Bowhunt America - April 2013
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DISPLAY UNTIL MAY 2013
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Vanatoare cu arcul in America
Transcript of Bowhunt America - April 2013
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Spring Hunting 101BackyardWhitetails • 26Mark kayser
Make your Buck Blossom This spring
Best of Bill Krenz • 28The Lesson Bear
Spice Up YourSpring BlackBear Hunt • 34Mark kayser
If you think hunting black bears froma treestand over bait is exciting, wait until you try some of these thrilling bear-hunting alternatives.
Ground Blinds vs.On the Run forSpring Gobblers • 44Darron McDougaL
With two great methods to getthe job done, which poison willyou pick this spring?
Lyme Disease: What You Don’t KnowCan Hurt You • 52BrenDa PoTTs
Because we spend more time outdoors,hunters can be at a greater risk of contracting Lyme disease. Here’s what you need to know about Lyme disease before you head off into the woods.
Bowhunting Life • 66BrIan sTrIckLanD
utah Bruin
Crossbow Tips & GearGreat New Gear: Crossbow Special • 22The hottest new crossbowsand accessories on the market.
Crossbow Report • 50Mission MXB-360
CrossbowMaintenance Tipsfor Better Safetyand ImprovedPerformance • 58Tracy Breen
are you properly caring foryour crossbow? ensure that yourcrossbow holds up to seasonafter season of use with theseeasy maintenance tips.
Cover Photo © John eriksson/images on the Wildside
BOWHUNT AMERICA (ISSN 1947-3745) [Volume 11, Issue 1], april 2013 is published 6 times a year (april, June, august, september, october, november) by Zebra Publishing, Inc., 2960 n academy Blvd, suite 101, colorado springs, co 80917 for $19.97 per year. application to Mail at Periodical Postage Prices is Pending at colorado springs, co and additional mailing offices. PosTMasTer: send address changes to BoWHunT aMerIca, Po Box 1092, selmer, Tn 38375.
B o W H u n T a M e r I c a • a P r I L 2 0 1 3 • V o L u M e 1 1 • n u M B e r 1
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Shooting &EquipmentShootingSecrets • 20MIcHaeL corrIgan
stop the creep
AccessorySpotlight • 32Lacrosse aeroHead
Bow Report • 42Hoyt spyder 34
Bow Report • 56aPa Mamba M5
Bowhunt AmericaPublisher’s Note • 12sHerry krenZ
Welcoming our new editor
From the Editor • 14Darron McDougaL
Big shoes to Fill
Highlightsof the Hunt • 18exceptional bowhunterswith their trophies.
sPonsoreD By
Marketplace • 64
Guides &Outfitters • 65
Classified Ads • 65
B o W H u n T a M e r I c a • a P r I L 2 0 1 3 • V o L u M e 1 1 • n u M B e r 1
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Welcoming Our New Editor
In the premiere issue of Bowhunt America, my husband, Bill Krenz, wrote, “Bowhunt-
ing is still a very romantic sport. We still have to get close. We still have to be quiet.
We still have to make the shot. But at the same time, plenty of the core elements of
bowhunting are changing. Tactics, equipment, opportunities, and shooting techniques—to
name just a few of those elements—are all evolving. That’s exciting and invigorating. But
it also gives rise to plenty of questions.”
Providing straightforward answers to those questions was why we launched Bowhunt
America in the first place. While we enjoy reading great hunting stories as much as
anyone, we wanted to publish a magazine specifically designed to provide not only
entertaining stories, but also the information other bowhunters needed to create great
hunting stories of their own.
Of course, as Bill wrote in that March 2003 issue, bowhunting continues to evolve,
and Bowhunt America will evolve right along with this sport we all love so much.
To that end, I’m pleased to announce that Darron McDougal is the new editor
of Bowhunt America. A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Darron has been hunting since
he was old enough to buy a license. Although Darron has hunted and taken some
western game animals, his passion is chasing whitetails. And he’s had a great deal of
success when it comes to cagey whitetails, having taken over 30 in just over a decade
of bowhunting.
In addition to being an accomplished bowhunter, Darron is also well-trained in the
technical aspects of shooting and equipment. For ten years, he worked as a service
technician and salesperson at J’s Archery, a family-owned archery pro shop. The
knowledge and experience he gained working with archery equipment during that
time will serve him well in his position as Bowhunt America editor.
Most importantly, Darron shares the vision that drove Bill and I to create Bowhunt
America. Like us, Darron is interested in providing our readers with more than just
great stories—he wants to provide our readers with answers. He is also committed
to providing our readers with the highest quality content possible.
Welcome Darron aboard by contacting him at [email protected].
Our sport will continue to grow, change, and evolve, and so will our magazine.
But through all the changes, you can count on Bowhunt America to provide you with
information that can help you be successful in the field.
Sherry KrenzPublisher
S H e r ry K r e n z
Publisher’s Note
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Big Shoes to Fill
Two years ago, a giant earthquake struck the archery and bowhunting industry. Bill Krenz, editor of Bowhunt America, was tragically taken at just 58 years old. We are left with only the memories of who Bill was and what he did for this sport that we love so much.
Bill knew archery as well as anyone. His special attention to detail and the technical aspects of archery drove him to meticulously field-test products, sharing his findings through his informative reports. Bowhunt America readers relied heavily upon Bill’s wisdom for both equipment answers and ways to become a better bowhunter.
Besides his expertise in equipment, Bill was a passionate and extremely successful bowhunter. From Alaska to Africa, his hardcore bowhunting lifestyle took him on numerous adventures. But despite his success, Bill was never showy or arrogant. Quite the opposite—he was more concerned with how he could translate his success into how-to articles for others to learn from. What really stands out was his respect for the animals he hunted. His image as a bowhunter is one that we should all strive for.
Where am I going with all of this? I want you to know that Bill had a vision for this magazine, and we are following it. The articles we publish always go beyond mere success stories, providing real answers to help bowhunters become more successful. That is exactly what our readers want and expect.
Having had a bow in my hand for the past 20 years, I share Bill’s special attention to detail, and I promise to uphold the quality bow and equipment reports that our readers have come to rely on to make important equipment decisions.
I also share Bill’s passion for bowhunting. I have been chasing whitetails since I could hunt. I also feel privileged to have gotten my feet wet in the West, successfully taking antelope and mule deer. Wild turkeys are another favorite of mine. While I have taken about three dozen birds, I still get a big rush when a gobbler comes roaring in.
While my accomplishments don’t hold a candle to Bill’s, I share his identity as a respectful bow-hunter and equipment-testing specialist. It is an honor to be handed the editor baton of this magazine.
Bill left a big set of shoes behind for me to fill. I weaved him through this whole column simply because I don’t want to forget where we came from with this magazine, and for that matter, where we are going. Thank you, Bill Krenz. You were a brilliant inspiration.
Darron McDougal Editor
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From the Editor
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zBowhunt America is a publicationof Zebra Publishing Inc.Printed in the uSA.
Publisher & Founder | Sherry [email protected]
Founding Editor | Bill Krenz1952–2010
Editor | Darron [email protected]
Associate Editor | Michaelean [email protected]
Managing Editor | Jessi [email protected]
ContributorsTracy Breen | Michael Corrigan | Patrick DurkinMark Kayser | Brenda Potts | Brian Strickland
Associate Publisher | Travis [email protected] | (877) 499-9988 ext. 152
Account Executive | Joe [email protected] | (877) 499-9988 ext. 111
Publisher’s Assistant | Jade [email protected] | (877) 499-9988 ext. 123
Art Director | Ed [email protected]
Associate Art Director | Tara [email protected]
Accounting Manager | Pam [email protected]
Credit & Collections Manager | Lisa [email protected]
Circulation Director | Greg [email protected]
Circulation Coordinator | Amy [email protected]
Subscription Services & Change of AddressBowhunt America circulation DepartmentP.o. Box 9019, Maple Shade, nJ 08052Phone: (800) 322-6087 | Fax: (856) [email protected]
Corporate OfficeZebra Publishing Inc.2960 n. Academy Boulevard, Suite 101colorado Springs, co 80917Phone: (719) 495-9999 | Fax: (719) 495-8899www.BowhuntAmerica.com
Contributions: Written queries concerning photographic and/or writtencontributions to Bowhunt America may be sent to Darron McDougal, Editor.
Bowhunt America™, copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Bowhunt America™ is a registered u.S. trademark of Zebra Publishing Inc. opinions expressed in by-lined articles or columns are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, the magazine or its staff. Bowhunt America™ is published six times per year: April, June, August, September, october, november.
Submission Guidelines: Zebra Publishing Inc. and Bowhunt America™ magazine assumeno responsibility for unsolicited editorial, photography or art submissions. contributors submitting articles, photos or art do so at their own risk. Materialwill not be returned without a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.no contract, agreement, term or condition provided by any contributor shall be binding on Zebra Publishing Inc. unless it is signed and returned by the Editor.
Archery, hunting and bowhunting are inherently dangerous activities. Improper useof hunting or archery equipment may cause serious injury or death. Always followstate and local hunting safety rules, and get required permits or licenses before hunting. Zebra Publishing uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information in our publications; however, we do not make any warrantiesor representations as to accuracy or completeness. All information in this magazine is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Zebra Publishing Inc. is not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy of the contents of storiesor advertisements published in this magazine. readers use the information in this magazine at their own risk. Zebra Publishing Inc. assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this magazine, or arising from use by any person ofthe information in this magazine.
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Wade Christopherson
• Wyoming Antelope
Bow: Mathews Helim
Arrow: Bloodsport HT2Sight: HHA
Rest: SchafferRelease: Tru-Fire
Camo: Lost Camo
Nate Giagios • neW yoRk WhitetAil
Bow: Hoyt MagnaTec Arrow: Super CarbonBroadhead: NAP Shockwave 100 Sight: TruGloRest: Trophy Ridge Whisker BiscuitRelease: T.R.U. Ball Stinger
Mariah Burtsfield• ColoRAdo elk
Bow: Mathews PassionArrow: Carbon ExpressBroadhead: Muzzy 4-BladeSight: Copper JohnRest: Trophy Ridge Whisker BiscuitRelease: T.R.U. Ball
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Joni Kiser • AlASkA BRoWn BeAR
Bow: Mathews Jewel Arrow: Easton Axis Broadhead: QAD Exodus Sight: Spot-Hogg BulletproofRest: QAD Ultra-Rest HDX Release: Scott Rhino
Mickey Lee Roberts II (9 years old)• WeSt ViRginiA WhitetAil
Bow: Diamond Nuclear IceArrow: Carbon ExpressBroadhead: Muzzy 75-Grain 3-BladeSight: TruGloRest: Trophy Ridge Whisker BiscuitRelease: T.R.U. Ball
Randy Peck• AlASkA SitkA BlACktAil
Bow: BowTech Insanity CPXLArrow: Easton A/C/CBroadhead: Wac’em TritonSight: Spot-HoggRest: Trophy Takerother: Don’t Choke True Shot Coach
Austin Burtsfield• ColoRAdo elk
Bow: Mathews Drenalin
Arrow: Carbon ExpressSight: Axion
Rest: Ripcord Code RedRelease: T.R.U. Ball
Clothing: ScentBlocker
Ken Collins • ARkAnSAS BlACk BeAR
Bow: Mathews Z9 Arrow: Carbon ExpressBroadhead: Rage 2-Blade Sight: Savage PendulumRest: Ripcord Code Red Release: T.R.U. Ball
An arrow moving slightly forward before the shot shows that creep is occurring. Although creep can cause a reduction in concentration and decreased consistency, it’s an easy problem to solve.
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Stop the CreepExecuting shots with consistent pressure applied into the draw stops produces consistent results at the target—with all other shooting form elements being equal.
You can learn a lot from scrutinizing the shooting form of other shooters. The next time you visit your local archery pro shop, take a moment to
observe a fellow shooter or two at the indoor shooting range. Observe from both sides of a shooter and from behind a shooter. And for a truly unique perspective, observe a shooter from directly above.
I’ve used a web cam mounted on the ceiling to achieve an eagle’s eye view. Another approach is to mount a mirror on the ceiling. This allows you to check for proper upper-body and stance orientation.
With a slightly open stance and while at full draw, the shoot-er’s head should appear centered between the shoulders. Check for goose necks. If the shooter’s torso is square to the hips as it should be, you will only see the tips of the shooter’s shoes. If the shooter is improperly twist-ing to the left or right, you will see shoelaces on the front foot or no part of the front-foot shoe at all. If the shooter is a leaner and is leaning into the bow, you won’t be able to see any part of either shoe.
When all is well in the universe of shooting form, you should be able to draw a straight line starting from the throat of the shooter’s bow grip, extending past the tip of the shooter’s nose, through the centerline of the draw-arm hand and forearm bone, and all the way back to the tip of the draw-arm elbow. This imaginary line should align per-fectly with the shooter’s arrow. A draw-arm elbow that is left or right of center indicates the shooter likely has a bow with a draw length that is too short or too long.
Observing shooting equipment and components rather than the actual shooter is also a worthwhile exercise to iden-tify shooting-form problems. While standing to the side of a shooter, focus on the arrow while the shooter is at full draw. Watch for any detectable movement of the arrow in relation to the arrow rest or edge of the bow’s riser. If the arrow moves slightly forward before the shot, you can presume the shooter is creeping.
Creep (also known as collapsing) is a common prob-lem among archers. It is a slow implosion of upper-body shooting form, and often results in reduced concentration and a lack of consistency at the target. In essence, the shooter is not maintaining firm contact between the string cables or harness and the bow’s draw stops.
Most modern bows made nowadays have rigid draw stops designed into the cam eccentrics. The result is often
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described as a “back wall.” executing shots with consistent pressure applied into the draw stops produces consistent results at the target—with all other shooting form elements being equal.
The phenomenon of creep is typically the result of lazy back muscles, which leads to the draw arm and hand moving forward. If this happens, an observer will see the shooter’s arrow “creep” forward across the arrow rest just before the shot.
In some instances, the arrow moves forward and backward across the arrow rest just prior to the shot. here the shooter mentally recognizes that creep is occurring and quickly makes a correction by reengaging the back muscles. This scenario is even worse since the shooter is shifting mental focus from aiming back to anchoring against the cam draw stops. I have observed shooters chroni-cally creeping back and forth as many
as three or four times prior to executing a shot. Talk about inefficient! heck, I cannot think of a single other shooting-form flaw that could be more disruptive to shot execution. Back-and-forth creep interferes with rhythm, relaxation, and concentration. Once aiming begins, it should never be interrupted until after the arrow strikes the target.
Creep is typically a symptom of poor physical conditioning or shooting a bow with a draw weight that is too heavy. Some slangily refer to this as being “over-bowed.” Strength training designed to target the large back muscles can help. however, simply reducing the draw weight on any given bow usually does the trick.
Shooting a bow with a perfect draw length adjusted for the shooter also helps to resolve creep issues. The large back muscles are at their most efficient state of strength and steadiness when
the draw-arm elbow is pointing directly away from the target.
Issues with creep may also be related to the shooter failing to utilize the large back muscles. Shooters new to the sport of archery are very often guilty of doing this even with a bow that has a properly adjusted draw length. If the shooter is soliciting shoulder and arm muscles to hold the draw weight of the bow, this needs to be corrected. Utilizing only the large muscles in the back requires less physical exertion and results in a more steady sight picture. Combined with a perfect draw length, this technique maxi-mizes shot efficiency.
Being able to recognize flawed shooting form is a necessary step to becoming a better shot. learn from other shooters by observing them as they shoot. In the case of creep, solving the problem is relatively easy. Just fix it.
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cGreat New Gearu
Carbon Express InterceptGone are the days of adjusting your shooting posture, style, or setup to match your crossbow—the smart design of the new Carbon Express Intercept is made to suit you. The unique Picatinny platform of the Intercept makes it infinitely customizable. An adjustable six-position pull stocktailors the shoulder mount, and tons of accessory connection points—including 15 inches on the top rail, 9 inches on the forearm rail, and 4 inches on the stock rail, plus two sling studs on the riser and one sling plate on the butt stock—mean you can attach a new forearm, grip, or butt stock; mount the quiver on the top or the bottom; upgrade and/or move the scope; and so much more.The Intercept weighs just over 8 pounds, offers a cocked size of just 13.5 inches, features a draw weight of 185 pounds, and boasts a 360+ feet-per-second speed rating. For more information,
see your dealer or visit carbonexpressarrows.com.
CarbonExpressMaximaBlue Streak Crossbow BoltCarbon Express has a full arsenal of new bolts for 2013, but first on our list is the super-fast Maxima Blue Streak. Featuring 100-percent carbon construction, a patented diamond weave for optimal spine consistency, and Dual Spine Weight Forwardtechnology, the Maxima Blue Streak bolt delivers top speed and a flatter trajectory, trans-lating into pinpoint accuracy.Carbon Express never fails toimpress with its technology.For more information,see your dealer or visit carbonexpressarrows.com.
TenPoint Stealth SSThe new Stealth SS from TenPoint has already created a lot of buzz, and for good reason. It’s the shortest and most compact crossbow from TenPoint yet, with a 34.4-inch length and an airy overall weight of 6.8 pounds. XLT bow assembly and the new Functionally Superior Bullpup (FBS) stock provide match-rifle stability when shooting, and the patented, fully integrated ACUdraw cocking mechanism makes cocking practically effortless despite the powerful 185-pound draw weight. This is a perfect choice for hunters looking for user-friendly design, lethal bolt speed, and superior maneuverability. The Stealth SS is proudly made in the USA. For more informa-tion, see your dealer or visit tenpointcrossbows.com.
PSE TAC OrdnancePSE completely redesigned its original TAC 15 crossbow for 2013. The TAC Ordnance is now more accurate, more efficient, and more durable with a hard anodized-aluminum finish. It converts most standard AR-15 lowers into an accurate and powerful crossbow, one able to spit arrows at a blazing 405 feet per second. With a peak weight of 150 pounds, an axle-to-axle length of 17 inches, and a mass weight of 7.2 pounds (without lower and accessories), this is one heavy-duty weapon.If you’re looking for a version with a fully adjustable stock and a crisp trigger, you can also check out the TAC Elite. For more information,see your dealer or visit pse-archery.com.
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Beman ICS Crossbow HunterHunters looking to take down big game with their powerful crossbows don’t have to look far for the perfect arrow: the new Beman ICS Carbon Crossbow Hunter offers everything they need. The combination of ultra-strong, multi-laminate carbon and proven components makes for a lightweight but advanced arrow that draws speed from high-performance crossbows. Beman aerospace alloy inserts are included, and FOC- enhancing brass inserts can be purchased separately. ICS Carbon Crossbow Hunters are made in the USA. For more information, see your dealer or visit beman.com.
Parker StingRayFor 2013, Parker Bows introduced the new StingRay Bowfishing Crossbow, designed to deliver unheard-of performance for both fresh- and saltwater bowfish-ing. At only 7.5 pounds, it’s supremely lightweight for a crossbow. The StingRay’s draw weight is adjustable from 100 to 125 pounds without any special tools. This advanced bowfishing crossbow is available in a package that includes everything you need to get out on the water: a choice of an open sight or a 1X Illuminated Multi-Reticle Scope; the AMS Retriever Pro Bowfishing Reel with 25 yards of 200-pound, high-visibility braided Dacron line; a bowfishing arrow with a Muzzy Gator Getter; and mounting hardware. And like all Parker crossbows, the StingRay features the EZ Pull System, which reduces cocking effort by over 50 percent when using a Red Hot EZ Roller Rope Cocker. For more information, see your dealer or visit parkerbows.com.
Excalibur Matrix 380 XtraSpeed and power. Those are the key characteristics of Excalibur’s Matrix 380 Xtra. This new crossbow manages to pack a 380-feet-per-second rating and 112.3 pounds of kinetic energy into an impressively compact package—the Matrix 380 Xtra is a full 6 inches narrower and 4 inches shorter than its cousin, the Equinox, and weighs an unbelievably light 5.9 pounds. The Guardian Anti-Dry-Fire system, housed in the scope mount, catches the string and prevents the crossbow from fir-ing without an arrow in place. In addition, a built-in release de-cocks the weapon, so you don’t have to fire an arrow when your day is over. For more information, see your dealer or visit excaliburcrossbow.com.
Barnett Ghost 410The follow-up to Barnett’s incredibly fast Ghost 400 is somehow even faster. The new Ghost 410 features an even more compact, forgiving, and light design, and hurls bolts at—you guessed it—a blistering 410 feet per second. Like its predecessor, the Ghost 410 comes equipped with Carbon Riser Technology, giving it that incredible speed and a weight of 7.3 pounds—nearly a full pound lighter than the Ghost 400 model. This is the only patent-protected Carbonlite riser for crossbows, and it comes with a 5-to-1 safety factor. The standard anti-dry-fire (ADF) trigger adds
to the safety, and the Crosswire string and cable system also comes standard. The Barnett Ghost 410 is 38 inches long, 19 inches wide, and has
a 185-pound draw weight. For more information, see your dealer or visit barnettcrossbows.com.
CrossbowSpecial!
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Wicked Ridge Rope CockerA reliable, durable rope cocking aid is one of those must-have items you might take for granted. But why not show your high-end crossbow a little love with an equally high-end accessory like the new Rope Cocker from Wicked Ridge? Made with a custom-dyed, abrasion-resistant, high-tenacity polyester cord, the plastic handles and hooks are made with the same sturdy ST801 nylon as one of Wicked Ridge’s other cocking mechanisms, the ACU-52. For more information, see your dealer or visit wickedridgecrossbows.com.
Parker Red Hot Lighted Capture NocksParker has introduced two Red Hot Lighted Capture Nock models—one powered by Nockturnal and one powered by Lumenok. The Nockturnal Lighted Capture Nock comes in red and green, boasts a battery life of over 20 hours, and lights when the arrow is shot. Red Hot Lighted Capture Nocks powered by Nockturnal will fit Parker Hunter arrows, Red Hot arrows, and other crossbow arrows with inside diameters of .24-.314 inches. The Lumenok-powered nock also comes in red and green, lasts over 40 hours, and will fit Parker Hunter Arrows and others with an inside diameter of .300 inches. For more information, see your dealer or visit parkerbows.com.
Winchester StallionThe heavy-hitting Winchester Stallion packs a mean punch. Reaching speeds of 340 feet per second, bolts sent from the Stallion are sure to hit their mark—the patent-pending AST-X Cam promises not only lethal power, but exceptional long-range accuracy as well. The Stallion features an all-black anodized-aluminum rail and riser, ergonomic stock, padded Quiet Touch pistol grip and forearm grip, and a cushioned cheekpiece that makes this crossbow as comfortable to handle as it is deadly. Last but not least, a cool retractable stirrup makes for compact carrying and storage. For more information, see your dealer or visit winchesterarchery.com.
Scorpyd TelsonFeaturing split limbs in 130-, 110-, and 90-pound weights, the Telson crossbow from Scorpyd is a can’t-miss option for crossbow hunters. With 130-pound limbs, the mighty Telson can reach speeds up to 380 feet per second and produces a knock-down 132 pounds of kinetic energy. Available in either black or camo, this is a no-nonsense weapon that you can trust to take down the biggest game you put it up against. An anti-dry-fire
device comes standard on this model, as does, of course, the proven Reverse Draw Technology Scorpyd is
famous for. For more information, see your dealer or visit scorpyd.com.
Stryker StrykeZone 350 and 380 in Black OpsProving yet again why it’s a favorite, Stryker has listened to customer demand and introduced an all-black version of the StrykeZone series crossbows. Both the StrykeZone 350 and the StrykeZone 380 feature an ultra-light Kill Switch Trigger and state-of-the-art safety features, including the Auto-Flip magnetic safety and the Cease-Fire secondary safety plug, and now it’s all stealthily cloaked in a sleek Black Ops finish. Both the 350 and the 380 packages come with a five-arrow quick-detach quiver, a multi-reticle scope, a cocking aid, and three (or, with the 380, five) 385-grain bolts. The StrykeZone 380 package also comes with a carrying sling and string stops. For more information, see your dealer or visit strykerxbow.com.
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Octane ThugThe guys at Octane think of everything. The Thug is a brand new, reusable de-cocking bolt, made to absorb the energy of shooting impact without any actual penetration. Now you can de-cock your crossbow without compromising your hunting bolts and broadheads—simply shoot the Thug into the ground and go. Octane’s cool new Universal Nock eliminates nock damage, and the Thug’s thick-walled 7075 aluminum construction, inner piston, and durable dampening material mean it can handle even today’s most powerful crossbows. The Thug is compatible with any crossbow model that requires a 20-inch bolt. For more information, see your dealer or visit fuelthehunt.com.
Arrow Precision Inferno Hellfire IIArrow Precision’s versatile Inferno Hellfire II crossbow is an excellent choice for budget-conscious hunters who aren’t willing to compromise on quality. A CNC-machined-aluminum riser, compressed-fiberglass limbs, comfort grip, ambidex-trous auto safety, included rope cocking device, and much more make the Inferno Hellfire II a contender in the booming crossbow market. With a 185-pound draw weight and an 11.5-inch power stroke, this crossbow reaches speeds up to 310 feet per second. You’ll be amazed at its light weight and perfect balance. For more information, see your dealer or visit arrow-precision.com.
Darton Viper SS Xtreme“Well-balanced,” “smooth,” and “fast” are words you hear thrown around a lot in the crossbow world, but the new Darton Viper SS Xtreme actually delivers on its promises. Reaching speeds of 360 feet per second, with a 180-pound draw weight and 13.5-inch power stroke, the Viper SS Xtreme is a perfect partner for those looking to add a little more oomph to their target or hunting adventures. The new Trackless Barrel Design coupled with the positive limb alignment system offers improved accuracy, and Darton has also redesigned the Anti-Dry-Fire Safety, along with a bunch of other features you have to see to believe. For more information, see your dealer or visit dartonarchery.com.
KodabowKodabow uses a common recurve platform for all of its crossbows, differentiating between models by the limbs. The brilliant thing about the construction is that there are no moving parts, which means less of an opportunity for failure. First, you choose your model type: the Big Rhino (225-pound draw weight), Bravo Zulu (200-pound draw weight), Koda-Express (185-pound draw weight), or the Alpha Strike (125- and 155-pound draw weights). Within each model type you have the option to purchase two variations of optics, or just stick with a bare bow. You can further accessorize with a Super Pak, which comes with arrows and field tips, string wax, a sling, a quiver, and an instructional DVD. But every model comes standard with Allen wrenches, a rope cocking aid, and a destringer, so you can feel confident that when you choose Kodabow, you’re getting an amazing deal. For more information, see your dealer or visit kodabow.com.
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Make Your Buck Blossom This SpringWhitetail hunters easily overlook the
importance that spring can have on a
whitetail buck. Don’t be part of that group.
Turkey and black bear hunting divert whitetail attention to other pursuits. Food plot preparation for hunting plots later in the fall may cloud what’s
happening right now with future daydreams. And the carpet of green bubbling from the dull, brown landscape may provide self-assurance that your whitetail property has sufficient nutrition. But does your property have the right stuff to make your bucks reach their full potential?
What makes a whitetail buck blossom, and how does spring play into your goal of tagging out in the fall? First, whitetail bucks need to reach maturity. Next, they need a nutritional plan designed to meet their needs throughout the seasons. Lastly, they need a bit of luck in the genetic department. If these three factors come together, you may have season tickets to a whitetail won-derland, as well as the opportunity to tag a trophy this coming fall. Spring is a strategic starting point to put this plan into play.
Step One: AgeIf you have thousands of acres under your supervision along with the authority to control hunting pressure, allowing your whitetail bucks to mature is easy. Okay, that’s a long enough visit to fantasy land. Let’s return to reality. Few of us have this type of land at our disposal, but that doesn’t mean you should begin a yearling buck-elimination campaign. The right habitat and assistance from surrounding landowners can make an 80-acre prop-erty capable of producing mature bucks. Art Helin, owner of Art Helin Land Management (arthelinoutdoors.com),
manages 300 acres in southwest Wisconsin, and his prop-erty consistently produces mature bucks. Some are even close to the jaw-dropping 200 mark. Helin only harvests mature bucks and focuses on overall habitat, but he believes developing a refuge is the key to keeping mature bucks on a given property.
This spring, consider building a refuge into your prop-erty to provide local whitetails with security and confi-dence. One or two refuge pockets strategically located in central locations on the property give deer places to bed without being disturbed. These refuge pockets also give you the opportunity to ambush whitetails as they leave cover to visit food plots.
Why have a refuge as centrally located as possible? This keeps deer smack-dab in the middle of your property, giving them less of a chance to wander over fences to be shot. A refuge, combined with food and water, limits the reasons a whitetail might have to leave your piece of heaven, regardless of whether your property is 5,000 or 50 acres. Helin’s property includes several refuges that he’s maximized by stacking slash piles left over from clear-ing food plot openings. He piles up the slash in front of brushy thickets and around wooded ridges to provide screens for deer to hide behind and to block Helin’s approach when he moves to and from stands.
Step Two: NutritionSecurity helps deer reach maturity, but nutrition takes that maturity and makes it noteworthy. Food plots are the an-swer, but too many whitetail enthusiasts focus on fall plots
Although many bowhunt-ers focus on fall food plots, whitetails are desperate for quality nutrition in early spring. Protein-rich perennials are a great way to give your whitetails a much-needed nutritional boost.
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and forget about the narrow window in spring when whitetails are in dire need of a nutritional jumpstart. Whitetails com-ing out of a hard winter are stressed and need to regain body weight quickly for maximum antler-growing potential and for a healthy fawn crop. They can’t wait a month or more for food plots or nearby agricultural crops to sprout. They need food now!
The answer is to plant at least one food plot with a perennial, a crop like winter wheat, or even a winter plot with lots of refrigerator leftovers. All can provide ample protein for the first boost of much-needed spring nutrition.
The Quality Deer Management Asso-ciation (qdma.com) refers to these plots as “cool-season” options. Perennials offer several advantages for spring white-tail nutrition. First, once perennials are established, you don’t need to plant them every year. With proper management, they can provide tons of crude protein in the range of 20 percent or more. Red or white clover and drought-tolerant alfalfa all can meet these requirements. Winter wheat, an annual, doesn’t have as high a protein level, but it does green up quickly, offering up to 12-percent protein. Lastly, large winter plots that haven’t been overgrazed can also help bump a whitetail into high gear in the spring. Brassicas, chicory, and Austrian winter peas fall into this category.
This is also the time of year to restock mineral sites where legal. Some regions shine in terms of natural minerals found in browse and native soils, but most locations could use some hunter help. Calcium and phosphorous are the two most important minerals. They boost antler growth and keep the entire herd healthy. Disperse them in a 2-to-1 calcium-to-phosphorous ratio. Products like Hunter’s Specialties Vita-Rack Lick Site include calcium and phosphorous, plus additional vitamins and minerals for healthy deer and even spring tick control.
Step Three: GeneticsGenetics are the wild card because you have limited ways to manage their out-
come. Whitetail genetics differ regionally, but you can help boost certain genetic traits or qualities simply by passing on younger bucks sporting desirable quali-ties such as tall brow tines, above-average mass, and extra points. Passing on young-er deer and allowing these bucks to breed and spread genetic traits may increase the
occurrence of these antler characteristics on your property in future years.
Spring may seem like a season to stray from whitetail management goals, but in reality it’s the time to ensure deer have proper nutrition and that you have the right plan in place for success this coming fall.
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The Lesson BearThe stand had been very close to the bait. The shot had been no more than 10 yards,but that very closeness had dramatically changed the downward angle of the shot.
It had been a near-perfect bowhunt. An easy spring was just beginning to assert itself on the Canadian north. It was that peaceful time, after the ice and before the bugs.
Outfitters Ken Fraser and Shelly Paul of Wind Valley Guiding had arranged a great hunt. Guides Cam Sidam and Tracy McQuitty ran a tight camp, cooked up a storm, and knew exactly how to bowhunt spring black bears.
On the third evening of the hunt, I’d killed a record-book bear. I had a second bear tag, but had turned picky. If I was going to shoot a second bear, it would have to be noticeably larger than my first.
All of that was drifting lazily through my head on the fifth evening of the hunt when a twig snapped behind me.
I remember thinking, upon reaching this particular bait site, that the stand seemed awfully close to the bait. But as I looked around, it became obvious why Cam had chosen that particular tree. All the other trees were simply too small.
When a second twig snapped directly below my stand, I slowly leaned to my right and looked straight down. What I saw took my breath away.
Standing maybe 3 feet from my tree was one of the biggest black bears I had ever seen. He seemed as broad as a refrigerator, and his head looked like a bucket. His feet appeared to be the size of dinner plates. Here was the bear I was looking for.
Moving as slowly as possible, I turned on my video camera. The autofocusing mechanism seemed outrageously noisy as it zoomed in on the bear. He froze. I froze. And
the camera quieted down.Cautiously, he went back to eating. I glanced at the
camera’s flip-out screen, smiled when I saw that the bear was perfectly centered, and began preparing for the shot.
At most bear bait sites, I take the time to arrange fallen logs and brush into a broad V-shape that opens directly at my stand. To get to the bait, bears must enter the “V,” positioning themselves broadside or slightly quartering-away to my posi-tion. That positioning offers me the best possible shot angle.
My confidence was very high as I came to full draw. A very big bear, at 10 yards and broadside, seemed like a slam dunk. The single green pin on my sight found the spot I wanted low on his broad chest, and the arrow was gone. Yellow vanes disappeared through black hide.
In an instant he was out of sight. Then I listened to him run for a long ways out into the thick Canadian bush. And doubt began to creep into my head.
He hadn’t sounded like he was even thinking about stop-ping. He’d run completely out of earshot.
I was stunned. The shot felt good. It had looked good, too. I scrambled for the video camera, carefully rewinding the tape to the point where the bear was eating at the bait. I pushed “Play” and watched events unfold on the small screen. The
arrow hit well, just where I’d aimed. Well, maybe a hair low, but it still should have put him down in less than 50 yards.
But I knew it hadn’t done that. He had run much further and was still running when I could no longer hear him.
For the next two hours, I didn’t make a sound. I didn’t want to disturb the area. When I heard the approaching jet boat, I slithered down out of the tree and crept to the riverbank.
In whispered tones, I explained to Cam and Tracy what had happened and suggest-ed we leave the area until morning. With any uncertain hit, time is your best ally.
No night is longer than one follow-ing a questionable shot, and that night was no exception. The food was tasteless, the cot in my tent was lumpy, and daylight took forever to arrive. In the morning, I rushed everyone through breakfast, carried everyone’s gear to the jet boat, and just generally pestered one and all to get going.
That day was one I’d like to forget. We tracked as best
This column celebrates the writing of Bowhunt America Founder Bill Krenz. This piece is excerpted from the June 2003 issue of Bowhunt America.
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we could, following diminishing specks of red. We crawled over blowdowns and wormed our way through dog’s-hair brush. We fanned out and walked in lines. We stumbled and slogged through creeks and fought our way far back into the bush away from the river. And in the end, late in the afternoon, we had to admit defeat. I apologized to everyone, hung my head, and hoped that the bear would recover. Everything indicated he would. The video camera had lied. My shot had obviously not been what it had appeared.
For a second night, sleep did not come. I lay awake listening to the river and replaying the sequence of events from the evening before. His leg had gone forward. He was not moving. I aimed tight and low behind the shoulder. The arrow had gone
right where I had aimed. But no bear. No bear anywhere.
Sometime around two in the morning, I flicked on my penlight and started to draw. I drew the outline of a bear facing me and sketched in both lungs. If you put an arrow through both lungs, even the biggest bear won’t go 50 yards.
As I drew on the paper, a theory began to form in my head. The stand had been very close to the bait. The shot had been no more than 10 yards, but that very closeness had dramatically changed the downward angle of the shot. Was it pos-sible that I had aimed too low, and because of the abrupt angle, just skidded the arrow down along the chest cavity, missing even the onside lung?
The next morning I shared my ideas and my drawings with Cam and Tracy.
“Tonight I want to sit on the same bait where I hit that bear,” I told Cam. “And I plan to sit that bait every night. Maybe he’ll come back.”
“We messed up that area pretty good,” Cam said. “We tromped around in there for hours. You know the chances of that bear coming back to that area are pretty slim.”
“I know that,” I replied. “But the only way to confirm what I suspect is to kill that bear. It’s the only chance I have to complete the lesson.”
The first night I sat at the bait again, little came in. The next evening started much the same.
And then he appeared.He came in silently from my right. One
second there was nothing there. Then he just materialized, 20 yards away and looking as big as a house. He eyed the bait suspiciously.
“Could this be my bear?” I wondered. “Same size, same jet-black coat, same big head and enormous feet. And he’s unusually suspicious of the bait.”
The bear cautiously approached the bait from directly behind my stacked logs. Reaching through a narrow opening, he grabbed a chunk of meat and walked off into the trees. I could hear him munching away, barely 20 yards from where I sat. Then
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he was back, repeating the meat-grabbing scenario and retreating into the ferns.
Eight times he returned to the back of my logjam, and eight times he grabbed meat chunks and slipped off into the brush. My bow rested across my knees, an arrow ready. I had to be sure.
I studied him through seven-power binoculars. Try as I might, I couldn’t detect anything that would positively confirm that he was my bear. He certainly didn’t act like he’d had a run-in with a sharp arrow just two days before.
Growing frustrated, he finally batted at the logs, dislodging the top log. As he did, he stepped up with his front feet on the remaining logs and stood looking around.
It was crystal clear through the binocu-lars. In the exact center of his chest, right at his sternum, was a three-bladed cut. As I watched wide-eyed, he grabbed a large piece of meat and ambled off. As soon as he had disappeared, I let go of my binocu-lars, lifted my bow, and positioned my feet for the shot.
Minutes dragged by. Then the brush parted. He came around the scattered logs and stood broadside. As his leg went forward, so did my arrow. Only this time, I aimed three-fourths of the way up his back to improve the shot angle into both lungs.
The arrow penetrated to the vanes. He whirled and ran into the thick brush behind the bait. Seconds later I heard a crash, followed by a death moan. Then
The author’s hunt notebook with his middle-of-the-night drawing of what he thinks happened on his first shot atan especially big Alberta black bear.
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everything went quiet. After waiting 30 minutes, I climbed down. The blood trail was ample, with pink bubbles in the red
drops. I found him stretched out flat on his stomach, barely 45 yards away.
I was almost afraid to roll him over. But
when I did, there was the clean three-bladed cut my first arrow had made as it exited near his breastbone. Parting the thick hair on his left side, I found the entry point, just halfway up that side. The first arrow had indeed angled down along his chest, completely missing everything vital.
My second arrow, on the other hand, had entered much higher and angled down through both lungs to exit midway on his right side. The lesson was clear.
On close shots from treestands, take special note of the resulting shot angle and the anticipated path of the arrow through the body. Think of the lungs as two water balloons placed side-by-side in the chest. Calculate both the entry and exit points, and aim so that the arrow will puncture both lungs. Do that and noth-ing will go far.
That’s the lesson I learned on shot angles from an Alberta black bear in the time after the ice and before the bugs.
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Accessory Spotlight
LaCrosse AeroHead 18-Inch BootI distinctly remember my first pair of “waterproof ” boots.
They were a pair of cheap boots from a local agricul-tural store. after just a few hunts, water began leaking in,
drowning and freezing my feet. Disgusted, I quickly located the source of the problem—minute cracks. To make matters worse, those boots rubbed my heels and toes raw. Discomfort is unwelcome on any hunt, especially when you have invested hundreds or thousands of dollars into your entire hunting season.
anyone who wants to beat the odds and take a trophy animal deserves apparel that will keep them comfortable for hours on end, regardless of the conditions. Feet are probably the most important part of the body to keep warm and dry. If they get cold and damp, that frigid bite rapidly climbs your legs and sucks the warmth out of your entire body. aside from extended comfort, a boot should last a long time, regardless of what a hunter puts it through.
A Solid ReputationEven non-sportsmen are familiar with lacrosse. People of all walks of life have relied on the superi-ority of lacrosse boots since 1897. The company’s reputation of producing quality boots that last is certainly well-deserved.
after four years in development and over 4,000 miles of testing, lacrosse has introduced
the tough-as-nails aeroHead 18-inch boot. This revolutionary boot features patent-pending aeroForm technology, a construction that combines
the ultimate comfort with enhanced durability. This means the boot weighs a ton, right? not a chance!
Each aeroHead boot is over 25-percent lighter than a traditional rubber-over-neoprene boot.
Rugged Construction, Comfort Beyond Belief
So how can such lightweight construction yield such durable results? Simple: aeroForm technology features a polyurethane shell over a flexible, insulating neoprene core, allowing the boot to fit like a glove.
The aeroHead is surprisingly easy to slip on and take off. no more fighting and tugging to get your boots
off after a long day afield.The first time I slipped the aeroHead onto my feet, I was
astounded by the amazing comfort and control this boot has to offer. a big problem with most waterproof boots is that they tend to ride up and down your ankle as you walk. This causes all sorts of problems with skin chafing and is usually due to stiff construc-tion. The aeroHead eliminates that problem with its flexibility and proven ankle-Fit technology, which perfectly secures the heel in place as you walk. I love the fact that this boot doesn’t rub feet.
The seams are usually the first place that boots will crack and leak, but the aeroHead is seamless around the foot. To comple-ment its ultra-tough exterior design, lacrosse seals the only seam, located on the back of the neoprene core, with armor Weld, a protective liquid-rubber coating, which makes leaks a thing of the past. Tromping through swamps, thick brush, and rocky terrain won’t rip and tear up your aeroHead boots, thanks to its rugged Brush Tuff material.
Bowhunters come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you have big or small calf muscles, the aeroHead’s adjustable back gusset and strap ensure a perfect fit.
The aero non-loading outsole offers surprising flexibility, a quality not usually found on a waterproof boot. It also offers great grip ability, traction, and advanced control for slippery terrain conditions. an injected Pu midsole with integrated shank is to thank for added comfort underfoot as well as arch support, particularly while climbing tree steps or ladders.
The aeroHead’s interior design offers a jersey-knit liner to wick moisture and dry quickly for day-after-day usage. The insole is extremely comfortable, offering top-notch cushion-ing. on top of that is the warmth factor—the aeroHead
offers pretty substantial warmth thanks to the insulating properties of the polyurethane combined
with the neoprene core. Besides all else that the aeroHead
does so well, it looks fantastic. Big and clunky are things of the past when
you look at lacrosse’s line of outdoor foot-wear. To complement an already appealing boot, the aeroHead 18-inch boot is available in Mossy oak Infinity, Mossy oak Bottomland, and new realtree Xtra or Xtra green.
Anytime, AnywhereWhat I like the most about the aeroHead (besides its amazing comfort and control) is that it is a multi-application boot. This eliminates the need to buy separate boots for every outdoor adven-ture. If you want to take the aeroHead ice fishing, go right ahead. got some snow to shovel? Shove on the aeroHead and get to work! got a turkey tag burning a hole in your pocket? You know what to do. Whatever your hardcore hunting lifestyle demands, the lacrosse aeroHead will go the distance with you.
For more information, see your dealer, call 800-323-2668, or visit lacrossefootwear.com.
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If you think hunting black
bears from a treestand over
bait is exciting, wait until you
try some of these thrilling
bear-hunting alternatives.
Bowhunting black bears over bait is as standard
as quivers on bows. Bowhunters stock baits days
and weeks before a hunt, place a treestand over
the bait, and wait for Yogi to start showing up
regularly on trail camera photos. Treestands
do offer relative safety from curious bears
and can help keep your scent from reaching
a bruin’s sensitive nose. As a result, this style
of hunting does produce consistent results
if you have the stamina to stay on bait.
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I took my first black bear using this tactic while bowhunt-ing on a semi-guided Canadian black bear hunt. Tedious as it may have been to wait on stand for hours every day, the reward was worth the wait. On the sixth day, a monster bruin appeared below my stand, looked up, and then disappeared. I was crushed. I had waited the entire trip for an opportunity, and it had come and gone in less time than it took for a mos-quito to bite me. But the bear soon reappeared with attitude. This time he stood below my ladder stand, shook it, and huffed some angry threats under his breath. Then he dropped back down and gave me a quartering-away shot that, despite being high on gallons of adrenaline, I somehow made.
You can’t argue that an encounter like that isn’t electrifying, but sitting in a treestand over bait isn’t the only way to arrow a trophy black bear. If you want even more guaranteed thrills, check out these heart-pumping tactics.
The Ground AssaultWant to really spice up your bear hunt? Drop out of your treestand and meet bears face to face. Whether you hunt the
swamp and lake country of Minnesota or the far reaches of Canada, you can amp up your black bear experience by hunt-ing from commercial or makeshift ground blinds. If you want to stay grounded, make sure to follow these tips.
If you’re bowhunting spooky bears, an airtight commercial ground blind is the way to go. Try to set up with a backstop or obstacles to block a backdoor surprise from a curious bear. Set up with a lake, ledge, cliff, or even a deadfall behind you. I’ve had numerous bears join me in the blind over the years, and that definitely moves the jolt meter.
Most bear hunters use barrels, cribs, or other containment devices to hold bait. This keeps a bear in one location while it eats. For these devices to perform well, they need to be secured. Chains, nails, and lumber can keep your bait-contain-ment device in place. And to avoid bears coming to bait from every angle, build a backstop or place the bait against a debris pile to guarantee that bears circle around and swipe a treat with a broadside peek.
My favorite location to take on this challenge is in north-ern Alberta, where bears abound and have bold attitudes perfect for a ground-based assault. A recent hunt with Jeff
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Downing of True North Outfitters (truenorthoutfitters.net) confirmed my decision to take on bears at face level.
While Downing and I constructed a homemade blind from natural vegetation, a large sow sauntered in, ignoring us. She grabbed some bait and walked a few feet away to chow. Minutes later a monster boar did the same. I knew it was time to put down the axe and grab my Mathews. The boar quickly returned to woo the lady, but he couldn’t resist raiding the picnic basket one more time.
I stood and drew in full view at 9 yards as the bear glared at me. When he turned broadside, I dashed a Carbon Express arrow on its way. The bear tipped over less than 30 steps from where I stood. That experience proved to me that face to face was a great way to hunt baited bears.
Calling All BearsBlack bears appear docile—even cuddly—but they still exhibit predatory characteristics. As omnivores, bears eat almost anything in their environment. Berries, roots, grass,
insects, carrion, and critters big and small fit into their diets. If you want to experience the slinking, cat-like stalk or all-out, full-frontal charge that a 400-pound bruin uses when pursuing game, utilize a predator call. Prey-in-distress calls pique the interest of all predators from small cats to large bears, and they can add a dash of spice to any spring bear hunt.
The predator call market has exploded in the last decade,
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offering more options for both electronic and handheld calls, plus unique sounds only dreamed of in the past. This variety of calls can open the door to an incredibly exciting bear hunt, one in which you find yourself glancing over your shoulder to ensure a surprise visitor doesn’t enter stage left.
Planning a bear-calling hunt requires some research. First, check state regulations con-cerning the use of electronic calls. Since bears are classified as game species in most states as opposed to the predator status given to coyotes in many areas, the use of an electronic call may be illegal.
Next, study up on what bears hunt in the region you’ll be calling. Do they focus on whitetail fawns, elk calves, young moose, rodents, or some other animal that provides nutrition to bounce back after a long winter? Remember that spring bears emerge from hibernation hungry. They may grazeon grass early to jump-start their digestive systems, but after the salad bar anything goes—including red meat.
Finally, find the highest concentration of bears in the region. You’ll want the most ears listening as possible when
you sing a tune of distress. Game and fish biologists can provide this information.
Mark Shutey has been outfitting hunts for more than a decade in southwest Montana’s Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest through his business, Stockton Outfitters (stocktonoutfitters.com). He’s also hunted the high country for elk and bear for nearly three decades. You won’t have to ask him twice what hunt he favors the most: bear hunting with predator calls.
Years of experience have shown Shutey that bears turn to meat quickly after emerging from dens. They scavenge at this time of year on winter-killed animals. They also turn their focus to fawns and calves. This means they congregate in areas that have high densities of deer, moose, and elk. The smell of the herds, along with the odor of the afterbirth, attracts bears.
Shutey cemented his strategy after actually watching a bear in hot pursuit. “While in the mountains one spring I actu-ally saw a bear killing prey,” he said. “It was a calf elk, and
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the calf was bawling as the bear turned it into a meal. After seeing and hearing the attack, I wondered if I could use prey-in-distress calls to call in bears. After some experimentation with great success, I turned it into my main tactic for spring bear hunts.”
After locating a high-density bear area, Shutey directs his attention to finding a bear. He believes his chances of success are higher if he can spot a bear first and watch its actions as it reacts to a call. If the bear reacts sluggishly, he can increase the franticness of the call, while if the bear is coming fast, he can slow the calls down to allow the hunter more time for a clean shot. If he doesn’t spot a bear, he picks a high location in a likely area and sets up to call.
His best advice is to get as many setups in a day as possible and to always have a backup person to watch the rear door. Small bears may come in timidly, but dominant bears arrive with no fear and a hunger that makes them bold and unpre-dictable. It’s definitely a spicy bear-hunting alternative.
Spot and StalkAs more and more regulations limit the ways in which hunt-ers can pursue bears, many hunters simply give up. Don’t. If you have any open country at all in your hunting location, give spot-and-stalk hunting a try. Spot-and-stalk bowhunt-ing for bears is challenging since you won’t have bait or a call to direct a bear’s actions. You’ll have to study the area, study bear movement, and, after spotting a bear, plan a stalk to get within bow range. If that sounds next to impossible you may be right, but you won’t be bored in a treestand swatting at mosquitoes. Instead, your Spidey senses will tingle during the last yards of a close-encounter stalk.
If you think you need to hunt the vast, open slopes of the West or coastal clear-cuts, you’re on the right track, but be creative. Some of the best spot-and-stalk opportunities today
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are along agricultural fields as bears boldly forage in the open. I’ve been tempted to stalk North Country bears in the miles of pipeline corridors carved out of the boreal forests in Can-ada. And some of the most successful hunts today are taking place along the coasts of Alaska, where bears roam beaches looking for a meal gift from the tides.
In the spring, bears immediately gravitate to open areas for nutrition. Their first goal is to graze on any green grass. Why? They require the grass to activate their digestive system after
hibernation. Once they have the engine running, the open ar-eas also offer other nutritional alternatives ranging from car-rion to young animals. With that in mind, look for openings, meadows, and south-facing slopes to locate bears or at least be in a neighborhood they might visit.
After arming yourself with information from locals and biologists on a high-density bear location, set yourself up for successful spotting. High vantage points overlooking vast parks, meadows, or fields give you an edge in spotting a
bear. And although it will add more miles to your stalk, the best location is across from the targeted opening. Being on the same playing field may work in a few locations, but it’s best to set yourself up across a canyon, scan back, and be able to see the entire opening at once.
High-quality optics are mandatory. If you’re shopping for a trophy or trying to distinguish large males from dainty females, you’ll probably need
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a spotting scope. I’ve ditched my high-end binocular for the more budget-friendly Nikon Monarch 7. They have the same quality glass as some of the more expensive binocu-lars, but if I trash them in a nasty fall, I can easily replace them without pawning my bow. Of course, lightweight is a must, so shop for a small spotting scope tripod that doesn’t slow you down with additional cargo pounds.
Once you spot a bear, begin calculating a route of inter-ception. Consider downwind options and terrain features that offer concealment avenues. Your binoculars can help you map a route and detect breezes across a canyon by al-lowing you to zoom in on swaying vegetation. Also consider whether you need to go stocking foot or don a pair of stalking booties such as the fleece slipovers sold by Crooked Horn Outfitters (crookedhorn.com).
Bim Blake, owner of Blake’s Adventures, Inc., provides a first-class spot-and-stalk black bear hunt along the Alaskan coast. A roomy cabin cruiser provides accommodations and the jumping-off platform to stalk large black bears as they cruise picturesque beach frontage looking for their next meal. Put yourself in front of one of these bruins and you might have more spice in your hunt than you bargained for.
Combo Hunts: Bait and CallingIf you travel very far north to hunt bears, be aware of one helpful yet annoying element: daylight. You’ll be hunting some of the longest days of the year and, in extreme north-ern areas, the sun never fully goes down. That gives you more hours to hunt, but is it too much time?
Most black bear hunters sit baits only in the afternoons. Walking in to a bait in the mornings can risk spooking a good bear in the dim light of dawn, but that leaves you with hours to put to some constructive use. In some locales,
you can grab a fishing rod and pursue pike, walleye, trout, or bass. That’s perfectly fine if you love fishing, but if bear hunt-ing is all you want to do, consider this option: calling bears before and during your bait hunt.
I’ve used this strategy on several hunts with exciting results. This past spring, I employed it in Alberta where afternoon hunts were the norm while hunting with North Alberta Out-fitters’ Troy Foster (northalberta.com). Foster allowed me to go in early and use predator calls near baits and while actually sitting on the baits to increase bear activity. There were so many bears the calls weren’t really needed, but it did spice up the hunt as several young bears walked in looking for fawns in peril. The bear I eventually arrowed fell to a traditional bait setup with a 12-yard shot from the ground. But, by incor-porating calls throughout the week, I was never bored and it brought the right amount of spice to jazz up my spring black bear season.
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Hoyt Spyder 34Mid-october always finds bowhunters everywhere
checking Hoyt’s website like it’s the daily news. That’s because Hoyt is known for doing things
differently—sometimes very differently. In 2010, Hoyt dropped the original carbon Matrix onto the market. Two years later, the ripples from that splash haven’t settled.
This year, Hoyt has clearly raised the bar once again with its flagship bow, the Spyder. This high-performance bow is available in both 30-inch and 34-inch models. I tested the Spyder 34. With its incredible stability and long-range shoot-ing accuracy, the Spyder 34 is sure to turn plenty of heads this year.
Love It!When I first wrap my hand around a new bow, I tend to immediately evaluate the bow’s balance and weight distribu-tion. Fit and feel are top priorities when shopping for a new bow. While Hoyt is known for balanced bows, the Spyder 34 blew me away. It was clear that Hoyt’s engineers had gone to great lengths to make this bow—which weighs just 4 pounds—sit in the hand like a dream come true.
The available Hoyt Pro Fit grip system is the icing on the cake. While the Spyder comes with a standard wood grip, you can also order wood side plates or the warm-to-the-touch 180 elastomeric grip. With these options, you can be sure the Spyder will fit you perfectly.
Oh So Smooth!When I hit full draw with the Spyder 34 for the first time, I let it down and bit my lip, wondering if Hoyt had shipped a 65-pound peak bow by mistake. When I pulled the bowstring with my scale, I was floored to see the digital screen read 70 pounds. a number of features play a role in creating this silky-smooth draw cycle.
Hoyt debuted the rKT cam & ½ System in its 2012 lineup. revolutionary ErgoDraw technology on three different cam sizes affords each cam size a full rotation at the shot, regardless of the draw length, to maximize the Spyder’s efficiency.
Interchangeable modules can be switched in just minutes to make subtle, half-inch adjustments without the use of a bow press. I was pleased that the rKT cam & ½ comes to a definite stop at full draw without compromising a reasonable valley. My shoulder joint felt no stress when I drew and let down repeatedly, even at 70 pounds. That’s smooth!
The Inner race bearing design in Hoyt’s In-line roller cable guard certainly lightens the workload during the draw. The combi-nation of the rKT cam & ½ System, ErgoDraw technology, and
the In-line roller cable guard make this killer incredibly smooth.
Hoyt Toughno bowhunter plans on running over their bow with a truck, but it happens. I know this for a fact, because, after a successful South Dakota mule deer hunt a couple years ago, I ran over my Hoyt bow. a quick diagnostic assessment revealed only a crushed Teflon spacer that separates the cam from the limb on the axle. no bent riser, no bent cams, no broken strings, no broken limbs. Talk about Hoyt tough!
Hoyt puts its risers through its tortur-ous 1,500 dry-fire test to ensure that they can withstand the roughest bowhunting conditions and disasters, and the Spyder certainly lives up to Hoyt’s legacy of extreme toughness. The TEc lite riser is connected to the Multi-layer laminated limbs with Hoyt’s X-lite Pro lock Pocket, a trim yet rugged design that decreases mass weight while providing sustained durability. The integrity of the Spyder is unparalleled.
I don’t know about you, but I like to see through my peep sight when I hit full draw on a whitetail buck. Shot after shot,
the Spyder’s peep sight sits straight in the string, thanks to the no-creep, zero-twist Fuse strings and cables.
Shhhhhh!Shooting the Spyder 34 left me slack-jawed. This bow was unbelievably quiet. The XTS Pro arc limbs actually go past parallel at full draw. The up and down motion of the limbs at the shot cancel out any vibration before it ever begins.
The combination of the powerful RKT Cam & 1/2 System and the innovative AirShox makes the Spyder 34 a silent killer.
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additionally, the Spyder boasts Hoyt’s groundbreaking new airShox. These innovative devices are rubber dissipater pads that connect to the X-lite Pocket. as the bow is drawn, the limbs flex away from the airShox. at the shot, the airShox catch the limbs to effectively kill any leftover limb vibration. To top it off, Hoyt’s StealthShot string cushion uses the same concept as the airShox to deaden the typical string “twang.”
Finally, the rubber Silent Shelf deadens any noise made when arrow-to-riser contact happens, and provides a quiet landing spot for drop-away arrow rests.
On the Rangeas soon as I got my pins dialed in, I was
banging arrows together with regularity out to 50 yards. clearly, the Spyder 34 is extremely accurate. The bow’s stable, 34-inch axle-to-axle length and great balance play a major role in achieving this accuracy. Just holding this bow made me feel deadly. That sort of confidence is a huge plus in the field when the stakes are high.
If you like speed, the Spyder delivers it in spades. Powered by the rKT cam & ½ System, this silent killer sends arrows down range at rocket speeds, giving you a high-performance, flat-shooting bow.
Customize It!Want to customize your Hoyt Spyder? Just purchase a colored accessory pack-age. The airShox, Stealth Shot, and wood grip are all available in a variety of color options, including blue, pink, white, green, orange, red, and yellow. Fuse Strings are also available to match the various color options.
Without question, there will be Hoyt Spyders on the prowl this fall. Thanks to this bow, the woods are going to be a deadly place!
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SpecificationsHoyt Spyder 34————————————————Axle-to-Axle Length 34 inches
Brace Height 6.75 inches
Mass Weight 4 pounds
Test Bow Draw Weight 70 pounds
Draw Lengths 25.5-27”, 27-29”, and 29-31.” A long-draw model is also available for draw lengths up to 32’.’
Draw Weights 40#, 50#, 60#, 65#, 70#, 80#
Colors Realtree Xtra, Realtree Max-1, Black Out, Half and Half, Vicxen, Realtree Snow, Realtree Pink, Bone Collector Edition————————————————For more information, see your dealer, visit hoyt.com, or call (801) 363-2990.
Bow weighed with an Easton Bow Force Digital Scale. All tests conducted with a Spot-Hogg Hooter Shooter Portable Shooting Machine and a Competition Electronics Pro Chronograph.
Arrow Speed2013 Hoyt Spyder 34 set at 29 inches (by factory) and adjusted to 70 pounds—————————————————————————————————— Shaft Arrow Kinetic Arrow28-Inch Test Arrows Gr/In Weight Energy Speed —————————————————————————————————— Easton XX78 Alloy 2512 10.3 448 gr. 80.8 285 fps
Easton Full Metal Jacket 400 10.2 430 gr. 83.7 296 fps
Carbon Express Aramid KV 350 9.8 416 gr. 82.0 298 fps
Carbon Tech Whitetail 65/80 9.5 410 gr. 82.5 301 fps
Carbon Express Maxima Hunter 350 8.9 392 gr. 81.0 305 fps
Beman ICS Hunter Elite 400 8.4 386 gr. 81.9 309 fps
Gold Tip XT Hunter 55/75 8.2 382 gr. 83.1 313 fps
Gold Tip Velocity XT 400 7.4 358 gr. 83.0 323 fps
Easton FlatLine 400 7.4 346 gr. 89.4 341 fps
High Country Speed Pro Max 5.5 304 gr. 80.4 345 fps
New for 2013, Hoyt is offering stylish, colored accessories,including the grip, AirShox, and Stealth Shot.
Hoyt’s In-Line Roller Cable Guard with Inner Race Bearingmakes for a friction-free, silky-smooth draw and letdown.
44 | BOWHUNT AMERICA
You have
ground the
With two great
methods to get
the job done,
which poison
will you pick
this spring?
The alarm buzzer jolted me out of my sleep, and I hurriedly pulled on my camo clothing, shov-ing my favorite mouth calls into my pocket. Arriving at my hunting spot, I traced my way through the inky predawn blackness toward a duo of outspoken gobblers. The piece of public dirt I was hunting offered two clearings in the middle of huge timber country, and I sus-pected that, come dawn, the two toms would utilize these “strut zones” to seduce any nearby hens with their vibrant feathers. I placed a hen decoy at the edge of the first clearing and began calling intently.
Not long after touchdown (when the birds fly down from their roost), the toms scored several dates. They were gobbling and strutting for their newfound girlfriends in the second clearing, uphill from my position. Try as I might, my calling efforts weren’t enough to pull the birds into my clearing. It was time to make a move.
I was hustling down the logging road that connected both clearings when a sudden gobble stopped me. I ducked down and froze as hen heads instantly popped into view. Peering through my camo facemask, I waited anxiously until all of the birds disappeared into the brush above the clearing I had occu-pied only moments earlier. Then I made a mad dash back to the first clearing, where I shoved my hen decoy back into the earth and dove into the brush.
After nocking an arrow, I aired out some convincing hen-talk with my mouth call. In-stantly, twigs began snapping within 15 yards of me. I froze, knowing that any sudden moves would spook the birds into the next county.
In just seconds, three hens and the two long-beards appeared off to my left in the clearing. The realization that I was going to kill one of these toms made my blood boil.
The hens instantly joined forces and charged my hen decoy, protesting the entire way. The toms trailed behind them as if on a string. As soon as their eyes disappeared behind some pine branches, I yanked my string to full draw. When iridescent gobbler feathers coasted into my sight picture, I picked out the second tom with my top pin and harpooned him. I knew my arrow had hit the exact feather I had placed my pin on, and I was flabbergasted when the bird went airborne. I watched the flying tom until he ran out of gas and literally died in midair. The loud thud when he met the ground reassured me that I had indeed made a perfect shot on this gorgeous gobbler.
I stole my way across the clearing and into the woods that bordered a nearby county highway. Scanning the area, I finally spotted the lifeless bird in the tall ditch grass mere yards from the highway pavement. I stood in awe of that beautiful May morning and extended my gratefulness to the Creator of all that I had just partaken of.
You may have heard that
ground blinds are the only way to bowhunt gobblers, and they certainly play a critical role in many turkey hunting situations. Given the circumstances of the hunt described above, however, a ground blind would have been extremely inconvenient, and my prize would have likely lived to gobble another day. Run and gun was clearly the bet-ter method in that case.
Both ground blind hunting and run and gun-ning account for thousands of turkey casualties each spring. We’ll review the pros and cons of both hunting styles, and look at how to choose the right method for the scenario at hand.
Pick your poison wisely, and you too can bring home a barnburner of a gobbler this spring!
Ground BlindsWithout question, ground blinds are the cat’s pajamas for the patient bowhunter. The Cadillac-quality ground blinds on the market today are roomy, making longer hunts very comfortable and allowing you to spend more time in the woods. You can drink coffee, eat sandwiches, and stand up to stretch. Ground blinds can also keep you bone-dry when pre-cipitation moves in. What’s more, a blackout interior will hide just about every movement you make. That makes drawing on a keen-eyed longbeard a snap. To top it all off, the better
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Retrieving a freshly arrowed gobbler is a
victorious event, regard-less of the method you
pick to do the deed.
blinds on the market offer 360-degree shooting, increasing your odds of getting a shot when a tom comes in from an unexpected direction.
But ground blind hunting for turkeys does have its downsides. First of all, mobility is very limited. When gobblers roar in the distance, it’s awesome to have the option of going after them. Most ground blinds prevent you from slipping quietly through brush to cut the distance on a stand-still tom. In addition, setting up a blind and several decoys eats up time and usually cannot be done without some measure of commotion.
Public and private grounds that are heavily hunted throughout the spring also make ground blind hunting more complex. Many shotgun hunters immediately erupt from their blinds when they kill a tom, edu-cating other turkeys in the area as to what ground blinds are all about. By the end of the season, gobblers begin avoiding blinds like the plague. I’ve had dozens of encounters with birds that will gobble their heads off 100 yards from the blind, but won’t commit to my decoy spread. These encounters took place in heavily hunted areas, and ground blinds
frequently seem to be a red flag in such places.
on the runI touched earlier on the importance of mobility for hunting spring gobblers. Hunting on the run with just your bow and decoys offers unparalleled mobility. My favorite aspect of this hunting style is the ability to slip in ultra-close to the roost for an action-packed fly-down setup. In my opinion, the closer you can get to where a gobbler is going to fly down, the better your odds become of actually nailing him fresh off the roost as he investigates your decoys. If the early morning fly-down setup doesn’t seal the deal, you can typically stay on a given bird, mak-ing move after move until he finally gives in or quits answering.
Of course, run-and-gun hunting has some drawbacks. Getting to full draw on a gobbler without hiding in the confines of a ground blind is a tough feat any way you look at it. To increase my odds of success, I always try to set up my decoys so that when a gobbler approaches, his head will disappear behind a tree or other obstacle before he gets to the decoys. This takes some planning. Before setting up, I spend a few moments evalu-ating terrain features, what sort of obstacles are available to conceal my movements, and the most likely route Mr. Tom will
use to approach my decoy setup. Only then do I shove my decoys into the dirt and begin calling. Calling prematurely can cost you when a tom pops into view and either busts you or fails to present the textbook shot you had hoped for. Planning your setup before you start calling allows you the best chances to close the book on a magnum gobbler when the opportunity comes knocking.
Another downside to on-the-run hunting is that you are limited in terms of your movement. You won’t be able to stretch or make any sudden moves like you can when concealed inside a ground blind. In ad-dition, hunting without a blind puts you at the mercy of the weather.
Make the ChoiCeI choose my hunting method depending upon the scenario at hand. Now that you’re familiar with the pros and cons of each hunting style, let’s dig into a variety of contexts that should ultimately help you make the right choice for your next turkey hunt.
Ground blinds can be very effective tools to help you bag your spring bird. With a blackout interior, your movements are practically undetectable.
Left: Mobility can be critical to sealing the deal on a mature gobbler. Know the terrain and carefully plan each move you make.
Right: Drawing back on an approaching longbeard without hiding in a ground blind is easier said than done. Pick out multiple obstacles that will momentarily fly you out of Mr. Tom’s radar as you draw your bow.
Bowhunting turkeys on the run is tough. Use a convincing decoy spread so that you are not in the spotlight.
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I have been privileged to introduce several young bowhunters to turkey hunting in the past few years. When I am taking someone new, I always use a ground blind. This enables me to give them the proper coaching, which at times requires a great deal of movement. Also, youngsters usually don’t sit very still, making a blackout-interior blind especially important.
If I know some precipitation is scheduled to roll in, I will almost always include a ground blind in my regimen. Spring temps can be quite chilly, and getting wet only makes it worse. Western states where the spring turkey seasons open in March have been known to experience blizzard conditions on occasion as well. To stay toasty warm, you can purchase a small propane heater, and the combination of that heater and a ground blind will keep you as snug as a bug in a rug.
I also use ground blinds when I have patterned a tom and know exactly where he is going to be and when. These circumstances are rare where I hunt, but aren’t out of the question. This ambush style of hunt-ing can be very effective, but you certainly need to do a great deal of scouting to ensure high odds of success.
The amount of foliage available also impacts my choice of hunt-ing style. I usually do most of my run-and-gun hunting in early May when the forest is booming with brilliant foliage. This definitely makes distance closing much easier. The areas I hunt in April are usually pretty barren, making a ground blind setup on a field a great choice.
In all other scenarios, I hunt on the run. I do most of my gobbler chasing on public real estate, and birds are tough to pattern in these spots due to uncontrollable factors such as hunting pressure. If I know a chunk of public land holds some gobblers, I don’t usually bother scouting beforehand. I simply show up in the morning darkness, wait to hear a bird gobble, and then cut the distance as much as I dare. Again, if my fly-down setup doesn’t end with a tom, I will continue to follow vocal toms all morning and into midday if that is what it takes. Run-and-gun hunting gives me that option.
in ClosinGIt would be unfair to end without a success story from the confines of a ground blind. The afternoon of Mother’s Day in 2010 found me taking a nap in a ground blind, while my then 10-year-old brother, Marc, vigilantly scanned a sunlit dirt field for any feathered visitors.
Suddenly Marc whispered, “I think a hen or a jake just came out of the woods.” I scrambled to my knees and peered out the blind window. I saw a big paintbrush beard, so I told Marc to get his bow. Agitated by our jake decoy, the tom covered 150 yards in seconds. As the huge gobbler flogged the decoy, I told Marc to draw his bow and take careful aim. As the tom tried to mount my decoy just 7 yards from the blind, Marc’s arrow drove its way underneath his spine, slicing both lungs. The big bird covered just 18 yards before collapsing. A limb-hanger bird for a 10-year-old boy just wouldn’t have been possible without a ground blind.
Ground blinds. Hunting on the run. Both have their place in the spring turkey woods and are equally effective mediums for notching out your tag. Evaluate the scenario at hand, and pick the better option for the given circumstances.
At just 10 years of age, Marc McDougal harpooned this boss gobbler while it flogged a jake decoy just 7 yards outside the window of his ground blind.
Hauling a big tom turkey out of the woods is not a daily event. Whether you
nail one from a ground blind or while hunting on the run, enjoy it thoroughly!
The author arrowed this big-bearded gobbler by taking advantage of the mobility offered by hunting on the run. After a game of cat and mouse, he got into position, called the bird in, and sealed the envelope with a perfect shot.
Ground blinds are the cat’s pajamas if you want a comfortable time in the turkey woods. They will keep you warm and dry and allow you to move around undetected.
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Da r ro n M c D o u g a l
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Mission MXB-360Remember the animated Disney film, Robin Hood? I
still laugh when I recall Trigger, a dimwitted vulture who totes around an unreliable crossbow known
as “ol’ Betsy” while accompanying the Honorable Sheriff of nottingham. Trigger is notorious for his itchy trig-ger finger. His bolts never seem to find their mark, instead flying aimlessly into the unknown. Fortunately, crossbow technology has come a long way since medieval times.
Mission archery stormed the archery market in 2007 with vertical bows that are affordable yet packed with technology. now Mission has gone horizontal and entered the crossbow arena in an effort to broaden its offerings. Say hello to Mission archery’s new crossbow, the MXB-360.
How It Handlesas soon as I cut the tape away on the cardboard box and yanked out the new MXB-360, I instantly knew this would be a big hit for
the year. I appreciated the maneuverable design and sleek crafts-manship of this killer crossbow. and light…Man, is this thing light! I’ve handled many crossbows over the years that elderly and disabled people would surely struggle to shoot repeatedly. That won’t be a problem with the Mission MXB-360, which tips the scale at just 6.55 pounds. That feather-light weight will make it easy to pull this crossbow up to your favorite whitetail stand on a tow rope, and traversing jagged mountains in pursuit of a screaming bull elk with the MXB-360 will be a walk in the park. This crossbow was built to hunt. at just 19.5 inches wide and 35 inches long, the MXB-360 can be succinctly summed up with the words compact and controllable.
While size and weight are crucial, let’s not overlook balance. regardless of a crossbow’s weight, a proper distribution of that weight is what affects overall stability while aiming. You can set the fore-end of the MXB-360 in your open hand, and it will balance right there without any steadying help from your opposite hand. This crossbow makes carrying and aiming second nature.
The tactical design of the MXB-360 would win high honors in a cosmetic competition. But looks aren’t everything—a crossbow still has to perform to prove worthy of being clenched in the hands of a hardcore hunter. and perform it did. I shot it from a variety of distances and positions. The MXB-360 didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was not at all uncommon for me to bang bolts together out to 50 yards.
Some crossbows can be as loud as a freight train. The MXB-360 was surprisingly quiet, with no noticeable “twang” or drawn out “ringing.” This is due in part to a quality cam system with great synchronization, and an ultra-tough, quad parallel limb design that is atypical for crossbows. Whitetails will have a hard time dodging bolts from this deadly crossbow.
Smokin’With a 14-inch power stroke, the MXB-360 raises numbers on a chronograph with serious acceleration. When set at 160 pounds, my MXB-360 sent my bolt downrange at a rocketing 361 feet per second.
The Differenceas I handled the MXB-360, I began noticing the key features that set it apart. The pistol grip offers unmatched comfort and control when zeroing in on your target. Its trigger is designed for a perfect fit and feel, allowing proper shot execution. Mission also eliminated the typical foot-stirrup that crossbow manufacturers have utilized for years to aid in cocking the string. a built-in, rugged-looking riser grid perfectly replaces the foot-stirrup and is compatible with really any shoe or boot
I shot the MXB-360 crossbow at various yardages and from several positions.Its controllability and accuracy were excellent.
Its tactical design makes the MXB-360 a real looker.But looks aren’t everything, and the functionality,accuracy, and reliability prove that the MXB-360can look hot and drive tacks.
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i isize for an easy cocking process. a rope cock-ing device simply leverages off of an easily identifiable, orange composite anchor tucked underneath the cheek piece of the stock.
The MXB-360 has a manual safety, and it is important to flick the safety to the “on” posi-tion as soon as you hear the string click into place when cocking the bow. The fore-end fea-tures a fin-like grip which reminds the shooter to keep fingers out of the string path.
Mission is known for adjustability, and its new crossbow is no exception. The MXB-360 comes preset at 160 pounds. You can make adjustments easily with an allen wrench. Five counter-clockwise turns on the limb bolts sets your MXB-360 to 125 pounds. an additional three-and-a-half turns sets the crossbow to 100 pounds. That’s adju-stability at its finest.
Feature-Packed, Yet Easy to UseDespite its tactical, high-end craftsman-ship and lengthy list of purposeful features, the MXB-360 won’t have you scrambling to check your owner’s manual every few minutes.
Whether you’re new to hori-zontal bows or an experienced crossbow hunter, you’ll find the MXB-360 easy to use. Mission clearly kept simplicity in mind when designing its first crossbow.
Customizationvia Package OptionsThe Mission MXB-360 crossbow is available in three package options: the XB Basic, XB Hunter, and XB Pro. The XB Basic pack-age comes with a Hawke 3x32 MaP scope without any illumination. next, the XB Hunter package comes with a Hawke 1x32 Sr scope with an etched, illuminated reticle. and finally, the XB Pro package comes with a Hawke XB-1 1.5-5x32 scope with etched reticle, variable speed settings (275 to 425 feet per second) and two-color illumination. Each package comes with three tough-as-nails Mission crossbow bolts and a compact Mission MX-3 quiver. Each 22-inch bolt weighs in at 300-grains and features an eye-catching Mission label.
My MXB-360 came with the XB Pro package, and I will tell you that the two-color
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Specifications————————————————Length 35 inches
Width Axle-to-Axle 19.5 inches
Power Stroke 14 inches
Draw Weight 160#, 125#, 100#
Mass Weight w/o Accessories 6.55 pounds
Finish Lost AT and Black
22-inch Test Arrow – Mission Bolt
Arrow Weight – 400 GR.
Kinetic Energy – 115.8 Foot-Pounds
Arrow Speed – 361 FPS
Arrow Speed———————————
———————————For more information, see your dealer or visit missionarchery.com.
The power-packed quad limb system offers durability and silence with a laidback, parallel design, which cancels out vibration. The cam system offers superior synchronization, incredible performance, and rocket-like speed.
The MXB-360 offers two riser grids in lieu of the typical foot-stirrup found on most crossbows. These built-in riser grids grab any size of shoe or boot, making the cocking process a snap.
illuminated reticle with pre-calibrated hold points can stand up to even the most demanding hunting conditions. The Hawke scope also comes with rain-tight, flip-open scope caps for those drizzly and foggy hunts.
If you are a crossbow hunter on a mis-sion to hang some antlers on the wall and stuff your freezer, find the nearest Mission retailer and pick up your own Mission MXB-360.
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Unfortunately, the infectious disease special-ist Billy was referred to did not believe in chronic Lyme disease and suspected Billy must have something else. “The disease is called the Great Imitator because it mimics over 300 other syndromes or diseases, such as Lou Gehrig’s, Celiac, Lupus, and even HIV,” Billy told me.
Billy tested negative for all of the above-mentioned afflictions. The doctor wanted to send him home with anti-depressants and pain medications, but Billy persisted.
“It is vital that you seek out a ‘Lyme-literate doctor,’” he said. “So many doctors disagree on whether chronic Lyme disease ex-ists and, if it does, how it should be treated. My dad put the word out, and we got several calls recommending doctors. Dr. Joseph Jemsek from Washington, DC, is the most renowned doctor for treating Lyme disease. I am fortunate that my doctor follows proto-cols identified by Dr. Jemsek.”
Billy recalls finding two bull’s-eye rashes on his body after a tick bite, a common indicator of infection. Yet nearly two years went by before Lyme disease was confirmed, and by then his symptoms were severe. His treatment consisted of having a port inserted into his chest through which intravenous antibiotics were administered. He went for treatments five days a week for nearly five months. He also used hyperbaric chambers and other aggressive treatments to try to get rid of the infection and toxins.
Billy’s life has been profoundly impacted by Lyme disease. “I know one thing for sure,” he said. “I am not the same man I once was.”
Think you know everything there is to know about Lyme disease? The facts may surprise you. Just because you were bitten by a tick and never saw a bull’s-eye ring around the bite doesn’t mean you have nothing to worry about. Lack of the infamous bull’s-eye does not equate to lack of the disease or risk. This commonly misdiagnosed and sometimes chronic disease is not to be taken lightly.
Basic Biology of Lyme DiseaseFirst discovered in 1975 in the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease is transmitted to humans
through the bite of an infected tick. Hard-bodied ticks of the genus Ixodes, commonly called black-legged ticks or deer ticks, are the primary culprits. Most infections are caused when the tick is in the nymphal stage of its life cycle. At that stage, the tick is very small and may feed unnoticed for longer periods of time. The possibility of infection is stronger if the tick is attached for at least a day.
A skin rash in the shape of a circle—caused by the host’s inflammatory response to the bacteria—may appear around the bite. However, the rash may only occur in 80 per-cent of victims. That means 20 percent will not see the characteristic red-ring rash.
Early symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, and depression, as well as flu-like symptoms like malaise, muscle soreness, and headache.
If symptoms lead to an early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics, in most cases the disease is easily eliminated. Delaying treatment may lead to more serious circum-stances. Advanced symptoms may involve
the heart, joints, and central nervous system, and can be difficult to treat.
Not all persons afflicted with Lyme disease will have all the symptoms. The symptoms are also not specific to the disease, but mimic many other diseases. Even more troubling is the length of time for onset of symptoms, which can vary tremendously. The incubation period from infection to symptom may be as little as a few days, but may also be months or years.
Early Detection, Testing,and Prevention“Not all tests are 100-percent accurate,” Billy said. “There is a 60-percent degree of ac-
curacy in tests commonly used to diagnose Lyme disease. If you have been bitten by a tick and notice the circular red rash around the bite, get treated for Lyme disease even if the test comes back negative.”
New tests are better at confirming infec-tion, but the results are complicated. “Three main factors and five co-factors must be calculated to determine if you have it,” ex-plained Billy.
It is standard for doctors to issue two weeks of doxycycline to treat Lyme disease, but Billy strongly recommends six weeks of this antibiotic treatment to ensure killing off the bacteria’s entire life cycle. “If the disease is caught early, doctors are confident this will eradicate it. It’s when you get beyond the early stages that things get more difficult. You may need long-term antibiotics and alternative medicines.”
Billy also recommends keeping the tick if possible. “They can test the tick itself for indications of the disease. Pay attention to your symptoms after a tick bite; don’t merely dismiss them as something else. Get treated.”
Throughout our interview, Billy stressed that bowhunters should take precautions to prevent infection in the first place. “The best thing to do is treat your clothing with Sawyer’s or other brands containing permethrin.” The sprays you can put directly on your skin containing DEET and other ingredients may not be effective enough. It’s important to spray your clothing in advance and let the ingredients dry before going to the field.
A Biological Expert Weighs InDr. James C. Kroll is the director of the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research at the Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. His familiarity with Lyme disease is personal; his wife, Susie, was afflicted with it.
“Susie came down with symptoms suspi-ciously like Lyme disease (red rash around what looked like a tick bite, low-grade fever, joint ache, etc.),” Dr. Kroll said. “To my surprise, the doctor would not even consider Lyme as a causal factor. He felt she had the flu and treated her accordingly. She did not get better, so I practiced a little medicine of my own. I had a bottle of doxycycline and began treatment. The symptoms went away.
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She later tested positive for the disease.“Our doctor was so reluctant to diagnosis
Lyme due to the prevailing opinion among the Texas medical community that it was not a serious disease, with some practitioners even thinking it was not really a disease. Some patients report having seen as many as 30 doctors without a diagnosis. I became in-terested in talking with victims, one of which was a state representative. His condition had deteriorated to the point where he needed joint replacement due to the ability of Lyme to destroy joints through arthritic action.
“This led to the formation of the Texas Lyme Disease Association, whose purpose is education and legislation. Bill 2975/SB1360, passed in 2011, created efforts to educate doctors and nurses about Lyme. In the spirit of education, we also took on the job of
educating physicians in eastern Texas about RMSF and Ehrlichiosis. After only one year of educational seminars at physician meet-ings, identification of cases of both diseases increased significantly, and lives were saved.”
Dr. Kroll points out a very serious aspect of the disease. “Lyme disease probably never really goes away. It has the ability to hide in various tissues of the body and may reap-pear years after treatment. Even patients with long-term, aggressive treatment may still har-bor the disease. The spirochetes that cause the disease can hide between certain cells of the body, reducing antibiotic effectiveness.
“The best approach to Lyme is not to be infected in the first place.”
An Ounce of PreventionIn order to effectively avoid contracting
Lyme disease, it helps to have an understand-ing of how the disease spreads. Dr. Kroll was involved in a deer-tick disease study in eastern Texas for five years, and the results surprised him.
“Only a small percentage of deer tested positive for Lyme disease,” he explained. “The ticks with the disease tended to come from small rodents, with deer getting the blame.”
Knowing that rodents are often involved in the spread of Lyme disease allows you to better reduce your risk of coming into contact with Lyme-carrying ticks. Dr. Kroll offered a number of prevention tips.
“Around your house and yard, you can take steps to reduce mouse and rat habitat, particularly tall grassy areas. You also can use safe pesticides periodically to treat the habi-tat. I like to do a prescribed burn through areas where we spend a lot of time. We also supported some research on using ivermec-tin-treated bait to kill ticks on deer and it worked very well, but the government has yet to approach this action in the woods.”
Your Best WeaponOne thing is clear—Lyme disease needs to be taken seriously. Bowhunters need to take precautions to prevent infection and watch for early symptoms of the disease. If you feel you may have been infected with Lyme disease and been misdiagnosed with another ailment, be aggressive. Insist on further test-ing, seek out other medical opinions, and ask questions. In the battle against Lyme disease, knowledge is your best weapon.
I, like Billy Parker, am not the same person I once was physically, mentally, or emotionally. I have Lyme disease in the chronic stage. Arthritis and nerve damage have made physical labor many times more difficult than what it used to be. Despite receiving a round of doxycycline, the symptoms persisted. For over four years, I have battled Lyme disease’s physical symptoms and, at times, depression. In that time, I’ve found a few alternative treatments that work for me.
A Rife machine is a simplistic electronic box. You hold onto two metal handles connected to the box, and the Rife machine sends electric frequencies through your body, shocking the spirochetes and killing them
off before they have a chance to reproduce. The intensity of the electric frequencies can be changed from one patient to another. You may have to do some homework to find a doctor that has a Rife machine, but I’ve found it helpful in treating my Lyme disease.
I have also been taking a natural supplement that contains humic and fulvic acid, which carry nutrients to your cells, in turn giving your body what it needs to heal itself and ward off the bacteria. Combined with the Rife machine, this supplement has made me feel much better.
Above all else, keep your chin up. Depression and physical complications are tough things to overcome. Be positive and don’t let them defeat you!
With or without a bull’s-eye rash like the one shown here, it is important to act quickly once you find a deer tick attached to your skin. Get tested. Get treated.
Alternative Treatments By Darron McDougal
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APA Mamba M5A young company rarely drops jaws and entices an
audience. aPa archery is a major exception to that rule. In fact, its company slogan is, “We are noT
the same.” Indeed it is not. Each bow available from aPa archery has its own distinct aPa look not resembling any other bow on the market. at just 10 years old, aPa archery has released its share of hot bows in the decade gone by.
This year, aPa is bringin’ the heat with its latest speed demon, the Mamba M5. once you lay eyes on the Mamba M5, I am warn-ing you, it is tough to look away. Without straying from proven technologies, the Mamba breaks rules by offering more concepts and different features that put this bow in a class of its own.
The Extra ToysThe Mamba M5 features riser Fangs, a built-in way to hang your M5 on virtually any tree limb. This enables you to elimi-nate pesky rubber-coated bow hooks from your tackle, utilizing Ma nature’s provisions to hang up your bow while sitting in your favorite whitetail stand.
Probably the most noteworthy feature that sets the Mamba apart from its competition is the integrated carrying handle. above and beyond its conve-nience, the carrying handle is what gives the Mamba its sleek appearance.
Where the bottom of the carrying handle meets the riser, you’ll find a tool shop on the M5. a built-in broadhead wrench and carbide sharpener make it easy to solve in-the-field emergen-cies. next to the broadhead tools, you’ll notice a nock wrench, which eliminates the need to bite your nocks or use pliers to rotate them in your arrows.
cam-lock technology enables you to work on your M5 with-out a bow press. This provides incredible peace of mind when you’re on a weeklong whitetail hunt in Kansas or traversing the rocky Mountains in pursuit of a giant bull elk. a stainless-steel pin, which fits easily into one of multiple holes machined into the BM cam, can be found near the built-in tool center. Squeeze the bow string and cables together, then simply slide the pin into one of the holes. The pin will contact the limb, relieving the tension on the string and cables. This allows you to work on your M5 in the field without hauling a separate, portable bow press everywhere your hunting lifestyle takes you.
The Proven StuffJust above the tool shop, you will find an amazingly comfortable grip. The M5’s grip is actually the riser with wood side plates. This type of hand-on-riser grip reduces the chance of bow-torque, allowing you to shoot tighter groups at further distances despite the Mamba’s short, 5-inch brace height.
Beneath the grip, a vibration-stomping Sims string dissi-pater attaches to the riser via carbon rod and kills string twang in an instant.
Moving up the Mamba M5, an industry-esteemed roller-guide system allows for friction-free drawing, which also boosts your string and cable life. The roller guide works smoothly and avoids corroding by utilizing ball bearings. like the string stopper, the roller guide is connected to the riser via carbon rod.
It’s Getting Hot in HereThe M5’s BM cam is fiery fast and fairly smooth for an aggres-sive speed cam. However, it goes without saying that to achieve lightning speeds, the BM cam is fast to come off the wall at full draw, thus requiring a firm pull against the back wall at full draw. This takes concentration and experience, but you don’t have to be anywhere near an expert to shoot the M5 and to shoot it very well. The M5 redefines the phrase “blistering speed.” If raw speed is what you’re after, the Mamba M5 is your killing machine.
according to aPa’s cEo, nibal achkar, the M5 is not meant to be shot at 29 inches. “The M5 performs very well at shorter draw lengths, which is why we offer it only up to 28 inches,” achkar explained. We tested the M5 in a 29-inch draw length for an apples-to-apples comparison to other bows we’ve run through our Speed Test, and I was pleasantly surprised when I changed the draw length from 29 to 27.5 inches for the
A built-in carrying handle and sleek riser design topped off with a comfortable grip make the Mamba M5 a great choice for a speed demon. This M5 is shown in Snakeskin Stealth (available at extra cost), a custom color designed by APA.
Powered by the screamer BM Cam, the Mamba M5 sends light hunting arrowsat blistering speeds of up to and over350 feet-per-second.
Bow Report
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shooting portion of the bow test. It felt much smoother and easier to handle, just as achkar said it would.
Accuracy Despite the SpeedThe M5 is a screamer. now that we have that established, it goes without saying that speed isn’t everything. You can shoot lightning-fast arrows, but if you’re going to fill the freezer, you can’t compromise on accuracy. With a mere 5-inch brace height, the M5 stunningly stacks arrows side by side on the range, as my shooting
test results proved. It took me literally three shots to get sighted-in at 20 yards!
complementing its rocket speed and consistent accuracy is the M5’s shockingly quiet shot. I admit I was very surprised with that since most other speed freaks I’ve shot over the years have rung in my hand like church bells. not the M5. Thanks to parallel HE 3-stage limbs and a discriminating riser design, the aPa M5 is whisper-quiet without any noticeable hand shock. This allows you to focus on executing the shot properly, not icing your hand after each shot.
A Whitetail’s Worst NightmareThe Mamba M5 is going to be a hit for whitetail hunters this season. First of all, its raw speed and hefty kinetic ener-gy will deliver the punch to devour ribs and even shoulder bones. Its moderately weighted mass is just 4 pounds and its compact, 32.25-inch axle-to-axle length makes it perfect for ground blinds and treestands alike. It is maneuverable and easy to handle.
Whitetails and other big game animals are quick on their feet, and the lightning strike of the new Mamba M5 offers flat trajectory, elimi-nating the need to use a rangefinder in a lot of cases. There is little difference in arrow impact from 10 to 30 yards, and not much more from 30 to 40.
Speed’s Not Your Thing?If you haven’t fallen into the speed craze, there is great news. aPa offers a variety of less radi-cal, more forgiving bows that still boast above-
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Specifications2013 APA Mamba M5————————————————Axle-to-Axle Length 32.25 inches
Brace Height 5 inches
Mass Weight 4 pounds
Test Bow Draw Weight 70 pounds
Draw Lengths 23-28 inches
Draw Weights 50#, 60#, 70#
Colors Buckskin Stealth, Matte Black, Vanish Hybrid other colors available at extra cost
————————————————For more information, visit apaarchery.com or call (306) 948-5101.
Bow weighed with an Easton Bow Force Digital Scale. All tests conducted with a Spot-Hogg Hooter Shooter Portable Shooting Machine and a Competition Electronics Pro Chronograph.
Arrow Speed2013 APA Mamba M5 set at 29 inches (by factory) and adjusted to 70 pounds—————————————————————————————————— Shaft Arrow Kinetic Arrow28-Inch Test Arrows Gr/In Weight Energy Speed —————————————————————————————————— Easton XX78 Alloy 2512 10.3 448 gr. 89.6 300 fps
Easton Full Metal Jacket 400 10.2 430 gr. 93.6 313 fps
Carbon Express Aramid KV 350 9.8 416 gr. 92.3 316 fps
Carbon Tech Whitetail 65/80 9.5 410 gr. 89.8 314 fps
Carbon Express Maxima Hunter 350 8.9 392 gr. 85.8 314 fps
Beman ICS Hunter Elite 400 8.4 386 gr. 92.2 328 fps
Gold Tip XT Hunter 55/75 8.2 382 gr. 90.7 327 fps
Gold Tip Velocity XT 400 7.4 358 gr. 89.8 336 fps
Easton FlatLine 400 7.4 346 gr. 94.7 351 fps
High Country Speed Pro Max 5.5 304 gr. 88.5 362 fps
Integrated Riser Fangs enable the M5 to be hung on virtually anybranch, an especially handy option for treestand whitetail hunters.
A tool shop? Absolutely! The M5 features APA’s built-in broadhead tools, nock wrench, cam-lock, and carbide sharpener.
average speeds. The Mamba Series also includes bows with brace heights of 6 and 7 inches. of course, even the M7 is no\ slouch in the speed department, charging downrange with an IBo speed rating of up to 346 feet per second.
Whatever your cup of tea is, aPa archery has a bow for you. Bite like a snake! Find the nearest dealer and shoot aPa’s lat-est lightning bolt, the Mamba.
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re you properly caring for your crossbow? Ensure that your crossbow holds up to season after season of use with these easy maintenance tips.As crossbow legislation has changed across the country, more and more people are turning to crossbows to take advantage of increased opportunities to hunt. But while learning to shoot a crossbow is fairly easy, things get more complicated when it comes to maintenance.
A large number of people who are picking up a crossbow have spent most of their lives hunting with a gun, so they can have a hard time understanding the limitations of a crossbow. For the most part, all you have to do with a gun is clean out the barrel once in a while. A crossbow, on the other hand, has many moving parts, and those moving parts require routine maintenance.
“We have many people come into our pro shop who have purchased a crossbow elsewhere,” Jim Lavin of Hesperia Sport Shop said. “After having it a year or two, they start having problems with it. Many people don’t realize that a crossbow requires upkeep, just like a bow.”
Proper crossbow maintenance can make the difference between a successful—and safe—hunt and a blown opportunity. If you’re shooting a crossbow, make sure you know what you need to do regularly to keep your weapon hunting-ready.
Purchase the Right CrossbowOkay, so this isn’t technically a maintenance tip. But getting the most out of your horizontal bows starts with select-ing the right bow in the first place. A quality crossbow is more likely to perform consistently and have fewer prob-lems than a less-well-made bow.
When looking to purchase a crossbow, don’t buy a crossbow on price alone. Go to your local pro shop and take the time to shoot crossbows from several different manufacturers to find the crossbow best suited to you and your hunting style. Shoot crossbows with cams. Shoot a few recurve crossbows. Shoot through a few different scopes to
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determine which crossbow-and-scope combination you like most.There are a number of great crossbow packages out there that
include the crossbow, scope, cocker, sling, bolts, and broadheads. These packages can be an extremely convenient and cost-effective way to purchase a crossbow. However, be careful to evaluate the accessories included in these packages just as critically as you do the bow itself. You want to make sure the accessories meet your needs as well.
Wax the Strings and CablesJon DuMars of Mission Archery has spent the last several years shooting crossbows, and he played an important role in the launch of the Mission line of crossbows. DuMars has noticed that many crossbow users don’t take care of the strings and cables regularly. Just as the string is the Achilles’ heel on a conventional bow, a cross-bow string that is not properly maintained can cause problems.
“Many crossbow hunters don’t realize that the strings and cables on a crossbow must be waxed and maintained,” DuMars explained. “The sun, rainy weather, and repeated shooting take a toll on a string. If strings and cables aren’t waxed regularly and taken care of,
the string could break at the most inopportune time, which is when a person is hunting.”
Strings and cables should be waxed several times a season. If regularly waxed, strings and cables should last a couple of years. “I suggest that crossbow hunters take their crossbows into a pro shop at least once a year to have the strings and cables looked at to ensure that everything is in working order,” advised DuMars. “Strings and cables can be very expensive; taking care of them will help make them last for several years. If they are not properly cared for, strings and cables might not last a year.”
Oil the Trigger and Lube the RailLike guns, crossbows have a trigger and a safety mechanism. Put a few drops of oil in your trigger mechanism and in your safety slide at least once a year. A good lubricating oil will keep the trigger working well and prevent the safety from getting rusty or freez-ing up. The more the crossbow is used and the more it is exposed to harsh weather, the more often the trigger and safety should be lubricated. Lubing the rail will also ensure that the crossbow per-forms flawlessly.
Introducing Kids to CrossbowsResearch shows that crossbows are often a great introduction to archery. Kids who start using a crossbow often graduate to a vertical bow down the road.
“Crossbows are a great way to introduce kids to outdoor sports,” said DuMars. “I recently participated in a Kicking Bear youth hunt with Ray Howell, and we had a great time getting young boys and girls into hunting. Guns are often intimidating for kids. A crossbow doesn’t make much noise, and it doesn’t take much practice for a kid to really start hitting what they are aiming at. I watched several girls really get into hunting with the crossbow.”
If introducing your kids or grandkids into outdoor sports via a crossbow sounds like a lot of fun, remember there are some precautions you need to take to ensure the kids’ safety.
“It is best to have the cross-bow on some type of stand or tripod when they shoot so their hand isn’t up on the stock where it could get in the way of the bolt when the crossbow is fired,” DuMars advised. “I make sure the kids’ hands are on the back of the crossbow and on the trigger—never up where they could get themselves hurt. A tripod or shooting stick helps the kids remain steady for the shot.”
Since crossbow hunting is becoming so popular, many crossbow manufacturers are making crossbows that are smaller, lighter, and easier to handle to appeal to women and young shooters. Many companies have lightweight crossbows that
women and older kids can cock by themselves. Some crossbows have adjustable stocks that can be shortened to accommodate woman and chil-dren. Without question, a crossbow, a pop-up blind, and a few snacks can quickly get a kid hooked on the outdoors.
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Crossbow ScopesAs the popularity of crossbows has grown, so has the popularity of crossbow scopes. A quality crossbow equipped with a nice scope can be extremely accurate. Below is a list of some of the latest and greatest crossbow scopes.
TenPoint 3X Pro ViewCalibrated for crossbows that shoot in the 330-feet-per-second range, this 20-, 30-, 40-, and now 50-yard combo illuminated dot-and-crosshair configuration is housed in a lightweight, 8.5-inch aluminum tube equipped with fully coated 3x optics. The illuminated dots are positioned at the intersec-tion of each of the duplex crosshairs. The new fourth dot is freestanding and situated directly below the 40-yard crosshair. For more information, see your dealer or visit tenpointcrossbows.com.
TruGlo Tru-Brite Xtreme Illuminated Crossbow ScopeThe TruGlo Tru-Brite Xtreme Illuminated Crossbow Scope can be calibrated to work with crossbows of speeds any-where between 225 and 400 feet per second, making it extremely versatile. Like other scopes in the Tru-Brite se-ries, the Xtreme is packed with useful features. This quality scope features an illuminated glass-etched trajectory-compensating reticle in two colors. An adjustable scope base and rings make for greater vertical adjustments. For more information, see your dealer or visit truglo.com.
Excalibur Twilight DLXThis scope was designed for hunters who like to hunt until the last ray of light is gonein the evening. This scope has a 44mm objective lens for amazing light transmission. The DLX comes with an adjustable multiplex crosshair system for accurate trajectory compensation in precise 10-yard increments at any speed between 300 and 400 feet per second. The Twi-light DXL has 3-6x magnification. For more information, see your dealer or visit excaliburcrossbow.com.
Hawke XB1 1.5-5x32 SRThe Hawke XB1 1.5-5x32 SR crossbow scope is waterproof, shock proof, fog proof, and designed for use with all cross-bows, even those shooting over 400 feet per second. This scope, designed around a 1-inch mono-tube chassis for superior strength, offers a 32mm objective bell for a perfect balance of low-light perfor-mance and low-profile mounting. A new reticle works with the 1.5-5 magnification/speed ring for increased accuracy. And like all Hawke crossbow scopes, the XB1 features ½ M.O.A . finger-grip turrets for easy, fast adjustments. For more information, see your dealer or visit hawkeoptics.com.
HHA Optimizer Speed DialThe new Optimizer speed dial from HHA Archery is perfect for crossbow users looking for extreme preci-sion, even though it’s not an actual sight. It is a sight accessory that increases overall accuracy. The speed dial works with almost any type of crossbow scope. At the heart of the speed dial is HHA’s Speed Tape System. Sight-in at 20 yards and 60 yards, select a provided Speed Tape customized to your bolt velocity and trajectory, and you’ll be able to shoot like a pro from 20 to 80 yards. For more information, see your dealer or visit hhasports.com.
Trijicon ACOGTrijicon is known for making high-end, deadly accurate rifle and tactical scopes. In 2012, the company entered the crossbow market with the ACOG crossbow scope. This lightweight scope weighs 5.6 ounc-es, so crossbow users won’t notice the extra weight on their crossbows. It has a built-in range-finding reticle and a Bolt Drop compensated reticle, and it features Trijicon’s one-of-a-kind fiber-optic-tritium aiming system that is extra bright but doesn’t require batteries. This 3x24 crossbow scope is perfect for the hardcore crossbow hunter who demands the best. For more information, see your dealer or visit trijicon.com.
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Select the Right NockAnother mistake many first-time crossbow users make is not buying the right kind of nock for their crossbow. “Some crossbows require a flat nock, while others require a half-moon nock,” DuMars said. “Us-ing the wrong type could result in big problems. If a person doesn’t use the right type of nock, the anti-dry-fire device in the crossbow might not work, which could result in an injury.”
Tighten Things UpCrossbows vibrate more than the average vertical bow because they are shooting at such fast speeds. Crossbow users should regularly tighten all nuts and bolts found on the crossbow. Over time, the vibration from shooting a crossbow can loosen things up. Scopes, quivers, and other add-on items are especially prone to becoming loose and falling off. By making sure everything is tightened regularly, you won’t have to worry about something falling off the crossbow in the field. Loose nuts and bolts also create more noise, which, as most of us know, can increase the chance of an animal jumping the string.
Don’t Leave a Crossbow CockedLeaving a crossbow cocked when you’re not hunting can be a big mis-take. That puts a lot of pressure on the limbs of the crossbow, which could result in the limbs of the crossbow shattering. “When a person is done hunting for the day, it is a good idea to shoot the bolt into a target or the ground to take the pressure off the limbs,” said DuMars. “There is a lot of energy in those limbs, and it should always be dis-charged. Leaving the crossbow cocked is asking for trouble.”
Todd Kuhn, an engineer who works with several companies in the outdoor industry, agreed. “Leaving a crossbow cocked when it’s not being used is like putting a Corvette in park and putting a brick on the gas pedal,” he explained. “Eventually something will go wrong.”
If you want the limbs of your crossbow to last a long time, shoot it after you are done hunting each day.
Practice!There is no question that when used properly, a crossbow is easier to sight-in than a bow. There is also no question that being accurate with a crossbow in your hand is easier than shooting accurately with a vertical bow. However, like anything in life, if you want to be good at something, practices does make perfect.
“I think many crossbow hunters treat their crossbows like a gun,” said DuMars. “They get the crossbow out of the closet a few days before the season, shoot it a few times, and call it good. I suggest anyone who is serious about bagging a buck with a cross-bow shoot it a few times before each day of hunting. The more a person shoots a crossbow, the more comfortable they will be, and the better shot they will be. The scope on a crossbow can get knocked around, and without knowing it, your sight could be off.
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Shooting regularly is always a good thing.”
Understand a Crossbow is Not a GunOne mistake many gun hunters make is thinking a crossbow is more like a gun than a bow. Although a crossbow does have a trigger and is shouldered like a gun, a crossbow really is more like a vertical bow than a firearm.
“When you look at harvest data, success rates with a crossbow are similar to success rates of a vertical bow harvest. A crossbow isn’t nearly as lethal as a gun,” DuMars explained. If you research online or read online hunting forums, you will quickly discover that some people believe crossbows are accurate to 80 yards and beyond or that they can easily kill a deer at 50 yards and beyond. As a result, some hunters may assume that crossbows have a range more com-parable to a rifle than a vertical bow, which could lead to unethical shots at deer.
“In the right hands, there is no question that a crossbow is ac-curate at 50 yards and beyond, but that doesn’t mean the average person should shoot at a deer with a crossbow at 50 yards or more,”
DuMars said. “People should practice so they know their effective range. Their effective range in the backyard and while hunting are often two different things, especially when hunting with a bow or crossbow.”
In addition, crossbow hunters need to familiarize themselves with the anatomy of the game they’re pursuing, particularly if they’re more accustomed to hunting with a gun. Many shots that are fatal with a gun likely won’t work with a crossbow.
The Bottom LineIf you are in the market for a crossbow or you’ve recently purchased one, spend as much time as possible getting to know your equip-ment and how it works. Practice often. Spend a lot of time shoot-ing at targets. Spend some time practicing from a treestand. Read and pay attention to what the owner’s manual says. Perform regular maintenance on your crossbow. Realize that a crossbow is not a vertical bow or a sniper rifle. A crossbow is a unique weapon that, when placed in the hands of a capable hunter, can help put trophies on the wall and meat in the freezer.
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Utah BruinIt was coal black under the thick canopy of pines that I was
perched beneath, and to be frank, I was wondering why I was even still tied to that tree. On the first few evenings of the hunt
I really never gave my current situation a second thought, but now that my trail camera revealed that there were in fact a couple of visitors sampling the jelly-filled goodies from my bait site, I was questioning the wisdom of my initial plan to head back to camp under the cover of night.
My buddy and avid bear hunter, Bill Allard, suggested that I wait until it was dark before leaving the stand, and he’s far more of an expert in this arena than I am or probably ever will be. Over the years he has killed numerous bears over bait and while stalking. He readily admits that it is his favorite big game animal to chase with a bow. He insisted that the “big boars” typically hit the bait during the last twinkle of shooting light. He further pointed out that spooking the bears as they were coming in could keep them from showing themselves during shooting light, so sneaking out undetected was the best option if I wanted to fill my limited entry Utah tag with a hefty boar.
I’ve never really been scared of things that go bump in the night, but darkness does tend to play tricks on the mind—as well as the ears—especially when claws and sharp canine teeth are involved. You can try to convince yourself that you’ll be fine and that the likelihood of having problems with an unhappy bear is as probable as a lightning strike under a blue sky. But when you’re using food to actually bring bears closer, every odd shadow that moves within the beam of your LED and every broken twig underfoot can cause the hair to stand erect on the back of your neck.
Needless to say, once my boots hit the ground and I unhooked my bow, I immediately began scanning my surroundings with the aid of my flashlight to find potential escape routes in the event lightning did strike. Nearby trees were my first thought, but when I envisioned my thick, six-and-a-half-foot, slow-moving frame trying to wiggle my way off the ground, I knew that a tree was not the an-swer. Running wouldn’t be much of a possibility either. Something about being as slow as honey in the wintertime would make that attempt a foolish proposition.
Carrying a gun would also be out of the question since Utah game laws don’t even allow a gun in camp—let alone in your posses-sion—if you have an archery-only bear tag in your pocket. I guess the genius behind that is to keep the temptation of shooting a bear illegally out of your reach altogether. Pepper mace spray would be an option, and research has shown that it can be effective, but I hate the thought of letting a bear come fewer than 10 yards from me before deploying the spray, which is the typical recommendation.
I had two options: climb down when there was still light and head to camp, which doesn’t seem right regardless of what you’re hunting, or sneak out under the cover of darkness. Well, against my
better judgment I chose the latter, and other than a few hair-raising moments, which were more from my imagination than anything else, I survived nearly 10 days in the Utah bear woods.
Before this endeavor I had never hunted bears over bait. Never really had anything against it, but since the anti-hunting crowd convinced the majority of Colorado voters to ban such practices in 1992—which was the same year I set up stakes in the Centennial State—I’ve never really had the chance. I’ve stalked bears a few times in British Columbia and have had the occasional fall bear tag in my pocket while chasing elk and deer in Colorado. Having had the op-portunity to pursue them both ways now, I would definitely say each has its unique challenges, especially when you’re doing all the grunt work of baiting yourself. It is by no means “cheating” or an “easy” way to hunt, as ignorance sometimes blurts out.
He finally showed himself during the last few minutes of daylight on the ninth evening of the hunt. To be honest, it had been a slow hunt, with me witnessing only a bear or two during an evening sit on average. My novice mind thought that a bait site deep in the Utah woods would have yielded more opportunities, but then again this was steep, rugged country, and the bear density is just not as high in such locations.
My trail camera revealed that he had been showing up to sample the assortment of sweet treats, oats, meat, and grease about an hour after dark the past three nights, but I guess there was something enticing there he couldn’t resist.
My pulse surged when I first saw him cautiously easing down the trail. The long frame and blackish-brown hide told me it was him. I wouldn’t say he was a big bear, but by mountain standards he was pretty good. Just like mature animals do, he paused before diving into the bait, and at 20 yards it doesn’t take long for an arrow to reachthe 10-ring. Needless to say, Iwas well pleased when Iwalked up on myfallen prize.
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B R I A N S T R I C k L A N D
Bowhunting Life
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