Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i Petersen's Bowhunting

In a matter of days, America was brought to a near-standstill as state and federal governments scrambled to deal with the rapid spread of the virus. Schools closed. Businesses closed. Travel halted. Professional sports leagues shut down. Financial markets rocked. Grocery store shelves wiped bare by panicked citizens ordered to “shelter in place.” The news changed not hour by hour, but minute by minute, and our world was turned upside down so quickly that it all felt like a bad dream. Days turned into weeks, and as the virus continued to spread, the enormity of the situation began to sink in. The number of confirmed cases and deaths grew, and many of us felt a stronger connection to the numbers as friends or family members were infected; some even losing…

THIS COLUMN is supposed to be about the bigger lessons I’ve learned over my 42 years of bowhunting, lessons that have shaped the way I think. One of the most important lessons took me a long time to learn, because it has as much to do with human nature as it does with whitetail behavior: There’s seeing deer, and then there’s shooting deer. I have hunted a number of spots — and still do sometimes — where I see lots of deer. As hunters, we love to watch deer; that is the human-nature part. Sure, it is therapeutic to occasionally sit in a spot where you can see multiple deer at a time, but I can’t remember very many instances when I actually killed a nice buck in one of…

THE BLACK 3 features many of the innovations that have made Prime bows so successful over the years, while adding new technology to ensure they’re as competitive as ever in 2020. Prime is adding a very welcome adjustability component to its bows with the new Black Series, which includes four models: the Black 1, 3, 5 and 9, with each number denoting the axle-to-axle length, in inches, of each bow (31, 33, 35 and 39, respectively). Like its siblings, the Black 3 features Prime’s new ROTO Parallel Cam, equipped with rotating modules; Centergy Technology, including the Center Balanced Grip; the Flexis-AR cable-containment system; wide-stance, composite-glass split limbs; a vibration-/noise-dampening system and more. Stable Rotation Prime has introduced its first modular parallel-cam system with the Black Series. The rotating module positioned…

1. Create more doe bedding areas by hinge-cutting. Select a small pocket of timber and go to work. Drop trees at a 45-degree angle to allow the tree to continue to produce foliage and place the hinge-cut trees five to 10 yards apart. This will spread your does out and allow bucks to better maneuver through the hinge-cuts. 2. You need food on your small acreage if possible. Bauer notes that if a property is located in an area of high deer density, sowing a perennial that can withstand heavy browse pressure such as alfalfa or clover is the way to go. 3. Bauer uses a chainsaw and a disc pulled behind an ATV to create travel corridors that connect bedding areas to food sources. Deer like the path of…

QUARTERLY UPDATE $64.99 Nomad Outdoor; nomadoutdoor.com Nomad’s ¼ Zip Fleece pullover is now offered as part of the company’s NWTF collection. Decked in Mossy Oak Bottomland or Obsession, this long-sleeve is made from 100 percent lightweight, comfortable polyester fleece and is stain-resistant. A zippered chest pocket allows for the storage of your hunting license and other important gear when running-and-gunning for spring gobblers, and the pullover is easily removed if all that running leads to perspiration. THERE’S GOLD IN THEM MOUNTAINS $283.95 (3-PIN); $295.95 (5-PIN) Black Gold Bowsights; blackgoldsights.com Black Gold’s Mountain Lite combines the best aspects of the Ascent Verdict in an even more compact sight. The Mountain Lite is second- and third-axis adjustable, available with three or five pins and sports an angled sight tape visible from the…

BACK IN 2011, I learned this the hard way. That year, I killed what was, at the time, the potential world-record, non-typical archery mule deer. He would have been the legitimate Pope and Young world record by 15 inches, but the Club would not recognize the buck as such unless I stripped the velvet from its antlers. This magnificent deer was in full velvet when I fell in love with him over the summer scouting season, and he was still in velvet when I shot him. So, I wanted to remember him exactly how he was the day I brought him home. For that reason, I voluntarily relinquished the chance to make him the official world record. To this day, I have zero regrets about that. Now, let’s get back…

IN ANY SPORT, the best way to ensure you will perform well under pressure is by developing and maintaining excellent form. Whether it’s kicking a field goal to win the Super Bowl or making a 30-yard shot on a monster muley, good form will help carry you through times of duress. You shouldn’t have to think about the step-by-step mechanics of the process as you are performing it. If you have developed good form, muscle memory will help you complete the task without significant involvement of your conscious mind. As you become attuned to how an ideal shot feels, every part of your body will learn what it is supposed to do and how it is supposed to feel during all aspects of the shot. You will begin to sense…

Manufacturer: Prime Archery, 810-392-8431; G5prime.com Model: Black 3 Riser: 82X, Center Grip, Swerve Grip: Ghost, rubber-mold sideplates Limbs: Split, composite glass Draw Weights: 40-, 50-, 60-, 65-, 70- and 80-pound peaks Cam System: ROTO Cam, Modular Parallel Cam Letoff: 80 percent, adjustable from 65-90 percent; 78.46 percent (as tested) Draw Lengths: 251/2-31 inches in half-inch increments; rotating module String: Prime-made, BCY 452X, 25.875 inches main string plus yokes Cables (x2): Prime-made, BCY 452X, 31.125 inches main cables plus yokes Brace Height: 6.5 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 33 inches Weight: 4.4 pounds (advertised) 4.6 pounds (as tested) Finish: Realtree Edge (shown) and many other colors and camo patterns Advertised IBO Speed: 337 fps MSRP: $999 Comments: Excellent balance and follow-through.…

Trophyline Ambush Pro Featuring a brushed-tricot fabric, Trophyline’s Ambush Pro tree saddle is designed to be as lightweight as it is quiet. The saddle has just enough stretch to adapt to your body while remaining supportive — imagine a hammock — and packs down easily so it can be carried in a day pack or the saddle’s included cinch bag. A square tree tether accessory pouch and a square lineman’s accessory pouch are also included with the Ambush Pro; these combine with the saddle’s two rows of MOLLE loops for optimal gear storage. The Ambush Pro is clad in Mossy Oak Bottomland and available in M/L or L/XL. $169.99 | trophyline.com Tethrd Phantom The Phantom is a brand-new tree saddle featuring a brand-new body shape and cut. Created with every…

While Bauer may not have a Lakosky- or Drury-size following, I promise you his knowledge of all things whitetail is as sound, if not better, than those with thousands of Instagram followers and degrees in Whitetailology. You see, Bauer doesn’t have an abundance of wooded acres to hunt. He doesn’t have an unlimited budget to make improvements with, and all of his neighbors hunt deer — most of them with rifles during the rut. He has had to get inventive to make his small properties deer nirvana, and right now, his best is a little 17-acre slice of paradise called the Kriesel Farm.…

I'M SURE YOU'VE heard the term "broke the Internet" when something goes viral. Well, a few years ago, Ravin Crossbows broke the Internet, the ATA Show, print media and everything else when it burst onto the scene. The company is now one of the top crossbow manufacturers on the planet, but it isn’t resting on its laurels. Instead, it continues to do what good companies always do: push its designs and performance-markers in an endless pursuit of perfection. The 2020 Ravin R29X is no different, throwing a 400-grain bolt downrange at an impressive 450 fps via a 12.5-inch power stroke. The rig features Ravin’s HeliCoil cam technology, Frictionless Flight System, Trac-Trigger Firing System, Versa-Draw Cocking System and much more. Heart & Soul While there are many features and technologies that…

IT WAS LATE September of 2009 when my good buddy Travis and I pulled into a trail-head in southwestern Montana. We had a couple mules in tow and elk on our minds. In short order, we were loaded up and headed into the backcountry for an extended stay in some rugged and remote mountains. The previous year, I had found a hidey-hole here, and now I was back with high hopes of reaping some great dividends. The rut was in full swing, and we intended to bow-hunt trophy bulls in a pristine setting far detached from human intrusion. Heading uphill fast, we soon gained 3,000 feet in elevation, making the summit of the range by early evening. Now picking our way down steep, rocky slopes, we were headed for an…

ONE OF THE best things about being a wildlife-management consultant is the constant feedback I receive from hunters across the whitetail’s range. I’m afforded the advantage of knowing almost instantly how deer herds are responding to state regulations and management efforts. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about hunters over the last 20-plus years, it’s that they don’t like being told how they should hunt and manage deer. If you want to change how hunters make management decisions (through trigger-finger management) you must EDUCATE them first and NEVER force-feed them regulations, or they will regurgitate it immediately. Successful state wildlife agencies recognize this. As a nonprofit education and outreach organization dedicated to whitetail deer management, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has arguably educated more hunters than any other organization.…

“GIVE THE PEOPLE what they want,” sang The O’Jays and The Kinks. That’s also a good mantra if you want to be successful selling consumer goods. The crossbow industry seems to agree, as illustrated by its latest trends. In our last issue, we started exploring some of these trends, such as making crossbows shorter, narrower and quieter. In this issue, we’ll continue with a few more. Modernization The hunting industry in general, and the archery industry in particular, tends to be trendy. A relatively recent trend in firearms was the proliferation of tactical guns. Crossbows soon followed suit: PSE was the first to make the jump with its innovative and, at the time, controversial TAC series. It was both groundbreaking and breathtaking in terms of speed, long-range accuracy and the…

As my plane touched down in Salt Lake City that evening last November, my mind flipped the switch. This was business! For the past five weeks, this bowhunt was practically all I could think about. Back in October, I spent eight days getting my teeth kicked in by the mule deer that inhabit Utah’s legendary Wasatch Front. Reluctantly, I headed home; battered, bruised and bloodied, but I certainly wasn't beaten. Now, I was back — and more determined than ever to notch my tag. This was my opportunity for redemption, and I was itching to settle the score! Game Plan When I found out last June that I had drawn an Extended Archery tag, I couldn’t have been more excited to start planning my strategy for hunting this famed unit.…

Historically, the saddle-hunting community has been full of innovative people who love to modify their gear, and that’s one of the main reasons today’s saddle-hunting equipment is better than ever. That said, little to no “mods” are required of today’s saddle hunters, as manufacturers now offer everything you need to safely and comfortably climb and hunt right “off the shelf.” • Tethrd Phantom saddle • Tethrd Predator platform • Hawk Helium climbing sticks. I cut mine to 22 inches (step to step), with an added versa button. “How-To” videos are available on YouTube; how ever, Hawk has new 20-inch sticks (see page 43). • Tethrd Tree Tether, Ropeman 1 Ascender and SYS Hauler • Trophyline KneeSavers…

Manufacturer: Ravin Crossbows, 800-724-7486; ravincrossbows.com Model: R29X Safety Features: Anti-dry fire, auto trigger safety, safety wings Riser: Ultra-compact, 7075-T6 aluminum Cam System: HeliCoil Axle-to-Axle Width: 6 inches cocked; 101/2 inches uncocked String: 29 inches, proprietary integrated component Cables (x4): 6.3125 inches, proprietary integrated component Limbs: Split, PolyOne materials Draw Weight: 12 pounds (with integrated cocking mechanism) Power Stroke: 12.5 inches Grip: Pistol style, finger contours, molded RTP Stock/Forearm: Flared RTP with rubber overmold Overall Length: 29 inches Weight (crossbow only): 6.75 pounds (as advertised); 6.8 pounds (as tested) Finish: Predator Dusk Camo Advertised Speed: 450 fps with a 400-grain bolt MSRP: $2,649.99 (standard); $3,049.99 (w/Sniper Package) Comments: Accurate, compact, super-maneuverable and quick.…

THE YEAR, and the Pennsylvania deer season, was winding down. As a result, the whole Orange Army seemed to be out on maneuvers that wintry day. I had passed vehicle after vehicle on my way down the Game Lands road that morning. So, when I finally came to a seemingly overlooked stretch of woods, I threw my car in park, grabbed my gear and headed over the side of the ridge to make my play wherever I could. (I moved to the state after the season opened and hadn’t been able to scout beforehand.) Why had everyone left this spot alone? I wondered. The answer soon became clear. Had it not been the dead of winter, I wouldn’t have dared to venture across that jumbled pile of rocks — it…