Tabla de contenidos para April/May 2019 en Bowhunter

THE LOUD SHRILLS of my Circe jackrabbit call echoed across the vast, pinyon-juniper landscape. Moments later, a flash of hair caught my eye amidst the shrubs and golden rod-colored grass. Suddenly, at about 30 yards away, the unmistakable head of a coyote bobbed into plain view, now with its eyes fixed on my location. I froze, despite a surge of excitement racing through my camoclad body. Experience told me this canine would vanish with the slightest bit of movement, so I did not dare move a muscle. But as soon as the ‘yote turned his head for a few fleeting seconds, I seized the moment and quickly hit full draw. I held my 30-yard pin just below the coyote’s vitals and applied back tension until the shot was gone. The…

EVERY SPRING, my first hunt is usually an over-the-road, public-land affair. I’m typically operating out of a tent in Nebraska, or some other flyover state, and the first setup of the season is always interesting. While I’ve never forgotten the big stuff like a blind or my bow, I have hiked into the turkey woods before dawn without plenty of essentials. It happens every year and somehow never changes, although I’ve worked on trying to be more organized before each hunt. This means that during the long days in March, when there isn’t much else to do, I start rounding up gear, and if necessary, bust out my credit card to fill in the holes with new stuff. This year is no exception, and with spring gobbler season upon us…

BEAR HUNTING saw some remarkable developments over the past year, both in the woods and in legal circles. In the woods, Tennessee and Virginia both posted all-time record harvests. Virginia’s 2017 harvest was already an all-time record, and 2018 topped that by a whopping 17%. Maine and Michigan have noteworthy hunter success, blossoming bear numbers, and trophy potential. Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan have phenomenal hunting, and the advantage of spring seasons. I can personally attest to the quality of a spring bear hunt in New Brunswick. The chance to take a bear that qualifies for the Pope and Young records may not be as likely as in other provinces, but bears are everywhere, and the experience is fantastic! In legal circles, Idaho and Montana both scheduled grizzly bear…

Bowhunting predators and fast shots go hand in hand, given how quickly a coyote, fox or bobcat rushes the sound of a call. This means an excited bowhunter must be able to hook up fast, draw, and shoot with lightning-like speed, or risk losing a great shooting opportunity. Be sure your release aid hooks up fast to your string loop. If there are issues, try switching to a firmer string-loop material. I typically use a softer, more pliable loop material for most shooting applications to minimize torque and to increase forgiveness when using different styles of release aids. However, for predator hunting and some big-game hunting, I like a faster hook-up. In this case, I insist on using a stiffer, more rigid loop material, such as BCY’s #24, which is…

IN DECEMBER 2018, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill that prevents the Michigan DNR from issuing permits to allow deer sterilization. This all came about because of the situation in Ann Arbor, where the City Council approved spending to hire sharpshooters and to sterilize does. Since January 2016, sharpshooters have culled 217 deer. They’ve combined that sharpshooting with a doe-sterilization program that began in January 2017. As of November 2018, over 75 does have been sterilized. Hiring sharpshooters and sterilizing does costs big money. Since the program’s inception, total culling and sterilization costs were approximately $620,000, with most paid for by the city (meaning taxpayers), and a small amount by private donations. As I write this column, the city is planning to have sharpshooters cull an additional 150 deer…

WHEN I SAW A SIGN on a building that read, “Welcome to Little Ethiopia,” I knew I was lost. My cell phone had suffered a fatal software crash just two days prior, so I was without navigation and driving aimlessly through downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. I’d just completed a family fishing trip in Ontario and needed to fly to Saskatchewan for a bear hunt, but the Winnipeg airport had eluded me like a 10-year-old whitetail buck. I finally had to turn in my man card and stop to ask for directions. With a start like that, I was surprised to find my luggage and cameraman Mike Emery (and all his gear) waiting for me in Saskatoon. The next morning, Kerry Ukrainetz from Kamkota Lodge picked us up, along with Tom Nelson…

MY HUNTING PARTNER, Ryan Hawkins, looked at his phone and simply said, “Not good.” The weather forecast was calling for a massive storm to roll through the Midwest, leaving in its wake enough snow to shut down the interstates. We had a two-day window in which to fill our turkey tags in Nebraska and then get out. If we didn’t, we potentially would be stuck in our tents for a few days in a blizzard. Tipping the odds against us further was the fact that we’d be bowhunting public land, and we had no idea how much pressure the property had already experienced, or even if the wintering flocks had busted up enough to move some gobblers onto the parcel we’d be hunting. We discussed all of these possibilities to…

QUESTION I intend to get into bowfishing, and I want to involve my young children. My concern is their safety. What advice do you have for me with regards to equipment? Luke Walker, via e-mail ANSWER Luke, that’s a question that is right in my wheelhouse! As the father of twin seven-year-old girls, I’m looking at bowfishing gear as well and trying to think through all of the possibilities. The first thing to note is that today’s dedicated bowfishing equipment is all generally designed to be safe and foolproof, which is always appreciated. Aside from choosing a bow that is highly adjustable in both draw length and weight, you’ll see a variety of reels to choose from. The easiest for kids (and grownups) to start off with are those that…

I DON’T BUY that firsts are always best in life. I think this is something that commercials, songs, and ad gimmicks like to push. We have all heard it. Things like the magic of your first kiss, your first love, the first time you drive a car, the first time you hear that special song... Don’t get me wrong — it all sounds nice. But I have found that for me, the first time I do something is usually awkward, possibly dangerous, and oftentimes uncomfortable. My first kiss was awful. I didn’t really like the girl, and I honestly think she went to the movies with me because she lost a bet. My first love broke my heart, so that’s not even a good memory, much less a magical first.…

THE SHADOWS WERE LENGTHENING over the North Dakota prairie as Susan Muske sat motionless in the ever-darkening ground blind, resigning herself to the fact that the evening would end without a glimpse of the giant buck her trail camera had captured images of in late summer. Removing her release from her wrist, Sue began putting her gear back into her pack. But when she glanced up, her heart rate instantly tripled. Less than 30 yards away, and closing fast, was the prairie giant. I’ve known Sue for some time. We both work for Soil Conservation Districts in our respective North Dakota counties. Every November, District employees from across the state converge on the capital city of Bismarck for our annual convention. Not only is the convention a great place to…