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.
EVEN BEFORE shooting light arrived on the first morning of my 2020 Montana elk hunt, we had located a massive herd bull with his cows in a meadow below our vantage point. Quickly making plans for an ambush, I barreled down into the timber with Outfitter Rich Schneider of J&J Guide Service and cameraman Jim Thompson in tow. We’d made it halfway to the meadow when we saw cows moving uphill toward us. Dropping to my knees, I barely had time to grab my release aid before the massive, 6x6 bull stepped into the open. As the 370-class monarch turned and faced directly toward us, I realized I was totally exposed and unable to move a muscle. I couldn’t believe it. Here we were — 15 minutes into a weeklong…
I LIKE TO THINK I’ve earned my stripes as a buck hunter, but when it comes to bull elk, you could say I’m “naked and afraid.” Maybe afraid is a bit of a stretch. Intimidated is probably a better way to say it. I’ve brought home some beautiful bulls, but never with my bow, and this weighs heavily on me. I’ve gone through all the motions — took a pack train of horses into the backcountry, climbed mountains in the pitch black and laid in the shadows listening to bulls scream while my arrow gently quivered on my rest. I’ve lived every single part of the journey except the glory we all crave. And multiple times, I think it has come down to choosing my spot while a bull was…
AS BOW SEASON approaches, the most common question I hear as a private consulting biologist is, “How many does should we harvest this year?” My responses typically come in the form of questions such as, “What is your most recent fawn recruitment rate estimate?” “How many does did you estimate in your carryover data set from last year?” and “Do you estimate your property’s reproductive capacity — based on habitat quality — to be the same as last year, or are there expected changes in either direction?” What follows is usually a blank stare! If you want a healthy, more balanced deer herd, don’t wait for your state agency to make it happen. Properly managing whitetails by setting your own harvest prescriptions has never been easier, and most bowhunters already…
MY NO. 1 nightmare is that I am standing at my locker in my underwear and can’t remember the combination. None of the other kids seem to notice, but I know it is just a matter of time before everyone is pointing and laughing. I wake up in a sweaty panic during the middle of the night, wild-eyed with fear. Fortunately, that one has never happened in real life. Unfortunately, my No. 2 nightmare has happened — repeatedly — and that makes it all the worse. The very buck I have hunted all season long is in bow range, but I do something stupid and he bolts out of my nightmare and into my reality. Having experienced this disappointment more times than I care to recall, the goal of my…
IN RECENT columns, I have tried to convince index-finger, release-aid shooters to try a handheld release aid, specifically one with a thumb trigger. These release aids are a proven way for most archers to improve their accuracy. Now, I’ll continue the discussion with how best to use these aids. As I’ve said before, theoretically, it shouldn’t matter how you hold your release hand, forearm and elbow, as long as you do it exactly the same way each time. However, as with all things related to archery shooting form, it is important to find the position that is most "repeatable." And, the most repeatable position for archery is usually the relaxed position. There are only a few muscles that need to be engaged to execute an archery shot, and none of…
JUST A FEW more yards! That’s all we had to cover when the big boar hog turned to stare us down. Hogs aren’t known for having particularly good eyesight, but this wasn’t your typical spot-and-stalk scenario, at least not what I was used to. We were in the middle of a wheat stubble field with barely enough cover to conceal the welts of our boots. And there were three of us: Guitar Ranch Manager Roy Wilson, cameraman Josh Mathews and me. Still, we’d managed to sneak within 50 yards of a dozen hogs, but it looked like we wouldn’t be getting any closer, and they were moving away. It would take a steady hand, and a bow with enough speed and energy to make a lethal shot. While I can’t…
