Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2022 i Petersen's Bowhunting

FIRST SHOT Due to the dreaded “supply-chain constraints” plaguing the auto industry, I knew when I placed the order it would be some time before I saw the truck. As it turns out, that wait is now likely to stretch a full calendar year or more, as Ford has informed me it is likely my Maverick won’t be produced until sometime during the 2023 model year. Although the repeated delays have been frustrating, they’ve also given me more than enough time to imagine all the modifications I’ll make to my truck — if it ever shows up. From lift kits, bed racks and big off-road tires to engine-tuning kits, custom graphics and rooftop tents, I’ve wasted way too many hours having a great time just thinking about what it will…

BOWHUNTING WISDOM That brings up a very good subject to address as we head into another whitetail season. What happens when you spook a buck? Should you give up on him? Should you give up on that stand? On that part of the property? How long until you might possibly have another chance at him? Damage Assessment When it comes to bowhunting, I’d say there are two ways of scaring deer. When a buck is badly scared, he knows the source of his shock is a human, and he knows exactly where that human is located at the time of the scare. He now associates a location with real danger. Often, he will turn inside out before he busts out of the area. There won’t be any curiosity, nor will…

Although it is always possible for something to get damaged along the way, the real problem seems to be the location itself; changes in elevation, humidity, temperature and other environmental factors can have a real impact on the way your bow shoots. So, we always shoot our bows upon arrival in camp, just to ensure everything is right. This year, when we got to hunting camp, one of us was hitting 10 inches to the right at 40 yards! There was no obvious explanation; he is one of the better shooters in our group and meticulous with his equipment. To see such a huge discrepancy was rather surprising. He adjusted his sight as needed and soon he was grouping and shooting just fine. He was very glad he had checked…

CROSSBOW TEST The Wrath 430X is an upgrade of the original 430 and features the addition of a telescoping, fold-away butt stock. Other highlights include a pistol grip, webbed foregrip and three-position, fold-away foot stirrup that pulls double duty as both a bipod and cocking anchor. The bow portion of the unit is centered on a stout riser with broadhead scoop, built-in string stops and integrated limb pockets. Inverted Wrath Cams work in tandem with the 200-pound draw weight limbs to launch bolts downrange at an advertised 430 fps with 400-grain bolts. Versatile Stock CenterPoint upgraded the 430X with an all-new rear stock that mounts to the bow assembly just behind the trigger housing. A spring-loaded finger lever under the stock activates the telescoping feature, extending the stock to one…

VERSATILE TRAIL CAM $169.99 SPYPOINT; spypoint.com Searching for an affordable cell camera that can do it all? Look no further than the SPYPOINT Flex. This wireless cam is packed with features starting with its pre-installed, dual SIM cards and optimized antenna that connect automatically to the wireless network with the best signal. If the reception changes over time, the FLEX then automatically adjusts to work with the most reliable network. As for imagery, the FLEX takes 33 MP photos and 1080p video with sound, with both transmitted to the SPYPOINT app for download (videos are sent as animated previews that you review and then select the ones you want). Highlights include 100-foot flash and detection ranges, .3-second trigger speed and multi-shot, time-lapse and time-lapse plus modes. The camera comes with…

LIVE 2 HUNT This month, I’d like to talk about ground blind setup and why I believe the work you put into placing and preparing a blind is critical if you want to shoot Mr. Big this fall. Although it probably seems like a fairly simple process, there’s more to a great blind setup than you might think. Whenever I’m setting up a blind, one of the first things I think about is its positioning relative to the sun. If I’m preparing for a morning sit, I’ll never face my blind to the east. Likewise, I’ll never point my blind to the west for an evening sit. It can be pretty disappointing when you’re finally hunting, everything is falling into place and you can’t see because you’re staring into the…

BETTER BOWHUNTING It does not matter how you grip the bow, how you clutch the string or how you aim. The bow will shoot the arrow in exactly the same way each time, if the inputs from you are exactly the same from shot to shot. Unfortunately, humans are not robots and cannot repeat perfectly on every single shot. So, what coaches do is teach you how to interface with the bow in ways that have been proven over time to be the most repeatable for the vast majority of archers. This is what has come to be regarded as good shooting form. Each sport has advanced its particular ‘good form’ along the same lines of progression. It’s not necessary to have good form to be great at your sport,…

That level of know-how and manufacturing capability means something and ultimately produces results that keep bowhunters coming back for more. Quest’s 2022 lineup includes the flagship Centec, the subject of this review, and the Centec NXT, designed for the next generation of bowhunters. The Centec is outfitted with a reflex riser, machined grip with side plates, split limbs and the CE Dual Cam system that produces a smooth draw and offers a generous draw-length range. Staying Centered The Centec was designed using the company’s Center Grip Technology that runs the bow’s overall centerline directly through the throat of the grip, as opposed to designs that center the bow on the anticipated nocking point. This configuration is intended to create perfect balance and tournament-bow-like aiming qualities at full draw. The top…

I’d hunted the neighboring property the previous November, and during some of my all-day treestand vigils, I’d noticed numerous mature bucks entering and exiting that swampy area. I was now headed there to scout this small piece of neglected real estate, hoping I would be able to come up with a plan of attack for the approaching rut. Upon arrival, I quickly sprayed down with bug repellent, donned rubber boots and headed for the bog. Within a short while, I absolutely knew I’d found a true honey-hole. Sign was prevalent, and it was clear this was a perennial hideout for big, rutting bucks. It appeared the spot might even be a breeding sanctuary where mature bucks took hot does to keep them away from competitors. One way or another, I…

Genetic Resistance One aspect of CWD that experts often mention is how the disease is always fatal. Certainly, this is true if we are talking about individual animals infected with disease-associated prions and the hallmark, progressive neurological degeneration that leads to a gradual loss of body function. However, I hardly believe the presence of CWD at the population level means an end to whitetails. In fact, when I consider the latest research and its long-term implications, I believe evolutionary biology and disease-driven natural selection will step in and manage the disease. Let me explain. Just like everything in nature, genetic adaptations occur at a very slow rate, as in over the course of hundreds or even thousands of years. This concept is hard to understand for those of us living…

CROSSBOWS The deer was still 75 yards out when I recognized it as a shooter, and months of practice immediately kicked into play. I slowly clicked the safety off and slid the butt of the crossbow to my shoulder. A glance at the scope level let me know I had good form. I leaned into the shooting sticks that held my bow steady and anticipated where the buck would show up for the shot. The deer trotted toward my stand with his nose to the ground as though scripted. When the buck was a little more than 30 yards away, he stopped to check out a smell and my bolt was on its way. The big-bodied buck bolted into heavy cover and I heard him crash, followed by silence. Be…

Among modern bowhunters, the most popular rest options are drop-away models that support your arrow during the draw cycle yet drop quickly out of the picture at the shot, resulting in smooth, accurate arrow flight. When it comes to drop-aways, Virginia-based Quality Archery Designs (QAD) has become synonymous with producing high-quality, precision rests. The company designs and manufacturers all its rests entirely in the U.S., with each rest adhering to strict tolerance specifications and undergoing extensive quality-control testing. QAD’s newest release, the ULTRA REST R2 Integrate, is designed to work seamlessly with the Integrate Mounting System now found on many manufacturers’ bows. Billed by QAD as the sleekest, lightest (it weighs only 1.9 ounces), most compact rest on the market, it also can be added to bows that don’t have…