Bowhunter September 2025

WELCOME TO sweet September! If you’re an avid elk hunter, the month needs no introduction. These are the eagerly anticipated days when bugles ring out from the ridgetops, beckoning us to magical mountainside encounters between bull and bowhunter. Although I consider myself a “whitetail guy,” it’s impossible to resist the siren song of September elk. Let’s face it; there’s not a more charismatic big-game animal than a mature bull elk in a rutting frenzy. And though I’ve been fortunate to tag more than a few trophy-sized bucks over the years, my most memorable bowhunting moment occurred in September 2013 in southern Colorado. I was on a guided hunt at the legendary Crazy French Ranch outside Trinidad, not far from the New Mexico border. After passing an opportunity at a young…

I SUSPECTED 2024 might be a difficult pronghorn year in Wyoming. Sometimes, I hate it when I’m right! My September bowhunt started even worse than I’d imagined. In 2022, an outbreak of disease killed off a high percentage of antelope in my favorite hunting area. The following winter was brutal and cut down the herd size even more. I managed to scratch out a decent archery buck in 2023, but it was the only record-book buck I saw. Last year was not any better. I hiked the hills for several days without seeing even one decent-horned buck. There were quite a few pronghorns wandering the prairie, but males all seemed to be young, with puny headgear. Wyoming harbors more antelope than any other state, so even on down years there…

AS A GUY who loves traditional archery equipment, I like to shoot both recurves and longbows. But I’m honest enough with myself to know I shoot a recurve better than I shoot a longbow. I practice with my longbow every year and often get myself pumped up to hunt with it, but almost every year, right before hunting season, I lose confidence in my shooting and end up grabbing my recurve. I just feel so much more comfortable and confident with my recurve that I almost always chicken out. I did use a longbow almost 15 years ago to shoot an antelope and made a great shot, but I went back to the recurve and could just never get my longbow confidence back. This past spring was no different. I…

Easton 5.0 Easton Archery constantly tries to give bowhunters and target archers options, which is why this projectile kingpin added the all-new 5.0 arrow to its numerous offerings. Engineered for bowhunters who want an ultra-versatile shaft, the 5.0 platform reduces friction for increased penetration while being less reactive to wind pushing on its sides. The lighter mass of the arrow ensures bowhunters can create a wide range of setups, from light and fast to those with high FOC configurations. The 5.0 comes in ±.003-inch (Standard) and ±.001-inch (Match Grade) straightness tolerance options. HIT collars are included with the new Match Grade version. $109.99 (Standard Grade) or $129.99 (Match Grade), per 6 | eastonarchery.com Speed Broadheads New Speed Broadheads feature patent-pending Speed Reactive Technology that ensures incredible accuracy in flight and…

EARLY-SEASON bowhunting is always exciting. It has been a long wait since last year’s season closed, the venison in the freezer is almost gone, and whether it’s one of your target bucks or a doe, many bowhunters can’t wait to let an arrow fly! Some states open bow season at the beginning of September. If you hunt one of them, you’re in luck, as this is the best time of year to pattern unpressured bucks. Patterning bucks is always a chess game, but investing some boot leather and glassing before bucks shed their velvet can lead to antlers on the wall. Come opening day, hunting along a crop field’s edge is where many of us find ourselves. This strategy works well and has been time-tested over the years. A problem…

LATE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL are primetime for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) across the whitetail’s range. This viral disease, spread by biting midges that breed in stagnant water, can cause massive local or regional deer die-offs and is known to be particularly lethal for mature bucks, making it a particular concern among hunters. EHD outbreaks are especially prevalent during prolonged drought periods, as hot, dry conditions result in more warm, shallow, stagnant bodies of water with exposed areas of mud — the perfect breeding environment for midges. The dry weather also limits water sources, forcing deer to congregate around the water that remains, making them highly susceptible to midge bites and EHD infection. Mature bucks are particularly vulnerable in late summer because the biting midges are attracted to the velvet-covered,…