Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i Petersen's Bowhunting

Back in 2019, I finally drew the Montana elk tag I’d sought for five long years, and from the moment I got the news, I decided nothing would stop me from making the most of the chance I’d been given. With draw results announced in April and the hunt scheduled for late September, I had four solid months to mentally and physically prepare myself for the task at hand — and not a single day went by that I didn’t dream about Big Sky Country, bugling bulls and what it would feel like to wrap my hands around a thick set of elk antlers. I also knew those dreams would not become reality unless I did my part. So, to that end, I visited the gym regularly, got my Hoyt…

These days, just about everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, making the task of keeping a hunting and management journal easier than ever. Apps such as HuntStand (huntstand.com) allow you to map your hunting areas and add details such as the location of stands, blinds, food plots, access trails and more. For each hunt, you can log game sightings and harvests and integrate that data with detailed information on weather conditions, allowing you to identify patterns over time. You also can mark trail-camera locations, organize trail-cam images and sort them by type of game, weather, moon phase and more. HuntStand Pro members can even access a heat map and activity predictions to help choose the most productive hunting area for current conditions. Other useful features include the HuntZone wind…

Manufacturer: Prime Archery, 810-392-8431; g5prime.com Model: Nexus 4 Riser: 82X aluminum, reflex with Swerve Grip: Nano Grip with Aerogel Limbs: Split, composite glass Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peak Draw Lengths: 23.5-30.5-inches, in half-inch increments, rotating module Cam System: ROTO Cam 2, Parallel Letoff: 80 percent (advertised); 80.62 percent (as tested), adjustable String: BCY 452X, 25.875 inches, plus yokes Cables (x2): BCY 452X, 32.875 inches, plus yokes Brace Height: 6 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 34 inches Weight: 4.4 pounds (advertised); 4.5 pounds (as tested) Finish Options: Realtree Edge, plus many other camo patterns and solid colors Advertised IBO Speed: 345 fps MSRP: $999 Comments: A super-balanced shooter.…

Manufacturer: PSE Archery, 520-884-9065; psearchery.com Model: Nock On Embark Riser: Machined aluminum, reflex Grip: Removable Overmold Comfort Grip Limbs: X-Tech, split, high pre-load Draw Weights: 60 and 70 pounds peak Draw Lengths: 23.5-30.5-inches, in half-inch increments, rotating inner cam Cam System: ZF 4-Track Letoff: 80 percent (advertised); 82.46 percent (as tested) String: Livewire Custom, BCY 452, 58.625 inches Cables (x2): Livewire Custom, BCY 452, 36.375 inches Brace Height: 7 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 31 inches Weight: 4.3 pounds (advertised); 4.2 pounds (as tested) Finish Options: Nock On Green and Special Ops Black Advertised IBO Speed: Up to 327 fps MSRP: $799.99 Comments: Quiet shot, comfortable grip and minimal shock or vibration.…

THERE ARE SO MANY things I look forward to when I go hunting. I believe something great can happen every single time I set out. It’s a healthy mindset for anyone who wants to be consistently successful. On top of that, I surround myself with good people who share the same desires and goals. In layman’s terms, I truly value a good hunting partner. I’ve had so many great ones over the years. And each one I considered the “best” for different reasons. My grandmother, simply because of how selfless she was, and how much love and support she showed. Jim Shockey, for his determination and constant drive to better himself, which was contagious. These two people are so different from one another, yet I put them in the same…

VIOLATING the cardinal rule of bowhunting is the No. 1 season killer. That rule you should always uphold: You can’t kill them if they know they are being hunted. Maybe it won’t kill your season, but it will make success much more difficult to attain. Once a game animal realizes it's being hunted, it won’t move as naturally and definitely not as much in daylight. For the bowhunter, that change in behavior is the kiss of death. The trick, then, is to keep them from knowing you are hunting them. To do that, you need to understand all the ways they can detect our intent. Pressure Gauge Focusing on whitetails, they aren’t omniscient. They can’t reason like we can. They learn by experience, and they don’t have any more senses…

ONE OF THE MORE exciting trends in the crossbow world this year is the development of high-tech optics. There was a minor movement in optics several years back when companies such as Nikon and Leupold introduced crossbow-specific scopes, but those were basically modifications of existing physical features such as fixed, compensating reticles and smaller size. Perhaps they were a bit ahead of their time, because interest was lacking and most lines were discontinued. Since then, others, perhaps motivated by increased crossbow-hunting opportunities and ever-faster crossbows, have taken up the torch and not only run with it but jumped ahead by incorporating rangefinding technology. What follows is a trio at the head of this year’s class of glass. Burris Oracle X Rangefinding Crossbow Scope The Oracle X Rangefinding Crossbow Scope’s generous…

Before starting the rehab program described in this article, it’s a good idea to back your limb bolts out several turns to reduce your draw weight. This will make it more comfortable to repeat the exercises and make it easier to concentrate on the task at hand rather than fighting muscle fatigue and struggling to keep your bowstring held back at full draw.…

As bow and crossbow speeds continue to increase, a new breed of targets is emerging to withstand the high-velocity assaults that come with repeated practice. Whether you like bag targets for easy extraction of arrows and bolts, or you prefer 3-D targets to help simulate quarry in the field, here are six new shot stoppers keeping up with the times! BLOCK INFINITY Capable of stopping arrows up to 500 fps, the Infinity offers six shooting faces with five unique designs. Employing BLOCK’s PolyFusion Technology, the target features a high-density foam core encased in exterior foam walls and uses friction to halt arrows as they slide between the layers. The result is super stopping power and easy retrieval of shots. The target comes in 20x20-inch and 22x22-inch options and is safe…

FULLY ADJUSTABLE $232.95 TightSpot Quivers; tightspotquiver.com TightSpot’s two-piece Pivot 2.5 Quiver is completely adjustable while maintaining the company’s reputation for producing tight quivers that improve bow balance while reducing torque and vibration. Moving beyond simple preset adjustment positions, this quiver features triple-axis adjustment, allowing flexibility up/ down, in/out and forward/back. Constructed of premium carbon and aluminum, the quiver is also highly durable. PERFORMANCE WORKOUT ATTIRE PRICE VARIES BY ITEM KUIU; www.kuiu.com KUIU is known for its ultralight, high-performance hunting gear, and that same quality now extends to training gear. Perfect for bowhunters preparing for the season, the training tee and shorts feature lightweight, breathable fabric that wicks moisture from the skin, keeping you cool and comfortable. The line also includes colder weather attire such…

I’LL NEVER FORGET the advice I received two decades ago, during a lunch outing, from one of my early business mentors. “The secret to great success is to stop doing what everyone else is doing,” he said. “Additionally, if you’re not measuring your most important metrics, you’re not managing your business.” I knew immediately I wanted to chew on those statements later, so I wrote his advice down in my business journal; a habit I learned from another business mentor a few months prior. I’ve revisited that page in my notebook dozens of times over the last 20 years. Each time, I’m reminded to resist the herd mentality and I’m handsomely rewarded. You can be too, but with a different kind of journal: a whitetail hunting and management journal !…

THE VAST MAJORITY of bow-hunters who shoot compound bows use a release aid to “loose the arrow.” And the vast majority of those use a wrist-strap, index-finger release. Most archers shot firearms long before they picked up a bow, and using the index finger to pull the trigger just seems natural to them. So, most beginning archers use this style of release aid, and that’s fine. However, the mistake they make is never trying any other style of release aid — one that just might improve their shooting. Don’t get me wrong; there are many advantages to using and index-finger release. However, nearly all the very best hunting shots I know use a handheld, thumb-trigger release aid to hunt. There is definitely a “method to their madness,” and I want…

PRIME’S NEW-FOR-2021 Nexus Series of bows features models available in 32-, 34- and 36-inch axle-to-axle lengths, providing a range of IBO speeds and mass weights. All models feature the new Nano Grip, Centergy Technology, the ROTO Cam 2 and a riser built with 82X aluminum. The Nexus 4 — the subject of this test — occupies the middle ground of the lineup, sporting a 34-inch axle-to-axle length and an advertised IBO speed of up to 345 fps. Accuracy Meets Comfort Nexus Series bows feature Prime’s new Nano Grip, built to harness the benefits of Aerogel, a high-tech material also used by NASA in astronaut suits to protect them from extreme temperatures. To get a good understanding of Aerogel’s insulating qualities, visit the Prime website (G5prime. com) and watch the flamethrower…

Nock On Custom Archery teamed up with the folks at Carter Enterprises to develop the all-new Back Strap ($219.99; nockonarchery. com), a wrist-strap release aid designed to be shot just like Carter’s handheld, tension-activated releases. Featuring a release head with the patent-pending Center Pivot Trigger, the Back Strap is designed to be shot by adjusting the activation tension several pounds over your bow’s holding weight. Then, simply hook onto the bowstring, draw, pull the trigger and continue increasing tension until the shot fires. The Back Strap can also be shot just like a traditional index-finger release by adjusting the tension below your bow’s holding weight, which will cause the release to fire as soon as the trigger is pressed. The Back Strap also features a BOA closure for easy on/off…

AFTER A HIGHLY successful debut last year, PSE is continuing its partnership with John Dudley and his Nock On Nation with the all-new, budget-friendly 2021 Embark. Dudley is an accomplished competitive shooter, bowhunter and internationally respected archery coach who hosts the popular Nock On videos and podcast. Above all, it is Dudley’s passion for the sport and his drive to share it with others that makes the collaboration with PSE a perfect partnership. The Embark features PSE’s X-Tech highly pre-loaded split limbs, pivoting limb pockets, the ZF 4-Track cam system, a reflexed riser, Comfort Grip and much more. Comfort & Performance PSE chose 6061-T6 aluminum to manufacture the Embark’s riser; first through a forging process followed by fully machining it into its final form. The overall configuration of the riser…

A WEEK of continuous monsoons was certainly not what we’d expected to find in the high desert of New Mexico. It was September of 1988, and my brother-in-law Mark and I were on a quest to expand our elk-hunting horizons. In the past half-dozen years we’d been bowhunting elk, neither of us had ventured outside the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. But with the call for new adventure coursing through our veins, we decided to explore a new and exotic area — the Gila. Now, as I fought to keep my Ford on a slimy, so-called “road,” Mark white-knuckled the dash as we careened from side-to-side. For two hours, we’d been forging ever deeper into this void of humanity, barely managing 50 miles. With sheets of water pouring out…