Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2020 i Petersen's Bowhunting

Back in October, I took my 13-year-old son, Timmy, to Ohio for his first out-of-state whitetail hunt over the Columbus Day weekend. Leaving home in Pennsylvania early Friday morning, we made the six-hour drive and arrived in time to climb aboard our stands for an evening hunt. The friend we hunted with had us set up in the perfect spot overlooking a small clover plot next to a standing soybean field. Beyond the beans was a thick, hardwood bottom known as a prime bedding area. Trail-camera footage indicated the location was a popular first stop on the nightly feeding forays of the deer that bedded in that bottom. Sure enough, it didn’t take long before a number of does, fawns and small bucks emerged from the woods and started contentedly…

There are still a number of seasons open, but I readily admit the late season can be tough with a bow. I have shot some nice bucks after the rut, but the number is not high; fewer than 10, for sure. All my late-season success stories have one thing in common — I didn’t hunt much, but rather watched and waited until the time was right before making a move. The deer that remain after the firearms season are spooky, and you aren’t going to get away with many hunts in one spot before the gig is up. Here are the two conditions to look for when deciding to press in after the rut: Daylight Activity: Capturing daylight trail-camera photos is your first indicator. You want to know when a…

Hoyt is an industry leader in carbon technology, and its carbon-riser bows have forever changed the way we think of riser materials. For 2020, this archery pioneer is expanding its RX line by adding the Alpha (shorter axle-to-axle length), Ultra (longer axle-to-axle length) and Turbo (maximized speed) RX-4 models. Our test bow, the Alpha, features Hoyt’s Hollow Carbon Tube riser construction, ZTR Cam & ½ system with 3-D Shift Technology, Custom-Tune grip, Integrate rest-mounting plate and other exciting features. 3-D Performance Hoyt’s new ZTR Cam & ½ system is built on the shoulders of its ZT Series, which is known for producing fast arrow speeds while maintaining a smooth draw. The company’s patent-pending Split Cable system uses a unique yoke and split ends that connect to wide-stance modules to balance…

Thiessens is a new line of hunting clothing designed for the whitetail bowhunter who wants premium features without the jaw-dropping price tag. With early-, mid- and late-season offerings, as well as a base layer, two styles of rainwear and an assortment of accessories, Thiessens is sure to impress even the most discerning outdoorsmen. The secret to Thiessens’ usefulness begins with its camouflage. Thiessens' products are clad in Realtree Edge, giving hunters a proven pattern when they head afield. In Thiessens’ Heavyweight (cold-weather) series, that camouflage is applied to waterproof/windproof/breathable fabric with 300-gram Thinsulate insulation from the waist down. The quiet, durable T-Dry waterproof shell, combined with Wind Defense technology, keeps the bowhunter dry and warm while also allowing them to avoid detection. The Heavyweight series also sports plenty of pockets…

Bowtech’s new Reckoning is a true crossover rig. This bow is equally at home in a treestand and on the target range. Its performance excels in many areas, and it is the first bow to feature Bowtech’s DeadLock Cams, home to the truly innovative CamDrive system. Other highlights include the DeadLock cable-containment system, DeadLock limb pockets, Clutch grip, FlipDisc technology, multiple vibration-dampening accessories and more. DeadLock Bowtech introduces its all-new DeadLock technology on the Reckoning. In keeping with the company’s primary focus on accuracy, Dead-Lock features three components that control, align and precisely customize the rig to the shooter. DeadLock limb pockets utilize an elongated tab seated between the walls of the flared riser for increased control and alignment at this ultra-critical interface. A sight portal on either side of…

Super-Smart Scope Sig Sauer’s SIERRA3BDX 2.5-8x32mm scope, the result of a partnership with Mission Crossbows, is specifically designed for crossbow use. The 19.4-ounce optic applies Sig’s Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) system to integrate ballistic data stored on the smartphone app with data from a KILO BDX rangefinder. Linked by Bluetooth, these devices then transmit the correct holdover info to the scope, creating the appropriate aiming point. With Sig’s legendary optical performance and Mission’s expertise in bolt ballistics, the 2.5-8x32 version of the SIERRA3BDX is sure to help fill your freezer. MSRP: $479.97 Contact: Sig Sauer, 603-610-3000; sigsauer.com Warms You to the Core Pnuma’s ICONX vest doesn’t just help you retain heat; it actively produces it. Equipped with undetectable carbon-fiber heating elements across the chest, kidneys and base of neck, ICONX…

In archery, it is sometimes hard for people to make improvements because they are looking for a major change. They are looking for something that is going to turn them into a precision killing or winning machine overnight. In reality, that just doesn’t happen. You will make big strides in the beginning, but eventually, your changes will slow, and you will plateau, so to speak. This is when most people stop, as they think this is their best. I would say this is where about 90 percent of bowhunters and archers are at this moment.This is when you have to really start breaking each facet of the game into tiny pieces and improve on each of them. Start eliminating the tiny mistakes that most people overlook. That is why I…

In my last four columns, I discussed six of the 10 features I consider important for the ultimate Western bowhunting sight — bright pins, bubble levels, the ability to shoot to at least 60 yards without adjustment, repeatability, ruggedness/reliability and the ability to shoot spot-on at any distance (“floater” pins or a “slider”). Moving forward, we’ll cover each of the remaining features and then discuss how to maximize your sight’s effectiveness. Finally, I’ll tell you exactly how I set up my personal sight and why. 1. Bright pins (fiber optic) 2. Bubble level 3. Ability to shoot out to (at least) 60 yards without any adjustments (multiple pins — five or more) 4. Repeatability 5. Ruggedness/reliability 6. Ability to aim spot-on at any given distance (with a “floater” pin or…

Manufacturer: Hoyt, 801-363-2990; hoyt.com Model: REDWRX Carbon RX-4 Alpha Riser: Parallel-Track Hollow Carbon Tube Grip: Custom-Tune, adjustable Limbs: Hybrid Parallel Split Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peak Cam System: ZTR Cam & ½ Letoff: 85 percent, with 80 percent option; 82.31 percent as tested Draw Lengths: 25-28 or 28-30 inches, in half-inch increments; rotating module String: Fuse, 56.4 inches Cables (x2): Fuse, 32.75-inch control cable, 31.1-inch buss cable Brace Height: 6 1/8 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 29 3/4 inches Weight: 3.9 pounds (advertised); 4.15 pounds (as tested) Finish: Under Armour Ridge Reaper Forest (pictured), plus many more options Advertised IBO Speed: 342 fps Suggested Retail Price: $1,699 Comments: Extremely well-balanced, quick and maneuverable.…

Some archery seasons are still open in key whitetail states, but there’s no sense in denying that late-season bowhunting can be really tough. By late December or early January, most bowhunters have either tagged out or given up. Only in the South is this still considered bowhunting prime time. Still, even if you have set your bow aside, I have something you can do that will hopefully get you back in the whitetail woods with a mission. Now is the best time to scout your existing hunting area, or even go find a new one. The things you learned this past fall, and the questions that remain, are still fresh in your mind. The woods are open, so you can easily see the subtle terrain changes that influence deer movement.…

When I first pursued Coues deer, back in 1994, I honestly had little interest in the animals themselves. I was a Midwestern whitetail guy with an addiction for huge antlers, and frankly, the thought of a 100-inch rack simply didn’t appeal to me. Actually, I only decided to pursue the little buggers in the first place because of the fringe benefits of the endeavor — an extended bow season, new habitat and mild January weather. Heartily embracing the perks of being afield in southern Arizona in January, I spent a couple weeks trekking through the high desert, bow in hand, and bathed in warm sunshine. I knew something was different within my spirit by the end of my first intrusion into Coues country. Everything about the outing gave me a…

Manufacturer: Bowtech, 877-901-1934; bowtecharchery.com Model: Reckoning Riser: Aluminum, deflex Grip: Clutch, modular Limbs: Split, solid-carbon-core Draw Weights: 50, 60 and 70 pounds peak Cam System: DeadLock Letoff: 82 percent (adjustable with draw stops); 85.2 percent (as tested) Draw Lengths: 26-31 inches, in half-inch increments; rotating module String: 452X, 62.31 inches Cables (x2): 452X, 39.42 inches Brace Height: 7 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 35 inches Weight: 4.5 pounds (advertised); 4.6 pounds (as tested) Finish: Mossy Oak Break-Up Country, red and many more Advertised IBO Speed: 335 fps Suggested Retail Price: $1,499 Comments: At home whether you’re on the 3-D range or in the woods!…