Indholdsfortegnelse for October/Rut Guide 2020 i Petersen's Bowhunting

WHEN IT COMES to great debates among bowhunters, the moon’s impact on deer activity is right up there with crossbows vs. compounds and fixed-blade broadheads vs. mechanicals. Opinions are sharply divided, and trying to find a single right answer is about as easy as brokering Middle East peace. In preparing this month’s issue for publication, I found it interesting to find two highly respected voices from the whitetail community on opposite sides of the moon issue. On one side, you have Adam Hays III. Hays is one of the most prolific big-buck bowhunters in America, having personally taken 10 whitetails scoring more than 170 inches — including four bucks surpassing the mythical 200-inch mark. Hays credits much of his success to Jeff Murray, creator of the MoonGuide. Hays discovered Murray’s…

IF YOU’RE A serious bowhunter, you should have one overriding reason to practice, and that is to become a better shot under hunting conditions. It’s OK to shoot your bow for fun at the range or in your backyard when conditions are perfect. However, the fastest way to improve your hunting accuracy is to practice with a defined purpose, specific goals in mind and under extreme conditions. Through many years of practice, I’ve found it is best to focus intently on improving just one aspect of your shot at a time. Everyone seems to enjoy doing things they are good at. However, people don’t like to do the things they aren’t very good at. For example, those of us who have trouble shooting in the wind avoid practicing when it’s…

DESIGNED TO COMBINE the consistency of a stiff riser — resulting from a dual riser-cage structure — with the speed and smooth draw of the company’s HDS cams, these bows are built for the field. Both rigs are built on Xpedition’s popular Mako platform, with the MX-15 having a shorter brace height and faster arrow speeds. Additionally, the MX Series features a set of pre-loaded split limbs, a double-roller cable-guard system, Torqueless Grips, a host of vibration-dampening accessories, GAS Bowstrings, metal stabilizer-mounting inserts and more. Caged Lion Xpedition employs 6061-T6 aluminum, one of the most popular bow materials, to manufacture the M-16 riser. The aluminum is first forged and then machined into its final form before a hydro-dip or powder-coat process is used to apply the finish. The MX-16 features…

DON’T MISS #DEERWEEK 2020! With an entire week dedicated to all things deer hunting, #DeerWeek airs Sept. 14-20 starting at 7P ET on Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel. Featuring the best deer hunting programming on TV, #DeerWeek will be hosted by Jeff Danker and country music star Tyler Farr. Additional programming will be available for streaming on MyOutdoorTV throughout September, all brought to you by Academy, Old Trapper and Forloh. For a complete schedule, original recipes, and more information, visit deerweek.com.…

Since the company started back in 2005, Big Dog Hunting has been committed to making quality treestands, tower blinds and accessories that not only will stand the test of time, but also are affordable for all hunters. In fact, the 10-foot Guard Tower soft-sided blind is the most affordable blind in this review yet still offers plenty of great features. ASSEMBLY & TRANSPORT The Guard Tower Blind and 10-foot platform are delivered unassembled. Shipped together, the free-standing tower and blind come in a package weighing just under 230 pounds. Assembly time is comparable to many of the other metal platforms that we reviewed, and it’s a safe bet to say two people can complete the project in two hours. As long as you’re ready and willing to read and follow…

I’ve been blessed to watch nearly 50 whitetail bow seasons come and go and have been through just about every stage of change such seasoning brings. As I enter the golden years of my bowhunting career, I’m thrilled to be able to relive my earlier days through my wife Peggie, who still gets the shakes every time she sees a deer sauntering in her direction. I’m also very content in seeing my friend Travis carry the torch I have slowly handed him over the years. Spending time with my “crew” continues to make each November a greatly anticipated time of camaraderie. Best Laid Plans Each October is a time of preparation for our little group of whitetail bowhunters. A little bit of scouting will be in order, and a whole…

I certainly haven’t tried them all, but I have used quite a few. Based on my experience, I’d rank Moultrie Mobile right there at the top. With hardware available for the Verizon and AT&T networks (simply choose the one that offers the best coverage in your hunting area), images are sent from your cameras to the Moultrie server, and you can access them via the Moultrie Mobile website or the companion app on your smartphone. In addition to reviewing images, the website and app provide the ability to change camera settings, monitor battery life, cell signal strength and SD card capacity, activate new devices and change your data plan. Last year, I shared a review of Moultrie’s hardware upgrade from 3G wireless to much faster 4G LTE technology. But since…

ODOR KILLER $15 Wildlife Research Center; wildlife.com Perfect for travel totes, sport bags and boots, WRC’s Tote Tamers were designed to fight and absorb moisture and odor. Ideal for small, enclosed areas, this ozone-free product is safe for use with all types of materials and requires no batteries. Tote Tamers begin working the second they come out of the package, and additional Tamers can be added to larger containers. TAKE A SEAT $90 Big Dog Hunting; bigdoghunting.com A worthy hang-on sporting a Comfort Mesh flip-up seat, sizeable platform and weighing 23.5 pounds, the Setter from Big Dog Hunting heeds the bowhunt-from-a-perch call. Heavy-duty suspension cables, along with an upper cinch belt strap and lower stabilizing platform strap, provide safety and solid stand-to-trunk attachment. The…

IN BOWHUNTING, there are many factors that decide your fate. It’s like the million little parts of a model car that need to be glued together in just the right spots for the wheels to turn. Some elements are physical, such as the bow and accessories you choose. Others aren’t the type that come wrapped in plastic at the store. As complex as the equipment side of bowhunting is, it’s just one candle on a senior citizen’s cake compared to the mental side of the game. If you head afield without a healthy dose of confidence, bowhunting will eat you alive. If you lack patience, you’ll starve. And if you aren’t determined, you’ll never taste success. Of all the adjectives I could use to describe an accomplished bowhunter, the one…

WOUNDING RATE — the number of animals hit by hunters but not recovered — is an important topic, particularly when bowhunting is being considered as a legitimate wildlife management tool. Proposals for controlled hunts in urban areas or on public lands often bring strong sentiment from both pro-hunting and anti-hunting factions, and depending on the study or studies you cite, there seems to be sufficient evidence to support both sides of the argument. For example, a Wisconsin study from 1958 found a bowhunting wounding rate of 10 percent, while in a 1963 New York study, it was a mere 7 percent. Later studies in Iowa and Michigan reported wounding rates of 17 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Conversely, studies from Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota and Wisconsin reported…

Manufacturer: Xpedition Archery, 844-263-3665; xpeditionarchery.com Model: MX-16 Riser: Aluminum, reflex, dual cage Grip: Torqueless, wooden side plates Limbs: Split, Gordon Composites Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65 and 70 pounds peak Draw Lengths: 26-31 inches, in half-inch increments; rotating module Cam System: Hybrid Dual Stop (HDS) Letoff: 80 percent (advertised and as tested) String: BCY 454, 59.125 inches Cables (x2): BCY 454, 35.375 and 37.625 inches Brace Height: 6 inches Axle-to-Axle Length: 32.75 inches Weight: 4.2 pounds (advertised), 4.7 pounds (as tested) Finish: Realtree Edge, Realtree Excape, Realtree Timber, Molten Black, Tactical Sand, Ops Green Advertised IBO Speed: 348-352 fps MSRP: $1,099 Comments: Fast and stout, with minimal shock, vibration or noise.…

The MoonGuide ($24.99; moonguide.com) is available in two versions — a printed dial that covers August 2020-January 2021 or as a smartphone app with an annual subscription that includes detailed information for an entire year. On both the printed and digital versions of the MoonGuide, calendar dates listed in red indicate Red Moon days when peak moon times for daylight activity coincide with peak hunting times around dawn and dusk. The MoonGuide provides a variety of key information for each date. The two times listed for each day are the superior (moon directly overhead) and inferior (moon directly underfoot) transit times as the moon orbits the earth. Each time also has an associated recommendation for the best place to hunt during that period, whether that be a field edge, transition…

Problems Solved Fitted with a removable menu system that boosts ease-of-use and provides better picture viewing, BOG’s Blood Moon is a dual-sensor camera being heralded for its crystal-clear images and icon-based operating system. Choose from five capture modes and let the camera’s .2-second trigger and 120-foot flash range do the work. $230 | boghunt.com Dual Activation Using Covert’s Wireless Web Portal and Mobile App, the AW1 Series uses advanced M2M (Machine-to-Machine) communication to deliver real-time control, weather data and instant picture viewing to your smart device. Motion and heat activated, images snapped by this pair of smart cams are no longer sent via text, but rather to Covert’s Wireless Mobile App. $310 | covertscoutingcameras.com Scouting Simplified With no long-term contracts and no activation charges, Browning’s Defender Wireless trail camera will…

Based out of Raleigh, N.C., Advantage Hunting recognized the need for hard-sided hunting blinds capable of keeping hunters comfortable while providing 360-degree visibility and protection from the elements. Among the best of the hard-sided hides they offer is the Game Keeper Edition Dual Threat Bow/ Gun Combo Blind. Let’s check it out. ASSEMBLY & TRANSPORT Advantage Hunting blinds can be bought through a number of local dealers across the country or simply ordered online from various retailers. Essentially, two platform options are offered. The first option is a rugged, steel-floor mounting system with elevator brackets that accept treated wood posts. This method leaves the height of the blind to be determined by the user. The second option is the steel “Quadpod Elevation Kit” which can be purchased with the blind…

Barnett serves the full range of crossbow enthusiasts with a comprehensive product line that hits every part of the price and performance spectrum. From its price-point models all the way to the top of the line, Barnett prides itself in manufacturing products with a high price-to-performance ratio. In other words, the company wants to ensure you get a lot of bang for your buck! The TS380 fits this bill perfectly, as it is home to many high-end Barnett technologies and features, along with a budget-friendly price tag of $549.99. Those technologies and features include an adjustable buttstock, laminated Gordon Composites limbs, high-energy cams, TriggerTech frictionless release technology and more. Adjustability & Control Barnett outfits the new TS380 with an adjustable, Tactical Series buttstock, which customizes the fit and feel for…

My confidence was shattered, archery was joyless and I was honestly wondering whether I could continue bowhunting. To make a long story short, I eventually overcame my affliction, thanks to some great advice from friends (big shout outs to Randy Ulmer and John Dudley) and a commitment to re-learning how to properly execute my shots using hand-held, back-tension release aids. The use of hinge-style releases on the practice range and a tension-activated release in the field proved instrumental in my comeback. I continue to hunt with that tension-activated release today, with more confidence and better success than ever. Back when I was at my lowest point with target panic, I ditched my wrist-strap, index-finger release aid and vowed I would never go back. Well, never is a really long time,…

IN SIMPLY TITLING this column, my soul was given a breath of fresh air. Those three words drop my blood pressure, clear my mind and improve my overall well-being. And although bowhunting really thrills me, and big antlers intrigue me immensely, wide-open spaces define me. Peace and quiet personified, they are a fantasy that constantly drifts through the recess of my mind. I love a horizon where earth meets sky. I love the whistle of wind through a sea of grass, punctuated by a songbird. I like the slow trek of puffy, white clouds across a baby-blue sky and the rumble of a distant thunderstorm across a vast, unbroken prairie. How about the stimulating fragrance of a wet sage flat, or the sight of an unbroken rainbow so wide it…

POPULAR HUNTING magazines, including this one, are full of articles with headlines such as Hunting the Trickle Rut, How to Hunt the Late Rut, Rut Predictions and the ever-controversial Plan Your Rut Hunt by the Moon. Yet, as hunters, we misunderstand the rut as much as we love it. Scientists who have spent decades researching and dissecting the whitetail rut readily admit there’s much more to unravel. So, is the rut really predictable? Does the moon really affect buck movements during the rut? Well, let’s review the science so you can decide whether your rut-hunting strategy needs an overhaul. Before you can hold up your end of a campfire rut debate, it’s important to understand the “why” surrounding the timing of the big show — from nature’s point of view,…

THE IDEAL number of pins on a bow sight is a hotly debated topic. The answer depends on the type of hunting you do, the amount of practice you put in and how well you shoot. It’s not an exact science, but there does seem to be an optimal number of pins for each archer. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. What kind of hunting do you do? If you are hunting in a treestand or ground blind where the longest shot is typically 30 yards, then a 1- or 2-pin sight is wonderful. It keeps things simple, helps you avoid confusion when the pressure is on and provides a big, unobstructed field of view. However, if you are stalking, a 30-yard shot often ends up being more of a wish…

BANKS BLINDS STUMP 2 VISION SERIES Banks Outdoors of Canyon Falls, Minn., without-question is a pioneer in the hard-sided hunting-blind industry. For 2020, Banks introduces the Stump 2 Vision Series Whitetail Properties Pro Edition. ASSEMBLY & TRANSPORT The Stump 2 is delivered fully assembled. That means the only labor required is platform installation, leveling and setting it in the field. Those tasks should take roughly two hours, depending on the platform plan. Platform designs can vary, and that’s exactly what the folks at Banks intended. Thanks to the product’s heavy-duty, steel-plate base, platform leg length is up to you. Many users elect to outfit their blinds with sleds for easy transport. Banks offers steel ladders in 4-, 8- and 12-foot lengths. Once the Stump 2 is successfully attached to its…

Manufacturer: Barnett Crossbows, 800-237-4507; barnettcrossbows.com Model: TS380 Safety Features: Anti-Dry Fire, trigger safety, finger guards, pass-through foregrip Riser: Cast magnesium, compact Cam System: Two-track, standard dual cam Axle-to-Axle Width: 18.75 inches (at rest), 13.25 inches (cocked) String: Crosswire, 32.938 inches Cables (x2): Crosswire, 17.625-inches Limbs: Split, laminated, Gordon Composites Draw Weight: 201 pounds Power Stroke: 12.625 inches Grip: Pistol-style, with premium, soft-touch finish Stock/Forearm: Adjustable buttstock, pass-through foregrip Overall Length: 34.375–36.875 inches Weight (crossbow only): 6.9 pounds (advertised and as tested) Finish: Digital Grey Camo Advertised Speed: 380 fps with a 380-grain bolt MSRP: $549.99 Comments: Comfortable, customizable, easy to control and quick.…