Bowhunting

Anthony Wrote, ‘No Bashing Please, I’m 14’

Anthony Wrote, ‘No Bashing Please, I’m 14’

Anthony isn’t your typical 14-year-old boy—he’s a bowhunter from northwest Pennsylvania who enjoys spending time in the outdoors. Whether he’s chasing whitetails or groundhogs, Anthony can be defined as a true archery enthusiast.   Sadly, at only 14, Anthony is also well aware of the criteria set by keyboard cowards whose sole mission it is to bash anyone who kills a deer that falls under their minimum set of standards.     Recently, Anthony posted a picture of his latest bow ...
Prostituting Integrity For Antlers

Prostituting Integrity For Antlers

The voice on the other end of the line shared news any passionate whitetail hunter likes to hear, “I shot a giant!”   Relating the story of a 211-inch urban bow kill, the conversation was centered around a memorable bowhunt. But the tone quickly changed when the question was presented, “Do you think I could get some sponsors from this?” It was immediately apparent, this phone call wasn’t about sharing memories, it was about self-promotion.     A few days later the story took ...
Whitetail Movement And Barometric Pressure

Whitetail Movement And Barometric Pressure

It was only one o’clock in the afternoon, yet several deer were already feeding in the field. Seeing this unusual phenomenon I turned to my son and said, “It’s going to storm!”   Whitetail have an innate sense for knowing when bad weather is approaching. A couple of days before the weatherman predicts a drastic change in the forecast—based upon radar and weather models—deer already know. But how?     If you’ve spent any amount of time watching whitetail, you’ve seen how deer ...
How To Use Rainy Days For Scent Control

How To Use Rainy Days For Scent Control

Not all scent control comes in a bottle. Believe it or not one of the best forms of scent control is what meteorologists call ‘precipitation.’ And while some bowhunters dread a downpour, others have learned to use a rainy day to remain scent free.     Most hunters don’t celebrate rainy days. Just visit the local coffee shop during deer season. If it’s raining, the shop will be filled with guys who have already left their stand and are drinking hot coffee.   But with rain’s ...
Don’t Get Lulled Into An October Lull

Don’t Get Lulled Into An October Lull

Whether the so-called ‘October lull’ is supported scientifically or only pragmatically doesn’t change one simple fact—finding mature bucks during mid-October can be a challenge.   And while mature bucks may not be capable of a mimicking David Copperfield, or his ability to make items disappear, they can give the impression of being the world’s best illusionists this time of year.     Rising testosterone, changing food sources and the relocation to fall ranges can often result ...
Stalking Whitetail Among The Stalks

Stalking Whitetail Among The Stalks

When the weatherman said wind gusts were approaching 30 mph and coming out of a southwesterly direction, I knew my plans had been changed. Neither the weather or wind were conducive to sitting in the particular stand I had planned on hunting that evening.   But why allow the wind to cancel a hunt? Why not stalk whitetail in the corn?     Stalking Whitetail Among The Stalks   On windy days my father used to take his trusty Bear Whitetail and sneak through a corn field. ...
Field Crops, Row Crops and Whitetails

Field Crops, Row Crops and Whitetails

Having been raised on a farm and in a farming community, field crops and row crops were always part of our family’s whitetail hunting strategy.   Maturing row crops meant long drives through the countryside to see what deer were ‘in the fields.’ With a bag of Doritos, a few Cokes, and an old pair of binoculars, countless evenings were spent glassing food sources to see where bucks were feeding. And those childhood lessons continue to impact the way I hunt today.     Growing ...
How To Choose The Best Bowhunting Gear

How To Choose The Best Bowhunting Gear

Is there such as thing as the ‘best bowhunting gear?’ In jest I’d like to say, it depends on whether you’re speaking as a manufacturer, retailer, pro-staffer, or consumer.   Okay, so that was a poor attempt at cynical humor. But, when recently asked for my interpretation of the ‘best bowhunting gear,’ the answer boiled down to four very simple points.     1. Quality Just because someone gets paid a bundle of money to say a product is qualified to enter the realm of ‘best ...
Scouting For Whitetail ‘Through’ The Season

Scouting For Whitetail ‘Through’ The Season

The mention of ‘scouting for whitetail’ is likely to conjure up a multitude of ideas and interpretations. Every bowhunter has his or her strategy for scouting and depending on the type of terrain and whether the location is Eastern, Southern, Midwestern or Western, there are a multitude of methods that will work effectively.     Scouting For Whitetail   Here in the Midwest where row crops are plentiful and woodlots are home to wary whitetail, ‘scouting’ seems to have a ...
Early Season Bowhunting: Locate Soft Mass

Early Season Bowhunting: Locate Soft Mass

When rummaging through early season bowhunting tips, it doesn’t take much research to realize whitetail’s are the ultimate foodie. It has been said, “For over 90% of the year, food dominates a whitetail’s life.” This means one thing. Locating a prime food source (i.e., soft mass, hard mass, row crops, etc.) which is known to satisfy a whitetail’s cravings, is key to early season bowhunting success.     One of the whitetail’s favorite food sources during the ...