Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Petersen's Bowhunting

After all, watching a game is, at its essence, a chance to escape real life for a few hours — and if ever we needed an escape from reality, it’s now. As I write this, the nation is taking baby steps towards reopening, and I am cautiously optimistic America is gaining the advantage against the virus. However, it is still unclear when, or if, the NBA and NHL will be able to finish their seasons or MLB will be able to begin theirs. At this point, I’m just hoping we have football this fall. I was so desperate for a sports fix this spring I actually watched the NFL Draft! Normally, watching teams pick players who won’t suit up in meaningful games for nearly five months would be as appealing…

OVER THE LAST 30 years, I’ve gradually shifted from using standard-diameter arrow shafts to medium-diameter shafts to micro-diameter shafts for all my bowhunting. Here’s why: Penetration In all the testing data I’ve read, as well as all the testing I’ve done personally, small-diameter arrows penetrate better than larger-diameter arrows of the same weight and stiffness. These findings hold true whether the arrows are shot into foam targets or into animal carcasses. The reduced surface area of a small-diameter shaft reduces overall resistance as the shaft slips into the target. Interestingly, some thorough testing conducted by BOWHUNTING  Gear Editor Jon Silks indicates this penetration advantage is reduced when shooting broadheads as opposed to fieldpoints. However, the small-diameter shafts still penetrated deeper than wider shafts. You can review that info at bowhuntingmag.…

NOT LONG AGO, we found a secret to help us hold steadier on target. For many years, we didn’t give a lot of thought to our release hand/arm position. We would just shoot the bow how it was set up. We then learned that, at full draw, the back elbow is supposed to be in line with the arrow. So, we had someone stand behind us and eyeball our release arm at full draw for alignment. If it was close, we were on our way. Years later, a Vegas tournament winner told us the elbow should be just shy of straight, as it needed somewhere to go during follow-through. We started playing with different elbow alignments and quickly realized our elbow and anchor point were directly related. Trying to align…

Success on most any level requires you to stay one step ahead of the action. I like sports analogies, because I like sports. So, let’s put your 2020 whitetail-season preparation into football terms. Suppose you’re a high school football coach. You spend the entire week leading up to each game watching film, trying to figure out how to stay one step ahead of the guys with the clipboards on the other sideline. Then, in practice, you have a full slate of athletes schooled in mimicking the other team’s tendencies so your boys can see it and prepare for it, both physically and mentally. The better you can anticipate what the other team is likely to do in any situation, the better you can stay one step ahead of them. If…

Powderhook (powderhook.com) is a website/app that allows you to connect directly with mentor hunters as well as become a mentor hunter. It’s a true testament to hunters helping hunters. You can also find interesting stories and the like there. The Sportsmen’s Alliance (sports mensalliance.org) is a foundation dedicated to protecting the sport of hunting. The Alliance’s +ONE Movement, one of its latest programs, notes that if just one in three hunters adds a single person to the sport we love, we will undoubtedly secure a strong future. Take the pledge and share your experiences with posts on social media by using the hashtag #PlusOneMovement.…

WHEN YOU FIND something really good, you don’t keep it to yourself. Rather, you share it with others, so they can enjoy the benefits, too. Such is the case with the UltraRest Integrate MX developed by Quality Archery Designs — a one-of-a-kind arrow rest that attaches seamlessly to the bow via a patent-pending dovetail mount machined into the back of the riser. First introduced last year in partnership with Mathews, the UltraRest Integrate MX is now available in a new version for 2020 Hoyt RX-4 and Axius Series bows. The two main benefits of the Integrate mounting system are simplicity in setup and security once installed. First, let me explain just how easy this rest was to set up on my Hoyt REDWRX Carbon RX-4 Alpha. All I had to…

Now, I’m not referring to a deer that’s swinging from the meat pole. If that were the case, there would be nothing wrong with this label. I’m talking about the times we refer to an animal that is alive and well as “my” buck. You know, the mythical creature that may have slipped in front of your Stealth Cam a time or two. Or maybe that big, old brute you saw cross the road on your way to work. In other words, a free-ranging, wild animal. This terminology may seem inno - cent, at least until we start getting possessive. If you use it in a way that indi - cates you own the rights to that animal, there’s a problem. You’ll hear a guy say, “That guy killed my…

MANY OF THE lessons I’ve learned over the years have been related to the behavior of the animals I’ve hunted and how a person with a bow can get close enough for a clean shot. However, just as important are the lessons I’ve learned that determine how accurately that shot can be placed. The most important lesson I’ve learned about arrow flight? Nock travel. Junk Bows Bow design has gotten a lot better over the last 30 years, but there were times when the manufacturers made bows that could not be tuned, period. You literally had to disassemble and modify some of them in order to get an arrow to fly true. Most people, of course, didn’t do that, so bow tuning became something of a black art. Sure, there…

Pete Shepley founded PSE in 1970 with a focus on improving archery gear. From humble beginnings, Shepley has built PSE into the industry giant we know today. To Pete and his team, we say, “Happy 50th!” PSE is also moving its bow lineup forward this year by partnering with John Dudley of Nock On Archery. The result: the Nock On EVO NTN 33. The Dudley Difference Many of the changes brought on by the PSE/Nock On partnership are found on the riser. The EVO NTN 33’s Precise-Lock Cable Guard System uses a tapped hole and slotted channel in the riser to capture the cable-guard mounting block and prevent movement. The Roller Glide cable-containment system eliminates friction and increases efficiency. The D.T. Rest Mount adds a second tapped mounting hole for…

B3 ARCHERY ALPHA B3 Archery’s Alpha is a dual-caliper release aid with a roller-sear design and an adjustable trigger. The release aid’s jaws are made from blackened stainless steel and are fully radiused, allowing it to be used via a D-loop or directly off the bowstring. Available with a swivel stem or a Flex Connector System, the Alpha allows for a wide range of length adjustment — 11 settings with the swivel head and an infinite amount of length adjustment with the Flex. $84.99 | b3archery.com BUCK RUB GEAR CLASSIC JIM Buck Rub Gear’s Classic Jim is a time-tested design resurrected for the 21st century. The release aid’s Over Center Trigger design is considered to be one of the smoothest, crispest and most dependable adjustable-trigger-linkage systems ever created. The Classic…

Excalibur is focused on building crossbows that are rugged, purpose-driven and filled with features that serve hunters. All of the company’s crossbow designs are extensively tested for performance and durability before they ever hit the production floor. For 2020, Excalibur debuted the Suppressor 400TD, featuring the company’s Quick-Loc Take Down system, Charger EXT Crank system, Pro-Shot ACP trigger, Micro Take Down riser and recurve limbs. The injection-molded stock and forearm unibody features a pistol grip and foregrip with rubber inlays and an ambidextrous cheekpiece. Have TD, Will Travel Excalibur’s Quick-Loc Take Down feature — allowing you to remove the bow assembly from the stock and reattach it with the simple press of a button — is unique and has great utility. A U-shaped fixture on the end of the lever…

For instance, there are two kinds of people in this bowhunting world of ours: those who shoot with their quiver attached, and those who do not. TightSpot bridged that gap when it introduced its easily removable, easily adjustable quivers in 2009. They sit close to the bow for better balance, help dampen vibrations and can be tilted forward or backward to act as de facto stabilizers. Despite all those innovations, though, some bowhunters simply will not leave their TightSpot quiver attached when they’re afield. That’s where the company’s latest and possibly greatest product comes in. Geared toward treestand bowhunters but equally useful for Western spot-and-stalkers, the Rise is four inches shorter than the original TightSpot at 16.5 inches overall (14.75 inches from the hood to the lower arrow gripper). The…

AS THE MOST popular game species in America, whitetail deer boast a huge following and, as a result, attract a massive amount of financial support for research and management. For 43 years, deer researchers and managers have annually assembled to discuss the state of whitetail-deer management. Before I get into some of the highlights from the 2020 meeting of the Southeast Deer Study Group, I’d like to acknowledge the states that regularly participate: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Slot Limits for Bucks? While it is possible for a late-born fawn to “catch up” with its peers in future years in terms of antler development, there seems to be some evidence that we can use…

IN OUR LAST two issues, we’ve looked at recent trends in the crossbow industry. As previously noted, the archery industry tends to be trendy, but these trends aren’t simply frivolous marketing. They represent legitimate improvements — some in direct response to the demands of an ever more sophisticated customer base, others resulting from the latest advancements in materials, technology and engineering. However, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. We’ll finish off this series here with a few more trends. Like a shark, the crossbow industry must continue to move forward, and by the time this issue hits newsstands, there will no doubt be new trends already in motion. Speed One of the biggest trends in crossbows is speed. Consumers are constantly asking for more. Whether they need it or not is…

Manufacturer: PSE Archery, Inc., 520-884-9065; pse-archery.com Model: Nock On EVO NTN 33 Riser: EVO NTN, reflex, aluminum Grip: ComfortGrip System Limbs: X-Tech, high pre-load, split limbs Draw Weights: 50-, 60-, 65-, 70- and 80-pound peaks Draw Lengths: 26-31½ inches in half-inch increments; rotating Inner Cam Cam System: Evolve Cam System Letoff: 90 percent, adjustable to 80 and 85 percent; 88.46 percent as tested String: Livewire, BCY 452X, 60.5 inches Cables (x2): Livewire, BCY 452X, 30.625 inches/15.75 inches (unibuss cables) Brace Height: 7 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 33 inches Weight: 4.5 pounds (advertised); 4.55 pounds (as tested) Finish: Nock On Green riser, Gore Optifade Subalpine limbs Advertised IBO Speed: 314-322 fps MSRP: $1,199.99 Comments: Smooth draw, comfortable grip and fun to shoot.…

LOCATION: Without a doubt, this is the most important step! Your whole hunt starts here, so you must choose wisely. I typically like to stay away from big cities and airports, as these spots make it the most convenient for other hunters to hunt. I also look for spots that are fairly close to well-known areas but not labeled as the “best” area. An example would be Pike County, Ill. Instead of hunting Pike, a well-publicized big-buck hotspot, I would want to hunt a nearby county that offers similar deer numbers and genetics but doesn’t see as much pressure from visiting bowhunters. PREPARE FOR PRESSURE: It’s public land — you’re going to see other people! It may be hikers, bikers or hunters, but it’s going to happen. Make plans for…

What you practice is important. In the world of release-aid technique, that means you should be practicing the transfer of holding weight from your arms to your back muscles. In all my years of shooting and coaching, I have found the best way to accomplish this is to use a back-tension, hinge-style release aid. This style of release aid helps you get your physical and mental shooting skills in order. To put it simply, this kind of release aid forces you to mentally and physically focus on loading your back muscles and not on the result of your shot. In the proper holding position, you can transfer about 95 percent of the holding effort into your rhomboid and trapezius muscles. The levator scapulae muscles are also involved. These back muscles…

Manufacturer: Excalibur Crossbow, 800-463-1817; excaliburcrossbow.com Model: Suppressor 400TD Safety Features: Guardian anti-dry-fire system, trigger safety, safety wings Riser: Machined extrusion, Micro Take Down Max. Width: 20.375 inches cocked; 25 inches un-cocked String: BCY Dynaflight 97, 25 inches Limbs: High Output Express Limbs Draw Weight: 325 pounds (straight pull); 12 pounds (with Charger EXT Crank) Power Stroke: 10.375 inches Grip: Pistol, contoured finger grooves, rubber sideplates Stock/Forearm: Bullpup style, injection-molded, fiber-reinforced composite Overall Length: 32 inches Weight (crossbow only): 6.8 pounds (advertised); 6.3 pounds (as tested) Finish: Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Advertised Speed: 400 fps (with 350-grain bolt and without SDS installed) MSRP: $1,499.99 Comments: Well balanced, quick and easy to transport.…

HEAVIER HITTER $13.99 PER BROADHEAD SEVR Broadheads; sevrbroadheads.com SEVR’s Titanium 2.1 is now offered in a 125-grain version. This deadly design features Lock-and-Pivot blades to allow arrows to continue moving in a straight line through an animal even when contacting bone. A supplied setscrew locks the blades inside the ferrule for practice; when it’s removed, they open to their namesake 2.1-inch cutting width. SEVR broadheads can be purchased consumer-direct in any quantity and used by both vertical bow and crossbow hunters. QUIET CRANKER $799.99 CenterPoint Archery; centerpointarchery.com CenterPoint Archery’s CP400 sends bolts downrange at up to 400 fps via its HeliCoil cam technology. The crossbow measures just six inches axle to axle when cocked, produces 142 foot-pounds of kinetic energy and weighs a mere 7.1 pounds (crossbow only). Its quiet…

Do you remember what first “hooked” you on a certain aspect of bowhunting? Was it a close encounter with a big whitetail buck? What about a hunting trip you went on with your Dad? Could it have been the sound of an elk bugle floating across the high, wild country of the Rockies? Or the first time you watched the arc of an arrow in flight? Please allow me to tell you about an event that could have soured me on backcountry hunting. Instead, it caused me to get smarter, tougher and better equipped. In 1980, I was fresh out of high school, newly married and working as an apprentice pipefitter. At this point in my life, everything was a big adventure, and usually, a learning experience. I was full…