Crossbow Controversy: Do Crossbows belong in the Archery Industry

CON by Scott Grange

When I was a kid, if you weren’t good enough to make the baseball team you either looked for another way to spend the summer or you spent the next year practicing so that you would be good enough to make it the next season. Today, if little Johnny doesn’t make the cut, big Johnny threatens the coach with a lawsuit if the coach doesn’t put his little sweetheart on the roster. As a result, little Johnny makes the team, actually plays (it’s a requirement you know) and everyone is happy. Well, perhaps not everyone…
This example is typical of our society today and it certainly doesn’t end at the little league level. In this fast-paced world we live in, we demand instant gratification. If our computer takes longer than ten seconds to produce a response we contemplate throwing it out the window. If traffic slows our commute by five minutes, road rage sets in and everyone is at risk. Technology has elevated the passing of time to unimaginable levels and, as a result, we find and implement ways to circumvent the almighty element of time. It takes time and practice to hit a fastball or turn a double play.

It takes time and practice to drive a golf ball 300 yards straight down the fairway. And, heaven knows, it takes a ton of time to become an accomplished archer. I know, I once was a good archer, but I am no longer – I don’t have the time.

Even though crossbows date back centuries doesn’t mean that they belong in today’s archery-only big game season. The North American Bowhunting Coalition hit the nail on the head when they said the crossbow is a “weapon looking for a season.” Crossbows are nothing more than a way to avoid the necessary time and skills it takes to proficiently shoot a stick or compound bow. I can hear it now, “Compound bows are no different.” Baloney. Those who spew such nonsense have obviously never picked one up. Shooting a compound bow requires all the same skills as its ancient predecessor.

Proponents argue that allowing crossbows during archery-only seasons brings more newcomers into the sport. Hey, no one is more for bringing more folks into our sport than me; however, data shows that significant numbers of hunters who hunt during newly established crossbow seasons come from the ranks of rifle hunters. In reality, few new hunters are recruited. Spare me the line about being too old or physically incapable of drawing a vertical bow. If you are not capable of drawing a 45- pound compound bow with a 65% let off, you probably shouldn’t be in the big game hunting field anyway. Remember the story of little Johnny? He didn’t belong in the field either. Whether it is oversized drivers with enlarged sweet spots, threats of lawsuits or allowing crossbows in archery-only seasons, the truth is that, once again, our society is looking for the easy way out. Allowing crossbows in archery only seasons is just another example of substituting time and practice with technology and, with it, the true spirit of the hunt.

PRO by Ron Spomer

Wanna start a fight? Shout, “Let’s legalize crossbows for archery deer seasons!” at a sportsman’s club meeting. You might as well advocate poisoning waterholes. The crossbow has been the devil’s tool for so long that most hunters can’t even examine the issue rationally. But let’s try anyway.

Essentially, this shooting device is a bow held at full draw in a gunstock. That’s its big advantage over traditional bows. Thirty years ago this was a fairly significant advantage, but since the perfection of the compound – no contest! That’s correct. The compound is the superior tool by far. A compound bow shoots farther and hits harder at a distance. A crossbow requires 150-pounds of pull to equal the trajectory, range and energy of a 70- pound compound bow because the draw length or power stroke of the average crossbow is roughly half as long as the average compound. The crossbow’s bolts (arrows) are shorter (16 to 22-inches) and lighter, thus they lose speed and energy sooner than do longer arrows, limiting a crossbow’s effectiveness to about 50 yards. This being the reality, why is anyone afraid of legalizing crossbows? If we can hunt the bow season using compounds with 65 to 85-percent let off, mechanical releases and scope sights, why the crossbow phobia?

Part of the fear is, perhaps, jealousy. Someone who’s taken the time to learn effective compound bow shooting might not appreciate some neophyte crossbow shooter who invests a few hours in honing sufficient accuracy for pinpoint bolt placement out to 40 yards. Yes, a crossbow shoots more accurately than a compound with less practice out to 40, or perhaps even 50 yards, primarily because it can be steadied and aimed like a rifle. Rest the stock on a support and, without the muscle strain and potential tremor inherent in the two-armed, traditional bow technique, pull the trigger. But a compound with sights and a mechanical string release is easier to aim and shoot accurately than a longbow or recurve, too, and serious compound hunters are taking deer at 70 to 100-yards these days. Pick your side. Most accurate: crossbow to 50 yards. Longest effective range: compound. Easiest and fastest to load and shoot: finger-released longbow or recurve, no sights. Easiest to carry: longbow or recurve.

Some see precise shot placement with crossbows as a problem, others a solution. It’s the old argument laid out by anti-hunters against both archery and firearm hunters. Bows are bad because they’re too inaccurate, leading to wounding loss and suffering. Firearms are bad because they’re too accurate and deadly, giving an unfair technological advantage to the lazy, incompetent “hunter” too fumbling to stalk within touching distance of game. Cry me a river.

Another complaint often voiced against crossbows is that they’ll wipe out game herds. Are you serious? We’ve been hunting with centerfire rifles for 100 years. Harvest is controlled by season limitations and tag distribution. Ohio has permitted crossbows during its archery whitetail season for thirty years and the herds are still thriving. About half of these whitetail are taken with crossbows each year.
Okay, another argument, crossbows are a deadly poacher’s tool. Huh? A poacher would want to lug around a clumsy, slow-to load, nearly-impossible-to-stick out- of-the-truck-window, single shot bow limited to 40 yards effectiveness when he could use a .22 rim fire? Get serious.

Yeah, but crossbows will lure archers away from traditional archery. Oh, and compound bows haven’t? It’s a free country. Who cares what someone else shoots? Longbow hunters try to outlaw compounds, flintlock shooters whine about in-line muzzleloader shooters, open-sight 30- 30 hunters grouse about scope-sight 300 Magnum hunters. Why don’t we all stick together and fight the anti’s instead? Or, expend our energies rehabilitating wildlife habitat?

Crossbows help women, children and old geezers to start or continue bowhunting, and that’s a good thing because hunting needs all the supporters it can recruit. Look, the selfish side of me wishes that no one else hunted, leaving all the wildlife and best hunting spots to me, me, me. The practical side of me knows that without millions of other hunters competing for the best spots and biggest trophies, the anti’s would outlaw hunting. Period. It’s time to stop quibbling over minute differences in hunting tools. We hang together or hang separately.

Bowhunting Big Muleys: Planning and executing a Successful Archery Buck hunt.

An almost untapped hunting resource is back country archery mule deer hunting. In many areas, bowhunting western mule deer in remote country is hunting at its finest: low hunting pressure and highly visible bucks. Because of lower demands for permits, archers can also enjoy hunting areas and seasons that rifle hunters only dream about. In this article, we’ll look at planning and executing a successful back country archery hunt.

When I talk about back country, I’m talking about areas that aren’t accessible by motorized vehicles. This crucial factor cuts hunting pressure way down – the key to your success. The area may be ten grueling miles into a Colorado wilderness or just a mile jaunt across a nasty Oregon canyon where hunters can’t take vehicles. Either way, if you don’t get away from roads, you’ll be disappointed even on lightly hunted archery units. To be a successful archer, you have to hunt areas where bucks can go about their daily routine virtually undisturbed.

Where To Go

By press time, most of the West will have completed their draws. If you pulled a good archery tag, great! But, even if you didn’t, this information is still for you. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that if you didn’t draw a good tag, you’re out for the year. Often, the best bucks are killed by guys who hunt general seasons or easy-to-draw areas because they can become intimately familiar with the terrain and deer habits by frequent hunting. A premium hard to- draw tag usually gives a guy only one year to kill a good buck. By the time the season closes, you’re just starting to figure out how to hunt the area.

Colorado: Deer are doing well in western Colorado now, a bastion of public land with plenty of backcountry. Checking the leftover list over the last few years, I’ve found hundreds of licenses available for good units. The leftovers go on sale August 14th. ( http://wildlife. state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame)

Idaho: There are many good units in southern Idaho with over-the-counter tags. Dates vary by units, with open seasons from August 30th through December 31st. ( http://fishandgame.idaho.gov)

Utah: As of press time, there were over 8,000 archery permits available. The permits go on sale June 14th. Many hunters balk at the idea of hunting Utah over-the counter areas, but some huge bucks are killed every year on these archery permits. (www.wildlife.utah.gov)

Wyoming: Last year’s leftover list had several thousand licenses for many regions; the list comes out July 10th after the regular drawing and you must apply for leftovers between July 10th and 20th. Any remaining licenses after that will then be posted on the website around August 1st. These can only be purchased by mail or in person. http://gf.state.wy.us/ wildlife/hunting)

These licenses provide opportunity, but keep Colorado’s, Nevada’s, and Utah’s limited-entry permits in mind for the 2008 main drawings. There are better buck-todoe ratios and each state has a point system allowing you to pull a great tag in a few years. Photos: author

Shooting Preparation

Archery mule deer hunting pushes an archer to his effective range limits. Rarely can I close the distance to less than 30 yards on a stalk. Ambush style hunting can shorten the range, but bucks don’t always appear where you planned.

I practice to 80 yards, and take good shots at bucks to 70 yards. Know and stick to your personal and ethical limits. I practice nearly year-round and only take a few months off in the winter. If you shoot a release, one session per week will keep you tuned up. If you shoot with your fingers, push for two sessions. Another great source of practice is 3-D shoots. Every time I attend one, I walk away a better archer. You will, too.

Camp Recommendations

Next to your archery equipment, your camp gear is the most important gear for your success. Why? Because to be successful at archery mule deer hunting, you must be mobile and your camp gear will dictate mobility. If your camp is hard to set up and take down, you’ll be reluctant to try other areas. I like to have three or more productive areas to hunt if I’m going to have a chance at a good buck. Often, they are miles apart. Being mobile allows you to hunt an area and, if you blow a stalk, which you will, hunt another productive area while those bucks get back to their daily routine. If you’re not mobile, I virtually guarantee that you won’t be successful because you’ll quickly educate the bucks of your ill intentions and that area won’t be any good for a week or more.

For back country hunting, I bring a highly mobile camp – whether it is a backpack camp or a horse camp that allows me to pack up in an hour and be on my way to another area that might hold stalkable bucks. If you’re camping on the road, the principle is the same. There are many good resources written on lightweight camp gear, the latest being David Long’s “Public-Land Mulies: The Bottom Line.” Put your time and money into making a good mobile camp and your success will improve.

Hunt Strategies: Watch the Calendar

Archers have two seasons when bucks are vulnerable. The first is the early season, August through September. The second is the late season, from mid-November into January. Your hunt strategy is mostly determined by when you’re hunting. I’ve used two types of strategies successfully to get close to bucks: classic spot-and-stalk and ambush hunting.

The early season is the best time to pursue trophy bucks and spot-and-stalk is most effective then. There are two advantages to the early season that make this strategy effective. The first is the ability to spot bucks more easily. Unless pressured, bucks will be in the most open areas of their habitat and move more predictably between bedding and feeding areas. Also, they are either alone, or with small groups of bucks, cutting down on the number of eyes and ears to detect you.

The late season seems like it should be the best time, but bucks are very difficult to stalk at that time due to their harems of does and crunchy snow or frozen ground that is very noisy to move over. I’ve found that ambush hunting is a better option.

Ambush hunting is different than stand or blind hunting in that you are still on the move, stopping for an hour or more in productive areas, like saddles and bottlenecks. In most Western states, it’s pretty cold in the late season and sitting all day in an unheated blind or stand is tough if not impossible. Also, mule deer are so mobile that you need to be able to move when they do.

In ten years of late season archery hunting, I’ve never found a hands-down, great spot to hang a tree stand or build a ground blind where I know a big buck will give me a shot. If I just want to shoot any buck, then yes, there are places I could do this, but big buck hunting is best done from the ground and on the move.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that big rutting bucks are dumb bucks. I’ve yet to kill a good buck with archery equipment on the late season. I’ve had several missed shots and opportunities at 28-inch to 34-inch bucks, but that’s after years of hunting. Keep at it though and one day, it’ll happen.

No matter the season, early or late, a successful archer will learn when to spot-and-stalk and when to ambush, often combining both strategies to get close to a given buck. Practice will perfect you.

Moving Undetected in Deer Country

During archery seasons, mule deer will be using the most open parts of their habitat – this is one of the biggest advantages that archery hunters enjoy. However, with this comes the disadvantage of the deer being able to see you too. Good camouflage, using cover and terrain to conceal movement, glassing properly, and not crossing skylines in the open can get you within 150 yards, but getting closer requires more. At less than 150 yards, you are easily detected by a buck’s eyes and ears. Keeping the wind in your favor is a given. No amount of scent protection will allow you to get past a deer’s nose that is downwind of your position.

To get within archery range, you’ll often be forced to move when deer can potentially see you. By traveling extremely slow, a hunter can sometimes continue to move undetected. This can close the gap enough to pull off a shot, even in very open country with no appreciable cover or terrain to hide your stalk.

So, how slow must you move? I’ve found that if I cover about 5 to 25 yards an hour, I can move undetected within 150 yards of visible deer. Once I get within 100 yards, I’m in his living room and odds skyrocket that I might get a shot. I often quit moving at this point unless I absolutely know I can close the distance to archery range. If the deer seems relaxed and is not looking my way, I may move several inches, until he either looks my way or I become fatigued.

At this point, it’s just a watch-and-wait game. Sometimes the buck will close the distance for me, especially on the late season when they move around a lot. The stalk then turns into an ambush. Other times, the buck may change positions and lie where his view is blocked and I can continue my stalk. There are no formulas, just patience and a dose of luck.

Moving this slowly sounds easy until you try it. You become tired from holding flexed muscles and transferring weight from one leg to another slowly. Your knees, hands, and butt get wet and tired from being on the ground so much. Also, concentration wanes and you can move too fast and blow all the deer out of the area. Your six-hour stalk job suddenly seems a waste, but it wasn’t. It will take years to master moving slow, but if you hunt archery bucks long enough, you’ll find that they were years well spent.

Whether you hunt a premium area or an over-the-counter tag this fall, keep this article in mind and the points I’ve given to increase your chances. Bringing down a big buck with archery equipment is one of the most satisfying yet difficult feats in the hunting world.

Well elk hunters, summer is upon us and it won’t be long until we’re in the woods chasing bugling bulls. As luck would have it, I was finally lucky in the draws this year! Or, a better term might be persistent. I drew my second choice hunt for archery elk here in my home state of Arizona with eight bonus points and, if that weren’t enough, I also drew a limited-entry bull elk tag for Utah after ten long years of applying! I guess when it rains, it pours! Oh well, I love a good drenching so there’s no complaints here. My elk drought is finally over!

Since the archery elk season is fast approaching and big bulls are certainly on my mind right now, I thought there would be no better topic to write about than bowhunting tactics and tips for calling in and tagging your bull this fall.

The first thing to understand about elk is that they must have three things to survive. Those three things are water, feed, and cover. While you are pre-season scouting, it is crucial that you find good water sources that elk are using. Water becomes even more important to a bull during the rut due to extra energy expenditures from bugling, chasing cows, and fighting other bulls. Find good water sources in proximity to cover and check the area for elk sign. During your hunt a good water source will be a hot spot for elk activity. You don’t necessarily have to sit on the water source, although this can and does work, but you can also hunt the area surrounding the water and get on elk as they move to or from their bedding areas.

If you are hunting high mountain country in September where there are natural streams, springs and wallows, the elk will typically be using these water sources and then utilizing good cover on north and northeast hillsides to bed down. Most elk that I have hunted will move at least a mile from where they are feeding and watering to where they are bedding. Sometimes they move much more than this depending on the terrain. I believe that this characteristic of elk is part of their natural defense against hunters. In mountainous terrain, elk will move uphill to bed while the air is still cool enough to be sinking down the mountain. If you’ve ever tried to keep pace with elk headed up the mountain to bed you will agree that you must be in top physical condition to stay with them. Make your conditioning as much a priority as shooting your bow and you’ll be glad you did when you are climbing a mountain at 10,000 feet of elevation!

If you have scouted and have an idea of where the elk are headed in the morning, you can do some hiking in the dark to gain some elevation on the elk. In order to do this you must stay far enough away that they don’t pick up on you in the dark or they will bust and then you will probably have no chance of getting on them. The real difficulty in getting ahead of a herd of elk is that they are going to be moving with their noses into the wind. If you get directly ahead of them they’re going to smell you, so you must stay at least somewhat crosswind from them. The same holds true in flatter terrain, which is common in many Arizona elk units. The first rule with elk is that when they move, they point their noses into the wind and go. Use this knowledge to your advantage by figuring out the predominant wind patterns in an area, using your “wind checker” to verify the direction, and then counting on the elk moving into the wind. Obviously, the same holds true for your evening hunts when the elk are moving toward good feeding and watering areas.

Now let’s discuss my favorite topic – calling! I’ve had great success over the years calling in lots of bulls, but one thing I’ll say is that it typically is not easy. Sure, I’ve had bulls come running from half a mile away to my calls, but more often than not I’ve had to earn my call-ins by doing everything right. You can make calling as difficult as you’d like, but it really boils down to these three aspects.

1 – Getting the wind right, as I’ve already alluded to. You will simply never call bulls in from downwind of your position. It doesn’t matter how meticulous you are about your scent and wearing scent loc suits, etc. An elk’s nose is 1,000 times as sensitive as ours. If a bull is coming in from downwind, 99 times out of 100 he is going to smell you before he gets into bow range. I will say that I have used elk urine (by spraying it into the air) to fool an elk’s nose a time or two, but I don’t make it a practice to ignore the wind. My wind checker is always one of the most important parts of my gear.

2 – Second, your distance and positioning/setup are extremely important in a calling scenario. Typically, elk are moving into the wind and going somewhere with a purpose. A herd bull is especially hard to call in because he’s already got what he wants – our worst enemy, COWS. For those of you that haven’t heard, a big bull’s motto is, “A cow in hand is better than two in the bush.” A herd bull’s attentions are focused on his cows and keeping them together and away from other bulls. To call him in, you’ve got to get so close that you are on the edge of busting the herd – and sometimes you will. If you don’t bust elk now and then by trying to get close, you’re not being aggressive enough!

I’ve had my frustrations with calling herd bulls in as well, but I’ve also called many of them in by getting super close to the herd and making it very easy and convenient for the elk to come to me. Many times all the cows will come to the calls and the bull will follow along. I’ve also had herd bulls break away and come over for a look. Bulls usually have a distance that they will travel away from their cows and it’s usually not much over 100 yards, so keep that in mind.

With satellite bulls, your distance and positioning are still important but not nearly as crucial as with herd bulls. Catch a satellite bull in a love sick mood and many times he’ll practically run over you. What I love about satellite bulls is that they are eager for an encounter with a cow and will come readily to good calling. Realize that quite often the bull controlling the cows in the area doesn’t necessarily have the biggest antlers, but the most aggressive attitude. Here in Arizona, I’ve seen many 320 to 350 bulls controlling the cows while the monsters hang off on the fringes waiting for cows to come into estrus before they make their move. So, satellite bulls aren’t always younger, smaller bulls!

3 – Your calling. Probably the two questions I’m most often asked are, “How much do you call at a bull?” and, “When should you cow call or bugle?” My response to the first question is that I always let the bull dictate to me how much and how often I call to him. The scenario is usually this; I’ll move in close to a bull that is already bugling without making a call until I’m somewhere between 100 to 200 yards depending on the terrain and vegetation. Basically, I’ll get as close as I can without busting him. Is my heart beating and my breath a little shorter at this point? You bet it is! But, I take just a moment to compose myself and relax before blowing a call. It’s all a mind set that is the result of practicing and being comfortable on the calls.

I introduce myself to the unsuspecting bull by blowing a couple of cow calls away from him. Sometimes a bull will answer right away and sometimes I have to hit him again with a couple of calls. Usually, after a couple of sequences, a bull is going to decide to come in or he may just bugle and want you to come to him. Keep in mind that on public land most bulls have been called at so not every one is going to come running, especially if they’ve had a bad, recent encounter with one of us stinky humans! If the bull does bugle back to me, I’ll give him one to three cow calls back right away, but not jump all over him. Every time he bugles as he approaches, I’ll respond to him and encourage him that I am a sexy cow and he is doing the right thing by coming to see me. Again, I am blowing one to three calls each time he bugles at me. You don’t want to go crazy on the call or the bull can get suspicious, but you don’t want to be so shy that he loses interest and moves off. If the bull isn’t real aggressive and not bugling a bunch, I’ll tone down my calling to match and make him wonder a little about what this cow’s intentions are.

You’ve probably heard me say this before in past articles, but I’ll mention it again since it’s so important. You’ve got to practice on your calls to where they are second nature so that you can blow them soft, smooth and mellow. I can’t stress how important this is! If you get close to a bull and blow a call like a fog horn, you are going to spook him. Even if you get lucky and a bull comes from a long ways off, as he gets inside of 100 to 120 yards, loud, harsh calling will not sound natural to him and he’ll hang up on you. So practice and get confident and in control of your calls.

When do I bugle versus cow calling? I’ll be honest. I call in nine out of ten bulls by cow calling alone. Bugling has its place and I’ll mention here a couple of scenarios when I’ve used it. Last fall one of my archery clients and I had moved close to a bugling bull late in the morning. As we approached the bugling, we closed the gap to within 100 yards of the bull when we noticed he had company. Several “bowhunter’s worst nightmares” (cows) were bedded around the bull. I positioned the hunter and my awesome videographer and friend, Nevan Shippy, in a little grove of jack pines and I literally crawled back behind them 50 or 60 yards in order to call. I cow called off and on for several minutes with basically no response from the bedded bull. At that point I knew that I really had nothing to lose and so I readied my Terminator Bugle. I didn’t hit the bull with a full on bugle in this situation, but started off by just growling at him on the call. The bull immediately reacted to the call and, when I growled again, he ripped off an angry bugle. I growled again, picked up a stick and started raking a tree. The now agitated bull screamed, got up and came at me with a purpose! At this point, I knew he was committed and I would cow call a couple of times and then give him a full bugle. He approached fast and then stopped once he could see my calling position. The 330-inch bull stayed within easy bow range for a couple of minutes and then moved back to join his cows. Lucky for him, my hunter chose to pass him.

I’ve also used bugling in combination with cow calling to create excitement and the illusion of a herd of elk. Occasionally bulls can be hesitant to come to cow calls because they may anticipate another bull being there. I think once they hear you bugle they know where “the bull” is at and they’ll come in and take a look. I try to closely match the bull’s bugling when I do this. I don’t use this technique often though since cow calling is usually magic for me. If a bull is coming to my cow calling I never, ever throw in a bugle. If he likes what you are saying, why risk throwing in a bugle, glunking or growling and potentially setting him on edge?

Bulls can also respond to bugling during the pre-rut before they are really ready to join up with cows. This can occur any time from the last week in August to around the middle of September. At this time, bugling appeals to their curiosity and their desire to establish the pecking order before the hard rut. If a bull is bugling at me in this situation, I again try to match and imitate his bugles. For some reason, this seems to really agitate them.

I’ve also had herd bulls come in mad when I’ve accidentally bumped one of their cows and then started bugling and getting aggressive. If you encounter an aggressive bull, trust me, he doesn’t like another bull moving in on him and trying to cut away his cows! Remember, you’ve pretty much got to be in the middle of the herd in order for this to work.

If I had to give you a hard and fast rule for calling the most bulls in it would be this. Always try cow calling first. If the bull likes it and responds, stick with it. If cow calling doesn’t strike a bull’s fancy then you can try something different.

Everyone’s got their favorite calls, but the way I’ve narrowed down what I use is by comparing the tone of the call to the real thing. If a call doesn’t sound elk-like it won’t consistently call elk in. My favorites are these for this reason alone – they sound like an elk. I prefer the Primos Hyper Lip Single as my open reed call of choice. For my mouth diaphragms, I prefer the Primos Sound Plates. I like the Ivory, Imperial and Hyper Plates. Each one has a different tone and this can be an advantage to you in the elk woods. For a bugle, I have carried the Primos Terminator for years. I love the blue silicone reeds on the call because they are durable and sound so “elky.” I also like the grunt tube on the call for bugling with a mouth call. The resonator end really gives the call a more three dimensional sound. You may have other preferences on calls and that’s fine. These are just the tried and true calls that have proven themselves over many years for me.

There are also many other tactics that time and space don’t allow me to cover in this article that can work during an archery hunt such as stalking in silently on bugling bulls, sitting water and wallows, and spot and stalk. But, since calling is my passion I devoted this article to that. I wish all of you fun, success and safety on your elk hunts this year. I hope to read about your hunts and see your pictures in upcoming issues of Hunting Illustrated!

A Few years ago I sat in disbelief, on a cold rocky ridge, watching the buck of a lifetime disappear over the ridge. The buck paused at the top just long enough to give me one last look at his massive antlers. My well-planned stalk had worked to perfection, presenting me with a broadside shot at the monster buck. It all seemed like a dream, until it quickly turned into my worst nightmare as my arrow smashed into a big rock right above the buck’s back. As the adrenaline wore off, I sat there on the mountain debating if I should jump off the ledge below me or just sit there and cry. Any of you who have ever missed a true 200-inch mule deer with your bow can feel my pain. I have replayed that moment in my mind a million times trying to figure out how I missed that “shot of a lifetime.” Did I misjudge the distance because I had lost my rangefinder during the stalk? Did I not compensate enough for the downhill angle of the shot? Was I not steady shooting from a semi-awkward position from my knees? Or was it just a classic case of buck fever? Still, to this day, I haven’t determined how or why I missed, but one thing is for sure, I will never forget that I did miss. This experience, along with several other “ones that got away,” has driven me to find ways to be more prepared to make the shot count when I get another “shot of a lifetime.”

As archery season speedily approaches, it’s time to get ready if you haven’t already started. Here are half a dozen practice ideas that just may save you the pain of watching that trophy of a lifetime disappear over the ridge!

1. Practice shooting from different positions.
Out of all the animals I have harvested with my bow, I can’t think of any that I have shot standing up with my feet spread apart on level ground. Most of my kills have been from my knees or a crouching position. A few of my shots have been standing, usually on uneven ground, and some have been from positions I didn’t even know I could shoot from. Most archery hunters I know spend the majority of their practice time shooting at block targets or 3D targets in their backyards with their feet spread apart on level ground. Don’t get me wrong, this is great practice. Any practice is good practice. This is a great way to keep yourself in good shooting shape, sight your bow in, tune your arrows and broadheads, but this is not how most of your shots will be in the field. Get creative! Try shooting from your knees, shoot sitting down, stand on uneven ground or stairs, lean around a tree or a bush or a swing set. If you hunt out of tree stands, try drawing and shooting while sitting on a chair. Think about the shots you have had in the field and try to recreate them. This will increase your skills and confidence when you are presented with a shot where it isn’t possible to be in a perfect shooting position.

2. Practice without a rangefinder.
Technology is great and I carry a rangefinder everywhere I go, but most of us rely on them too much. If you have time to use a rangefinder, consider it a bonus. More often than not, especially in spot and stalk hunting, you may not have time or an opportunity to range an animal. Many animals have escaped while hunters tried to get a range on them instead of drawing their bows for the shot. A great way to practice judging yardages is by doing some good, old fashioned stump shooting. Leave your rangefinder home, grab a couple arrows with judo tips or blunts and go for a walk in the hills. This can be done while scouting, shed hunting or just going for a hike. Pick a spot on the hill, a bush, a stump, or even a rabbit (where legal) and start shooting. You will figure out in a hurry how good or bad your distance judging skills are. Not only is this great practice and good exercise, but it will also break up the monotony of shooting the same old block target in the backyard. If you aren’t comfortable taking a shot without getting a range first then don’t, but if you practice and know your comfort zone this will pay off big when you are presented with a short window of opportunity to take a shot.

3. Practice shooting different angles.
This brings back some bad memories of “ones that got away” for me. I have missed more animals because of steep, angled shots than any other reason. These misses include a mountain lion in a tree (embarrassing), a big Russian boar from a tree stand, and a trophy typical mule deer buck on a steep hillside. Find a steep hill and practice shooting both up and down. If you have two targets, put one on the bottom of the hill and one at the top of the hill. Shoot up the hill, walk up and get your arrows and shoot down the hill. If you are going to be shooting up into a tree, throw a rope over a branch and pull your block target up there and take a few shots. If hunting out of a tree stand, get creative and imitate the shots you will be taking. Just be careful, I don’t want to hear any stories of guys falling off their roofs. You get my point. Get creative and practice shooting different angles.

4. Practice shooting in different weather conditions.
Have you ever thought to yourself, it’s raining or the wind is blowing, I should go out and shoot my bow? Probably not. However, you never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at you while in the field. It is important to know how you and your equipment will perform in different weather conditions. A few years ago while hunting caribou in Alaska, I took a shot in a howling wind at a ptarmigan. Even though the shot was only 30 yards, my arrow hit a good two feet right and was flying sideways when it got there. This later discouraged me from taking a longer shot at an animal in similar type winds because I knew what it would do to my arrow and that I couldn’t make an ethical shot. Instead of always waiting for the perfect calm day to go out and shoot your bow, try mixing in some not so- perfect days. If you don’t think that a slight wind will affect your arrow’s flight at 40 yards, you better get out and practice with a little wind. Bowhunting is a game of inches, and we owe it to the animals we hunt to understand how our equipment is affected under different circumstances.

5. Practice shooting in your hunting gear.
Have you ever heard the smack of your bow string hitting your jacket sleeve? I have and it cost me a beautiful typical mule deer buck. It’s important to practice in your hunting clothes and gear. I have run into a few hunters on the mountain before who looked like they were wearing half of the clothes and gadgets in Cabela’s. I understand some people get cold easily or like to pack around lots of gear, but make sure you can draw your bow and shoot with all those clothes and gear on. I have seen animals do some strange things, but I have never seen one stand around and wait while you shed a couple of layers. Try putting on the most clothes you will be wearing at any given time while bow hunting – this includes gloves, hats, and face masks. While you’re at it, put on your backpack, binoculars, rangefinder and any other gadgets you may carry while hunting and take some practice shots. Make sure nothing is going to be in the way if or when you get that “shot of a lifetime.”

6. Practice with your hunting arrows and broadheads.
We have all heard this many times, but I know way too many hunters, both young and old, who put their broadheads on the night before the hunt and go hunting the next day. I’m not going to get into what broadheads are the best; there are a lot of different choices on the market. Some broadheads require more work and tuning than others, but the bottom line is that none of them fly exactly like field tips all the time and at all distances. Take the time to practice and tune your bow with the broadheads you will be using in the field. You may have to buy a few extra broadheads or replacement blades, but your time and money will be well worth it when you see your arrow sink home exactly where you were aiming. This hunting season is building up to be another great one. You never know when, where or how you will be presented with that shot of a lifetime. But, if you put in some time, effort, and creativity to your practice this year you will be ready to make it count. Last fall I got another chance at a trophy mule deer buck. The scenario was the same. A well planned stalk, a downhill broadside shot from my knees, no time to use my rangefinder, but this time I watched my arrow disappear into the boiler room of my first 30-inch mule deer. There is no better feeling than when all your hard work and practice pay off and it all comes together on “the shot of a lifetime.”

When my buddy called me late one night and threw out the idea of calling predators, my ears perked up as usual. Nothing gets my blood pumping faster than the sight of a predator coming to the call, but then the mention of a bow and arrow was thrown into the conversation. I thought the Verminator had been sippin’ some tainted lemonade out behind the barn. Most of us know that shooting a predator with a bow is an accomplishment, but shooting a predator that is coming to the call with a bow and arrow and catching the action on film is about as likely as drawing a royal flush in Texas Hold’em.

One of the first things I would need to adjust before taking on a predator with my bow would be my definition of success. Using a rifle to call and kill predators can be a challenge in its own right, a kill with a bow would not be nearly as easy. One thing for sure, success would have to be measured by more than a kill. I decided to measure success by the knowledge that I gained from the experience of the hunt.

It wasn’t long after that phone conversation that I found myself toting my bow and walking the high prairies of eastern Colorado with my buddy Rick and cameraman Joe. We had some close calls; more coyotes came and went without a shot being fired than I can count on my fingers and toes.

Finally, we had a memorable hunt that took place with the Verminator near my home here in Eastern Colorado. The terrain in these parts is open rolling hills with very few trees; the soap weed is the only cover available. So much for getting in the shade like the experts have always preached. Instead, we tried to keep the sun at our backs and wear camo to blend as well as possible into the surroundings. There were four of us, including the ranch owner, Mark, and our cameraman, Joe. Mark was carrying a rifle for backup, as he is the one that wants to see dead coyotes, not educated coyotes. We went to one of our favorite honey holes where there are only rare occasions where we don’t call in a coyote. We entered this calling area across an open flat and dropped over a stair-stepped hill that overlooked a wide, dry creek bed. The only reason that we didn’t spook coyotes out as we entered is because they are usually bedded down at that time of the day. The coyotes almost always come from straight across the creek bed from a deep cut in the far hill. The Verminator sat downwind of me, about 80 yards away. Mark sat up the hill behind and between us, and Joe sat about 10 feet directly behind me. Rick had his bow in hand and I had mine as well; but, figuring that the coyote would end up somewhere downwind, the shot would most likely be Rick’s. I started the set with tweety, doing my best rendition of rabbit agony. About six or seven minutes into the set, I noticed a single customer coming just 250 yards straight out in front of me. I alerted Joe and prepared to work this coyote into Rick for a shot. The coyote was coming at a gallop and began to swing downwind, just like he knew the drill. At about 100 yards, the coyote slowed to a trot and began swinging more toward Rick than me. It was then that the coyote looked directly at Rick and you could just see, as it raised its head, that it was starting to get that sense that something was amuck. About this time, I lip-squeaked to draw the coyote’s attention back toward Joe and me so that Rick would have a chance to draw back for the shot. But, to my dismay, I found that my little lip-squeak had turned the coyote directly back my way. I had not planned to shoot, so my bow was still on my lap. As the coyote quickly closed the distance, I froze – there was not much else I could do. Finally, at a mere 20 yards, the coyote either smelled me, saw me, or just sensed my presence and spun around and began a hasty retreat. I quickly raised my bow and started tracking the moving coyote while at the same time mouth-barking to try and turn and stop it. It worked, and the coyote came to a broadside stop. My mind raced to determine distance and, in the blink of an eye, I had a Goldtip arrow with a 100-grain Spitfire leading the way toward the coyote. Whack! My arrow found its mark. The coyote spun and was running full-out back across the dry creek bed. The dog only made it about 100 yards before cartwheeling to a halt. Without wasting even a moment, I began more dying rabbit blues on my tweety, hoping for a second target.

After a couple more minutes of calling, I heard Joe whisper something. I thought I heard something about, “I didn’t get it.” I just kept right on calling, because I actually thought Joe was pullin’ my leg. But, a minute later, I heard those words again, “TR, I didn’t get it.” What? He said it again, “I didn’t get that filmed.” So it goes sometimes. Turns out that the hill we were sitting on was part of that stair-stepped terrain. Joe was on the next step above me, and when the coyote got to the base of the hill, he was barely visible to the camera. At that point, Joe decided to focus the camera on the terrain and not the coyote. The filming went downhill from there, literally. Nonetheless, we had an awesome hunt, one that none of us will ever forget. The Verminator was displeased, a little, at Joe, and Joe was not pleased either. I wasn’t pleased either for that matter, but I blame the coyote for not sticking to the script and giving Rick the shot as was planned. Mark, meanwhile, was in disbelief at what he had witnessed with the hunt, the shot, and the quickness of the kill from the arrow.

After all was said and done, and it was verified that the footage was no good, Rick decided it was time to head back to Kansas. It was just late morning, however, so I tried to convince the guys to stay for a couple more stands, but no deal. Rick was no longer in a mood to continue hunting and was ready to throw in the towel. Mark suggested that we stop in Limon, Colorado on our way home to get lunch and that Joe should buy Rick a Happy Meal from McDonalds. From that day on, that hot spot for calling became known as “The Happy Meal” spot.

One thing about calling predators to the bow is that sometimes it’s better to be lucky than to be good. In calling coyotes, one quickly learns that the coyote has tendencies, but no rules. For example, most coyotes like to get downwind of the source of distress sound because they often have the need to satisfy more than one of their senses that danger does not lurk at the scene. The coyote is wary, in fact, I can’t even think of a more wary animal. If a coyote senses danger, they most likely won’t stand around trying to see the threat; instead, they may look over their shoulder for the danger while leaving the area. Often, when a coyote begins to flee an area where they sense danger, they will go the same way they came. If they smell human, they often won’t even look over their shoulder while fleeing. But, if a coyote is leaving and looking over its shoulder, use your mouth to bark at it, sometimes the coyote will stop.

When hunting coyotes with a bow and arrow, we like to have the coyotes coming slow. To do this, try to give the coyote only enough distress sound to keep it moving your way. If the coyote is coming your way, hold tight and let it come. A slower, incoming coyote is better because it will give the shooter more time to estimate range, and usually more time to take the shot. Sometimes, however, this may only cause the shooter more frayed nerves.

The need for a decoy is questionable. We’ve witnessed coyotes that have stopped their direct route toward us and begin to circle once they spotted a decoy. We’ve also witnessed coyotes that get hung up out of range. In these situations, a decoy might have been just the ticket. But, if you think a decoy is going to bring the fur into range on every stand, you need to realize that this is simply not the case. Each coyote will react as differently to a decoy as they do to any distress call.

Speaking of distress calls, which call should you use? There’s no one call that will always work, but every call will work sometimes. Even if you live where there’s not a jackrabbit within a hundred miles, a jackrabbit distress will still call coyotes. And, just because the fawns aren’t dropping doesn’t mean that a fawn-in-distress call won’t call coyotes. It’s more about the rhythm and excitement of the call than the sound and time of year that the call is being used. Coyotes react to a call, not necessarily because they have heard the sound before and recognize it as a free lunch, but because they have an instinct and a curiosity to find the source of the sound. I’ve heard some awful sounding calls over the years, even a few from my calls, but it never ceases to amaze me that coyotes come to a lot of different sounds. Take the Verminator Syco for instance. When I use mine, I’ve often wondered what animal would make a distress sound like that, but I have called numerous coyotes with it. So be creative. The rabbit distress probably still calls more coyotes than any other call, but don’t be stuck on one sound. Kind of like fishing, sometimes your favorite lure works, and sometimes it’s better to use a new lure.

Anyway you slice it, calling coyotes and using archery in an attempt to kill them is tough business. A lot of cards have to fall in the right order for the final outcome to be a kill. It took the Verminators three seasons to catch 24 kills on film. We had a few kills that just didn’t get caught on film, such as the Happy Meal hunt. We had enough missed opportunities that we could’ve made a whole film with just that action. And the coyotes that we called that never got shot at? There were about the same number as the fleas on a dogs back!

If you want up-close action, and if you want to learn a lot about how coyotes react to being called, take a bow with you. While you’re waiting on them to get close enough for a shot with your bow, you may learn some things that you wouldn’t have if you’d had a rifle in your hands.

By Arnold Sandoval

Life is a continual learning process. Personally, I continue to grow daily and am intrigued by the many changes affecting our sport and way of life. By digging into the past, you can observe and apply changes that may affect our future as well. As technology advances at lightning speed, it appears Murphy’s Law not only applies to computers, but hunting as well.

Gear -wise , everything from clothing, optics, vehicles, GPS units and weapons constantly changes and improves. I can remember not too long ago when wearing cotton or plain wool clothing was the norm in the field. Today, we have a vast array of choices that include synthetics and wool assortments. There are articles of clothing that retain heat, allow heat to escape, breathe, wick moisture and are waterproof. Some time back, most of us hunted on foot or horseback when the road ended. Today, there are super-rugged, four-wheel ATV’s that can climb just about anything imaginable in record time. We have rangefinders, which take away the guessing and are accurate to one yard at 1000 yards. GPS technology is also revolutionary. You don’t need to know your bearings anymore, you just plug in coordinates and you can get there and back. Our weapons have also evolved. I can remember when a .30-06 was the standard caliber when pursuing most of North America’s big game. Today, super-flat and hard hitting long distance calibers from Short Mags to the .30-378 Weatherby are commonplace. Even archers have seen great advances in the compound bow and composite arrow materials. Bows are extremely precise and have greater punch than ever before.

This leads me to the topic of archery hunting in Mexico. At one of the major hunting conventions every January, I have been bombarded with an ever-increasing interest in bowhunting in Mexico. As of yet, I’ve not had the opportunity to provide this service to hunters yet. There are some considerations.

The terrain in Mexico varies greatly from area to area. The deserts and mountains of Sonora will be different from those in Chihuahua; in turn, they will be distinct from the dense jungles and mountains of Central and Southern Mexico. From experience, I would say that closing the distance in Sonora on a big mule deer or coues deer buck can be a challenge. Not impossible, but difficult. It’s true that most rifle shots in the desert country of Sonora are within 100 yards, but the biggest bucks will usually push the upper end of that distance. How do you close that distance and get within bow range? Surprisingly and equally inspiring, a decent number of my hunters have killed big bucks within 40 yards or less. Last season, one of my hunters hip-shot a 31-incher right out of his bed. Sure, you could say it was luck. Realistically, I believe it was hunter and guide persistence and skill that prevailed that day.

The endless miles of Palo Verde plateaus in the desert country can work to your advantage. These plateaus offer great cover for the deer, but also super concealment for the hunter. Obviously, the key is spotting the buck before he spots you. This will mean slow and quiet moving through the soft desert floor. Scouring directly into cover with quality optics in those denser areas will be productive in spotting movement or body parts. In the mountains, the tactics will be slightly different. Stalking within range can be a very attainable goal or difficult challenge, depending on how you view it. It can be done, but patience is required due to limited concealment.

The hunting history of the Native Americans is distinct. The Apache, Papago, Tarahumara and Yaqui tribes, to name a few, hunted Northern Mexico’s wilderness before there was a border designation – before the first white man ever set foot on this continent. Those people depended on hunting for their existence and survival. They weren’t farmers, but superior hunters of game. Their hunting weapons and bows were carved from materials in their environment and would probably be considered primitive by today’s standards. They didn’t have the luxury of cam technology compound bows and synthetic arrows. You could argue that game was more plentiful and easier to kill in those days, but there is no guarantee of that. The Native Americans relied on their own inherent skills to feed themselves and their families.

By necessity, the Native Americans were adept at covering long distances. Their physical fitness level was way above par and incomparable to anything today. They didn’t belong to a local gym. Their gym consisted of the wild expanses of nature herself. A place they visited on a daily basis. Often, those hunters traveled many days on little food and water. The Tarahumara Indians, who inhabit the rugged canyons and caves of Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon) in Chihuahua, are legendary runners. They were known to physically run down their prey in the steep and desolate expanses of the canyon, an area larger than the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Success today for the modern bowhunter in Mexico depends on their ability to hunt hard and long in top physical form.

For the Native hunters, getting within arrow range was monumental. Consequently, they evolved into masterful trackers. Unfortunately, today, tracking is rapidly becoming an extinct art form. For a successful hunt south of the border, tracking should be incorporated in some form. You will rapidly learn that the desert expanses yield low deer densities. There is lots of country, but you will need to focus mainly on large bucks scattered in the vastness throughout. Effective tracking can last days. As you begin to close in on your animal, you will benefit greatly from the skills and experience of a tracker. A great tracker will be able to seemingly anticipate the buck’s next step. If used effectively, you may be able to predict his route and ambush him as he approaches, usually unaware of your presence. You might ask whether it would be more effective to sit near a water hole and wait. That may work here in the West, but it is not equally feasible in Mexico. Most big game, such as deer, will not openly water during daylight hours. If pressured, the desert mule deer will completely avoid water holes for long periods of time.

Bowhunting in Mexico is an untapped area in a sense. You will belong to an elite few who’ve attempted such a thing. Very few modern hunters can say they’ve done it, fewer yet can say they were successful. I know firsthand of a handful of dedicated Mexican hunters who have hunted northern Mexico for years. They’ve been successful with both compounds and recurves, which should offer hope to those desiring such a challenge. I can assure you that, if successful, your success will be welldeserved and meaningful beyond recognition. The Native Americans were routinely successful throughout history. They didn’t possess bows that could fling an arrow accurately at 75 yards or greater. Today’s hunter has a definite advantage over hunters of the past. Additionally, bringing a bow into Mexico will not require the intensive gun permit paperwork needed for rifles. A license and tag are still required, but getting across the border will be a breeze.

If you still have doubts that a successful archery hunt can be had in Mexico, I would invite you to look at the evidence. The deserts and mountains of Mexico are littered with remnants of those people from long ago. Chiseled arrowheads of many sizes and materials, from native granites to beautiful quartz varieties are commonly found today by the unsuspecting hunter and wanderer. There is evidence that those people once existed, as the true hunters of the land.

By Rex Summerfield

Deep claw marks in the tree’s bark indicated that the big bruin had located our tree stands. His big paw prints were clearly visible in a new bear trail that now led directly under our tree. This new path was a worst case scenario for us and we tried blocking the trail with a thick barricade of tree limbs and logs to force the bear into a better position as he approached the bait. Try as we might, the bear stubbornly refused to be moved off the trail and each day we would find the barrier torn down.

It was many nights before I finally spotted him across a small draw lying on an open hillside soaking up the last rays of evening sunlight. Even from a distance he looked enormous. Even better, he had a beautiful chocolate-colored coat. It was my turn to video for my hunting partner, Kurt Howard, and I brought the camera up and captured footage of the bear as he stretched and yawned. As expected, he came directly under the tree, easily breaking through our resurrected obstacle. Peering through the mesh floor of the stand, I could see that the bear had stopped at the base of the tree, a mere twelve feet from where we sat. When a bear that big walks through the woods everything pauses and, in the silence, I could clearly hear the sound of snuffling as he carefully smelled the ground where we had stood. When he sniffed the bottom rungs of the ladder, his eyes turned skyward and we froze in hopes that our camo would break up our outline. His head finally swung toward a noise in the distant timber and I was able to focus on him as he moved closer to the bait. When the right moment arrived, Kurt carefully drew his bow and fired. Incredibly, the arrow missed its mark. Suffice it to say, the bear headed for parts unknown at high speed and Kurt was totally heartbroken. Over the next two years we continued to see the bear’s tracks at the bait and even though we switched stands, tried other baiting techniques and avoided our normal travel routes, we never saw him again.

Obviously baiting is not a sure thing. Nor is it the only method to take black bears. Spot and stalk is popular in more open areas like those of the Southwest or the tidal flats of Alaska. In the thick country of the Northwest, however, we don’t have many areas conducive to spot and stalk hunting with archery equipment. Calling bears with fawn bleats in the spring is quickly becoming popular and can make for some very exciting encounters. Mathews’ Pro Staffer, Terry Verbal, recently told me about calling big boars using a movable elk calf decoy, which resulted in fullon charges from responding bears.

Hound hunting is another popular method to take bears, but it seems to be getting a lot of bad press these days. Hunting black bears with hounds can be one of the most exhilarating, physically demanding hunts you will ever encounter. While smaller bears usually climb trees when being pursued, large boars are more than a match for a pack of hounds and often prefer to fight on the ground and stay mobile. Taking one of these big boars in a running fight with hounds is about as close to an extreme sport as you can get. Not only do you have to keep up with a pack of screaming hounds in mountainous terrain, but you actually have to run faster so you can get in shooting position ahead of the melee. Even if you are lucky enough to catch them, the scene is often too chaotic for a clear shot.

Of all the ways to hunt bears I would rank baiting as the most popular among archery hunters. To the uninitiated, bear baiting may seem easy, but experienced bait hunters know it’s a real challenge. It requires hard work, a thorough knowledge of bear behavior, planning, strategy and a measure of luck. Each hunter has his own recipe for success which often involves “secret” attractant scents.

To quote the old cliché, “If you want to shoot a big one you have to hunt where they are.” This could be geographical or simply biological. In other words, don’t wade through the snow to put your spring bait up in the high country when all the bears are down in the valley eating green grass. Large boars are legendary for their secretive lifestyles, so I like to place my baits next to road-less areas where big bears can live undisturbed. Bears like dark timber and brushy hillsides, so I look for these areas when picking a bait site. The more comfortable you can make it for the bear, the better your chances will be of getting them to the bait before dark. Probably the single biggest factor to having a successful bait is to make sure it’s placed so the wind will carry the scent of the bait into the area you are trying draw the bears from.

Once I have a suitable location picked out, I start by building a crib to hold the bait. Some hunters use barrels, but I prefer natural materials. We position the crib in a “V” shape to force the bear into a quartering away angle for the best shot placement. The sidewalls of the crib should be made of the largest materials you can find in the area to discourage the bears from digging into the bait from the wrong angle. Dig a hole for the bait inside the crib and cover it with smaller sticks to keep the coyotes out of it. I prefer to use dog food and used fryer grease to set up my initial bait sites. The dog food will last longer out in the elements without going bad and the used vegetable oil will act as a powerful attractant. Pour the oil on the small sticks, making sure to cover the bait, and up on the sides of the crib. This does two important things: first, it creates a smell that will drift downwind for miles and second, it turns any bears visiting the bait into walking trail markers for other bears who follow their greasy footprints back to the bait. Once your bait is established you can use meat scraps, grain, or old bread and pastries from the local bakery. Make sure to check with your local regulations to see what is permissible.

No matter what hunting method you choose it’s important to stay flexible. Remember the big chocolate bear? Well, he showed up on our bait again this spring, but this time we completely changed the rules. We moved the bait fifty yards to a new location which allowed more options for tree stand placement. Next, we decided to put out less bait to see if it would cause the big bear to come in earlier before a smaller bear could eat it all. Last but not least, we waited to hang the stands till the night before we were ready to hunt so the bear couldn’t pinpoint their location and alter his travel route.

This time I won the coin toss and, as dusk was settling, Kurt whispered that a bear was coming. I followed his gaze and couldn’t believe my eyes when they settled on the shape of the large chocolate boar. When he turned broadside at 25 yards, I released the arrow and knew he was mine. When we finally measured him he taped 6 1/2 feet from nose to tail and weighed over 350 pounds. Though this is truly a magnificent bear, the thing I will remember most is the years of hard work and strategy required to take him.

In most Western states, you will probably know soon if you have drawn a coveted limited-entry tag. Whether that is for elk, deer, antelope, or any other limitedentry hunt, you’re sure to feel the anticipation and excitement of having the chance to chase that animal of your dreams. For those of you that do draw a limited tag, preparation begins soon, if not right now. There is a long list of equipment to get ready for the big hunt. Let’s talk about a piece of equipment that will spend as much time in your hands as a good pair of binoculars – your weapon. In this case, we’ll talk about archery, and how you can get your bow ready for that memorable hunt.

Having your bow properly set up and tuned is critical in getting the most out of it. An efficient set up includes choosing the bow, arrows, sight and accessories. To modern bowhunters, you will soon discover that many options lay before you. How do you sort through them all? How do you know what is the right equipment for you? Let’s look into these things and then I will give you a little bit more technical information to make you a more prepared hunter and archer.

What bow to choose? This question is constantly debated by many people. “I think Hoyt is the best because it is so quiet.” Or, “I think that Mathews is better because it is so fast.” There are a lot of great bow manufacturers out there like Hoyt, Mathews, PSE, and Martin – just to name a few. No matter what bow you choose, the ultimate judge of what is the “best” bow comes down to you. Go out and try every bow that you can. Every archery shop that I know of will let you look at a bow. Some will even let you shoot it. If you find one of the rare shops where you can test shoot the bow, take advantage of it. The more time you spend with a bow, the more you get a feel for that bow’s particular characteristics. If your local shop does not allow this, look around for one that does, or find a friend that has the same bow that you’re looking at. Your friend’s bow may have the wrong draw length, but you will still get an idea for how the bow feels. Ultimately, you will find a bow that matches your style and your hunting situation. If the whole process seems a bit confusing, ask your pro-shop, they can get you pointed in the right direction.

How do you sort through all the different arrow types? There are a lot to choose from: Easton, Gold Tip, and Carbon Express are all great arrows. All of these manufacturers make an arrow to fit your every need. When purchasing a hunting arrow, look for something that will give you good penetration and can also take a beating. Most states have laws declaring the minimum arrow weight for hunting. Check your local laws to make sure that your final arrow selection meets those laws. Beyond that, talk to your pro-shop to help you find the best arrow for you.

What sight should I use? This is a lot like choosing your bow. Look around. Look at as many different sights as you can. Determine what your hunting situation is like and try to choose a sight that best matches your situation. There are many great sights, with a lot of different features. If you are looking for a high-tech, hard core, hunting sight, take a look at Spott Hogg. Their sights are tough as nails and offer some awesome features. If you still want an incredible sight but don’t want to break the bank, take a look at Cobra or Copper John Sights. Both of these companies make tough sights, with great features at an affordable price.

Now comes the fun part, you get to accessorize your bow. This is where you choose your arrow rest, quiver, stabilizer, and wrist sling. Don’t overlook these areas, because they can make a big difference – especially when you’re out in the woods. Again, keep in mind your hunting situation and choose accordingly. If you are hunting in a stand, weight isn’t as big of a factor as when you are hunting in the backcountry. Keep your hunting style in mind as you choose to outfit your bow. It can save you some unwanted shoulder aches when packing your bow in the field.

Now that you have your bow, arrows, sights and accessories chosen, lets get your bow tuned up. A bow is like a machine that will function to its highest efficiency when put together properly. For example, a gasoline truck wouldn’t run very efficiently if you put diesel fuel in it. But, if you used the proper gasoline, it would run efficiently and for thousands of miles. The same is true with a bow. When a bow is set up properly, it will last much longer and operate much more efficiently than it would otherwise. Do some quick measurements to make sure that your bow is running on the right “gasoline.”

To help you get started, let’s cover some basic vocabulary. The following is a list of words that will help you determine if your bow is properly adjusted to begin with.

Axle to Axle: The measurement from the center of the top limb’s axle to the center of the bottom limb’s axle.

Tiller: The measurement from the back of the limb pocket to the string. This should be at a 90-degree angle to the string.

Brace Height: The measurement from the back of the grip to the string. This measurement should also be at a 90- degree angle to the string.

Most of the above measurements should be set from the factory, but it never hurts to check. Axle to axle should be whatever it specifies in your owners manual or on the manufacturers website. Tiller should be the same on the top and the bottom. This helps you to detect if your limbs are at the same setting in your riser. Brace height is also another area in which you can detect any differences in the way your limbs are tied to the riser. Any variance in these measurements tells you that your bow is out of specification and thus not working at its maximum efficiency. These adjustments are best done by a trained technician with the proper tools. Once your bow is set up properly, it can be tuned using your arrows, rest and release. You can tinker around with this if you like, and your shop may even be willing to teach you a few tricks about how to tune. Once your bow is tuned, pull out a measuring tape and do some quick measurements. These measurements include the ones above, but you might also measure a few things to make set-up quick and easy in case a disaster happens. Other things can be measured, such as: the distance from your peep to the top of your nocking point, the distance between the inside of your riser and your arrow rest, the distance your arrow rest is extended away from the riser, and whether or not your nocking point is at 90-degrees or slightly higher like some manufacturers recommend. Watch your string, if it starts to get dry or fray just a little, put some string wax on it. Keeping your string waxed will increase the life of your string dramatically. Also watch your top and bottom cams, if the serving wrapped around the strings or cables starts to separate keep a careful eye on it. You can still shoot it safely, but if it starts to get down to bare string or cable, it is time for a replacement. Keep in mind that a little maintenance will prevent any catastrophes while hunting.

With all of this information it is easy to become overwhelmed. Pace yourself and remember to have fun. After all, fun is what you are after. Choosing your bow and all of its accessories is a fun undertaking. Tuning your bow can keep you busy for a very long time. When that moment of truth comes and you have that shot at the trophy of a lifetime, your new best friend will be set up and tuned and so will you. Good luck.

By Nate Jacobson

As I think back about my first years with a bow, I reflect on those fun days with my Bear recurve and my dad’s old, woodshafted arrows with Bear razor points. I practiced hours on end with that bow. My brothers, James and Russ, would throw boxes in the air or across the ground like a bird or moving animal and I would shoot at them. I remember thinking, as a young cocky boy, that I was a pretty dang good shot. Boy, I sure was naïve! I never would have guessed how difficult it would be for me to kill that big muley of my dreams with a bow. I had no idea how many blown stalks or missed shots were in store for me over the next twenty years. However, one thing I can say for sure is that I have enjoyed all the hunts that have led up to this one.

I killed my first buck with a bow when I was about eighteen years old. It was a nice, respectable buck, but I decided from that hunt forward that if I was going to kill a monster, I had to pass on everything else.

I started getting to know remote areas that held big deer. It seemed that finding big deer wasn’t the problem, but getting within 35 yards from them for a shot was becoming a challenge. When I actually did get into range for the shot, it seemed extremely hard for me to keep everything together. And when I found a group of deer and decided which one I wanted out of the group, it appeared that the others knew they were safe, but the one I wanted always stayed out of range. One hunt, in particular, stands out in my mind for this very reason. While hunting high country bucks in southeastern Utah, my brother-in-law, Ron Kirk, and I were pursuing a giant typical muley. One morning while hunting this buck, I spotted him coming up the ravine towards me. With great anticipation, I sat there waiting for my shot, and wait I did! For some reason, this big mule deer got one up on Houdini for disappearing! All the other bucks filed by, but the big one was nowhere to be found. Later on that same hunt, a local friend of ours killed the buck which ended up scoring 185 5/8-inches net typical. I have had many incredible encounters with big deer over the years. I feel very lucky to have been so close to these animals, even though I never killed a big one. I put in my time and energy – uncountable days of scouting and getting up at 3:00 a.m. to hike tall, Utah peaks with my good friend Cody Powell. I put so much effort into get the job done just to end up being one second too late or ten yards too far to shoot.

These many years of preparation bring me to my great Canada adventure. For years, I have been filming various hunts in Canada. Always in the back of my mind, I would think about someday hunting there. Most of the areas I filmed didn’t seem to hold very good deer. I started contacting people on the phone and, after many conversations and plane rides, I learned about some areas that held good deer. I was able to get some great footage of big deer and was very excited about the prospect of hunting the area myself. In late summer of 2004,

I spent about two weeks in Canada filming with help from Bear Paw Outfitter owners Scott Taylor and Bowen Dolhan, and their guides. We all became good friends. Scott was gracious enough to allow me to return the following year to hunt for myself with my bow. Between filming and hunting, I spent a full month that year in Canada. Many thanks to Scott for his hospitality and for Smoky’s great cooking. I had opportunities for some great deer, as the footage will show in my upcoming videos Burly Bucks, Volume 2 and Volume 3.

In the days prior to opening day, my guide, Chris Gilbert, and I found a monster we named “TNT.” Once the season began, Chris and I enjoyed hunting these huge velvet deer and passed on some big ones because I was after TNT. As always, TNT knew just how to evade me. We were able to find him four days of my ten-day bow hunt. TNT liked to spend his time in a remote area in a canola field. Canola is the plant from which canola oil is made. Deer love to live in the f i v e – foot tall, thick canola fields and eat the canola because it has a high concentration of protein. The day we found TNT, we were glassing through these hills of canola, and I saw some velvet tips sticking out of the crop. When TNT turned his head sideways, we both about had a heart attack when we saw all of his points coming straight up out of his head – hence the name “TNT,” because his points just seemed to explode out of his head. I remember getting some decent footage of him that day and being so pumped. But, the canola is noisy to stalk through and getting close enough for a shot was difficult. The question soon became, “How am I ever going to kill this deer if he never leaves the canola?”

In the pursuit of this 215- inch monster, I saw, on occasion, a big buck in the same area who I dubbed “The Railroad Buck.” He had 40+ inches of mass and scored in the 190-class. During those days when I couldn’t find TNT, I would hunt Railroad, but he seemed even smarter and more elusive than TNT. As the bowhunt ended, I found myself going home emptyhanded but with no regrets. After seeing so many great deer that I passed on, I felt my hunt was a success in a way. My friend, Jim Giles, had come and filmed my bowhunt for me, and he has always wanted to kill a big mule deer for himself. I lined Jim and his friend, Bryant Wilson, up with rifle tags for this same area that fall. I was also able to reserve Chris and Ryan’s help as guides, thanks to Bear Paw Outfitters. I was able to film Jim shoot TNT with his rifle. TNT ended up scoring an amazing 215 inches. Way to go, Jim! Before I knew it, it was 2006. I contacted Bear Paw and wasn’t able to line up a bow tag. I w a s pretty b u m m e d about not being able to hunt this year, but still planned to make my annual filming trip in late summer. At the last minute, I came in contact with Mike Dziengielewski, the owner of Birch Creek Outfitters. Mike said that he had an extra bow tag available from a client that had cancelled. In Canada, you are required to have a guide, so I contacted my good friend Ryan Jones who guided for Birch Creek Outfitters and the hunt was back on!

As my hunt approached, I decided to do a road trip with my family and drive up through British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies to my hunt area. We had an incredible ride ahead and would be looking at some of the most amazing country in the world. So, with my pregnant wife and our two boys by my side, we started our unforgettable seventeen-day, 5,000 mile journey, not knowing how sweet the ending would be. As usual, my great friends Chris, Ryan and Jay were excited to go hunting. We all love to hunt with our bows. There were three big bucks that we would pursue during this hunt. After days of hunting, I started having some close calls with Railroad. Railroad had grown to surpass the 200-inch mark this year, but as luck would have it, he always seemed to be one step ahead of me. Between tree stands, ground blinds and spot-and-stalks, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, sneaking past big bears, getting up at 4:00 a.m. to be in position by first light, and about slicing my index finger off with my broadhead, I was starting to wonder if any of this would pay off. Railroad was the buck I wanted and I prayed for a chance at him.

Toward the last few days of the hunt, Lady Luck would shine as I snuck along the thick tree line trying to ambush Railroad. I remember that there was a light rain in the air, and I began to realize that things were actually coming together. Within minutes, I was at full draw with Railroad at 40 yards. As I released the arrow, I heard that beautiful sound as it passed through his lungs. Soon, I was finally standing above my dream deer. With tears in my eyes, I remember having a conversation with this 205-inch, 375-pound, giant velvet buck with 44-inches of mass. The memories of all the years of pursuing a big archery deer came to mind and I knew how blessed I really was.

I want to thank all that helped through the years in my pursuit of killing a monster deer with a bow and especially for this hunt – Chris Gilbert, Ryan Jones, Jay Becker, and Mike with Birch Creek Outfitters for this tag. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. For hunters interested in a big mule deer or whitetail, I recommend giving Mike a call. He runs a great operation. Most of all, I want to thank my wife for being so incredible, and my kids for going on this journey with me. Hope to see you on the hill!

By David King

You started bowhunting at an early age, how did you get started?

I got my first bow when I was twelve years old. It was a fiftypound recurve and I got a bear with it. It was awesome. I shot the bear by myself when I was out in the wilderness in Oregon, but I broke the limbs on the bow. When I was in ninth grade, I made a copy of that first bow in my woodshop class and I upped the poundage to sixty pounds. I shot that bow for a few more years. I didn’t switch to compound bows until about 1998. I still shoot recurve a little bit today.

Give us a little history of how you got things started with Limbsaver.

In 1999, I was making the Sims Sting STOP System for all of the aluminum bats for Louisville Slugger, which effectively reduced vibration through an insert that fit into the handle. I was also doing a project called the In-Tune Handle System for Wilson tennis rackets as well as a Sims Shock Relief Plus for Power Built golf clubs. I was doing all of these sport projects, but the one passion that both my brother and I shared was bowhunting. We wanted to come up with a product that tied into something that we loved. We started working on something that we called Decay Time Modification Technology. We had developed this technology for baseball bats, but we then modified it for archery – this resulted in Limbsaver. Since then, we have been expanding on those technologies for various archery products. Our goal is to improve archery hunting.

Before your company began producing archery equipment, you developed products for baseball and tennis. Can you expound on that aspect of your business a little bit more?

Absolutely. Our company developed non-hunting products for ten years before we got into archery. I consider myself a physicist, but in the sense that I have dealt with vibration engineering for over 25 years. The company started out with us writing different formulas and coming up with Decay Time Modification. Decay Time Modification is being able to shorten the resident decay time on something without adding undue mass weight. That, in itself, was a novel concept and became patentable. We patented the technology and took it into baseball, tennis, and golf as well as high-end audio, drumsticks and more. That same technology is what we brought into archery.

Tell me about your first archery product.

Our first archery product was the actual Limbsaver device. The Limbsaver is a great product that we stuck on the limbs of bows to reduce vibration. That first year, in 1999, we sold $3 million worth and couldn’t make them fast enough. We ended up with four or five different injection tools trying to make them. It was an awesome time. Our second biggest product is the S-Coil, which we put on the market just two years ago. It has been dynamite for us. It has also produced some incredible numbers. All of the products that we make at Sims are products that work. That slogan came from our customers, not us. People know that we make products that work. If, for any reason, you have a problem with our product, we will fix it and take care of you – no questions asked.

I know there is a story about the name “Limbsaver,” can you tell me a little about that?

The original project was to protect the limbs of the bow and help them last longer by shortening the resident cycle. To have the limb going into less residence over time can be a benefit. We were sitting there eating Lifesavers, when someone said, “Hey, you know, this is a limb saver.” It saves the limbs of the bows. Now that name, marketing wise, has moved from archery products into firearm products like our Limbsaver

You started bowhunting at an early age, how did you get started?

I got my first bow when I was twelve years old. It was a fiftypound recurve and I got a bear with it. It was awesome. I shot the bear by myself when I was out in the wilderness in Oregon, but I broke the limbs on the bow. When I was in ninth grade, I made a copy of that first bow in my woodshop class and I upped the poundage to sixty pounds. I shot that bow for a few more years. I didn’t switch to compound bows until about 1998. I still shoot recurve a little bit today.

Give us a little history of how you got things started with Limbsaver.

In 1999, I was making the Sims Sting STOP System for all of the aluminum bats for Louisville Slugger, which effectively reduced vibration through an insert that fit into the handle. I was also doing a project called the In-Tune Handle System for Wilson tennis rackets as well as a Sims Shock Relief Plus for Power Built golf clubs. I was doing all of these sport projects, but the one passion that both my brother and I shared was bowhunting. We wanted to come up with a product that tied into something that we loved. We started working on something that we called Decay Time Modification recoil pad. It’s basically become a brand name.

Can you tell me a little bit about your testing laboratory?

We have a customized vibration test laboratory that not only does shock and vibration testing, but acoustic testing as well. We can measure how loud a bow is, as well as the arrow in flight. We also measure, of course, the recoil pads, shock and vibration, and how much energy is transferred in the shot. We have our own shaker tables and our own programs that we work on constantly. Another physicist, two engineers and I work in the lab to better understand vibration.

I know you have had a lot of success directly, but your OEM products that you sell through other manufacturers have been quite an achievement as well. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

We have done really well with our OEM manufacturing with Hoyt, Bear, and Darton, just to name a few. We have produced a lot of products for a lot of different companies. It’s better to come up with a working relationship with people versus having somebody come out and copy you anyway and just ending up in litigation. After you weigh out the difference, it is easy to see that while you will make less money on OEM products, you will not be losing money on litigation. We have a lot of people copying Limbsavers with other products that they are putting on the limbs of their bows. We’ve gone three years without going into litigation, but we have to step up and protect our market. Unfortunately, there are a lot of guys out there that don’t care about patents in this industry.

It sounds like you are really expanding and branching out. Some people may think that Limbsaver just produces a product that they can pop on their bow and nothing else. However, it is apparent that your company markets much more than that.

The Limbsaver fall-away rest is phenomenal. We can’t make them fast enough. As fast as we sell them, we get more orders. We are doing the best we can to fill back orders. The same thing is true for our new Limbsaver prism sight. The Limbsaver prism sight is a fantastic light collection system. It is a wellbuilt sight so that you can go through the brush and not have to worry about pins falling out and breaking. We pretty much target our products to hunting and the wear and tear that hunting takes on your equipment. You don’t want your pins breaking when you have the opportunity to shoot that big buck. That is what our company is about. We want to be a full-fledge archery company and that is why we are coming out with our new Limbsaver bow.

The new Limbsaver Bow sounds exciting. When can we see it?

There have been many years of work, dedication, time and scientific energy that have gone into this bow. It is coming out in October and we are going to be pushing it hard for next year. We started seeing erosion on all of our different product lines from people in archery not upholding our patents. If you are going to be in this industry, you have to continue to grow. A lot of the manufacturers with their own types of copy-cat products have forced us into becoming a bow manufacturer. We’ve wanted to do a bow for five years. We have the technology that can truly bring archery to the next level. We will produce several different lines of bows. We are starting out with an upper-end type of bow and then moving out into a totally new technology. We are not only going with a compound bow, but also with the crossbow market as well. In October we will be shipping out our first bows, but the main push will be next year at the ATA Show.

What is your dream hunt?

I love all hunting. I just had one of my dream hunts up in Alaska with my twelve-year old son who shot his first black bear with a bow. It was fabulous and a dream hunt come true. My son shot the bear at 17 yards and the bear only went 50 yards before piling up. Perfect shot! It was just an awesome experience.