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.
At the forefront of this change is the crossbow, a device fast becoming the weapon of choice for a growing number of archery season participants nationwide. Of course, the crossbow’s growing popularity is no secret, but I believe many long-time archery hunters will be shocked to learn that in bedrock bowhunting states such as Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, more whitetails are now taken with crossbows than vertical bows. In Pennsylvania, which ranks No. 1 in America with some 331,000 bow-hunters, crossbows now account for 68 percent of the total archery deer harvest annually. Sit back and let that sink in for a moment; nearly 7 of every 10 deer killed with archery tackle in arguably America’s most important bowhunting state are taken not with compound bows but with crossbows!…
I’m a black-bear outfitter in Saskatchewan, and one of my favorite things about it is the mental journey our guests go on the first day of their hunt, especially if they’re first-time bear hunters. I find it similar to someone getting ready to skydive for the first time. They’re either really quiet and uptight, or they’re giddy with excitement. Most bear hunters and outfitters set up for their hunts with treestands, which is a good way to do it. A treestand gives you the best visibility, and it definitely keeps you up out of the chaos if you’re lucky enough to have high bear numbers in the area you’re hunting. I enjoy hunting bruins from a tree, but when I have the choice, I’d rather set up on the ground.…
As I detailed last year in my three-part series on CWD, our understanding of the disease and how to combat it — in both free-range and farmed deer populations — has largely been stagnant since researchers documented the neurological disease in mule deer in a state-owned captive facility in Colorado in 1967. A simple search for CWD-related research reveals that while there is no shortage of peer-reviewed studies, there really aren’t any solid answers. But thanks to two thought-leading researchers and some fascinating new technology, the game has recently changed! Hereditary CWD Resistance Genetic research has shown that CWD is heritable and susceptibility is predictable at the individual level. This highly significant development could play a huge role in how scientists understand CWD going forward and how we respond to…
The nice thing about writing this column since before many of you were born is the fact that I am no longer expected to impress anyone. You all know me way too well for that by now. It is quite possible I am less capable of handling those huge moments than you. Maybe you should be the one telling people how to zero-in mentally when the chips are piled high, but that may not serve the greater good of hearing it from someone who has failed yet survived. That brings up a good analogy. I had a close call on a float plane back in September 2021. To be honest, I really thought we were going to die. Obviously, we didn’t. And when it was all over, Ron — the…
When using some of the higher power rangefinders, you could potentially range an antler tip sticking above the grass at 40 yards if you are able to hold the device steady enough. I prefer to use optics with the highest power magnification and the smallest possible reticle. This leads us to our next topic, the importance of understanding angle-compensating rangefinders. The Math and Science As most of you know, when shooting uphill or downhill you shouldn’t shoot using the line-of-sight distance to the target. If you do, your arrow will hit high. For most reasonable archery shots — say 40 yards and under — you actually need to shoot using the horizontal distance to the target. So, if you will be hunting anywhere other than on flat ground, you need…
Those crossbows were rudimentary but mass-produced and made of bronze. Fast forward to today, and the basic concept of limbs, string and bolts still holds true, albeit with a different look and feel. In the Middle Ages, the crossbow was made of a short bow attached to a wooden stock. A groove guided the bolt, and a sear held the string in the cocked position with a trigger to launch it. The crossbow was so effective that it was outlawed for use in some places. The longbow ultimately became the weapon of choice since it could be used to shoot a second projectile faster. But it didn’t have the same reach, and the arrows it launched were not as heavy, both of which are still valid when it comes to…
