Table of contents for June 2020 - Gear Special in Bowhunter

THE ELEMENTS OF ANY LETHAL ARCHERY SHOT ARE ACCURACY AND PENETRATION. AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF A HUNT THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, THOSE TWO ELEMENTS CAN BE HONED TO PRECISION IF WE’RE WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT. When I first started bowhunting whitetails over two decades ago, it was those two elements that sent me home wondering if I was ever going to kill my first buck. A flubbed opportunity had me questioning my worth. Needless to say, I eventually got it together a few days later, and walking up on my first bow-killed buck was everything I had dreamed it would be. BROADHEADS Choosing the right ammo is the first step in that process, and having the right release is also a…

IT’S SAFE TO SAY THERE ARE BOWHUNTERS, AND THEN THERE ARE WESTERN BOWHUNTERS. THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT EITHER GROUP IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER, OR THAT ARCHERS CAN’T FIT INTO BOTH GROUPS, BUT RATHER THAT THO A REGULAR BASIS TEND TO HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN THOSE WHO PREFER T THEIR TIME PERCHED IN A TREE. Western hunters are gravitating more all the time toward moveable sights, weight-forward stabilizers, and bow-hugging quivers, all of which lend themselves toward longer shots in varying conditions that the West often throws their way. Manufacturers have read the writing on the wall, and have been producing a steady supply of accessories for this group of archers as a result. MOVEABLE SIGHTS The [1] Covert Pro Series ($236) sight from Apex Gear is unique from…

TENPOINT® VAPOR RS470™ • ACUslide™ cocking/de-cocking system • Crisp S1 Trigger™ mechanism • Streamlined, ultralight TEC-X™ stock The TenPoint Vapor RS470 ($2,899.99–$2,999.99) is equipped with the revolutionary ACUslide system, which allows you to safely cock it with only 5 lbs. of force and de-cock it by simply backwinding the handle. It weighs 8 lbs., is 31" long, and is only 6.5" wide axle to axle when cocked. The 2-stage S1 Trigger mechanism boasts a crisp 3.5-lb. trigger break with no creep in the second stage. The TRI-LOCK™ limb-pocket system and riser are machined aluminum, and the TEC-X stock is made of a high-strength, glass-filled polypropylene material. This reverse-draw crossbow is powered by RX-7 Cams™ and SLING-SHOT™ technology, which gives it an extra “turbo boost” to reach speeds of 470 fps.…

SAVVY WOODSMANSHIP AS NUMEROUS THINGS OU CAN DO TO UP YOUR CHANCES OF NOTCHING A TAG. MANUFACTURERS HAVE CREATED THRONGS OF PRODUCTS: SCENTS, DECOYS, CALLS, AND ATTRACTANTS, TO NAME A FEW, THAT WILL HELP GET YOU BOWHUNTING-CLOSE TO YOUR TARGET ANIMAL. The trick is to be willing to experiment and try some of these tools to help boost your stick-and-string body count. Just because something appears unconventional, doesn’t mean it’s snake oil. Often, it’s those who embrace outside-the-norm products who discover new tricks to slip up their bowhunting sleeve. Of course, many of the items in this article are bowhunting must-haves renowned for their tried-and-true effectiveness. Take a hard l at your past seasons’ successes, and think about what’s needed to make 2020 your best bowhunting year ever. SOLID SCENTS…

IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T FIGURED IT OUT, BOWHUNTING IS HARD. WHETHER YOU SCALE THE WESTERN ROCKIES OR SPEND YOUR SEASON 20 FEET UP A HARDWOOD, EARNING A SHOT AT A TROPHY ANIMAL TYPICALLY REQUIRES A GIVE-ALL PURSUIT. It’s the pursuit we love, right? What we don’t love is being miserable during that pursuit. While misery comes in many forms, few things cause a white-flag wave like blisters, freezing skin, or an aching back. The good news is these hunt-enders can be avoided. The technology driving today’s boot, pack, and apparel options is nothing short of remarkable. The items to come will keep you warm, dry, comfortable, cool, organized, and blister-free. I could go on, but basically, they do everything but provide you with an on-the-hunt massage. Give the following gear…

ASIDE FROM AN OBVIOUS BEND TOWARD BOWHUNTING IN MY LIFE, I’M ALSO A BIRDDOG JUNKIE. I LOVE RETRIEVERS AND POINTERS AND SPENDING TIME HUNTING WITH MAN’S BEST FRIEND. TO THAT END, I’VE ALSO NOTICED SOME WEIRD SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BREED CHOICE AND BOW CHOICE. For starters, if you look at hunting dogs by region, you’ll notice that the most popular dog breeds tend to favor a specific kind of hunting. Where I live in Minnesota, it’s Labs or German shorthairs, but that wouldn’t be the case in South Texas. When it comes to bows, regional preferences crop up as well. Western hunters are all about the weight and the long-range accuracy. Whitetail hunters, on the other hand, don’t care a whole lot about toting an extra half-pound of mass weight into…

I DON’T KNOW WHY IT IS, BUT HUNTERS LOVE EXCUSES NOT TO HUNT. IT’S ALWAYS TOO HOT, OR THE MOON PHASE ISN’T RIGHT, OR MAYBE THE WIND IS FLAT WRONG FOR ALL OF YOUR SETUPS. YOU CAN’T DO MUCH ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE OR THE MOON PHASE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO NOT HAVING SETUPS FOR SPECIFIC WIND DIRECTIONS, YOU COULD ALWAYS HAVE MORE OPTIONS First off, just giving yourself a few more treestand or blind sites that work with winds that aren’t from the prevailing direction in October and November, can curtail the temptation to skip a morning or an evening hunt. The ability to hunt when it’s blowing o the east, or maybe carrying a warm front from the south, is a good thing. But you’ve got to give…

WHETHER YOU SEEK THE COMPANY OF A SCREAMING BULL ELK OUT WEST, OR YOU’RE AFTER A WHITETAIL BUCK ON A HOMETOWN TREESTAND ADVENTURE ON THE BACK 40, H TION CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. It’s always better to spy your quarry first if you hope to hunt more effectively, and with today’s quality optics, rangefinders, and trail cameras, finding game has never been more fun. Take for example the Kansas buck I killed last fall. I first spotted him over 400 yards away cruising the edge of a thicket during the last twinkle of daylight. A few days later, I was able to grab a few photos of him with a repositioned trail camera. Although I still may have killed that 150-inch brute, it was last-minute glassing coupled with the…