Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Petersen's Bowhunting

Me? I wake up thinking about whitetails! Shortly after gaining consciousness, my hand reaches for my iPhone on the bedside table and quickly swipes to the Moultrie Mobile app so I can review the previous night’s deer activity at my camera sites. Like any junkie in need of a fix, I eagerly anticipate the satisfaction that comes as my eyes inspect the fresh images, all the while hoping to see a large-racked buck that will blast the cobwebs from my brain with a quick jolt of adrenaline. Yup, I admit it. My name is Christian, and I’m a cellular trail-camera addict. As vices go, it’s not so bad. After all, the wireless data subscriptions for my cameras are a lot cheaper than a carton of cigarettes, and the side effect…

CONSIDER HOW MUCH fun you’d have if you could go back in time and start through young adulthood knowing what you know now. Maybe you would ruin things by knowing too much, but it sure would be fun to find out. What would I change? Well, for starters I’d buy as many shares of Apple stock when it first hit the market as I could possibly afford. I would be a more diligent student, more focused athlete, better son and citizen — all things we see as important only through the lens of time. It’s also fun to consider the possible “Back to the Future” scenarios involving bowhunting. If I could go back and start my bowhunting life over, I’d do a few things differently. Enjoy Every Part of the…

SOMETIMES WHEN WE shoot our bows, it feels like we have attention deficit disorder. For whatever reason, we can shoot a few good shots, but the next thing we know our minds are wandering all over the place. Did we feed the dog? What’s for dinner? You name it, we’ve probably thought about it at full draw. The problem is, when our minds wander, we miss. Some archers seem to have a natural gift for focus. They are the ones winning the tournaments and standing on the podium. That’s not us; we had to learn to focus and stay focused. Our first attempt at a solution was to not let our minds wander — at all. When we would practice, we spent every moment trying to stay focused. That 100…

WHILE THE USE of cellular trail cameras is legal in many areas, regulations restrict their use on certain lands. Note that not every state allows for their use, especially in the western U.S. Here’s how some states currently look at the practice: Arizona: Banned use of live-action cameras in 2018; followed that with a ban on all trail cameras in December 2020. Montana: Banned trail cameras in 2010; later amended the regulation to apply only to cameras linked to cell phones. Nevada: Banned use of all trail cameras on public lands at certain times of the year. Utah: Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed HB0295 into law this spring, which instructs the Division of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Board to make rules and regulations for trail camera use.…

On the other hand, you need extreme durability and enough cargo space to confidently haul a bull elk or muley buck off the mountain. Enter the Mystery Ranch Pintler, a mid-sized, load-hauling pack that combines comfort and convenience rivaling an internal-frame pack with the impressive carrying capabilities of Mystery Ranch’s Guide Light MT frame and exclusive Overload Shelf. Named after the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness area in Montana, the Pintler is built with 500D Light Plus Cordura fabric, weighs 5.7 pounds and has an internal capacity of 2,355 cubic inches, offering enough gear storage for a weekend of camping while pulling double duty as a robust daypack. The Pintler is available in Foliage green (shown), Coyote brown and Optifade Subalpine camo. The large main compartment features a generous storage area augmented by…

LASER ACCURACY $899 Burris Optics; burrisoptics.com The Oracle X laser-rangefinding crossbow scope instantly provides the exact distance and aim-point for game, with the ability to range distances to 200 yards. This 2-7X variable-zoom scope’s integrated inclinometer automatically adjusts for acute angles and shots you encounter afield, while the bubble level helps ensure accuracy at longer distances. The scope features a waterproof, shockproof housing and is powered by a CR123 battery. It attaches easily to almost any crossbow via its integrated mounting system. INTEGRATED ARROW REST $259.99 Quality Archery Designs; qadinc.com Available for Mathews, Hoyt and PSE, the UltraRest Integrate MX drop-away rest mounts to the back of the bow riser via a dovetail machined directly into the riser of compatible bows. This system allowed…

I LOVE TALKING TO fellow bowhunters about the topic of “string jumping.” String jumping occurs when a deer or other game animal drops toward the ground at the sound of the shot as they load their legs to flee. Sometimes, string jumping results in a high hit; other times, the animal manages to completely duck below the arrow before it arrives. Back when I first started bowhunting, I knew everything. I saved up and bought the latest, greatest bow on the market. I decorated it with all the goodies that labeled you as the best bowhunter out there. I was young and very confident; maybe even a bit cocky. That fall, I focused my bowhunting efforts in an area where a giant whitetail buck lived. I called him Tac. I…

IN THE LAST FEW columns, I have encouraged index-finger release aid shooters to try a handheld release, specifically one with a thumb trigger (as opposed to a hinge-style release aid). You might just discover this one small change drastically improves your hunting accuracy. In this column, I’ll discuss the techniques necessary to shoot this style of release aid well. Getting Started: The ‘String Bow’ As I have mentioned, the first step in this process is finding a release aid that fits your hand properly. Once you’ve selected a model that feels good in your hand, I recommend you practice using a ‘string bow.’ This is just a loop of string approximating your draw length (for example, 28 inches from one end of the loop to the other). Place your bow…

MATHEWS CONTINUES its relentless pursuit of perfection and designing the ultimate hunting bow with the new V3 Series. Featuring two models — the 27 and 31 (designating axle-to-axle lengths) — the series introduces the company’s all-new Centerguard Cable Containment System and the highest riser length to axle-to-axle length ratio in Mathews history. Other components/technologies include the Engage Grip, Integrate Rest Mount, Nano 740 3D Harmonic Damper, Crosscentric Cam with SwitchWeight Technology and more. Bridging the Core Mathews outfits the V3 bows with the popular Extended 6-Bridge Riser, a reference to six cross holes that pass through the riser in the direction of the shooting plane. The bridging, flared sections of the riser and numerous cutouts are intended to add strength to critical areas while cutting overall mass weight. Perhaps the…

HAPPY 90th HOYT! That is an impressive anniversary, and the company has done a remarkable job carrying Earl Hoyt’s passion and drive through the decades. Hoyt pushes the envelope on innovation year in and year out and has been awarded nearly 50 patents. It has been an impressive run, and judging from the lineup for 2021, it looks like they have no intention of letting up. Let’s look at one of their most anticipated new models, the Ventum 30. The Ventum 30 features an all-new cam system in the HBX Hoyt Binary Cams that work with the Hybrid EXT split limbs to generate an advertised IBO speed of 342 fps. The Tec riser, with its open design, is home to Hoyt’s In-Line sight mount, Integrate Rest mount, compact roller guard,…

This is FORLOH, and if this is the first time you’re hearing about the company, I bet it won’t be the last. Back in the spring, I field tested FORLOH gear during a spot-and-stalk hog hunt in Florida. I came away extremely impressed, but before I tell you specifics about the clothing, a little background is in order. For starters, you should know the name FORLOH is an acronym created from “For Love of Hunting.” The founders of the Whitefish, Mont.-based outfit built their product line on a passion for hunting and a desire to create an all-American brand that offers second-to-none technology and quality. FORLOH is committed to giving hunters the most durable, waterproof and breathable fabrics available and actively seeks out leading technologies from not only textile firms…

So, he immediately threw me into a man’s world, working industrial construction. Being from a small town, and still wet behind the ears, the older guys I worked around in the big city had a hoot exploiting my naivety. And even though I was force-fed many hard lessons about the “real world,” I was able to remain unadulterated in one area — my outdoor life. Having always been a loner in this department, my mind had not been poisoned with a bunch of malarkey from morons. After spending a couple of years in the brutal, adult work world, I decided a certain hankering in my spirit needed to be addressed. So, when I received a big tax refund check in the spring of 1980, I headed down to a store…

IN PARTS 1 AND 2 of this series, I noted whitetail hunters who aren't measuring key herd characteristics are failing to optimize their hunting success. Part 1 discussed the importance of journaling hunt conditions and introduced a technique that seeks to grade your hunting property by tracking your “win-loss record.” Part 2 introduced key herd characteristics, including density, carrying capacity, buck-to-doe ratio and buck age structure, that you should track to determine how much more you should expect out of your property’s potential. In Part 3, I’ll wrap up with some simple whitetail mathematics that detail how deer are added and subtracted from your huntable population. My goal is to inform you that no other species is as easy to manage toward the end goal of better hunting than the…

IT’S A WHITETAIL world; no doubt about it. In terms of participation, whitetails generate more interest than all other big-game species combined. It’s not surprising then that most product lines, including crossbows, are designed with deer hunters in mind. However, there are plenty of other animals out there to pursue. In many cases, you can take your current whitetail setup right off the shelf and hunt. In others, you might need a little tweaking. And in a few instances, you may need, or want, a completely different crossbow. Let’s take a look. Big, Big Game Most contemporary, high-end crossbows have the speed and energy for hunting really big game such as elk, moose and bear. While we’re at it, we might as well add hogs to the list, as their…

Manufacturer: Mathews Archery, 608-269-2728; mathewsinc.com Model: V3 27 Riser: Machined aluminum, reflex Grip: Engage Grip Interface Limbs: Past parallel, split Draw Weights: 60, 65, 70 and 75 pounds peak Draw Lengths: 25-29.5 inches, in half-inch increments; modular Cam System: Crosscentric, with SwitchWeight Technology Letoff: 80 or 85 percent (advertised); 81.6 percent (as tested) String: Zebra, BCY 452X, 58.625 inches Cables (x2): Zebra, BCY 452X, 25.938 inches Brace Height: 6 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 27 inches Weight: 4.3 pounds (advertised); 4.35 pounds (as tested) Finish Options: Realtree EDGE, plus seven other camo and solid color options Advertised IBO Speed: Up to 342 fps MSRP: $1,199 Comments: Compact, powerful and fast.…

Manufacturer: Hoyt, 801-363-2990, hoyt.com Model: Ventum 30 Riser: Machined aluminum, reflex Grip: XACT, molded polymer Limbs: Hybrid EXT, split Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peak Cam System: HBX, Hoyt Binary Letoff: 85 percent, with 80 percent option (advertised); 83.1 percent (tested) Draw Lengths: 25-30 inches, in half-inch increments; modular String: Fuse Custom, BCY X99, 57.9 inches Cables (x2): Fuse Custom, BCY X99, 33.75 inches Brace Height: 6.125 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 30 inches Weight: 4.6 pounds (advertised and as tested) Finish: Film dipped Realtree Edge and eight other options Advertised IBO Speed: 342 fps MSRP: $1,199 Comments: High performance marks across the board.…