Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2019 i Petersen's Bowhunting

America 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 afield 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…

Twenty-five years ago, on a cold January evening, I stood on a shooting line in a small indoor archery club and shot my first target round. I was petrified. Being a bowhunter from Mississippi, I hadn’t shot much other than paper plates in the backyard. Yet, there I was shooting my first target for a score. I went on to shoot a group any sawed-off shotgun would be proud of. Seriously, 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 first 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 adrenaline, lack of preparation and…

Prime’s new-for-2019 Logic CT3 is the latest in the company’s line of Project Centergy and Smart Riser Technology bows. Prime’s goal is to create bows that not only promote accuracy and consistency through total bow synergy but also create a pleasant overall shooting experience. The Logic CT3 features Prime’s signature Parallel Cams, which bring instant brand recognition and, more importantly, performance features that achieve the company’s goals for this bow. Swerve Riser Technology and Center Grip Riser design combine to create the company’s Smart Riser, while the parallel position of the limbs, coupled with several vibration-dampening accessories, seek to tame the shot. Why Double Wide? It is easy to see that a double-cam system creates an inherently wide stance, not only for the cams but the limbs as well. The…

Eddie Hammers His Point I generally go straight to the last page to read Eddie Claypool’s columns. I’m more than touched by his most recent, The Journey (p. 80, Nov/ Dec 2018). I’ve been bowhunting since the mid-1960s and still love every minute of it. Eddie hits the nail on the head with the evolution of my thinking and bowhunting goals over those years. It’s most enjoyable now, at age 63, when I can just enjoy the whole picture of each day without any pressure from myself or others to put another animal on the wall. I’ll be out there in a wheelchair if necessary one day, too. Tom Weigand, Shellsburg, Iowa Straight Talk on Arrow Spin In Levi Morgan’s article on arrow vanes ( Choosing the Right Vanes for…

Hoyt brought a never-settle attitude to market with the introduction of its REDWRX bow platform last year, and the company continues that in 2019 with the all-new REDWRX Carbon RX-3 series. In addition to the standard, 30½-inch axle-to-axle rig we tested, there is a 34-inch model and a Turbo model advertised to generate arrow speeds up to 350 fps. The RX-3 is built on Hoyt’s new Parallel-Track Hollow Carbon Tube riser, along with Hybrid Split limbs and the ZT Hyper Pro Cam & ½ system. An adjustable, Custom-Tune grip and a host of vibration- and noise-reducing accessories make for an enjoyable shooting experience. Advancing Success Hoyt has found tremendous success with its carbon-riser technology. However, like any company worth its salt, Hoyt has taken that success and advanced it to…

In recent years, I have shot a number of bucks after 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 coincidence. I have definitely 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 shooting a small-antlered old buck is no easier than shooting a big-antlered old buck. Antlers are cool, for sure, but the “old” part is the real challenge. In this feature, I am going to focus on two late-season bucks. I killed them both from the same spot under very similar conditions four years apart. I shot Loppy in late December 2012…

Manufacturer: Prime Archery, 866-456-8836; www.g5prime.com Model: Logic CT3 Riser: Machined 82X aluminum; Center Grip design Grip: Ghost Grip, with side plates Limbs: Split, wide stance Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peak Cam System: TRM Parallel Cam Letoff: 80 percent (advertised); 80.62 percent (as tested) Draw Lengths: 24½-30 inches, in half-inch increments; cam specific String: BCY 452X, 26.45 inches long Cables (x2): BCY 452X, 39.4 inches Brace Height: 6¼ inches Axle-To-Axle Length: 33 inches Mass Weight: 4.4 pounds (advertised); 4.7 pounds (as tested) Finish: Realtree Edge, plus many other options Advertised IBO Speed: 335 fps Suggested Retail Price: $999 Comments: Solid as a rock and a pleasure to shoot.…

Gold Rush Gold Tip’s new Black Label shafts are laser-measured at multiple points to ensure +/-.0025-inch straightness along the full length of the arrow or bolt — not just at the middle. Utilizing Gold Tip’s Smart Carbon technology, the shafts are available in 300, 340 and 400 spines and come fletched with either three or four vanes. Other features include Gold Tip’s Premium GT Nocks, black anodized nock collars and Accu-Lite inserts, and 20-grain FACT weights for increased FOC. Available only at authorized archery pro shops. MSRP: $144.99 per 12 Contact: Gold Tip, 800-551-0541; www.goldtip.com Elegant Experience Part of Rinehart’s Competition Series, the new Gazelle 3-D target makes practicing for your next safari almost as enjoyable as the hunt itself. Made of the company’s high-density, self-healing foam, the gazelle target…

There are so many little things you do every time you draw, aim and release your bow. Each one affects the outcome of your shot in some way. Your anchor is the most impactful when it comes to consistency. I have taught and used a three-point anchor system my whole life: hand-to-face contact, hand-to-release contact and, finally, string-to-face contact. If I had to pick the one that is most important, I’d say it is string-to-face contact. Archery is about being able to repeat things over and over, and there are some techniques that make doing that a lot easier. When it comes to contact between your face and your bowstring, there is a fine line between too little contact and too much. That’s why I don’t like kisser buttons. You…

Your peep sight may seem like a relatively unimportant bow accessory. Most bowhunters think of the peep as a one-size-fits-all add-on. You buy any old peep, put it in the string and you’re good to go! However, the peep is far more important than most bowhunters realize. Your sight picture is a big deal, and few things impact it as much as your peep sight. When it comes to the sight picture, there are only a few variables within your control. The most important of these are the size, type and position of your peep sight. Improving your sight picture should be a priority. Over the course of the next three columns, I’m going to tell you everything I know about peep sights! Hopefully, this information will help you make…

Manufacturer: Hoyt Archery, 801-363-2990; www.hoyt.com Model: REDWRX Carbon RX-3 Riser: Parallel-Track Hollow Carbon Tube Grip: Custom-Tune; adjustable Limbs: Split, Hybrid Parallel Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peak Cam System: ZT Hyper Pro Cam & ½ Letoff: 80 or 85 percent; 82.46 percent as tested Draw Lengths: 24½-30 inches, in half-inch increments; rotating module String: FUSE, BCY X99, 57.13 inches Cables: FUSE BCY X99, 33.88 inches (control), 22.81 inches (buss) Brace Height: 6 inches Axle-To-Axle Length: 30½ inches Mass Weight: 3.9 pounds (advertised); 4.3 pounds (as tested) Finish: Realtree Edge, plus other options Advertised IBO Speed: 342 fps Suggested Retail Price: $1,699 Comments: A high-quality, innovative bow with great fit and finish.…

The morning of Sept. 14, 2015, my father and I were putting the finishing touches on a ground blind. Dad had spent the last couple weeks designing a blind perfect for a bowhunting amputee, something I would soon be. A certain anxiety hung over us that morning; it seemed we didn’t know what to say to each other. As we got closer to finishing, words became fewer. Looking back, I can understand why. A father, scared for his son; a son, scared about his future. The next day, I would have my right leg amputated below the knee. This blind brought us closer together even though we were unable to share words. Thirty-seven years ago, I was born with Bilateral Congenital Vertical Talus (CVT), better known as “rocker bottom feet.”…

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 download 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 occasionally surprise us with amazing and exciting images. Over the years, I’ve tried most of the trail camera brands…