-
more effective as a bowhunter, trail cameras teach me more and eas where there aren’t any mature
but they have also allowed me more about deer and how they use bucks. In other words, trail camer-
to enjoy the experience more — my property. Without trail cameras, as really gain their value by keep-
to get more out of my hours in I would still be guessing and assum- ing me focused and allowing me to
the field. ing and not really knowing what make the most of my hunting time. I
these fascinating animals really do. have a lot of time to hunt, so I could
In the end, we all hunt for slight- Some people criticize trail cam- occasionally squeak out a mature
ly different reasons, but respect for eras because they feel the cameras buck kill even without the cameras.
the game and a real desire to be im- make bowhunting too easy; that But for people who have very lim-
mersed as deeply in the experience they eliminate the need for good, ited time to hunt, cameras are even
as possible are universal. These two old-fashioned woodsmanship. There more of a game changer.
game changers do that for me. is some truth to this. Without ques- Not only do the cameras tell
tion, relying on trail cameras signii- you where to focus your time, they
Trail Cameras cantly reduces the amount of time can also tell you when to focus it.
I came late to the trail-camera par- I spend scouting my hunting areas By studying the photos, you can
ty and didn’t start using them until each year looking for deer sign such determine when bucks are mov-
2008. I wish I had started sooner, as big rubs and big tracks. ing in daylight and what direction

BY BILL WINKE
QQ
they are coming from — indicating as they get older. That also deepens how a good ground blind could
something about where they are the quality of the experience for change the way you hunt.
feeding or where they are bedding. me. I ind it fascinating to see how Again, just like with the trail cam-
This information opens up a wide they change. I could never learn eras, there are going to be detrac-
range of options for you as a bow- that without the trail cameras, and tors. Some people hate hunting from
hunter targeting that buck. It really my enjoyment of the hunt would blinds because of the feeling of be-
is the most critical intel you need be poorer for it. ing constricted without a full ield of
in order to evaluate your strategies In other words, cameras make it view. It can create a kind of artiicial
(whether or not they work) and realistic to go from just deer hunt- experience, like watching the hunt
eventually become a master of this ing to hunting a speciic deer. It on a TV screen rather than actually
chess game. doesn’t always work, so the chal- being there with the wind blowing
For some bowhunters, that might lenge is still central to the quest, but in your face and the squirrels climb-
make the hunt too easy. I get that. making that quest a bit more per- ing in the tree next to you.
For me, it makes the relationship sonal not only makes any success Just like with the cameras, I total-
with the hunt deeper. I am more en- more rewarding, but also allows ly get this argument. However, like
gaged in the places I hunt and the us to learn more about deer than with the cameras, there is another
deer I hunt as a result of knowing we ever thought possible. That, in side to the ground-blind experience.
the bucks are there somewhere. It itself, is very rewarding. There are times and places where the
makes me hunt better, cleaner and blind is absolutely head and shoul-
not as sloppy as I could if I was just Trailer Blinds ders more effective than hunting
putting in the time. My second game changer is less from a stand.
It is also fun to follow speciic obvious. I think we all understand I would rather sit in a blind and
deer for more than one year and the value of trail cameras, but I bet watch deer acting naturally for a
learn more about how they behave many of you have never considered Continued on page 18
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BOWHUNTING
QQ 101
Continued from page 17 Trailer blinds have allowed Winke to hunt feeding areas far more effectively than he ever
long time — and possibly even shoot could from a treestand. He puts a blind in a likely spot and then gives the deer time to
get accustomed to its presence. Once the deer are used to the blind, Winke can use
one — than sit in a stand and proba-
the trailer to move it anywhere in the field to hone in on the preferred feeding area of his
bly spook those same deer before the target buck.
evening is over. I can’t enjoy them
or learn from them if they aren’t out
there for me to watch. where the real game changer comes Eventually, I got a shot at him, but
Ground blinds offer the advantage in: Put that blind on a trailer and he ducked the arrow (dropped at
of keeping you hidden and reducing move it around until you have it the sound of the shot) and got away.
your airborne scent. You can hunt perfectly positioned. But my poor shot selection notwith-
closer to the action than you ever I will give you an example: I standing (I should have aimed low-
could from a treestand, and you can hunted a big deer for two years on er on a noticeably alert buck at 30
hunt there longer than ever would be a seven-acre ield. He would come yards), the blind did what I needed
possible otherwise. out from different spots but always it to do. This story has been repeated
It seems that no matter how care- seemed to end up more or less in a number of times for me since that
fully I hunt near feeding areas and the same part of the ield by last 2011 hunt, with some successful con-
how well I place my stands, deer light. That is not something that I clusions along the way.
eventually either see me up there or could learn easily from trail cam- I have a few semi-permanent
pick up a whiff of my scent on the eras. I had to be there watching a blinds on ields, but not many.
swirling winds. Either way, that spot number of evenings before I saw Most of the spots I hunt regularly
becomes a lot harder to hunt effec- the pattern develop. have a trailer blind on them for this
tively in the future. Educated deer I hunted that buck with a blind very reason.
don’t move as naturally in daylight on a trailer. Once he got used to it in I use high-quality, hard-sided
as those that don’t realize they are the ield (which took about 10 days, blinds. They aren’t cheap, but be-
being hunted. based on trail-cam photos), I was cause of the mobility of the trailer, I
Without question, blinds are the able to move it around and he nev- don’t need nearly as many to cover
best way to hunt feeding areas with er paid any more attention to it. Fi- my best spots. Just two trailer blinds
a bow, but this also can be frus- nally, after enough sits, and enough give me enough options to cover a
trating if you put the blind in the tweaks of the blind, I igured out lot of ground. I would need at least
wrong spot. You have to get within where I needed to be, and on three eight permanent blinds to cover the
30 yards of perfect — not always different evenings I had him within same amount of area as effectively.
easy in a big, open ield. This is bow range. You could do the same thing with

Without question,
blinds are the best
way to hunt feeding
areas with a bow,
but this also can be
frustrating if you put
the blind in the
wrong spot.
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
less expensive, soft-sided blinds.

They just aren’t as effective at con-
taining odors as the hard-sided
blinds. EXCLUSIVE
To combat the feeling of sitting in
a closet with the door cracked open,
I use blinds with lots of windows.
FREE
Stauer® 8x21
By keeping the right ones uncov- Compact
ered (never let your silhouette show Binoculars
between two uncovered windows) -a $99 value-
you can see plenty and the deer with purchase of
can’t see you. It puts you right in the Whitetail™ Hunting
action — exactly what you need to Knife
shoot deer in ields with a bow.
Of course, there is the challenge
of getting away from the blind at the
end of legal shooting time. To do that
correctly, you really need a distrac-
tion that doesn’t come from the blind
to bump the deer off long enough for
you to get out. The best one is a coy-
ote running into the ield, but that Not shown
can be hard to arrange! The second actual size.
best is to have family or friends drive
out there and bump them off with a
$49 Save $30
vehicle or ATV.
Those are my two game chang- PLUS Free Stauer Compact Binoculars
ers. I love new bows, faster arrows,
sharper broadheads and brighter
ÌÌÌÌÌ
sight pins just as much as the next
guy. And cumulatively, all those
advances might add up to a game
changer. But nothing I have seen in
30 years of serious bowhunting has
compared to the effectiveness boost
I have gotten from trail cameras and
trailer blinds.
www.b owhuntingmag.com
WHITE
TAILS
Deer Science and Bowhunting Success
LINDA ARNDT PHOTO
S
ince its first organized gathering in Virginia in 1977, the When hunters voluntarily pass on year-
Southeast Deer Study Group has served as an annu- ling bucks, such as the one on the left in
this photo, it results in a greater number
al think tank for deer managers and scientists to share of older, more mature bucks to hunt in
the latest research and issues related to whitetails. I began subsequent years. A study of yearling buck
attending the meetings as an undergraduate student of wildlife survival conducted in Delaware found that
75 percent of yearlings on private land
science in the 1990s and immediately recognized that research survived to the next year, compared to a
presented during the annual, three-day event is packed with survival rate of 37 percent on public land.
insights that can make us better bowhunters by being better
deer managers. Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
So, with that in mind, I thought it of any Wall Street investor. If you cent during the study period. Yes,
would be worthwhile to provide an think passing young bucks is hard to you read that right; a 467 percent
overview of the group’s 41st Annu- stomach, take a look at these igures! increase! What’s the downside to
al Meeting, held in 2018, and sum- Among bucks killed by club that remarkable upside? There
marize some of the key indings of members, those ages 2 ½ years old isn’t one. In fact, it gets better for
interest to those of us with a passion or younger decreased from 55 per- those who like to stock their freez-
for chasing whitetails with stick cent prior to the implementation of ers with organic, free-range meat.
and string. quality deer management to 23 per- Since well-managed properties seek
cent after QDM. Obviously, killing to maintain healthy deer densities,
QDM = Better Hunting fewer immature bucks each year re- doe harvest is a go-to population
Does private deer management results in a greater number of mature management tool for club members.
ally improve hunting success? Well, bucks available to hunters in subse- In fact, doe harvest per member in-
University of Tennessee researchers quent years. creased 154 percent during the study
dug through 16 years of data from So, was the wait worth it? Well, period! More hunters consistently
the Ames Plantation Hunting Club the harvest of mature bucks (those killing older bucks while also increas-
and discovered a return on invest- 3 ½ years old and older) among ing their overall doe harvest sounds
ment guaranteed to turn the head club members increased 467 per- like a win-win to me!
BY JASON SNAVELY
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q rewards in future years. Since white- though dozens of soil nutrients can
tail science has repeatedly proven be studied as they relate to food-
that a buck’s antlers get larger with plot quality, researchers generally
age, managing for older bucks is look to phosphorus and potassi-
In fact, the older the main objective for those of us um. High phosphorus availability
who enjoy hunting and harvesting tends to be selected by whitetails,
bucks get, the less mature bucks. along with higher crude protein
In this particular study, research- levels. While boosting soil fertility
effective humans ers sought to document the effect certainly takes some time and ef-
of land ownership on yearling buck fort across much of the whitetail’s
become as survival. Annual survival rates of range, the results are well worth it!
yearling bucks that lived exclusive- Scientists also lent their inquisi-
predators. ly on private land was 75 percent! tive, fact-seeking skills to a popular
Survival rates for yearling bucks food-plotting debate regarding the
on public lands during the hunt- cultivation of soybeans for deer.
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q ing season was cut in half, but still What type of soybean is better at
reasonable at 37 percent. I found handling heavy browse pressure:
I’ve always encouraged my cli- these numbers encouraging for both production agricultural soybeans
ents to maintain a hunting log that private- and public-land hunters. As or forage soybeans? Well, research-
tracks hours hunted along with bucks get older, they get smarter and ers conirmed previous indings
bucks, does and fawns observed harder for hunters to kill. If you’re that forage soybeans are the reign-
from the stand. These numbers, willing to put in the time — even on ing king, regardless of marketing
when compared from year to year, public land — there are always some claims to the contrary. If your goal
allow you to identify trends and mature bucks to be hunted. is to have plenty of deer to hunt and
determine how well your man- you desire to hunt soybean food
agement efforts are working. They Food-Plot Findings plots, true forage soybean varieties
also allow us to adjust our harvest As a private consultant and found- are hands down the way to go if
guidelines. The Tennessee hunters er of a science-based food-plot prod- you want to maintain the attractive-
in this particular study were able ucts company, sound science that ness of your plots throughout the
to reduce the stand hours required explores deer nutrition demands hunting season!
to observe a mature buck by 45 my attention. One study conduct-
percent, while overall buck obser- ed in Mississippi by Jacob Dykes Size Matters!
vations increased 84 percent! If you found that deer both seek out and Some research indings are sim-
could sit in your stand for half as avoid certain plants to balance their ply fun to know for the next ireside
long and increase your buck sight- diets, maximizing overall health. chat at deer camp, and the indings
ings by 84 percent, would you turn These indings add to volumes of from graduate student Daniel Mo-
that opportunity down? fact-based, scientiic support that rina’s research on whether a buck’s
supplemental food plots make a antler size, age and body mass af-
Yearling Buck Survival property more attractive than one fects a doe’s level of attraction falls
In many areas across the white- that fails to offer such diversity. Fur- perfectly into that category! To
tail’s range, it can be tempting to thermore, the importance of testing successfully demonstrate that does
put your tag on a young buck. And and improving your soils is backed seek out and choose to breed with
we’ve all heard hunters say, “Well, if by these indings. bucks that boast larger head gear,
I don’t kill him, my neighbor will!” I irmly believe year-round, researchers cut larger antlers off
However, after 16 years of working high-quality food plots offer older bucks and secured them to
with private deer-management pro- small-acreage bowhunters huge the heads of younger bucks. Sep-
grams across the country, I’ve found advantages over neighbors who arated by a fence, does and bucks
hunters are just not that effective at don’t offer food plots. Food-plot still spent time attempting to breed,
killing them all! In fact, the older managers often read about the allowing researchers to determine
bucks get, the less effective humans importance of maintaining suit- whether does were attracted to ant-
become as predators. If that didn’t able soil pH and fertility levels, ler size, body mass or age. Almost
bruise your ego, read on. but this study was able to show us 80 percent of the does chose bucks
Jacob Haus led a study of year- why! Nutrient availability in the with larger antlers over those with
ling (1 ½-year-old) buck survival in soil and a proper pH contribute smaller antlers, regardless of age or
Delaware that proves how passing to higher-quality forages that deer body size — proving that antler size
on young bucks can result in huge inherently know to “seek out.” Al- matters to the girls!
www.b owhuntingmag.com PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 21
BETTER
QQ BOWHUNTING
Part 1 of 3: Peep Sights
Your peep must be anchored solidly in
Y
our peep sight may
seem like a relatively place by a system that allows you to
quickly determine if it has been moved.
unimportant bow acces- Field Editor Randy Ulmer uses a method
sory. Most bowhunters think of where the serving extends to the bottom
the peep as a one-size-fits-all of the peep on the left leg of the split
string and down to the top of the peep
add-on. You buy any old peep, on the right leg of the split string. If the
put it in the string and you’re peep moves up or down, a visible gap
good to go! However, the peep will be created between one of these
servings and the peep.
is far more important than
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
most bowhunters realize.
Your sight picture is a big deal, in the peep. These bowhunters have
and few things impact it as much no real choice on peep diameter if
as your peep sight. When it comes they’re going to aim this way — only
to the sight picture, there are only one size will work just right. As a dis-
a few variables within your control. claimer, these large peeps seem to be
The most important of these are the easier to use if you have young eyes.
size, type and position of your peep However, if your eyes are starting to
sight. Improving your sight pic- fade with age, it becomes much more
ture should be a priority. Over the dificult to focus on the pins and the
course of the next three columns, target at the same time.
I’m going to tell you everything I When I’m hunting in deep woods
know about peep sights! Hopefully, with a heavy canopy or in cloudy,
this information will help you make dark, rainy weather, I switch to a
the right choices when it comes to the pin close to the center of the peep larger peep aperture by necessity.
your peep-sight options. when the peep aperture is small. For The need for improved low-light
example, if I use a peep with a large visibility outweighs my obsession
Peep Size Selection aperture and I mistakenly aim with with extreme precision. I fully real-
The most important decision you the pin halfway between the center ize that I won’t be quite as accurate
must make (once you have chosen of the peep and the edge of the peep, under these conditions and limit my
to use a peep sight in the irst place) my arrow will hit much farther from shot distance accordingly.
is the size of the aperture. I use an my aiming point than it would if I
aperture size that will best match aimed with the pin halfway between Securing the Peep
the hunting conditions I’ll be facing. the center of the peep and the edge In the past, I have been lax in fully
I have used the Tru-Peep by Fletch- of the peep using a small aperture. securing my peep sight irmly into
er for more than 30 years. It comes Secondly, a small peep improves the string. I believe this is why I
in many sizes, and I’ve literally your depth of ield. Depth of ield is sometimes found myself shooting
used them all over my competitive a photographic term. Photographers slightly low or slightly high during
and hunting careers. When I know know that by reducing the diameter my daily practice sessions in hunting
the shots are going to occur in full of the aperture in the lens (increas- camp. I rarely had signiicant left or
daylight, such as when I’m stalking ing the f-stop) they can keep objects right drifting of my groups during a
mule deer or antelope here in the in better focus in the foreground and hunt. However, I often had to adjust
open terrain of the Southwest, I will in the background. When using a my sights for vertical discrepancies.
use a peep with a small aperture. small peep sight, both the pins and I think these up and down chang-
When I’m hunting in dark forests or the target can be somewhat in focus. es were caused by my peep being
in rainy/cloudy conditions, I use a You don’t have to focus on one and moved during the hunt by catching
much larger aperture. blur the other. in brush, the bow case or some oth-
I default to the smallest aperture In my opinion, this is one of the er object and being moved slightly
I think I can get away with on any downfalls of using the extremely up or down the string. It takes only
given hunt. There are two very good large peep aperture many bowhunt- a few pounds of upward or down-
reasons to use a small peep aperture. ers prefer. They often choose their ward pressure to move a peep sight
First, by reducing the size of the ap- aperture size based on the outside di- up or down the string an eighth of
erture, you reduce the margin of er- ameter of their round sight housing. an inch. That’s enough to throw you
ror when aiming. It is easier to keep They want to center their pin guard off on mid-range and longer shots.

BY RANDY ULMER
QQ
I realized I should take this aspect of extends to the bottom of the peep
my bow setup more seriously. I knew on the left leg of the split string and
serving the peep into place securely down to the top of the peep on the
reduces the chances it will move. So, right leg of the split string. If the
I began being much more aggressive peep moves up or down, a gap will
with my peep serving. However, no be created between one of these
matter how well I served the peep into servings and the peep.
the string, it could still be moved rela- While this technique probably
tively easily. So, I wanted a method I won’t keep the peep from moving
could use in the ield to quickly deter- any better than a conventional serv-
mine if my peep had moved. ing job, you will be able to quickly
In the past, I used Wite-Out or tell if the peep has moved. If it has,
white paint where the peep meets you’ll notice a gap and can easily
the string to mark the correct peep move the peep back to its original
location. Unfortunately, these mark- position.
Shooting a bow with a peep sight in- ings rubbed off fairly quickly in the Pinpoint accuracy depends on a
stalled is much like shooting a rifle with rain or in the brush. good rear sight, so don’t take your
iron sights: you must have good alignment Here’s what I do now: First, I peep sight for granted. Not only
of the front and rear sights for consistent serve the peep into the string as al- must it be the correct size for your
accuracy. On a bow, the peep sight is ways. Then I serve each of the legs hunting conditions, it must also
your rear sight — don’t take it for granted!
of the serving from the peep down be anchored solidly in place with a
Ulmer prefers a peep with a small aper-
ture when hunting in sunny conditions to the point where the string splits. system that allows you to quickly
such as on this Arizona antelope hunt. So, when I am inished, the serving determine if it has moved.
®
CROSS
BOWS
Crossbow Safety
A
crossbow is a tool, like
a hammer or a gun.
All are relatively safe
when handled properly. Sure,
there is risk associated with
any tool — you could drop a
hammer on your toes — but if
you take precautions and fol-
low the proper protocol, you can
significantly reduce any poten-
tial risk. Most of the problems
are related to human error, and
CHRISTIAN BERG PHOTO

most of the solutions involve
common sense.
Manual Labor
The irst thing you should do upon
opening the box your new crossbow Safety should be top of mind when using tools of any kind, including crossbows. Always
came in is read the instruction man- keep your crossbow pointed in a safe direction, especially when it is cocked and loaded,
ual. No one is above this step, even but even when it is not.
veteran crossbow shooters.
I speak from experience. At any there is still considerable tension sure the bolt is properly seated in the
given time, there might be eight or on the strings and cables that could rail groove with the cock vane down
10 different crossbows in my shop cause damage if mishandled. and that the nock is making irm
for testing and evaluation. I was 2. Keep the bow pointed in a safe contact with the latch, string and
assembling a Carbon Express bow direction at all times. Unlike guns, anti-dry ire mechanisms. If not, best
once and feeling pretty conident. crossbows don’t have a muzzle. Still, case: the bow won’t ire. Worst case:
So, I decided to skip the manual and they have a front end that should not the bolt, bow or both are destroyed,
get right to it. Things went fairly be pointed in the wrong direction. which could also result in injury.
smoothly until I got to attaching the This applies more to when the bow Also, make sure you carry only the
riser. Despite my best efforts, I could is loaded, but it’s good to always be proper “ammunition” for your bow.
not get the smaller screw holes to aware of where the business end is If it calls for 22-inch bolts, don’t use
line up. I was about to pack the bow pointed. 20-inch bolts. Make sure there is am-
up and ship it back when I read the 3. Be sure of the target and what’s ple clearance for broadheads, too.
manual. There, in black and white, in front of and beyond it. Unlike Mechanical heads pose fewer issues,
was a caution that the various com- a bullet, your bolt isn’t going to but you may need to use longer bolts
ponents needed to be assembled in a plow through the brush — even the if shooting ixed-blade heads.
particular order for the screw holes littlest limb can delect it away from 6. Discharge or unload cross-
to line up. Doh! its intended target. And if you miss, bow when not in use, and before
that bolt could go a long way in who transporting. If you must, it’s OK
The 10 Commandments knows what direction as it ricochets to transport it still cocked a short
Everyone knows (or should off trees and rocks. Included in this is distance on foot or in/on a vehicle
know) the 10 Commandments of knowing the identifying features of (when safely restrained and prefera-
Firearm Safety. Most apply directly, the game you hunt (particularly the bly in a hard case), though the latter
or closely, to crossbows, too. With vital areas), making sure you have is still not recommended. And don’t
appropriate acknowledgment to the an adequate backstop and not shoot- store your crossbow cocked for any
National Rile Association, here’s ing at a lat, hard surface or at water, extended period of time. It puts ex-
my modiied crossbow version: unless of course you’re bowishing. cessive stress on strings, cables and
1. Treat every crossbow as if it’s 4. Keep your inger outside the limbs that can lead to issues in time.
“loaded.” Unlike a irearm, you can trigger guard until you are ready to 7. Point a crossbow only at some-
easily see if a bow is cocked/loaded. shoot. Enough said. thing you intend to shoot. This is
But even at rest and without a bolt, 5. Check your rail and bolt. Make pretty much a repetition of com-
BY BOB HUMPHREY
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q into your elevated stand or blind, might argue, “What’s the big deal? It’s
but don’t load a bolt until you and not like a gun; there’s no harm in hav-
Tip of the Month: it are securely in position. You can ing a couple beers while shooting a
discharge from the stand, but you’re bow.” Yes, there is. Even a single beer
Always wear proper eye protection better off removing the bolt, lower- can alter your judgment and relexes,
when working on or shooting your ing the bow and discharging on the and it’s the irst step down a slippery
crossbow. There are many moving ground. When raising or lowering slope. Save the libation until after the
parts and sharp, pointy objects and the crossbow, always position it so the work is done.
components under a lot of tension. butt is facing you.
9. Store crossbows and bolts safely, Maintenance
Any one of these could cause severe in secure locations beyond the reach Like reading the manual, proper
damage in less than the blink of children and careless adults. The crossbow maintenance should also
of an eye. irearm commandment also advises be mandatory. But how many of you
storing guns and ammo separately, follow maintenance schedules to a
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q but I’m not really sure that applies T? Do you change your engine oil at
here. I mean, the odds of accidental exactly 3,000 miles or let it run a few
mandment number two. Avoid all discharge are pretty small considering hundred over? Do you clean and oil
horseplay. the bow is stored un-cocked and with your guns after every hunt? Do you
8. Don’t run, jump or climb with a no bolt attached. Still, don’t leave your change the batteries in your smoke
crossbow, whether it’s cocked or not. bow where curious eyes and hands alarms every year? You get the point.
A lot of safety instructions advise not (or vermin) can access it. Put it in a There’s a little leeway, but not much,
even walking around with a cocked, locked hard case. if you want to ensure your crossbow
loaded crossbow. That’s good advice, 10. Avoid drugs and alcohol before provides many seasons of safe, reli-
unless you’re still-hunting. There’s and during crossbow shooting, includ- able performance. For how and when
a partial exception to the climbing ing any legal or prescription mind- or to care for your particular crossbow,
rule: Cock your bow before climbing behavior-altering medicines. Some read the manual.
™
BY JON E. SILKS
SPEED & ENERGY

DRAW-FORCE CURVE
KINETIC DYNAMIC
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
375-GRAIN 300 fps 74.96
ARROW foot-pounds 83.04%
425-GRAIN 284 fps 76.13 84.34%
ARROW foot-pounds
width on the bottom of the bow, as

compared to the top, keeps the ver-
tical center of mass at the grip for
exceptional overall balance. Hoyt
calls this coniguration its Offset
Weight Distribution Technology.
Shock Pods are anchored in the
riser tab next to the bottom limb
bolt. Draw-weight peaks of 40, 50,
Hoyt’s new Custom-Tune grip is designed
to produce a neutral wrist position, which 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds are avail-
the author found to be very enjoyable to able, all with 10 pounds of down-
shoot. The grip’s underlying metal plate ward adjustability (80-pound limbs
can be adjusted to fit the shooter’s hand not available on Turbo model).
and pressure points.
Hyper Performance
The new ZT Hyper Pro Cam & ½
rubber shelf pad, a semi-inline system works in conjunction with
Two base cams and a rotating module
roller guard cable-containment sys- Hoyt’s patent-pending Split Cable span the entire draw-length range. Cam
tem and front/rear stainless-steel system, which uses a unique yoke 2 is adjustable down to 24½ inches and
stabilizer-mounting inserts further and split ends to balance the load up to 28 inches, while Cam 3 adjusts from
enhance the RX-3 riser. evenly on either side of the lower 27-30 inches. The module on either can be
cam. A curved groove on the mod-
Distributed Balance ule causes one side of the split cable
adjusted without a bow press.
& Power to move closer to the centerline of the
The RX-3 Hybrid limbs are con- bow during the draw cycle, resulting
structed via a lamination process in the company’s 3D Shift Technol- Impressions
that allows for full contour with- ogy, designed to eliminate inherent The RX-3 was lawless in it, form
out cutting through critical stress torque and, therefore, the need for a and function. A quick bump was
ibers — an action that spells trou- lexing/moving cable guard. felt in the grip at the shot; howev-
ble for typical limb designs. Hoyt’s Two base cams and a rotating er, there was zero detectable vibra-
Uniform Stress Distribution (USD) module span the entire draw-length tion. Like its predecessors, and in
processes create a limb that stores range — Cam 2 reaches from 24 ½ to true Hoyt fashion, this bow has a
more energy throughout the entire 28 inches, and Cam 3 offers lengths super-smooth draw cycle.
length of the limb. The RX-3 also of 27-30 inches. No bow press is The test bow did tip the scales
features the company’s Limb Shock required to adjust the module with- a bit heavier than the advertised
vibration dampeners that work in the range of each cam. Standard weight. The RX-3 has good on-tar-
with the past-parallel limb con- system letoff is 85 percent, with an get balance and a slow, steady drop
iguration to tame each shot. Both 80 percent option. Hoyt outits the after the shot. I liked the new grip
the top and bottom limbs are short RX-3 string with its Hole Shot String more than expected, as it it my
and wide for increased torsional Vibration Dampening System, which hand very well.
stability. However, the asymmetri- dynamically interacts with the draw Overall, the RX-3 is another big
cal wider pocket and outside limb cycle and shot. success for the Hoyt crew!

The 5 Hottest
Deer Destinations
A
merica is blessed with an abundance of big-game
animals for bowhunters to pursue, but it’s no
secret whitetail deer are No. 1 on the list. Thanks
to their relative abundance and wide geographic
distribution, whitetails draw more bowhunters aield
each year than any other species — by a wide margin.
The quality of America’s whitetail hunting has
increased dramatically over the past several decades,
thanks largely to a tremendous rise in the adoption of
quality deer management principles by state wildlife
agencies and private landowners alike. As a result, there
are now many states that regularly produce the kind of
world-class trophies historically only associated with a
handful of whitetail hotspots.
Given the whitetail’s tremendous popularity and the
number of bowhunters who travel long distances each
year in search of a trophy buck, we thought it would be
fun to take a look across the nation and identify the top
ive deer-hunting destinations for the next ive years.
Although we didn’t want to limit our search too much,
we felt that — in addition to great bowhunting — any
state that made our list also had to offer good non-
resident license availability (sorry, Iowa) and enough
public land to make the whitetail resource accessible to
blue-collar bowhunters (sorry, Texas).
Although we don’t claim our rankings are an exact
science, they are based on a combination of research and
input gleaned from an informal poll of 10 nationally
recognized whitetail experts: Kip Adams, conservation
director at the Quality Deer Management Association;
Ralph Cianciarulo, co-owner of Archer’s Choice media;
Eddie Claypool, DIY whitetail guru and BOWHUNT-
ING ield editor; Levi Morgan, world champion archer
and co-host of Bow Life TV; Rick Mowery, communica-
tions manager of the Pope and Young Club; Dan Perez,
chief executive oficer of Whitetail Properties; Steve
Scott, vice president of the Whitetail Institute; Jason Sna-
vely, owner of Drop-Tine Wildlife Consulting and BOW-
HUNTING Whitetails columnist; Bill Winke, co-owner of
Midwest Whitetail and BOWHUNTING ield editor; and
Dr. Grant Woods, renowned whitetail biologist and host
of Growing Deer TV.
The experts certainly didn’t agree on everything, but
when combined with a review of whitetail trophy data
and other deer-hunting information, there were some
JOHN FORD PHOTO
clear trends involving states that kept popping up again

and again. So, without further ado, here are our picks
for America’s top ive whitetail destinations for the next
ive years:
30
#
5 0
A
sk the average bowhunter what
species comes to mind when
you mention Montana and the
most common answer is likely to
be elk, probably followed by mule
deer, moose or even mountain lion.
Therein lies the beauty of Montana
as a whitetail-hunting destination,
as this stunningly beautiful Western
state harbors a whitetail resource far
bigger than its reputation.
“When you consider all variables,
Montana should be No. 1 as far as I state — most notably the Missouri, other crops that combine with copi-
am concerned, because I can’t think Powder, Tongue and Yellowstone ous natural browse and cover to cre-
of a state that beats it,” Snavely said. rivers. “The solitude and remoteness ate an ideal whitetail habitat. “Col-
“I don’t mind hunting the Midwest, of those magniicent river bottoms is liding with that, we have … lower
but there are a lot of reasons I think unmatched,” he said. “It just blows hunting pressure [than most other
Montana is much, much better.” my mind every time I am out there. states] and an abnormally high den-
According to Snavely, a profes- Eastern Montana is the last, best- sity of good bucks in that sweet spot
sional deer manager and BOW- kept secret” in the whitetail world. of 150-180 inches,” he added.
HUNTING’s Whitetails columnist, In addition to stunning natural As an added bonus, Montana’s
Montana’s best whitetail hunting beauty, Snavely said the wide, open archery season structure — run-
is found along the numerous river river bottoms allow local ranchers to ning from early September to mid-
drainages in the eastern half of the grow a plethora of corn, alfalfa and October — makes it one of a hand-
ful of states where bowhunters have
a legitimate chance to take bucks in
“Big Sky Country” velvet. Another big factor working
in favor of Montana whitetail hunt-
ers is a mind-boggling amount of
accessible land. Nearly 30 percent of
the state — some 28.2 million acres
— is public. And the state’s block
management program makes an ad-
ditional 7.3 million acres of private
land available for public hunting.
Montana may be the most expen-
sive state in the nation when it comes
to non-resident deer tags, which will
PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTANA WHITETAILS/www.montanawhitetails.com
set you back roughly $625. And, they

aren’t necessarily the easiest tags to
get. Still, if you are looking for an
outitted or DIY deer hunt that offers
a great combination of quantity and
quality, Montana is hard to beat.
More Information: Montana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks; fwp.mt.gov
The river bottoms of Eastern Montana not

only hold large concentrations of white-
tails but plenty of good bucks among
them. South Carolina bowhunter Mike
Mattson killed this fine trophy in 2014
during an outfitted hunt with Montana
Whitetails.
31
#
4
Oklahoma bowhunter Brad Gaddis killed
this giant Sooner State buck in 2013 on his
own property while hunting over a food plot
planted with Whitetail Institute Pure Attrac-
tion. The non-typical buck received an official
Boone and Crockett net score of 212 5⁄8 .
S
imilar to Montana, Oklahoma is a
high-quality whitetail state that
has largely lown under the ra-
dar on a national basis, at least until
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITETAIL INSTITUTE/ www.whitetailinstitute.com

recent years. Long overshadowed
by its neighbors to the south (Texas)
and north (Kansas), Oklahoma is
attracting growing attention from
non-resident bowhunters.
Dan Perez, CEO of Whitetail Prop-
erties, said the Sooner State is particu-
larly attractive to hunters looking to
invest in hunting property that doesn’t
carry the same kind of premium price
as deer dirt in states with bigger repu-
tations for trophy bucks. “Our goal as
a land company is to get ahead of the
curve,” Perez said. “If you are interest-
ed in buying whitetail ground, Okla-
homa is a really good place to invest.
It’s a great state. Four or ive years ago,
you and I probably wouldn’t even be
having a conversation about Oklaho-
ma. It has just been kind of a sleeper.”
Because Oklahoma can be sus-
ceptible to extended periods of hot, Those small pockets sometimes hold and available over the counter.
dry conditions, Perez said most of tremendous numbers of deer.” Oklahoma is home to a growing
the state’s best deer hunting is con- Oklahoma offers a fairly liberal sea- number of whitetail outitters that
centrated along river corridors. “The son structure and bag limit for bow- offer quality hunting. DIY bowhunt-
best habitat follows water,” he said. hunters, with an archery season that ers, meanwhile, can ind ample op-
“You might be hunting an area that runs from Oct. 1-Jan. 15 and a bag lim- portunity to explore via a statewide
is ields and fencerows and kind of it of six deer, including two antlered network of Wildlife Management
open ground, but along those wa- deer and four antlerless deer. Non- Areas and the Oklahoma Land
terways it is just lush vegetation. resident archery deer permits are $300 Access Program (OLAP) that makes
signiicant acreage of private ground
accessible for public hunting.
“The Sooner State” More Information: Oklahoma De-
partment of Wildlife Conservation;
www.wildlifedepartment.com
In 2016, 59 percent of all bucks taken by

Oklahoma hunters were 3 ½ years old or
older, ranking the Sooner State fourth in
the nation in percentage of mature bucks
in the overall harvest, according to the
Quality Deer Management Association.
N
ow we are breaking into our top
three, and honestly, you won’t
ind any surprises here. Truth
is, iguring out exactly what order to
“The Buckeye
State”
#
3
put our inal three states in was a real With 6.11 bowhunters
chore, because an argument could per square mile, Ohio
easily be made for putting any one
of them at the top of the list.
ranks third in the nation in
Ohio, for instance, takes a back seat bowhunter density, behind
to nowhere in monster whitetail pro- only Pennsylvania and
duction. The Pope and Young Club’s Maryland, according to the
record book proves that — Ohio to eat, Ohio bucks are dificult for
has produced the No. 3 (198 3⁄8) and hunters to pinpoint, allowing many Quality Deer Management
No. 6 (196 6⁄8) typical whitetails and the to reach full maturity and develop Association. Ohio ranks
No. 1 (294 0⁄8) non-typical whitetail. giant racks. ifth in the nation for overall
And it’s not like these bucks were Ohio also doesn’t have a center- hunter density at 12.3 per
killed a long time ago. The No. 1 non- ire rile deer season, restricting gun
typical was taken in Greene County hunters to shotguns and muzzle- square mile. The Buckeye
in 2000. The No. 3 typical was taken loaders. Better still, from a bowhunt- State’s ability to consistently
in Muskingum County in 2004, and er’s perspective, is that the irearms produce world-class bucks
the No. 6 typical was taken in Adams seasons are relatively short and don’t
County in 2006. So, if you’re looking coincide with peak rut. “So,” Morgan
is even more remarkable
to kill a truly giant buck — especially said, “that saves a lot of big deer.” considering that relatively
if you’re an archer living in the na- There are plenty of outitters and high hunting pressure.
tion’s heavily populated Northeast leasing opportunities in Ohio, but
Corridor — Ohio has to be at or near a quality, DIY hunt isn’t out of the
the top of your list. question. In fact, Ohio offers access Florida bowhunter Caleb Stephens killed
this giant southern Ohio buck during an
Another great thing about Ohio, es- to public land throughout the state October 2017 hunt with Whitetail Heaven
pecially when compared to other well- via Wildlife Management Areas Outfitters. The deer grossed 202 inches
known whitetail destinations in the and other properties owned by the and is a fine example of the heavy-bodied,
Midwest, is how friendly it is to visit- Department of Natural Resources. heavy-racked trophies that have earned
ing bowhunters. Non-resident archers More Information: Ohio Division the Buckeye State such a stellar reputa-
can get guaranteed hunting licenses of Wildlife; wildlife.ohiodnr.gov tion among whitetail hunters.
for $146.12, with an either-sex deer
permit costing just $41.60 more. So, for
less than $200, you can bowhunt the
Buckeye State to your heart’s content
during a lengthy season — roughly
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITETAIL HEAVEN OUTFITTERS/www.whitetailheavenoutfitters.com
four months, from the end of Septem-

ber into February.
“Ohio has been awesome to me,”
said Levi Morgan, world champion
3-D shooter and Bow Life TV co-host.
Morgan grew up in North Carolina
and currently resides in Pennsylva-
nia, but his family owns a 200-acre
farm in southern Ohio where, several
years ago, he killed a giant buck that
sported numerous drop tines totaling
26 inches of antler.
What makes the Buckeye State so
good for whitetails, Morgan believes,
is an almost perfect blend of rugged
terrain covered in hardwood forest,
along with plenty of agriculture to
boost deer nutrition. With plenty of
places to hide and plenty of places
www.b owhuntingmag.com
#
2
O
ver the last decade, Kentucky
has gone from a sleeper state
to one that is routinely men-
tioned among America’s most desir-
able whitetail destinations — and
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITETAIL PROPERTIES/www.whitetailproperties.com

for good reason. Kentucky ranks
No. 5 all-time in Boone and Crockett
whitetail entries (ahead of both Ohio
and Kansas). And if you look at just
the past decade, Kentucky’s 418 B&C
entries rank No. 3 nationally.
Clearly, the Bluegrass State has
a lot going for it when it comes to
whitetail hunting, starting with a
conservative bag limit of one buck
per hunter, per year — regardless of
residency or land ownership. Simply
put, “a lot of bucks reach maturity
there,” said Dr. Grant Woods, noted
whitetail biologist and host of Grow-
ing Deer TV. “Each hunter is not tak-
Thanks to its early archery opener, Kentucky is among a handful of states nation-
ing three or four bucks, and when wide where bowhunters can chase velvet bucks such as this giant taken by Whitetail
you are only allowed one buck, you Properties Land Specialist Stephen French in 2017.
tend to be more selective.”
Sure, Woods said, Kentucky has
great deer habitat, including almost
impenetrable forests in the eastern the rut, Woods said even the impact the ability to take one buck and up
end of the state and a great mix of of that is mitigated by the one-buck to three antlerless deer, depend-
woodlots and agriculture in the west bag limit. “If you kill a buck in bow ing on the county where you hunt.
— a region Woods fondly refers to season, you are only doe hunting in Kentucky also offers an extremely
as “Little Iowa.” But, Woods notes, gun season,” he said. long archery season that runs near-
Kentucky’s neighbor to the south, Kentucky is also a very hunter- ly ive months, from Sept. 1 to late
Tennessee, has almost identical habi- friendly state, with inexpensive January. Plus, the early bow opener
tat but produces only a fraction of license fees and seasons that give makes Kentucky one of a handful of
the trophy bucks Kentucky does due sportsmen plenty of time to enjoy states where bowhunters can pursue
to a much more liberal bag limit on the outdoors. Non-residents can pur- whitetail bucks in velvet during the
bucks. And while it is true that Ken- chase an annual hunting license for irst week to 10 days of the season.
tucky offers a relatively long, two- $140 and deer permit for $120 over Finally, Kentucky offers plenty of
week rile season that coincides with the counter. The deer permit includes public ground for visiting bowhunt-
ers to explore, with an extensive
network of Wildlife Management
“The Bluegrass State” Areas statewide. There are also other
state and federal lands, such as the
Estimated Kentucky massive Land Between the Lakes
deer population National Recreation Area, and
numerous private properties open
heading into the to public hunting, particularly in the
2017-18 hunting eastern portion of the state where
858,876 seasons, according many mining and timber companies
make large tracts available for public
to the state’s
recreation.
Department of More Information: Kentucky
Fish and Wildlife Department of Fish and Wildlife
Resources. Resources; fw.ky.gov

M
any times, the best answer to a
question is the most obvious
one, and that’s certainly the
case when it comes to selecting Kansas
as the No. 1 state on our list. Outside of
Iowa, which we eliminated from con-
tention due to the dificulty of obtain-
“The Jayhawker State”
#
1
ing non-resident licenses, it is hard to
top 10 non-typicals, with bucks that Kansas also has a one-buck bag
scored 264 1⁄8, 257 0⁄8, 255 6⁄8 and 250 6⁄8.
imagine anywhere that rivals the Jay- limit for residents and non-residents,
That’s more than 1,000 inches of
hawker State for producing big bucks. which encourages hunters to be se-
antler from just four animals!
The great thing about Kansas deer is lective in their harvest decisions. It’s
“We all have different goals, but if
they have giant bodies to match their this lack of pressure, combined with
yours is to really have an opportunity
giant headgear. If you’ve ever sat in a great habitat and genetics, that al-
to harvest a trophy of a lifetime, I don’t
Kansas deer stand on a frosty Novem- lows Kansas to produce the kind of
think there is any place that you have a
ber morning and watched one of those bucks most bowhunters only dream
better chance than Kansas,” Whitetail
tank-sized, 250-pound bucks chase a about. “It can just consistently, year
Properties CEO Dan Perez said.
doe across a CRP ield, you know ex- after year, produce giants,” said Bow
actly what I’m talking about. And ifBig whitetails can be found across Life TV’s Levi Morgan, who counts
the state, from the more heavily forest-
you haven’t, you need to add a Kansas his annual Kansas whitetail hunt as
ed and hilly terrain of Eastern Kansas
whitetail hunt to your bucket list! a highlight of the year. “You shoot
all the way through the classic prairie
Interestingly, Kansas doesn’t have three or four giant deer off a farm,
terrain of the state’s middle and west-
a single typical whitetail in the top 10 and you show up the next year and
ern sections. Although hunting pres-
of the Pope and Young Club’s all-time have three or four more on the very
sure is a bit higher in Eastern Kansas
records, but it accounts for four of the irst trail-camera pull,” he said. “It’s
— where the bulk of the state’s popu- like, ‘Where do they come from?’”
37% lation resides — it is still only a frac-
tion of the pressure deer face back
Kansas’ archery season runs from
mid-September through December.
on the East Coast. Non-resident deer licenses, which in-
Percentage of Kansas’ total “I go to Kansas because … I clude either-sex and antlerless tags,
deer harvest taken with archery can drive around for miles are $442.50 and must be obtained
and not even see another via an annual draw system. Licenses
equipment in 2016, which ranked vehicle parked to indicate aren’t guaranteed, but draw odds are
sixth in the nation, according to another hunter is out in the at or near 100 percent in many units,
the Quality Deer Management ield,” Perez said. with decent odds in others. So, visit-
ing bowhunters have a good chance
Association. of obtaining a deer license every
year. In addition to the deer permit,
non-residents must also purchase a
general hunting license for $97.50.
Kansas offers a good supply of
public ground statewide and also op-
erates an extensive Walk In Hunting
Area (WIHA) program that makes
lots of private ground available for
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITETAIL PROPERTIES/www.whitetai properties.com
public hunting. A searchable map

of public-hunting areas is available
on the state wildlife department’s
website.
More Information: Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks and
Tourism; ksoutdoors.com
Kansas produces lots of big bucks,

including four of the top 10 non-typicals
in the Pope and Young Club’s all-time
record book. This big non-typical taken
by Whitetail Properties Land Specialist
Adam Hann in 2016 is a great example
of the kind of big bucks that earned the
Jayhawker State the top spot on our list.
PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 35
36
LATE-SEASON
Case Study
n recent years, I have shot a number of bucks after My irst breakthrough in the multi-year hunt for
I the rut, almost as many as I have shot during the

rut. However, for some reason, the late-season
bucks have not been as big. I think that is just coin-
cidence. I have deinitely had chances on big ones
during December and January; I just didn’t get it done.
But the bucks I have shot have been mature, and shoot-
ing a small-antlered old buck is no easier than shooting a
Loppy inally came in early December 2012. I had put
out my cameras after the rut, hoping to ind some pros-
pects for the late season. There was Loppy. Only now he
was showing up right on the fringe of daylight — a few
photos that didn’t require the infrared lash. But it was
something; a glimmer of hope. I iled the information
away — I still didn’t trust him.
big-antlered old buck. Antlers are cool, for sure, but the I stayed clear of the area where Loppy was living
“old” part is the real challenge. until the conditions were right. The day after a cold front
In this feature, I am going to focus on two late-season came through, December 21, I made my move. Deer
bucks. I killed them both from the same spot under very tend to move very well during a snowstorm here in the
similar conditions four years apart. I shot Loppy in late De- Midwest, and very well the day after a harsh cold front
cember 2012 and Tight-Racked Ten in late December 2016. comes through even if it doesn’t bring snow. I have seen
My hope is that these two stories demonstrate a late- this pattern hold up over the years.
season blueprint — how the late season can sometimes Every buck in that area came out onto the one-acre
work out for a bowhunter. And I hope they show that turnip patch well before sunset. There were six or seven
trophies aren’t always determined by antler size. of them, but the one that came out last really grabbed
my attention. It was Loppy; the irst time I had seen him
The Hunt for Loppy in daylight since November of 2009. For more than three
I started paying attention to “Loppy” back in 2009 years he had eluded me.
when he was just one of several mature bucks on the Loppy fed for several long minutes before working
farm. After a few narrow escapes that season, Loppy his way closer. I stopped him for a 25-yard shot, which
lived another year and showed back up on the trail cam- I made. I have killed bigger deer in my life, but few of
eras the following September. That is when he became a them made me any prouder.
top prize. While he had been quite visible during day-
light in 2009, in 2010 he only showed up on the cameras How the Late Season Worked
after dark. The trail camera photos told me where Loppy was
In 2011, based on the photos I got from three weeks of living, but the weather forecast told me when to hunt
surveillance, Loppy was again 100 percent nocturnal. So, him. This is the typical game plan for late season. Sure,
like in 2010, I chose not to hunt him. Without some day- it would be great if a buck was just randomly moving in
light activity, hunting any buck can be sheer frustration. daylight on your cameras, but that is rare during the late
Loppy set up to be one of those bucks. season. By the time the regular irearms season is over,
Loppy was nothing if not consistent; the story re- most of the bucks are very shy.
peated itself in 2012 when October photos showed zero Don’t let nocturnal behavior worry you during the
daylight activity. Interestingly, his core had moved each late season. The buck you’re after doesn’t have to be a
year, and now he was a full mile to the west of where he daylight roamer for you to kill him. He only needs to
was living in 2009! Just inding him back each year was move once in daylight for you to be successful — as long
a minor victory. Again, he went to the bottom of the list as you are there when he does. Fortunately, predicting
because of his lack of daylight movement. that one time is much easier during the late season than
I started to write Loppy off as unkillable. He had at any other time of the year.
been a fully mature buck in 2009 when we irst started
seeing him. He could easily have been 8½ years old in Late-season hunting isn’t easy, but if you have the right conditions
2012, but without question, he was an old bugger — (a good food source, relatively unpressured deer and cold weath-
and cagey. er) it can be very productive — nearly as productive as the rut.
37
LATE-SEASON Case Study
It really is that simple. If you can killed bucks during the late season. careful not to overhunt those few
ind the buck you want to hunt, you Success is that weather dependent. really productive food sources dur-
just wait until a cold snap puts him The second part of the magic win- ing this time, and why you have to
on his feet earlier than normal. It ter formula is to keep the pressure wait for the cold snaps and then go
takes a pretty sharp fall in the mer- off until the time is right. Deer are re- hunting. Don’t give in to the tempta-
cury, though. A little downward blip ally good at knowing when you are tion to hunt sooner.
in the temperature graph usually hunting them, and that sensitivity I have had successful late seasons
won’t do it. You will likely need an goes up to an even higher level dur- where I only hunted two or three
afternoon where the temperature is ing the late season. You aren’t going evenings. I would check cameras
at least 15 to 20 degrees below nor- to get away with many hunts in your in several spots, several times per
mal. The irst really cold evening is good spots at this time of the year week, until I found a buck to hunt,
best, but if the weather is prolonged, before you have educated the deer to but I didn’t actually hunt him very
don’t be afraid to keep going. the point where they aren’t moving often — only when the conditions
I have had years when it never got in daylight at all — or they just leave were perfect. The real hunt, during
cold, and during those seasons, I rarely and feed somewhere else. the late season, takes place without
Rarely will you ind a mature buck a bow in your hand — it is the time
using a feeding area in late season by spent checking cameras. This leads
himself. There just aren’t that many me to the discussion of the buck I
good places to eat. Usually, there called Tight-Racked Ten.
will be lots of other deer that come
out irst. Even on days with normal Hunting Tight-Racked Ten
temperatures, there will likely be a Like Loppy, I had quite a bit of his-
few does and young bucks that come tory with Tight-Racked Ten. I didn’t
out right at last light. start hunting him until 2016, the year
So, just being there every night until I killed him, but I irst became aware
he shows up won’t work. You are goof the buck in 2014 through trail-
ing to burn the spot out way too soon. cam photos and sightings. I igured
It isn’t enough to keep from spooking he was 3 years old then. He was in
the buck you are after; you have to more or less the same area in 2015,
This is the photo the author got of Loppy in keep from educating any of the deer and when I looked for him in early
early December. It wasn’t much, but it was using the feeding area. Otherwise, October of 2016, I found him there
enough to show that the buck was in the
their cautious body language will again.
area. When the next big cold front came
through, roughly three weeks later, Winke quickly transmit tension through the That is where the story takes an inter-
hunted the area and was able to catch the entire herd and a sense of unease will esting turn. I killed him on December
buck in daylight for the first time in three hang over the area like a black cloud. 28, a half-mile from where I thought he
seasons! That is why you have to be super lived. That is the power of food during
this time of the year. I would have bet
money that Tight-Racked Ten would
never show up at that small turnip plot
(it was turnips again in 2016, actually, a
blend called Big-N-Beasty).
He came out two nights in a row,
and my ability to keep hunting him
effectively hinged on a luke. On
December 27, Tight-Rack came out
with about 20 minutes of legal time
remaining. He was working very
slowly my way amid a group of
smaller bucks and does. There was
some question as to whether he
would make it in time. If he didn’t, I
This is the buck the author nicknamed

Loppy. He was likely 8 years old in 2012
when Winke finally shot him. The buck had
been nocturnal on trail cameras for years
until a cold front in late December brought
him out at least an hour before the end of
legal shooting time.

If your hunting area has a good food
source, you will have deer during the late
season. Corn is a favorite, but any grain
crop, and even some greens such as
brassicas and winter wheat, can produce
action.
today’s advanced blinds have a lot

more windows and are constructed
with enjoyment in mind. I used to The author was able to find Tight-Racked
be one of those guys who hated Ten in the same place every October,
blinds, too, but when hunting near including in 2016, the year he shot him.
However, Winke ended up shooting the
food sources, especially during the buck a full half-mile from this spot in late
late season, blinds are one of the December as the buck was searching for
keys to success. Plus, as I age, I ap- the best available food source. That’s the
preciate the fact that they are much power of a good food source during the
safer than a treestand — especially late season — deer will travel to find it.
would be faced with the problem of when my hinges are
having to get out of that blind with cold and stiff.
a dozen deer nearby. It would have Late-season hunt-
been a disaster. ing gets good when
Instead, a rabbit in the brush unit gets cold, right?
der the blind bolted out into the ield And the deer are su-
and spooked a fawn that was feeding per wary, right? Put
nearby. She, in turn, started the ripple those two conditions
effect of running deer. That rabbit and together and tell me
the fawn cleared the entire plot! My how effective you are
cameraman and I took the opportuni- going to be in a na-
ty to get out of there fast without any ked tree on the edge
deer knowing we were ever there. of that frozen tundra
The next evening, Tight-Rack with a dozen sets of
came out a bit earlier, easily made it eyes ready to notice
within bow range before the end of your every move. I
legal time and I made the shot. know how it goes; I
have tried it many
Low-Pressure Strategies times and cleared
This hunt proiles the importance more than one ield by
of keeping the pressure off these late- wiping a snot ball off
season deer. Those two hunts were the end of my nose! This is Tight-Racked Ten right where he
the irst two times I had hunted that Blinds (at least the good ones) not was standing the evening before Winke
blind in more than a month. Those only keep you warm enough to put shot him. The deer came from at least a
deer were comfortable enough using in the necessary time, but they keep half-mile away to use the food plot.
the plot to come out in daylight when all those small movements hidden.
the temperature inally dropped. Further, well-made blinds are also
In this case, it was actually a warm- very good at containing your scent, However, if you have the food
up after a prolonged stretch of really so you have less chance of a deer get- source and limited hunting pressure
cold temperature that got them on ting downwind and blowing the en- in the area (it doesn’t have to be zero
their feet. I have written about it here tire hunt. I would build a blind out pressure, just limited), you have the
before, but during the late season, of sticks and cedar boughs before I opportunity for good late-season
any weather break (whether cold would go back to hunting from a tree- hunting. It isn’t as much fun as the
after warmer days or warm after stand during the late season. It just rut — not by a long shot — but I do
colder days) will get them going. isn’t much fun and not very effective. think that as I get better at hunting
Getting back to the key, those deer So, that is how trail cameras, this time of the year, my success rate
were relaxed. I didn’t hunt them weather patterns, food sources and is nearly as high during December
until things were right. As I men- ground blinds came together to pro- and January as it is in November.
tioned, I only hunted two days all duce two of my more memorable Plus, it is just fun to be able to keep
late season in 2016. late-season hunts. Late season isn’t hunting. Don’t put your bow away
Ground blinds were another con- good everywhere; I don’t want to for the season until you at least see if
tributing factor to the success I had mislead you in that regard. It can there are any decent bucks still living
on both these hunts. People don’t be downright bad in places within your hunting area. If there are, a
really like to hunt from blinds that out food sources and in places with cold snap may just put them right in
much; you just can’t see as well. But heavy hunting pressure. your pocket.

Finish Early &
W
ith the amount of time I spend on the there? Smiling at my new “revelation,” the sky immedi-
lonesome highway each year, I ately became a little bluer, the air a little fresher. I should
certainly have plenty of time for have been looking at things this way a long time ago!
meditation. Such was the case in late Toward the middle of our second day of travel, a
December of 2017, as the Claypool familiar sight came into view. In the foothills of rugged
Clan rolled down Interstate 10, headed for southeastern mountains, our little spot was situated at an elevation
Arizona. Bittersweet emotions ran strong through my below the likelihood of heavy snows. Such being the
heart and mind as I realized that this trip marked the case, even if the weather got nasty up high, I could al-
end of another year of bowhunting adventure. Having ways hunt around camp. On the other hand, if warm
always viewed my yearly Coues deer foray as the last and sunny weather prevailed, I could head uphill just
trip of an exciting season of hunting, it was only natural about as far as a guy could desire. What a winning hand!
that I was a little melancholy. Over the 25 years I’d been pursuing Coues, I’d
As a new line of thinking popped into my head, how- migrated around the state of Arizona — and part of New
ever, newfound excitement rose in my spirit. What if I Mexico — always looking for that “magical” spot. I’d
called this trip the beginning of a new bowhunting season, been through some great times in widely varied types of
rather than the end of the last one? After all, almost all habitat, but recently I’d settled on this spot as my main
of the trip would fall in a new year, and with turkey sea- squeeze. Ranging in elevation from 4,000-9,000 feet, this
son starting only a couple of months after we’d get home, country offered it all. I could hunt ’em in the mesquite
there really wouldn’t be much of an off-season, would of the desert or the mature pines of the mountaintops.
40 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING
Finish Early &
Stay Late
I had good spots in both types a couple of treestand locations at a
of habitat, and everything in be- moderate elevation, where even the
tween. There was a good population worst of cold fronts couldn’t dis-
of the little buggers throughout, and lodge my hunting efforts. I always
thus, I often varied my hunting loca- used this spot as a “backup” to my
tions for regular changes in scenery main focus, which lay about a half-
and climate. I could hunt in easily mile straight up.
accessible locations, or in designat- As I hung treestands, Lulu scatted
ed wilderness. What more could a about feverishly in pursuit of myriad
bowhunter ask for? sights and smells. Trimming a little
Always allowing the maximum new growth, I soon had things in
amount of time possible for this good order. As I hiked back to the
trip, my wife, Peg, and I looked for-
ward to a relaxed experience where Eddie Claypool’s dog Lulu is his almost
we could simply go at an unhur- Eddie’s constant companion afield. Even in the
ried pace. Slowly attaining a good Equipment List Arizona desert, you can bet Lulu will sniff
out some water!
base camp, we laughed, loved and
enjoyed the carefree life with which
we were blessed. Our dog Lulu dug butt working like a “real man,” and
for ground squirrels, Peg basked in now, short spurts of such were pre-
the warm winter sun and I scurried senting new challenges. Weighing
about in my usual way, busy with the pros and cons of the situation, I
hunting plans. In our book, we were opted for the retired status and its
rich beyond measure; a iner exis- “pitfalls.” I’d just have to learn to be
tence simply could not be bought. happy with such a miserable fate!
And, as December came to an end, By the end of our second day
the Claypools prepared to greet the aield, Lulu and I had traveled to my
New Year with a cheeseburger and high-elevation hunting spot and a
a soda, followed by some M&Ms. couple more treestands were up. The
Meanwhile, Lulu worked on a area showed good activity, and I was
rawhide “chewy.” ATV, I wondered if branding this excited to start putting in some time
Quietly lost in our own thoughts spot “secondary” was a good choice. in hopes of encountering one of the
and prayers, a couple of rednecks sat Deer sign was abundant, and it was large-antlered bucks I knew inhab-
around a campire as the Milky Way going to be hard to focus on my oth- ited the area. With the rut entering
ran across the dark desert sky. When er area with this spot in the back of its strength, it was time to cut out the
midnight inally passed, a woman, a my mind. On the other hand, I might preparation stage and move into the
dog and a scrawny bowhunting runt yet end up spending the entire sea- hunt itself.
headed for the warmth of a trailer son in my lower-country spot. Af-
and a comfortable bed. Oh, and did ter all, who could ever know when Patience Is a Virtue
I mention the Coues deer rut was the weather might decide to pitch a For the next few days, my time
underway? Aahhh, now there was curveball and throw a couple feet of was spent in high, lonely environs.
some good dream material! snow on the high country? Oh well, Getting into the routine of putting
I’d not worry about such; I’d simply long hours in a treestand is always
Getting to Work be prepared for the possibility. It was a dificult transition. Wired for “cov-
After a great breakfast, I loaded time to get back to camp; supper ering ground,” I’d never really been
the ATV with treestands and headed would be on the table. thrilled with the lie-in-wait approach.
out — a full day was ahead. Making As my irst day of in-ield work And though I’d taken my share of
my way back into the foothills, I soon came to a close, my aching back good bucks off the ground, I also
parked the machine, shouldered a spoke of its antiquity. But I loved had learned well the facts revolving
backpack and headed for remote hard work, of which I didn’t do around spot-and-stalk Coues deer
country. I knew well the spot I de- much anymore. A few years back, bowhunting — a low-odds proposi-
sired, thanks to previous years of ex- I’d taken an early retirement from tion, for me, at least. That being the
perience in the country. Dependably the pipeitting trade after 40 years case, patience was a virtue. I’d just
unbothered, the spot would provide invested. All my life, I’d busted my have to hang tough and sit, sit, sit.

My fifth day afield with bow in The author found plenty of Coues deer
hand started out like the previous sign throughout his hunting area and
four — two hours before daylight. erected a handful of treestands in the most
Loading into my truck, I drove 10 likely ambush locations.
miles, unloaded the ATV, rode the
ATV for 30 minutes, then shoul- and headed back to base camp. Peg
dered a backpack and headed out and Lulu had to see this!
for a long hike to a treestand. By
first light, I was climbing aloft, Living the Good Life
settling in for another anticipat- Later in the evening, good times
ed long, unproductive vigil. Boy, were shared around our trophy.
would I ever find that to be a “Hero” shots were taken. The story
wrong assumption! was told, with heads shaking in
By sunup, I had long since settled amazement. I basked in the after-
into my usual trance, thinking about glow. I simply could not believe I’d
who knows what. Then — just like taken a big buck so early in the hunt.
THAT — nearby movement caught And although this unexpected, early
my attention. In a second, I was blessing had thrown all my plans
shocked into the reality of a mature able opening, and the arrow was into disarray, as time passed, I be-
buck being within 25 yards of my on its way. Not sure what I’d ac- gan to realize this “early out” could
location. Where’d he come from?!?! complished, I watched as the buck be turned into productivity. Now, I
Quickly assessing the buck, I knew bolted forward 30 yards, stopped, was free to scout long and hard; to
immediately he packed a good rack. looked around the area for a few explore my areas like I’d never ex-
Unable to get a clear view, howev- seconds, then tipped over. I couldn’t plored them before; to hopefully
er, I had to quickly decide whether believe this. WOW. Just like THAT, glean new and exciting information
I’d try to take him. By the time my my hunt was over! on additional hotspots.
mind tripped into kill mode, my As I sat beside my trophy, my For the next two weeks, the Clay-
quarry was already making his de- mind spun in many directions. This pool Clan lived large. Sightseeing
parture. Grabbing my bow, I imme- was a NICE buck. Was I really al- tours were in order. Trips to town
diately assumed the position and ready DONE on January the 6th? YES. for shopping were on the agenda.
began looking for an opening in the But I didn’t want to go home yet; All-day scouting trips were regular
buck’s line of travel. Seeing a pos- I’d just gotten started! OK, we were occurrences. Overall, the entire crew
sible spot to take a shot, I hoped for NOT going to go home yet. NOW seemed to be rather enthralled with
an opportunity. As so rarely hap- we could goof off. YEP, that would its newfound liberation from the gru-
pens, my quarry strolled right into work. Snapping a few quick pictures eling routine of daily hunting. The
the only place that offered a reason- of my blessing, I grabbed my gear weather remained abnormally excel-
lent, and as the days rolled by, so did
miles spent exploring new, beautiful
and intriguing country. As for my
end of the deal, well, some really
exciting new hotspots were located.
New treestand sites were prepped
for future hunts, and an overall
excitement lodged in my bones.
As the trip came to a regrettable
end in late January, it was good to
be driving away with excitement for
a return visit permeating the crew.
Clearly, this had been time enjoyed
by all, and God willing, we’d be
back again in 11 short months. Now,
it was time to get home and make a
little jingle so we could hopefully do
just that.
On his fifth day on stand, Field Editor

Eddie Claypool took this fine Coues deer
buck that showed up unexpectedly and
roused him out of a daydream.
PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 43
Growing
Yourself
in the
There is no better way to

improve your skills as a
bowhunter than to participate
in archery competitions during
the off-season. Competition
creates the same kind of
high-pressure situations you’ll
CHRISTIAN BERG PHOTO
encounter in the field, and

learning how to deal with
them will make you much less
susceptible to buck fever.
44
By John Dudley
T
wenty-five years ago, on a cold January evening,
I stood on a shooting line in a small indoor
archery club and shot my irst target round.
I was petriied. Being a bowhunter from
Mississippi, I hadn’t shot much other than paper
plates in the backyard. Yet, there I was shooting
my irst target for a score. I went on to shoot a
group any sawed-off shotgun would be proud of. Seri-
ously, I wish I still had that target so I could show you; it
was that bad! But that’s OK, because it reinforced why I
was there in the irst place. I was there to get better.
Although I loved bowhunting, I wasn’t that good at
shooting. Most of us learn the hard way that adrena-
line, lack of preparation and minimal understanding
of technique can cook up a mean bowl of “tag soup.”
I had missed some hard-earned opportunities from
the treestand a month or so earlier, and I didn’t want
Many archers don’t worry much about their grip. However, your
to taste that kind of defeat again. Looking back, I am bow hand is the first and last thing to influence the arrow’s
pleased to report my enjoyment of being a “bowhunt- direction. Make sure you have a consistent, torque-free method
er” improved dramatically once I learned to irst enjoy for holding your bow.
being an “archer.”
Using the off-season to grow yourself as an archer is
something every bowhunter should embrace. It’s a sim- a cold lake, it’s nerve-wracking at irst. But soon you are
ple commitment that requires minimal investment but swimming around invigorated.
yields maximum return. In this article, I want to plant a I started acclimating myself to buck fever the day I
few seeds you can gradually water throughout the off- stepped onto that indoor archery range I mentioned
season to grow yourself into a better bowhunter! earlier. I learned shooting in a competition — and hav-
ing something at stake — creates pressure and tests your
Acclimate Yourself nerves. It might not be exactly the same as having a big
One of the best things to work on during these winter buck in front of your treestand, but it is very close. The
months is acclimation. This is the key to overcoming one of archers who learn to effectively deal with the nerves
bowhunting’s biggest hurdles. Every fall, I am fortunate to of competition become great bowhunters. They have
spend time in multiple hunting camps, and I never fail to ice water in their veins and rarely miss an opportunity.
witness “buck fever” get the best of fellow bowhunters. I Using this winter to get involved with some local leagues
suffered from it for years, and until I identiied it and made should be your irst step. I remember feeling anxious each
an effort to be comfortable with it, I didn’t have much suc- time I stood next to another person on league night and
cess in the ield. each time we walked down range to score our arrows. It
At its most basic level, buck fever is a form of perfor- was intense when I started, and most likely it will be for
mance anxiety. The spike in your heart rate, adrenaline you, too. As I got better and was lucky enough to make
surging through your veins and massive antlers in front of a shoot-off or have to go head-to-head to break a tie, I
you somehow cause you to forget everything you thought would feel those nerves kicking in just like when I was
you knew about shooting a bow. More than likely, the end drawing back on a buck; same shakes, same pounding in
result is an errant shot and yet another story of the one that my chest and the same feeling of wanting to rush the shot.
got away. I’ve been there. It’s awful. But there is hope, and But the more I competed, those feeling occurred less and
I am living proof! The key to beating buck fever is learning less, as though I was building a callous that shielded me
to be comfortable with it. Comfort comes from acclimating from the intensity of the situation. When this happens,
yourself to the moment of truth. Much like jumping into you are making progress as a bowhunter because your
45
Growing Yourself
in the
shooting that will both help want is for the front shoulder to be
control your emotions and down and forward. You don’t want
boost your accuracy. This is the shoulder compressed against the
one of the most overlooked neck. Coaches refer to this as “collaps-
aspects of archery and ing.” To have your front shoulder in
bowhunting. It is simply the correct place, raise the bow up to
focusing on a process. The the target with the front arm straight
process I’m referring to is a out, then draw the string back to-
simple, systematic routine wards the face while keeping that
to walk you through the front shoulder forward and down.
fundamentals of making You don’t want the front shoulder
a good archery shot. This pushed back against the neck.
serves two purposes. The No. 4 is anchoring your release
irst is that it helps engrain hand. This is a critical step. Depending
the core points of tech- on your release aid type, your anchor
nique. The second is that it position can vary. If you have a hand-
helps keep your conscious held release, you want your index in-
thoughts focused on mak- ger under your jaw line and your mid-
ing that perfect shot rather dle inger above your jawline. If you
than blowing it. Years ago, have a wrist-strap or index-inger re-
as a competitor, I learned a lease, then your index-inger knuckle
valuable lesson that if you should be at the base of the earlobe. As
When you employ proper technique, you are consciously thinking about steps a quick reference, you can search You-
will find yourself in the classic T-form
or processes then it doesn’t allow your Tube for “mastering the release aid”
at full draw, with your body forming the
center upright, your bow arm pointed mind to get distracted with negative and ind a video I did for Petersen’s
directly toward the target and your release thoughts or nervousness. I give each BOWHUNTING last year showing the
arm elbow pointed directly away from it. of my students some basic fundamen- proper anchor positions with either
tals to think about on every shot. style release.
Normally, I elaborate on each step, No. 5 is looking through your
resistance to buck fever is building. but here I am just going to give you peep sight. This is so important and
Again, this happens from subject- the “CliffsNotes” version. There are something that must be done last.
ing yourself to high-pressure situa- six simple things I want you to think The reason being is that the peep
tions over and over. The mind and about during every shot. sight position can vary if the front
body adapt and get used to it. When No. 1, look down at your feet shoulder or anchor is wrong. When
I was at my best as a target archer, I and make sure your stance is good. your shoulder is forward/down and
was competing constantly. That year, Your stance is your foundation, just your anchor solid, then the peep
hunting was the easiest of my life be- like a golfer stepping into the tee should have the front sight perfectly
cause it was just another walk in the box. If your feet aren’t comfortable, centered once the string is at the tip
park. I want you to commit to ind- your brain will know it. Instability of the nose. If any of these steps are
ing a place where you can practice in the feet equals instability in the incorrect then the string might be
with something at stake. Shoot with bow hand. on the side of the nose and the peep
people who make you uncomfort- No. 2 is your grip. Very few will be closer to the eye. When each
able or nervous. Tell yourself going archers think about their grip unless of these steps is done correctly, the
in that you are there to acclimate and it feels uncomfortable. However, the shooter is in a very good posture,
any progression should be consid- bow hand is the irst and last thing will have good technique and the
ered success. Seek out opportunities to determine the path of the arrow. arrow will be free of obstructions on
to shoot when something is on the Make sure your grip is torque-free the face. Take a look at the accompa-
line and continuously strive to beat and not only feels right but looks nying photo. Notice how, when each
your old scores. This is your irst step right, too. of the ive steps are done correctly,
to growing. No. 3 is your front shoulder posi- they force the archer into a perfect T
tion. As you draw the bow, the front formation. From there, you are all set
Focus On the Process shoulder has the ability to move to to move into the inal step, which is
There is a critical component to a plethora of positions. What you actually a subject of its own.

Your shot process is not over when the bowstring is released. It is important to follow through after the shot by holding your bow arm
steady and allowing the tension in your release arm to pull your release hand back over your rear shoulder. These two images show
the author practicing proper follow-through at the moment of the shot.
Reinforce Your Finish is loating on the target, do your best

If you want to boost your accura- to stabilize the pin movement, even
cy, you need to put off-season effort though it may not be perfectly steady,
into inishing the shot. If you only and continue to build gradual pres-
take away one thing I have written, sure on the string and trigger until
this is arguably the most important. the shot happens with a surprise. As
I’ve seen it irsthand from the best soon as that shot breaks, focus on the
tournament archers in the world, as FOLLOW-THROUGH by bringing
well as the best bowhunters. Time the release hand straight back over
after time, I see archers make their the rear shoulder. You will be amazed
shot and then immediately quit ev- at how much this helps reduce your
erything to watch the arrow. It’s a left-to-right variations as well.
common mistake and is directly re- As a bowhunter, I ilm myself a
lated to a hit or miss. Remember that lot, and when I’ve made mistakes The off-season is a great time to learn new
just because the shot happened, that as the shooter, it is often clear that I skills such as how to tune your own bow
doesn’t mean it’s done. When an “quit the shot” as soon as it went off or build your own arrows. The more you
archer triggers the release and tries rather than pulling through the shot understand all your bowhunting equip-
to watch the arrow, they commonly and inishing with the release hand ment and how it works, the more likely you
miss the mark because their front over the shoulder. The results will be will be to notice any problems that arise
sight/rear sight alignment is instan- clear to you! and make quick fixes in the field.
taneously falling apart as the release
hand is dropping down and away Learn Some DIY you are more likely to notice if a vane
from the face. Remember, an arrow Another great investment to make is hanging off or installed incorrectly.
isn’t a bullet. It’s not that fast and is in the off-season is simply learning For those who want to grow your
on the bowstring long enough that to work on some of your own equip- off-season gear knowledge, I do lots
your follow-through has an impact ment. This is important for multiple of DIY equipment videos on my
on accuracy. reasons, and I really encourage peo- Nock On Archery YouTube channel.
Another common problem is when ple to get gear knowledge — even if I do these because I know how much
shooters try to just “lock in” to their they have a great archery shop close it helped me improve my archery
anchor and remain very static in by. You will gain conidence in what and want to pass this on. Although
their pull as they focus intently on you are doing and be less likely to you may learn something by read-
aiming the pin and hitting the trig- blame your gear if you are in a slump. ing a great article here, I want you
ger. Being static on the bowstring You can make quick ixes in the ield to take it a step further and dive into
is the No. 1 reason why people im- in case there’s ever an equipment some hands-on skills such as tying
pact high of the target because they failure. Learning your gear better in a peep sight or letching your ar-
are creeping forward as they hit the lets you troubleshoot things in the rows. If you don’t feel like you can
trigger. “Creeping” results in high ield and naturally keeps you more do it on your own, ask your local
hits. Both of these reasons are why conscious of the little things that can pro shop to let you help on a few
I teach students step No. 6 — pull cost you a perfect hit on a big buck. simple things. Watering your thirst
through and inish. Once you are For example, if you learn how to to learn is a great way of growing
looking through the peep and the pin properly letch your own arrows, your success.

Don’t
Blink!
Alaska bowhunter Kendra Brush, shown here with her father,

Greg, was only 16 when she arrowed this brown bear with her
bow. Over the years, she has compiled quite an impressive list
of bowhunting trophies while heading afield alongside her dad.
E
very parent has heard the cliché, “Don’t blink. My anxiety stemmed from the fact that I had already
They grow up way too fast!” And at some felt the pain of losing my best hunting buddy ive years
point, most parents have rolled their eyes at the prior when my oldest outdoor girl, Kelsey, left for col-
trite saying, dispelling it during the whirlwind lege, fell in love, graduated school, married and then
period of their lives that is fully dedicated to the mad- made the Midwest her new home.
ness that comes with dealing with young children. As a loving father, I was naturally thrilled to see
Until that last child is on the cusp of lying the coop, Kelsey succeed and start the next chapter, but as a hard-
that is. That’s when the truth really hits home. The spring core Alaska hunter who cherished every outdoor minute
of 2016 was no different for me. with his Big Girl, I knew that 3,400 miles, a job and a
I swelled with pride and joy as my youngest daughter, husband changed everything.
Kendra, inished her senior year of high school, gradu- All those Saturday morning spruce hen quests, Sep-
ating with high marks and receiving multiple academic tember moose hunts and Kodiak blacktail adventures
scholarships to continue her education. But in the back with Kels — poof! They are nothing but memories now.
of my mind there loomed an ever-present feeling of anxi- So, when my second (and last) daughter Kendra
ety, almost panic. As I knew, she would soon be leaving picked up the stick and string as a little girl, I ran with
our home in Soldotna, Alaska, to begin her college career it. We watched the Outdoor Channel together, shot our
in St. Paul, Minn. bows together, became NASP instructors together, taught
48
The area where Greg and
Kendra Brush bait black
bears is also home to
a healthy population of
brown bears, which cer-
tainly keeps the bowhunt-
ers on their toes as they
travel to and from their
bait sites! Greg has even
developed his own bear-
proof trail-camera cases
to keep his expensive
scouting gear safe.
Father-Daughter
Bowhunting Ends Way
Too Soon
Women on Target courses together, Yet a decent black bear had some- distant and too busy to hunt with
shot TechnoHunt league together how eluded Kendra. It wasn’t for lack Dad anymore.
and, naturally, bowhunted together; of trying, that’s for sure. For years, And thus, with the clock ticking,
quite successfully, I might add. she and I spent each May and June the pressure to get Kendra a quality
deeply vested in the time-consuming bow shot at a black bear multiplied
The Pressure Mounts activity known as public-land bear exponentially.
Following in her sister’s foot- baiting in Alaska. Scouting spots,
steps, Kendra quickly became an setting up stands, servicing barrels A Slow Start
accomplished hunter, with a special and checking trail cameras made for A decade or so ago, baiting for
gift for remaining steady and calm some good memories, but somehow black bears on Alaska’s Kenai Penin-
during high-pressure situations that big, black, furry “cherry on top” sula was different. While it was nev-
unlike anything I had seen in near- never happened for her. er as good as some of the guided bait
ly 40 years of bowhunting. Indeed, Combine this lack of black bear hunts that remote Canada offered,
my youngest soon became known success with the ever-looming real- it was reliable enough that, with a
as Killer Kendra as she amassed ity that my baby girl was suddenly commitment of time and effort, a
quite the critters; squirrels, spruce 18 and preparing to depart for col- do-it-yourselfer had good chances of
hens, wild hogs, turkeys, javelinas, lege in the spring, and a stark real- taking a decent bear.
whitetails, blacktails, free-range ity hit me squarely between the eyes: Brown bears were virtually off
blackbuck and axis deer — even a My last remaining child, my bow- limits then and mostly considered
brown bear with a bow at the ten- hunting pal, was about to mimic her a nuisance to serious baiters, which
der age of 16. oldest sister, surely becoming too kept some hunters at home during
49
Don’t Blink!
the spring. Consequently, when an Combine this increase in hunting Initially stunned, I momentarily
opportunistic spring black bear or pressure with two very mild winters fell silent at my buddy’s proposal.
two found my bait in our area, they and early springs, and bear baiting Honestly, who does that? Only a
usually locked on it and became pat- in my area wasn’t quite like the good true friend; a fellow member of the
ternable, which meant they also be- old days. Where I used to have mul- brotherhood known as bowhunters
came killable. tiple bears “lock in” to my baits and who was also a loving father who
Over the years, with some hard become easily patterned by mid-to- has blinked and watched his own
work, my partners and I managed to late May, I now had very few random kids grow up way too fast.
arrow nearly a dozen mature black hits. And when I did get one, it was And so, the offer was accepted,
bears over bait. So, you see, it wasn’t usually from a bear with a full belly the proper paperwork was illed out,
like I didn’t know what I was doing. that ate a bit and moved on, presum- and less than 24 hours later, Kendra
But the last few years, just as Kendra ably making the easy tour from bait and I were in a tree with hope and
began her quest to kill a blackie with to bait to bait. dreams renewed.
her bow, coincidently, things changed. The spring of 2016 was no dif-
The Alaska Board of Game liberal- ferent. Kendra and I had some im- Don’t Blink!
ized the brown bear restrictions on mature brown bear boars and some In retrospect, the hunt that fateful
the Kenai and began allowing regis- sows with cubs frequent our bait, day was somewhat of a microcosm
tration brown bear hunting over bait but no blacks. When we inally had a of the past three years of baiting with
to thin a previously unchecked and black stop by, it showed itself on trail Kendra.
growing population of coastal griz. cam as a skittery, nervous youngster We had to dig deep to ind the
Hunters responded quickly, taking that was hard to pattern but also not initiative to rise at 3:30 a.m. so we
the ield in greater numbers for their of the age class that we were target- would be totally settled into the
chance at the very special and cov- ing. So, Kendra and I kept servicing, tree prior to the arrival of what my
eted trophy. This, of course, resulted checking and praying for just one friend called, “The 6 a.m. bear.” And
in more hunters and more baits, mature black bear that might ind when that bear arrived as scheduled
which of course made the overall our bait and let his guard down. but winded us prior to moving into
black bear hunting here considerably As we entered June, and Kendra bow range, Kendra and I had to ight
tougher, at least for Kendra and I. got busier managing her work ob- off the demons known as “frustra-
ligations and college preparations, tion” and “give up.” The next three
it wasn’t looking good. Brown bear or four hours were uneventful, and
season closed June 1, and overall thus serious perseverance was sum-
bear activity waned as the bears moned to diligently remain on stand
began traveling more due to moose through constant wind and rain.
calving, like they always do. When Kendra and I could stand the
Still, we pressed on. cold, wet boredom no more, patience
was needed as we trudged back to the
The Kindest of Offers truck to dry out and regroup.
Public-land hunters in Alaska are And much to my delight, just as
generally a guarded bunch, and bear the skies cleared, a driven, mature
baiters, in particular, often hold their bowhunter was revealed as I posed
cards close to the vest. So, when a a simple question to what was once
bear-baiting pal of mine phoned my precious little girl. “Do you want
me early one June afternoon, I fully to quit now or take a short nap be-
expected another casual conversa- fore seeing if the ‘noon to 3 bear’
tion consumed by two hunters grum- shows up?” I asked.
bling about lack of bear activity. “Oh, we’ve got to tough it out,
Rather, this friend irst surprised Dad!” she replied. “Let’s hunt this
me by stating that he had two ma- afternoon.”
ture black bears repeatedly hitting Less than two hours later, after a
one of his baits, then loored me with refreshing catnap, bits of black fur
the kindest of offers. repeatedly popped up nearly 100
“I know you have been trying for yards from our treestand in the form
years to get your daughter a crack of a hungry but wary bear that must
at a good blackie with a bow,” he have known something wasn’t quite
Although Greg Brush has enjoyed many casually stated, followed by, “I was right. But then, as quickly as it had
bowhunts with his daughter Kendra over
the years, he said the time passed far too
targeting a big brown bear boar any- appeared, the bear was gone. Faith
quickly. He advises parents to cherish way and have killed plenty of black- was summoned to remain quietly on
every opportunity they have to head afield ies over the years. So, why don’t you stand the next three hours as Kendra
alongside their children. come sit my bait with Kendra?” and I contemplated the unknown.

Equipment List
After many years of trying, Kendra Brush finally got her

chance at a trophy black bear. These photos show the
bear in Kendra’s sight as she waited for it to present the
perfect shooting angle, a video grab of Kendra’s arrow
immediately before it zipped through the bear’s vitals and
then Kendra happily posing with her trophy.
Was the glimpse of black we saw at “No, it didn’t!” I replied. “The through the roaring bear like a hot
11:30 a.m. the “noon to 3 bear” my wind is right. Get ready!” knife through butter.
friend had described? And in a blink, everything What transpired then, as we lis-
At 3 o’clock, we dejectedly be- changed. tened to the eerie death moans of an
gan our exit by lowering Kendra’s Kendra rose to her feet and picked expiring bear just 20 yards out, was
Bowtech to the ground. Suddenly, I up her bow in one luid motion, a release of emotions so complex, so
spotted black legs moving through precisely as the challenger emerged pure, so full of joy and pride and love
the spruce branches to my right. In- from the thick brush. Sauntering in and relief that Kendra and I fell into
stantly freezing, the roller-coaster with the regal body language that each other’s arms, softly sobbing.
ride continued as excitement quickly clearly states, “I’m the boss!” was This was much bigger than just
turned to disappointment when the the type of black bear that needed no the successful completion of a tough
eager customer showed itself to be a debate as to whether it was worthy bowhunt or the taking of another ine
small, immature bear recently kicked of an arrow. trophy. Rather, as I held my youngest
out by mom. In fact, Kendra clearly knew it was in that tree, that moment in time rep-
But no sooner had we forcefully her dream bear, evidenced by the resented everything I hold sacred;
molded disappointment into grati- fact that she was already at full draw the great outdoors, the challenge that
tude for the opportunity to watch an as I turned to hiss the totally unnec- is bowhunting, unwarranted kind-
unaware wild animal at close range, essary prompt, “Draw now!” ness by a bowhunting brother, my
hope was reignited as the little guy A long 50 seconds later, the big faith, my children and the memories
exploded from the bait in sudden boar inally turned, opening up the I cherish. But it also represented the
terror. vital area we needed. Kendra’s little blink that I know to be true, because
Kendra casually whispered, “It Eva Shockey bow thumped, and our children really do grow up way
winded us, Dad!” the arrow hit low and tight, cutting too fast.

What I
LOST
To
WIN Hale and his father, David, finished building this amputee-accessible
ground blind the day before Hale’s leg was amputated below the knee.
That tearful labor led to a major bowhunting victory for Hale later that year.
T
he morning of Sept. 14, 2015, bottom feet.” Despite years of failed be the irst year since eighth grade I
my father and I were put- attempts at reconstructive surgery, would miss opening day. Knowing it
ting the inishing touches CVT had stolen enough from me, in- would be a few weeks before I could
on a ground blind. Dad had cluding a college football career and even think about hunting was very
spent the last couple weeks my personal joy. For the last 10 years, hard on me. Sitting in my parents’
designing a blind perfect for my mobility had signiicantly de- house nine days after my surgery
a bowhunting amputee, something clined, and I was living with severe was the irst time I had depressing
I would soon be. A certain anxiety pain, 24 hours a day, in both legs. thoughts about my new life as an
hung over us that morning; it seemed We inally inished the blind; it amputee. Was I ever going to be able to
we didn’t know what to say to each was time to head home, pack and do what I had done the past 20 years, the
other. As we got closer to inishing, drive to the motel near the hospital thing I loved the most?
words became fewer. Looking back, I in Columbus, Ohio. As I got ready to
can understand why. A father, scared leave and hugged my dad, through Back in the Woods
for his son; a son, scared about his fu- tear-illed eyes, I choked out the Saturday morning, bow season
ture. The next day, I would have my words, “Dad, I am so scared.” started without me. Sunday morn-
right leg amputated below the knee. The 15th of September, I became an ing, I was struggling with my emo-
This blind brought us closer togeth- amputee. I spent the next four days in tions when my great friend, Jason,
er even though we were unable to Grant Medical Center. The next two called to check on me. He could tell
share words. weeks, I stayed at my parents’ home I was having a dificult time, so he
Thirty-seven years ago, I was born in Southeast Ohio to begin the heal- said, “I’m going to come visit, and
with Bilateral Congenital Vertical Ta- ing process before going to my friend we can shoot bows.”
lus (CVT), better known as “rocker Jason’s home. Jason had understood I replied, “I am by myself, so I
how challenging this would like your company, but I don’t
decision was for me know about the shooting.” I was hav-
and had suggested I ing my own pity party. Jason must
move in with him two have sensed that and arrived shortly.
months prior to surgery It wasn’t long until he brought up
so, when I was ready, the idea of shooting our bows again.
I could move back in Shrugging my shoulders, I said,
with him and feel I had “Maybe in a little bit.” Within a few
some independence. minutes, he asked again, and I inally
Over the years, bow- gave in. Jason knew it would help me
hunting had become a get my mind going in a more positive
very important part of direction. It only took 20 minutes of
my life, and this would shooting my bow from my electric
53
What I LOST To WIN
wheelchair until I felt much better. erything for me, help me into the UTV
Archery has always been a release for and drive me to the blind. From where
me, and this time was no different. I Dad would park, I would crutch to the
realized as an amputee that I was still blind, get set up with his help, then
going to be able to accurately shoot call him later when I was ready to be
my bow. I now realized the thing I picked up. Over the course of several
loved the most was going to help me weeks, I saw several shooter bucks
in my healing process. This change in — always out of range and moving
my life was going to turn out OK, and through areas I was unable to reach
I was going to adapt and overcome on crutches. This was very frustrating,
this new challenge. seeing mature deer and knowing if I
I shot as much as I could the next could just walk I could have moved
two weeks. I was shooting great and a treestand, waited on the right wind
felt I could make an ethical harvest and had a good chance to tag out.
out to 40 yards while sitting down As the frustration grew, something The author followed up his Ohio bowhunt-
and balancing my weight on one foot. happened that changed everything. I ing success from 2015 with two more
Now I just had to wait until I felt I started to receive support on social good bucks in 2016 and 2017, making
could make it to the deer blind and media from so many friends, as well him three for three in three seasons as
have my leg up for a couple hours as people I had never even met. Peo- an amputee. Hale credits his success to
without causing any harm to the ple were telling me how I was inspir- a positive attitude, hard work and a lot of
support from his family and friends.
residual limb, which was still very ing them, changing their outlook,
tender from the operation. That day and they were seeing their problems
came on Oct. 9, 2015. Jason and my in a more positive light. Every day,
dad loaded me into the UTV, and Ja- different people took time to lift me
son took me to the blind. I was only up and encourage me so I could keep
able to sit with my residual limb up grinding toward my goal. Keith Car-
in the blind for about an hour and a roll, owner of South Paw Taxidermy,
half after a bumpy ride, and I had to
end the hunt 25 minutes before the
sent me a message on social media
offering a free European or shoulder
Although this
sun set and the deer would really be
moving well. It was hard for me to ac-
mount. Nick Morgan, owner of Tri-
ple Threat Outdoors, set up my bow season would be
cept I still had a long way to go before for next to nothing and gave me a T-
I could hunt as hard as I was used to.
That evening, the pain spiked way
shirt from his shop the irst time we
ever met; we have remained friends
my most challenging
up, the incision that was holding my
skin together started to open in one
ever since. Who does that?!?!
As November arrived and the yet, it would also be
spot and I wondered if I had pushed rut kicked into high gear, I felt good
it a little too far. However, I came to
understand something that evening
about my chances to connect on a
mature buck. However, the one thing
my most blessed.
as I lay in bed with my residual limb that can mess everything up is Moth-
throbbing. Although this season er Nature. Apparently, she was not
would be my most challenging yet, as excited about my goal as I and so
it would also be my most blessed. I many other people were, because it
would be back to the basics of just was hot the irst two and a half weeks
seeing the blessing of getting to hunt, of November. Temperatures on many A Little Deception
and I would appreciate the sunrises days would reach the 70s, which kept As I mentioned, I had a plan: to
and sunsets a little more than I ever the deer in their beds. Finally, by the set up a doe decoy in the corner of
had. That night, while lying in bed, third week of November, the tem- the wheat ield where I had seen oth-
I set a goal to harvest a mature buck peratures dropped and the deer were er does feeding and mature bucks
before I received a prosthetic leg. moving. I saw two mature bucks that checking them.
My next hunt would not come until were using the winter wheat ield be- The afternoon of Nov. 24, I inally
Oct. 20. It took 11 days to let the incision hind my parents’ house to feed and had a perfect wind to try my plan.
close up, so I took that time to heal and check does to see if they were in es- My father loaded all my gear and the
shoot my bow a little each day. Start- trus. With those sightings, a plan was doe decoy into the UTV and took me
ing Oct. 20, I hunted six or seven days made and put into action. I knew my to the ground blind set in the corner
a week, mornings and evenings. I was time was running out. In one week, of a 40-acre wheat ield surrounded
often humbled and wondered if the Ohio’s shotgun season would open; by hardwoods. After he got me set-
goal I had set was a little farfetched. after that, it would be very hard to get tled, I pointed to where I wanted
Each hunt, my father had to load ev- it done with my bow. the decoy set in a spot that would

That’s when I was startled by the More time passed, and inally I just
vibration of my phone. In the excite- couldn’t take sitting around anymore.
ment of the hunt, I had forgotten I I told Mom I was going to crutch out
was within binocular view of my to my truck and drive home to get out
parents’ house. My dad had watched of my hunting clothes, and I would be
the entire thing go down with my right back. As I made it to my truck
mom and one of my older brothers. and opened the door, I heard my
“Hello,” I answered. mother yell from the back door, “They
“You smoked him, didn’t you?” found him!” I raced back to the house
Dad asked. as fast as crutches can carry a man and
I told him the shot felt great, called my dad. He said the shot was
maybe a touch high, but deinitely in the upper lungs; it just took a few
double lungs. I told him to give it yards for the blood to ill up and start
about 30 minutes, then bring the coming out of the wound. They would
UTV down and we could get on the be in after they got the buck cleaned
blood trail. After that, I called Jason out and put the tag I gave him on it.
to tell him I had made a good shot I waited patiently for the sound of
on a mature buck. After he congrat- the UTV, and as soon as I heard the
ulated me, he headed over to help familiar rumble of the motor coming,
in the recovery. I sat there alone for Mom and I headed down to the ga-
15 minutes and prayed. I thanked rage to meet Dad, Jason and Brian.
offer me a good shot if a buck ap- God for His peace. I thanked Him I thanked them for recovering the
proached the “doe” from the rear, as for His creation, and I thanked buck, and then I laid my hands on
they normally do. Around 4:30, the Him for this buck and everything my prize — a 9-pointer with a broken
deer started to hit the ield to feed. it meant to me as I started this new brow tine on his right side. In an in-
Four does fed within 15 yards of my journey in my life as an amputee. stant, all the uncertainty of Sept. 14,
decoy. Now I just needed a mature My prayer was interrupted by the 2015, was made certain, and all the
buck to step out. Around 5 o’clock, sound of the UTV approaching. fear was washed away in the exulta-
I looked left and saw a shooter buck Dad enthusiastically helped me out tion of victory. Goal accomplished!
step out about 180 yards away. I of the blind and onto my crutches, This story is important to me for
could tell by his posture he had more where we would share a hug that two reasons. First is the people who
than feeding on his mind; within sec- was so much more certain about cared for and supported me during
onds, he started moving in my direc- my future than the hug we shared the biggest change of my life. We all
tion. As he closed the distance, walk- the day before my amputation. came together and achieved an awe-
ing steadily and grunting with every With tear-illed eyes, I was able to some goal. Second is to show the
step, I remember thinking, Lord, now say, “Thank you, Dad. That deer is healing power of the outdoors and
is our chance to achieve the goal we set as much yours as it is mine. I could bowhunting. This story isn’t about
and show others what is possible and have never even made it to the what I accomplished; it’s about how
what bowhunting can do for someone. blind without your help.” bowhunting and being in the out-
With the buck now at 40 yards doors can make everything right in
and closing, I hooked my release on Mission Accomplished our lives when we are up against our
my string loop and focused. With the After loading everything up, biggest challenges.
buck at 30 yards, the does feeding in we headed to the house to meet Ja- From the 2015 archery season,
front of me decided they were not in son and my brother Brian. I reluc- other dreams were born. I have since
the mood to be dogged by the buck tantly agreed to stay at the house started to do some public speaking,
and trotted off into the woods to my while they went and recovered the sharing my whole story (loss of col-
right. I quickly turned my eyes back deer. The area where the buck had lege football, a few years of extremely
to the buck and saw he was commit- gone was very thick, and it just negative and unhealthy living to be-
ted to the decoy. He walked into my wasn’t a good idea for me to crutch coming a happy, healthy and deter-
shooting lane, matching a grunt for ev- through it. mined amputee) with athletic teams,
ery step. I drew my bow and stopped When Dad, Brian and Jason left, individuals, churches and college
him not three yards from the rear end I visited with Mom and anxiously classes. If, in any way, people are in-
of my doe decoy, set 21 yards away. I waited on a text from Jason. As time spired by what I have been through
released the arrow and saw the Nock- passed, I became worried. I hadn’t and how I have chosen to live a life
turnal lighted nock travel through the heard from Jason, so I called him. He of no limits in the outdoors as an
lungs of the buck and into the green told me, “We are on blood, but he amputee, that makes it all worth it.
winter wheat behind him. I watched is not bleeding like you’d think he Through this hunt, I came to see that,
him run into the woods and listened would be. I’ll be in touch when we no matter how much I’ve lost, in the
for any sounds of him crashing down. ind him.” end, I can always win.

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation
(Required by 39 USC 3685)
BY JON E. SILKS
1) Publication Title: Bowhunting
2) Publication Number: 1049-9768
3) Filing Date: 10/1/18
4) Issue Frequency: Published nine times a year, including one double
issue: Jan/Feb, Mar, Apr/May, June, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov/Dec
5) Number of Issues Published Annually: 9
6) Annual Subscription Price: $17.97 US
7) Complete Mailing Address of Known Ofice of Publication:
SPEED & ENERGY Outdoor Sportsman Group
Contact Person: David Madrid, 323-791-7190
1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor
New York, NY 10018-3703
DRAW-FORCE CURVE 8) Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business
KINETIC DYNAMIC Ofice of Publisher:
Outdoor Sportsman Group
ENERGY EFFICIENCY 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor
New York, NY 10018-3703
375-GRAIN 294 fps 72 81.1%
9) Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor,
and managing Editor:
ARROW foot-pounds Publisher: Jeff Waring, 6385 Flank Drive, Suite 800,
Harrisburg, PA 17112-2784
425-GRAIN 280 fps 74 83.4%
Editor: Christian Berg, 6385 Flank Drive, Suite 800,
ARROW foot-pounds Production Manager: Brittany Kennedy, 6385 Flank Drive, Suite 800,
10) Owner:
Outdoor Sportsman Group, 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York,
NY 10018-3703. Stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or
more of the total amount of stock: None
11) Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders
Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds,
employ a broad stance to provide Mortgages or Other Securities: None
Smart Integration stout torsional rigidity, which 12) Tax Status (For completion by nonproit organizations authorized to
mail at nonproit rate): The purpose, function, and nonproit status
Prime’s Smart Riser technology is works in conjunction with the TRM of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax
purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months
a combination of Swerve Technology Parallel cams to defeat cam lean at 13) Publication Title: Bowhunting
and Center Grip Riser design. The every turn. A compressed axle sys- 14) Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Oct 2017
Logic CT3’s riser is forged and ma- tem stabilizes the limb tips, tying Average No. No. Copies
of Copies of Single
chined out of 82X aluminum, which them together to take advantage Each Issue Issue
is not only stronger than the stan- of the overall width. Individual During Published
Preceeding Nearest
dard 6000 series aluminum but also limb pieces are cut from a compos- 12 Months to Filing
Date
extremely stiff, making it the ideal ite glass material and are matched 15) Extent and Nature of Circulation
candidate for Prime’s shooting plat- into sets based on delection val- a) Total Number of Copies............ 122,626............. 120,331
b) Paid and/or requested
form. Swerve Technology applied to ues. Limbsaver Twist Lox vibration circulation
1) Paid/requested
the lower half of the riser is designed dampeners are installed between outside/county mail
to match the sight window and sync the limbs. Draw weights of 40, 50, subscriptions stated
on PS Form 3541.......................... 97,168............. 94,858
the movement of both ends of the riser 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds (peak) are 2) Paid in-county subscriptions........ 0........................ 0
3) Sales through dealers
to increase stiffness, accuracy and con- available. and carriers, street
sistency. The Center Grip Riser design Finish options include Realtree vendors and counter..................... 4,031................. 4,745
4) Other classes mailed
places the balance point of the riser at Edge, First Lite Fusion/Cipher, Op- through USPS............................... 0........................ 0
c) Total paid and/or
the grip for perfect balance before any tifade Open Country, Elevate II and requested circulation.................... 101,198............. 99,603
stabilizers or other weights are added, Subalpine, Black, Recon Gray, Ghost d) Free distribution by mail
1) Outside-county as
resulting in less pin loat and the abili- Green, Morel Brown and Tundra stated on PS Form 3541............... 527.................... 538
ty to hold on target for longer periods Tan. A full-capture aluminum limb 2) In-county as stated
on PS Form 3541.......................... 0........................ 0
of time — it works for you, not against pocket aligns the limbs to the riser. 3) Other classes mailed
through USPS............................... 0........................ 0
you! Prime outits the Logic CT3 with 4) Free distribution
the Ghost Grip, which is machined Impressions outside the mail.............................75.................... 0
e) Total Free Distribution................... 602.................... 538
directly into the riser handle and em- At the range, Prime’s Logic CT3 f) Total Distribution........................... 101,800............. 100,141
ploys two injection-molded rubber was on target both iguratively and g) Copies not Distributed.................. 20,827............... 20,191
h) Total...............................................122,627............. 120,331
side plates. It promotes a neutral wrist literally. As an overall unit, it was i) Percent paid and/or
requested circulation.................... 99.4%................99.5%
position and was designed with input fun to shoot, with a very consis-
from top target archers. tent draw cycle and low shock, vi- 16) Electronic Circulation
a) Paid Electronic Copies..............8,935................. 9,729
The Logic CT3’s cable manage- bration and noise when ired. Shot b) Total Paid Print Copies +
Paid Electronic Copies..................110,134............. 109,333
ment is trusted to the Flexis-AR sys- noise was reduced even further c) Total Distribution + Paid
tem, which combines a lexing arm with an aftermarket string silencer. Electronic Copies.......................... 110,735............. 109,871
d) Percent Paid (Both Print
and a set of rollers. During the draw Mass weight was a little more & Electronic Copies)......................99.46%..............99.51%
cycle, the arm bends toward the than advertised. The grip was func- 17) This statement of ownership will be printed in the Jan/Feb 2019
bow’s centerline and then quickly tional, and the bow balanced well issue of this publication.
moves back and out of the way of on target, holding steady without 18) Signed by Peter J. Watt, Vice President, Consumer Marketing:
Date 10/1/18. I certify that all information furnished on this form
vanes at the shot, reducing torque. a struggle. Follow-through was is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes
false or misleading information on this form or who omits material
still and easy. Prime has certainly or informtion requested on the form may be subject to criminal
Performance Stance accomplished its goal of producing sanctions (including ines and imprisonment) and/or civil
sanctions (including civil penalties).
The Logic CT3’s short limbs another solid performer.

FIELD
TESTED
A Superior Scouting Advantage
Admittedly, I’m a little slow to embrace technology. Yet, when
I do warm up to something, I usually go all in. Such has been
the case with my usage of trail cameras. As the years have
passed, my wife, Peg, and I have come to realize we actually
get more enjoyment from running trail cameras than from the
hunt itself. It is with great relish we pull SD cards and down-
load the photos. The excitement of seeing animals exhibiting
their natural behavior is certainly worth the price of admission.
And there are always bonuses for our viewing pleasure —
non-target species such as wolves and mountain lions occa-
sionally surprise us with amazing and exciting images.
Over the years, I’ve tried most of the trail camera brands provided excellent image quality even without
out there. Only recently, however, did I have my first experi- the brighter light emission of standard red-
ence with Browning Trail Cameras and found my overall sat- glow IR models. Because the invisible flash is
isfaction level elevated a notch or two. Browning offers a com- so stealthy to game animals and humans alike,
prehensive lineup of camera models that check all the important this unit also provided me great service when I em-
boxes — affordable, efficient and easy to use. In my humble opinion, ployed it as a perimeter surveillance camera. Its fast recovery speeds
the picture and video quality of the Browning models are second to and silent shutter captured many wily whitetail bucks in their annual
none, and detection ranges are excellent on all models. Add on fast, act of autumn procreation without a single hint of “camera shyness.”
noiseless shutter speeds and extensive battery life, and you certainly Other highlights of the Spec Ops Advantage include a two-inch color
have a winning combination. viewing screen, adjustable trigger speed from .4-.7 second and a
Using the cameras “Out West” this past season, I was able to cap- .6-second recovery time. The unit will capture up to eight images per
ture photos and videos that exhibited great clarity and color — some trigger and is compatible with SD cards up to 512GB.
of the panoramas were breathtaking. Considering the abuse these Now, as the Claypool Clan prepares to head out for another great
cameras endured from the rough-and-tumble handling encountered Coues deer adventure in Arizona, my Browning cameras will be
on my backpack hunts — all without missing a beat — I could find stowed away near the top of my pack. I can hardly wait to recover
no fault in this gear. And later, as I transitioned into my Midwestern the excellent images they will provide of a supremely elusive deer.
whitetail hunts of autumn, the cameras continued to offer flawless Thanks, Browning, for helping make my time afield more productive
performance and prove themselves to be real workhorses. and enjoyable. — Eddie Claypool
I was particularly impressed with the overall performance of MSRP: $189.99
Browning’s Spec Ops Advantage, a no-glow model featuring 20MP Contact: Browning Trail Cameras, 888-618-4496;
still images, full HD video and an 80-foot detection range. This unit www.browningtrailcameras.com
Skull Mounts Made Easy

With 40 years of bowhunting under my belt, it goes without saying Available in Graphite Black
I’ve accumulated a few trophies. Early on, I was infatuated with shoul- or Robust Brown, Skull Hooker’s
Little Hooker, Big Hooker, Bone
Bracket and Table Hooker are
great options for highlighting Europe-
an mounts of everything from moose
to pronghorns. These multi-position
for other options for displaying my trophies. products can be rotated up and down
Coming up with no quick alternatives, antlers and side to side for the perfect view-
soon began to stockpile in the four corners of ing angle. Easy to assemble and install,
my den. When I became aware of the “European” there is no need to drill into your skulls for
approach to preserving game heads, I knew this would
be my chosen route. In my estimation, this approach would
To display a grouping of heads, consider the Trophy
Tree, which can tastefully and compactly arrange multiple species.
my trophies in an appealing, orderly and Thanks to the wide variety of products Skull Hooker offers, I have a
space-saving manner. The only problem now would
that would accomplish a tasteful presentation.

After much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth Throw in a few elk and mule deer racks hung on Big Hookers,
in pursuit of just such a goal, I realized that the amount lording over the upper reaches of the room, along with a few
of time and effort that I was investing in my homemade bear and wolf skulls well positioned on Table Hookers and Bone
Brackets, and I’m surrounded by countless great memories. And Peg
is happy, too, as Skull Hooker products are all easy to access and
expect, I would much rather bowhunt than tinker with giz- clean. Now, that’s a win-win situation! — Eddie Claypool
mos! So, my antler piles began to grow again. Then, just as MSRP: Varies by product
my wife, Peg, was about to lose her mind from the clutter, I Contact: Skull Hooker, 541-887-8622;
became aware of a quality solution — Skull Hooker. www.skullhooker.com

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THE DIY BY EDDIE CLAYPOOL
The Buck
ew I was yet to acquire the
tetail savvy to truly reap the
ential of this property, fate
was about to intervene. I would
soon learn the reality of the
old saying, “Even a blind sow
nds an acorn every once in
while.”
I’d arrived at my treestand
later than planned — I’d wan-
dered around the area in the dark for
a while, looking for the tree. After a bit
of blundering around, even I knew I
was damaging my morning hunt.
Sitting down against a tree, I wait-
ed for daylight so I could, hopefully,
see where I was and ind my way to
STRATION
where I wanted to be. I arrived at my
hide as the sun rose above the eastern
horizon, agitated at my incompetence.
matter of fact, I never really allowed As expected, I saw little action that
I
n 1988, I t d,
but as a bowhunter, I had yet myself to think outside the rut I was morning. I was convinced I’d alerted
to come of age. At this point in in. I was a blue-collar guy — mar- every deer within a half-mile radius
ried, with children — striving just to with my bumbling entrance. Com-
my outdoor life, I’d not harvested
survive. A few years earlier, I’d made bined with the fact that the rut was
a large-antlered whitetail.
my irst trip “Out West” to bowhunt, yet to start, and that the tempera-
I’m relating this so you can see which had started a process of change ture was supposed to climb to 90
how the “big event” that happened in my bowhunting mindset. I saw that degrees, I sat in a trance, counting off
in my life that year set me on a new I could think bigger than I was used the hours to departure. By 10 a.m.,
course of bowhunting participation. to and accomplish more than I had I’d had enough; gathering my gear,
And if you are dedicated to operating planned. However, I’d not yet carried I prepared to leave. Listening to that
at a top-end level, I’m willing to bet this over into my whitetail hunting, still, small voice in the back of my
there was something that happened in which was in a dismal state of affairs. head, I decided to wait another half
your outdoor life that greatly altered But all that was about to change… hour. Minutes later, as I pivoted my
your psyche. For me, the epiphany On a warm, late-October morning, head to my right and rear, a large
occurred on Oct. 22nd ... I climbed into a treestand I’d only buck appeared about 30 yards away.
I’d read a lot about people harvest- recently erected. Facts were, I’d only The rest of the encounter is a blur. A
ing “Pope and Young” whitetails, received permission to bowhunt this short time later, I was on the ground
though I had experienced nothing of ground a few weeks earlier, a won- searching for clues as to what had
the sort. I’d been bowhunting white- derful blessing resulting from my just happened. It turned out that I’d
tails for well over a decade, but my willingness to get off my duff and arrowed the brute, and he was soon
irst buck that would score more than seek out access to a top-end piece of recovered a few hundred yards away.
110 inches had yet to materialize. whitetail ground. Never believing I NEVER had I been more excited.
Small-minded in my efforts, I’d in- could gain access to such a property, This story represents the line of
vested all my time in the area around I prayed to God and put my best foot demarcation between one bowhunt-
my northeastern Oklahoma home — forward. I’d stop by the crusty old ing existence and another. After that
record-class bucks were very few and rancher’s spread on my way home 160-inch brute was under my belt,
far between there. Combine this with from work to help him with chores. I never looked back. I had done it. I
the fact my whitetail savvy was in its Then a miracle happened: One could do it. And now, I intended to do
early stages of development, and you day, he tossed me a spare key to his it A LOT more. “Things” have never
had a perfect recipe for failure. As a gates. I was ecstatic! And although been the same since.
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Tested: 2019 HOYT CARBON RX-3 & PRIME LOGIC CT3

• Arizona Coues Deer

• Levi Morgan’s Advice for

or computer. 24/7 intel that leaves nothing to the imagination. spartancamera.com

36 Late-Season Case Study

40 Finish Early and Stay Late

52 What I Lost To Win

2 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

56 TECHNICAL BOW TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY JON E. SILKS

16 BOWHUNTING 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY BILL WINKE

24 BETTER BOWHUNTING . . . . . . . . . . BY RANDY ULMER • Winke’s Wisdom:

64 THE DIY GUY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BY EDDIE CLAYPOOL

What Goes Around An Outdoor Sportsman Group® Publication

to master this game; and no BOWHUNTING 101 Bill Winke

6 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

8 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

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16 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

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18 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

less expensive, soft-sided blinds.

24 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

CHRISTIAN BERG PHOTO

SPEED & ENERGY

width on the bottom of the bow, as

www.b owhuntingmag.com PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 29

clear trends involving states that kept popping up again

set you back roughly $625. And, they

The river bottoms of Eastern Montana not

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITETAIL INSTITUTE/ www.whitetailinstitute.com

In 2016, 59 percent of all bucks taken by

four months, from the end of Septem-

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITETAIL PROPERTIES/www.whitetailproperties.com

34 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

public hunting. A searchable map

Kansas produces lots of big bucks,

I the rut, almost as many as I have shot during the

This is the buck the author nicknamed

38 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

today’s advanced blinds have a lot

www.b owhuntingmag.com PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 39

42 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

On his ﬁfth day on stand, Field Editor

There is no better way to

encounter in the ﬁeld, and

46 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

Reinforce Your Finish is loating on the target, do your best

www.b owhuntingmag.com PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 47

Alaska bowhunter Kendra Brush, shown here with her father,

50 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

After many years of trying, Kendra Brush ﬁnally got her

www.b owhuntingmag.com PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 51

54 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING 01/02 • 2019

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Skull Mounts Made Easy

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