Table of contents for June 2024 - Gear Special in Bowhunter

WHEN YOU look at hunting, and by extension bow-hunting, there is no doubt the participation of women and youth is essential to the sport’s long-term viability. As with all activities, kids are the future of the sport, and starting your son or daughter off early, and on the right foot, is an excellent way to help ensure their love for archery today translates into a passion for bowhunting tomorrow and beyond. As far as women are concerned, while the overall number of hunters has declined over recent decades, the number of females participating in archery and hunting continues to rise. In fact, according to statistics from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 3.1 million, or 22 percent, of the 14.4 million people…

NOTHING GETS ME more excited than when the calendar flips to November and the whitetail rut magic begins. Although we are just now dipping into the summer months and sweet November seems half a world away, it will be here before you know it. Needless to say, now is the time to start making a checklist to see what gear you may need to replace, and what items you just can’t do without. Frankly, there’s always something we “need,” or at least that’s what we tell ourselves, and if you’ve been itching to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, now is a good time to start. CARBON EXPRESS A LIGHTWEIGHT, durable, deep-penetrating and affordable all-carbon arrow, the new Predator Air ($59.99 per 6) by Carbon Express…

THE LANDSCAPE was pancake flat. The lone pronghorn buck was bedded, but I was out of real estate. The range provided by my Leupold RX-FullDraw 5 rangefinder told me the range was 76.4 yards — a good poke, for sure. I realize some readers are already rolling their eyes, shaking their fists and shouting, “Bowhunting is a close-range game!” I don’t disagree, and over 25 years of bowhunting, my average shot distance on animals is 32.6 yards. That’s pretty close. However, living in the wide-open West, there are situations when the distance between me and my quarry is further than when hunting from a Midwest treestand. This antelope buck was a prime example. I couldn’t get any closer. Not only was he bedded; he was quartering away — his binocular-like…

UNLESS YOU have been firmly planted under a soundproof rock, you’ve likely heard the buzz surrounding the meteoric rise of crossbows within our ranks. Love them, hate them, use them or don’t, they are here to stay and gaining a growing following every year. As is true with any product-driven market, it’s the advancements in technology and innovation that keep this train moving forward. The current state of crossbow technology is the result of both incremental improvements that steadily build year after year, as well as those awe-inspiring advancements that ignite a firestorm of chatter at the annual Archery Trade Association show. How far have we come? Well, I took a look at 10 random crossbows from 10 years ago and found some interesting similarities and differences compared to the…

THE CEDAR-SPRINKLED landscape dotted with pockets of heavy sage provided barely enough cover to continue my approach. Each move was a risk, but occasional passing clouds cast shadows, and at 125 yards, the rutting mule deer buck and his harem of does were clueless of my presence. Slowly, I inched forward, dodging prickly pear cacti as I slithered along the ground like a snake. Inching my binos above the crackly, 3-inch-high prairie grass, I spied only the tips of the buck’s antlers. The does were circling, but the buck bedded. Mr. Big rested comfortably, letting his girlfriends look for danger as they nibbled at the desiccated grassland. A single doe pegged me as I tapped the button on my rangefinder. Luckily, my camo blended seamlessly with the terrain, and knowing…

ALPS OUTDOORZ ■ Nomad Vehicle Organizer The days of throwing your bow and other stuff on the back seat of the truck are over thanks to this innovative vehicle organizer. The ALPS OutdoorZ (alpsoutdoorz.com) Nomad ($99.99) system, available in Mossy Oak Original Bottomland or two-tone charcoal and black, features two large panels, each with two large zippered pockets across the top, as well as an expansive open pocket for larger items and two magnetic closure pockets perfect for stowing smaller items. The lower pocket accommodates most compound bows, keeping your bow secured safely while preventing damage to the sight and rest. The panels are designed to be secured to the headrest and seat bottom on the back of your seat; each panel is 21 inches long by 18.5 inches wide.…

I DON’T KNOW exactly where the bowhunter featured in this photo is, but I do know it was taken during a DIY moose float somewhere in the Canadian bush. Regardless of the exact GPS coordinates, it’s safe to say the location is a proverbial “thousand miles from nowhere,” with no prayer of making it to a pro shop without a float plane. In remote bowhunting locales such as that, you need a bow you can rely on — one that is solid as a rock, super-dependable and deadly accurate. Truth be told, every bowhunter needs a bow that fits that description. No matter whether you regularly travel to farflung bowhunting destinations across the globe or simply pursue whitetails in the Back Forty, you can’t afford anything less than peak performance…

WITH TENPOINT CROSSBOW TECHNOLOGIES celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, it seems fitting that the crossbow community would be treated to a technology tidal wave from the industry icon. A company that has gained legendary popularity and achieved undeniable successes through innovation and technological advancements might be tempted to sit back and enjoy the spoils. TenPoint, however, refuses to rest on its laurels. In addition to introducing the fastest production crossbow on the planet with the new TRX 515 that shoots an eye-opening 515 fps, the company has reinvented its riser platform, said goodbye to the traditional rail, hit the next level in cocking aid performance and more. Let’s dive in! Twin-Riser Technology For 2024, TenPoint has changed the game with its all-new Twin-Riser Technology on the TRX 515 and…

HEADING WEST for a hunt can be an intimidating endeavor. The amount of gear you need to tackle a mountain hunt can be overwhelming; and when you’re on the mountain is the wrong time to discover you don’t have gear that’s up to the task. For most mountain bowhunters, the equipment kit is an ever-evolving collection of gear and gadgets. A specific pair of boots may work great for one guy but could destroy the feet of another. Some will want a pack capable of holding enough gear for trips of a week or more, while others only need to pack enough for day hunts and the occasional overnight excursion. Finding the right gear is a personal decision, and the mystery of what works can’t be solved by anyone but…