Petersen's Bowhunting is the source for the tactics, tools, and techniques necessary for successful bowhunting. Get practical shooting tips and useful information on archery, equipment tests, clothing, and product evaluations.
“Firsts” are special things in life; the kind of things you never forget. Your first kiss. Your first job. Your first car. Your first big buck. Oh, I know your first deer — be it a doe, spike buck or whatever — is special. But there’s just something about the first truly mature trophy that’s hard to beat. As deer-hunting guru Jim Hole Jr. says in his feature article (Hunting the Experienced, p. 78), “The experienced animals live on another plane of existence, with another set of rules. An experienced animal is its own being — arguably a more advanced species — and a seasoned bowhunter recognizes that.” I remember my first big buck like it was yesterday. It happened on the edge of a Missouri clover field in September…
Weight Watching Out of curiosity, do you believe there is a point where heavier arrows become a detriment to hunting game the size of whitetails — specifically with respect to lower fps bows? I have been shooting a 2003 Hoyt Ultrasport (IBO back in the day was in the 290s) with a draw length of 28 1/ 2 inches and poundage backed down to 60 due to recurrent shoulder dislocation. So, I haven’t chronographed it, but I believe I’m shooting quite a bit under that 290 fps. I would estimate probably closer to 240-250 fps or less. All my shots are within a 50-yard range with the average being about 30 yards. In your opinion, would the investment in heavier arrows/broadheads be worth it? The added momentum possible has my…
PUT TO THE TEST In the spring of 2016, my hunting partner Jeremy Ballantine and I traveled to Idaho to chase public-land bulls. One morning in camp, while thumbing through Petersen’s BOWHUNTING , I stumbled upon John Dudley’s article 15 Years of Bull , which discussed the frontal shot on elk. There is controversy surrounding shot placements other than on a perfectly broadside animal, but this article was confirmation that with a great-performing arrow suitable for heavy penetration, this shot is something to consider if presented with the opportunity. On the fifth day of our hunt, our objective was to pack in as far as we were physically able. GPS readings registered three miles before we started to encounter fresh elk sign. Using the wind in our favor, we continued…
The popularity of “paper tuning” bows has grown over the last few years. There is more and more information out there about tuning bows, which is a good thing. When I was growing up, paper tuning was pretty much nonexistent. For those who don’t know what this is, it is simply shooting an arrow through a piece of paper to see if it is traveling straight or kicking sideways as it comes off the bowstring. The only problem with this is that sometimes the vanes can contact the riser or rest and you can never get a perfect tear (bullet hole) no matter what you do. On top of that, the vanes can act as a Band-Aid, covering up or slightly correcting the actual tune of the bow. I take…
I love everything about whitetail deer — so much so that I’ve dedicated my career to studying them, managing them and hunting them! So, I find it more than a bit ironic that a bite from a tiny tick carried by deer has greatly impacted the quality of my health, making me sick with ever-changing symptoms. I’m certainly not alone. As a fellow bowhunter, there’s a significant risk you’ll eventually be exposed to the tick-borne bacteria that causes Lyme disease — if you haven’t been already! In fact, Lyme disease infection rates have reached epidemic proportions across much of the whitetail’s range. My motivation for addressing this topic is simple: to educate and share my own experience in hope it can benefit others. I’ve seen more specialists than I care…
No one likes a pessimist, but there are times when it pays to look for the dark clouds we hate to admit are there — to determine what can go wrong. While negative thinking is usually a curse, it can serve a purpose when you look at these possible outcomes and come up with a plan to fix them before they happen. Looking for worst-case scenarios is a good plan for many outdoor activities, be it wilderness camping or bowhunting. These are unforgiving — you make one mistake, and the whole thing unravels faster than a cheap shirt in a patch of multiflora rose. I am going to zero in on things that can go wrong during the moment of truth. It would be nice if we could just leave…
