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.
FINALLY! As I write this column, it’s early September, and I am organizing my whitetail gear and preparing to drive from Pennsylvania to western Kentucky for the deer-season opener. To say I am a bit anxious for the trip would be an understatement. In fact, I’m downright giddy. I don’t have to tell any of you what a horror show 2020 has been. After six looooong months of lockdowns, shutdowns, quarantines, protests, riots and nonstop political posturing amidst the most bizarre Presidential campaign in U.S. history, it is — at long last — time to climb into a treestand and hunt. Sure, I’d love to take a big, velvet Bluegrass buck. But then again, I find it hard to believe even a slow week in the whitetail woods wouldn’t beat…
NOVEMBER IS A very special time for passionate deer hunters, as it opens a long-awaited window of opportunity to tag big, old bucks that are normally just about impossible to kill. I have a friend named Bentley. Once, when we were kids, I told Bentley about another student who was bullying me at school. This fella was much bigger than I was, and he was sour at the world. It seemed he was intent on bringing other people down with him. When I told Bentley he had been pushing me around, Bentley said something I’ll never forget. “Cody, God didn’t make all men equal, but he made equalizers,” Bentley said. “You need to figure that out for yourself.” I think I got the gist of it. Bentley was, and is,…
DOMESTIC DOGS have enriched human lives in many ways for thousands of years. Researchers at Emory University employed MRI technology to scan the “reward center” of dogs' brains while presenting various odors. It wasn’t the smell of other dogs or even food that made their reward centers do backflips; it was human odor! It turns out, this “man’s best friend” deal is a two-way street. The scientists concluded that domestic dogs prioritize their relationship with humans more than anything else. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could leverage this to our advantage as bowhunters? Let’s face it; there’s nothing worse than shooting a deer (or other game) and not being able to find it. Things don’t always go according to plan, and whether it is a marginal shot or a…
IN THE LAST column, we began the discussion on shooting well in the wind. We covered estimating and compensating for wind drift. Now, we will discuss the other components of shooting well in the wind: choosing and setting up your equipment to better handle the wind and developing “wind-resistant” shooting form and timing. Wind-Friendly Gear To shoot well in the wind, you must reduce the surface area of your bow to minimize wind drag. Reducing wind drag will minimize the distance your bow moves when buffeted by the wind. I prefer to use a relatively short axle-to-axle bow with a removable quiver and a small sight, set close to the bow. If I use a stabilizer, I use a very low-profile model such as the AAE Hot Rodz series. If…
AS STATES CONTINUE to liberalize crossbow regulations, more folks are picking them up and taking them afield during deer season. This year will be no exception as several states, including Maine, are offering new crossbow-hunting opportunities. The majority of folks taking advantage of them are firearms hunters looking to increase their time afield or just to try something new, but they’re not the only ones. There are other motivations for picking up a crossbow this fall, ranging from the obvious to some you may not have considered. Recruit & Retain Let’s pick the low-hanging fruit first: recruitment and retention. Crossbows are a great way to introduce youngsters to archery hunting. With so many distractions such as smart-phones and social media, it’s increasingly difficult to attract young hunters, and it’s important…
TENPOINT IS A pioneer in the crossbow world, known for the quality, durability and excellent performance of its products. TenPoint upholds that reputation year after year, and the new-for-2020 Vengent S440 builds on the success of the company’s popular Vector Quad cable system, Dual-Flex split limbs and spiral groove RX-6 cams to produce blazing fast speeds in a compact, maneuverable package. The S1 two-stage trigger sends the bolt on its way with a crisp, 3.5-pound (advertised) pull, while the ACUslide cocking/ de-cocking system, housed in the Tec-X stock, allows full control at all stages of the process. Safety is enhanced with an auto-engaging trigger safety, Dry Fire Inhibitor and safety wings. Controlled Slide TenPoint’s ACUslide cocking and de-cocking system promotes total control, ensures safety and does so in complete silence,…
