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.
In today’s social-media obsessed society, perception is often mistaken for reality, and a bowhunter’s value is often measured in terms of “followers,” “likes” and “video views.” As an avid social-media user myself, I am as guilty as anyone in that regard. But I also know many of the very best bowhunters among us are men and women too busy pursuing their passion to be sidetracked by digital media. Field Editor Eddie Claypool — a staple on the pages of BOWHUNTING for the past 17 years — is a prime example. Eddie has never hosted a television show. He doesn’t have a fancy logo emblazoned on hats and T-shirts. And he certainly doesn’t have thousands of people following his every workout, backyard shooting session or dinner preparation on Instagram. Yet somehow,…
The Average Joes What did we do before we had [trail-camera] pictures of most of our resident bucks feeding in the plots we planted to hold them in our hunting area? We wore Army fatigues and shot wheel bows at barely over 200 fps. We also used to build stands with 2x4s or sit on a hemlock limb. Take away all the [technology] breakthroughs, and we are reduced to our hunting skills alone. Hunting is a big-money sport now. As in many other pursuits, he who has the most money can enjoy the highest level of success in this hunting world. It makes perfect sense that the overall number of hunters is dropping and per capita numbers have been on a big decline. I am in the thick of life,…
Full Stealth Mode TenPoint’s 2018 lineup is filled with bold new designs that represent a next generation for the company’s legendary crossbows and accessories. Headlining that shift is the all-new Stealth NXT — TenPoint’s narrowest, most accurate crossbow ever. Measuring just 6 inches wide when cocked, the Stealth NXT delivers 1-inch downrange groups at speeds up to 410 fps. It is powered by TenPoint’s new Vector Quad cable technology, employing four cables for increased strength and stability while eliminating cam lean. The XR6 maximum-rotation cam system, paired with DUAL FLEX split limbs, creates lightning-fast speeds. The Stealth NXT tips the scales at just 7.3 pounds, thanks to a CNC-machined aluminum riser featuring TenPoint’s TRI-LOCK pocket system for perfect alignment between the pocket and limbs, resulting in pinpoint accuracy. The CX5…
It is often said that archery is a game of little things. More so, I believe it is a game of repeating those little things. Shooting a bow — or at least shooting it well — isn’t as easy as it may appear, largely because so many things must be repeated exactly the same way from shot to shot to be consistent. One of those things is centering the sight inside your peep. There are two main factors that influence how well you are able to do this. First, peep size is very important in being able to consistently center up. Second, the number of aiming pins in your sight housing will help determine whether to center the pin itself or the entire housing. I believe the most critical aspect…
In addition to being a professional deer manager, I’m also a volunteer football coach. And listening to fellow hunters talk about 170- and 180-inch whitetails reminds me of parents talking about their lofty athletic scholarship goals for their kids. “Coach,” one parent said, “I want you to be careful with the words you use with my Johnny. He’s going to play pro football one day.” Johnny is only 14 and, no, I didn’t make that up! I’ve spent the last 15 years working as a private wildlife consultant, and I’ve always felt it is extremely important to set realistic expectations up front, before a single food plot is planted. Modern whitetail science proves that even fully mature bucks across much of the whitetail’s range will struggle to produce antlers that…
This past season, I struggled with a nagging bout of tendonitis in my left elbow. I believe two things brought this on: old age and senility. Well maybe, but just as likely it was due to being overzealous in the gym trying to get in shape for the coming season. Regardless of the cause, the issue made it very painful to draw my bow. Every shot I took was an exercise in pain tolerance. As a result, I wasn’t able to shoot much — just a few arrows per day. My reduced capacity got me thinking about the fact that many bowhunters likely struggle with limited practice time, for a number of reasons. This is a subject worth addressing. Here are some thoughts to help you make the most of…
