Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i Petersen's Bowhunting

“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…

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…

Hoyt builds carbon bows that are stylish, well-built and perform great. For 2017, Hoyt offers three versions of its Carbon Defiant, including the 31-inch axle-to-axle base model that is the subject of this test. Tubular Technology Hoyt’s carbon bow line features lightweight risers built with O-Tec Technology, which forms the Hollow Carbon Tube. Hoyt’s Helical Flex Tune Carbon has a high strength-to-weight ratio as well as noise- and vibration-dampening characteristics. This lightweight construction is the key to the Carbon Defiant’s advertised weight of only 3.6 pounds. Three main tubes weave their way back and forth, twisting and changing shape to create the riser. Two of the tubes make up the standard riser design, while the third swings behind the handle to give the bow that signature Hoyt look and channel…

It’s that time of year when the air turns crisp, days grow shorter and smoke begins to roll from chimneys across the countryside. There is no better time to be alive, and many of us anticipate autumn like a kid anticipates Christmas morning. Deep down inside, you know where you belong — perched in a ridgetop oak tree, nestled in a ground blind at the edge of a cornfield or slipping through the aspens and listening for a majestic elk bugle. Very few things energize the way fall does. If you are the typical bowhunting fanatic, you have already launched what seems like a million shots over the past six months. You have tinkered, tweaked and tamed your rig to your satisfaction, and you are finally ready to thread a…

Mission is all about creating bows that employ get-it-done technology and then backing that up with world-class support. Their rigs are very easy on your wallet, and you will be hard pressed to find a more versatile lineup anywhere. Mission is about growing the sport of archery. Great Range The Hype DTX has amazing adjustability in both draw length and draw weight. It is no simple feat to design and engineer a product with such a wide range and keep it all on-board without different cams, limbs, strings, etc. You could buy one of these for every member of your family, and you would all be ready to go hunting or target shooting in no time. I could test this bow for IBO specs and turn around and set it…

Get Hooked Use the new Straphook to hold your bow, keep your gear within arm’s reach or even assist with dragging your buck. The adjustable strap and J-hook design can be used in trees, treestands or ground blinds and will fit in your pocket or pack. Simply click and pull the durable strap securely into place. The 3.9-ounce Straphook can hold up to 65 pounds and is available with red or black hooks. MSRP: $10.99 Contact: Straphook, 314-487-1167; www.straphook.com Quiet as a Whisper Featuring the Whisper Silencing System for noise reduction and vibration control, the Gladiator Whisper 405 boasts bolt speeds up to 405 fps. A CNCmachined aluminum rail with shoot-through aluminum riser delivers consistent accuracy, while the compact 13.5-inch front end provides maneuverability. The Gladiator Whisper 405 package includes…

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…

Our society has changed dramatically over my adult lifetime in several ways, not the least of which is buying habits. It used to be when purchasing a big-ticket item, such as a car, boat, gun or bow, the first option was typically to shop “used.” Nowadays, it seems people have more means and less time. They don’t want to trifle with kicking tires, driving around the countryside or burning a weekend at yard sales. They want something that comes with a guarantee and without the negative connotation that prompted car dealers to replace terms such as “used” and “second-hand” with the more appealing “pre-owned.” Still, when it comes to crossbows, buying used is a viable option, particularly if you’re just starting out. If you decide to go the old-fashioned route,…

Bloodsport Wraith Deepcut The Deepcut is one of five models in the Wraith family. Built around a universal ferrule and multiple blade designs, other options in the lineup include specialized treestand, turkey body, turkey head and widecut models. Armed with a 416 hardened stainless steel ferrule and chisel tip, the system’s core is designed for durability. The Scooptail ferrule is said to increase efficiency and accuracy. Stainless steel blades measure 1.25 inches long, .032 inches thick and flare out at an angle that creates a 1.125-inch cutting diameter. A unique, reversible blade design is advertised to double the life of the head. MSRP: $29.99 per 3 www.bloodsportarchery.com Blood Therapy OCD There is no mistaking Blood Therapy’s OCD thanks to its one-of-a-kind, circular main blade. This round blade runs through the…

Two-Way Trail-Cam Communication There aren’t many better things to wake up to in the morning than snapshots of deer from your hunting property waiting for you. Now that I have the Spartan GoCam Blackout stationed near one of my prime bowhunting spots, I grab my phone eagerly anticipating photos of big bucks every time my alarm goes off. The wireless technology even allows me to directly communicate with the camera and capture images on demand. Spartan Camera’s slogan certainly rings true: “You don’t have to be there.” Because the camera offers a variety of features and functions — including time-lapse mode, scheduled events and trigger intervals — initial setup can take up to an hour. But Spartan Camera’s customer service is as advanced as their technology, and a representative was…

Name: Jeremy Ruesnik Home State: Alaska Occupation: Big-Game Outfitter and Bush Pilot Years Bowhunting: 25 Current Bow: Hoyt Carbon Element Favorite Animal to Hunt: Mountain Goat and Sitka Blacktail Deer Q: As the owner of a full-time outfitting business, how do you find time to get out in the field? A:I don’t have much time anymore. As far as Alaska goes, I do some spring bear hunting and some late-season hunts for Sitka blacktails and mountain goats. The last couple of years, I have hardly had the time to hunt for myself in the state. I’ve had to travel out of the state to hunt — places like Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and overseas. Q: You do your own guiding and flying. How do the two of those factor together? Do…

Have you ever been shooting and made a small change to your setup that improved your shooting so profoundly it almost seemed like magic? Well, it happened to one of us! He had a hunting setup he really liked. It shot very well, and it was deadly. In fact, it was hard for him to imagine a much better setup. However, he was not above keeping an eye out for something better. Over the years, he noticed some of his archery buddies had gone away from 100-grain broadheads. A 100-grain, fixed-blade broadhead had been the standard for years, but now a lot of them were using 125-grain fixed-blade broadheads. He knew from years of competitive shooting that a heavier arrow with a higher FOC balance point was more forgiving. A…

Open Carry Go hands-free in comfort with Cabela’s Bow and Rifle Hunting Pack. The pack can easily accommodate any bow or crossbow with an adjustable, fold-out cam/buttstock support and a padded compression pod. A fully padded hip belt and contoured shoulder straps with nonslip panels provide a secure fit. The durable CTS 450 Tricot construction is quiet, and the low-nap finish will not collect burs. The 2,400-cubic inch pack weighs just over 4 pounds and features Realtree Xtra. MSRP: $150 Contact: Cabela’s, 800-237-4444; www.cabelas.com Get Your Fix At 1,500 cubic inches and just over 4 pounds, the Fix is a compact, lightweight pack perfect for a day hunt. Stow all your gear in the seven pockets, secure it with the five available compression straps and carry your rig hands-free with…