Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Most of us started hunting when a relative or friend invited us to come along for the first time. If we were to narrow that down even further to the relative that was most likely to take us hunting it would probably be a father, or a father figure. It only seems fitting that the week before Father’s day we share a video on YouTube that has proven to be one of the most popular hunts from Eastmans’ Hunting TV year after year! Mike Eastman, founder of Eastmans’ Hunting Journals, and his son Ike have been hunting southwest Wyoming for mule deer for 20 years. Mike passed his knowledge of mule deer behavior and western hunting tactics on to Ike who has used it to harvest many trophies in multiple states year in and out.

The knowledge base grew for Ike and over the course of time the hunt in southwest Wyoming has turned into a family reunion with a healthy competitive nature as to who will kill the bigger buck. Follow along as the Eastman family celebrates their hunting heritage and the camaraderie that only family and friends know around the hunting campfire!

For those of us that make bowhunting a lifestyle, preparation for next season begins the day after archery season ends. For others, it might be a casual hobby or maybe you’re a weekend warrior. There’s nothing wrong with any intensity level of bowhunting as long as you’re a bowhunting! As preparation levels differ for each individual and hunting intensities differ, we all have one thing in common… the desire to have ice water flowing through our veins during the moment of truth. The perfect shot at the perfect moment for a perfect kill. Just a few seconds can define months of preparation, work and your whole season. No pressure right?

Don’t Overthink or Overwork Yourself

During the first few years I started bowhunting as a teenager, I figured if I worked hard success would follow. That’s how I was raised and it worked for me. I figured if I hunted hard enough and covered enough country I could catch up to the better odds and get an arrow bloody. Unfortunately, in the life of a bowhunter busting my butt didn’t always translate into success. That very statement is what got me hooked on bowhunting at a young age in NW Montana. It was a challenge that didn’t have a clear-cut equation of success. I became quickly submersed and enthralled in a lifestyle that was mine to define with success controlled by fate.
As my first few seasons went by I notched whitetail doe tags and turkeys. But my primary goal was a bull elk. All I could think about was elk. That’s all that mattered to me.

The era of the four-blade broadhead is here. It’s been over a decade in the making but they have begun to really gain popularity, especially in recent years. Why? The answer is simple. More total cutting area, designs built for accuracy and most importantly, hard-hitting modern bows to drive them home. About 15 years ago when my archery career began I went straight to four blade heads. That’s about the time companies began emphasizing short profiled, four-blade heads like Muzzy and shortly thereafter, Slick Tricks. Now, there are multitudes of effective fixed, hybrid and recently, fully expandable heads available.

Over the past three years I’ve tested as many types and variances of four-blade broadheads as I could get my hands on. During that time I’ve shot roughly 50 animals ranging from javelina to giant wild brush bulls across the West and Hawaii. Results have varied from disappointing blood trails to jaw-droppingly awesome performance. On top of that, our arrow flight performance testing using Doppler radar by Labradar makes this review the most comprehensive and detailed broadhead review ever published to date.

The Labradar:

The Labradar is a first of its kind tool for measuring velocities of arrows during their entire flight path using Doppler radar technology. In our groundbreaking testing, we have been able to actually measure the drag of any given arrow/vane/head combination along its entire flight path. The results of our testing showed some dramatic results. We concluded that vane orientation (degrees of offset or helical) plays a larger role in drag than the broadheads do. And another big take away we found was all of the broadheads are equal in velocity loss when compared to each other meaning the drag amongst the fixed blades is equal.  

As bowhunters, the important thing to note here is you need to find the ideal balance between stability and speed to maximize your rig’s potential.

This is an update to the Colorado MRS and Dave Hoshour’s Hidden Gold Article from December

There have been several changes so far in 2017 for returned and reissued licenses. Some were announced well after the original announcement. Changes published after the Colorado MRS was written are indicated by NEW below. See the CPW page on reissued licenses at http://cpw.state.co.us/refunds .

Returned Licenses
1. If you return a license you may have your points restored or receive a refund, but not both.

2. You must turn in your license at least 30 days before the season starts – exceptions for extreme medical circumstances of the license holder only (like death or coma) or military deployment.

Stay On Top Of Your Game!

Let’s face it; everyone wants to be a great shot. We all dream of drawing back on the animal of our dreams and watching the arrow disappear tight behind the shoulder. For some, this consistently becomes a reality, but for others, it will remain a dream unless they put in the time and work for it.

There is one small difference between the hunter that consistently executes perfect kill shots and the hunter that regularly sends poorly placed arrows downrange. That one difference is preparation. You can shoot a lot of arrows over the course of a year, but if you’re not properly preparing for that one shot, you’re wasting your time. Preparation involves mental training, physical training and being sure your equipment is ready for your opportunity.

Year round shooting is a key element to successful bowhunting. It’s not enough to pick up your bow three weeks before season and expect to be a great shot. As a matter of fact, putting minimal effort and time into shooting before going hunting is considered unethical. We owe it to the animals we pursue to do what is required to ensure a quick clean kill from an arrow that is guided with precision rather than luck.

I am somewhat of a nostalgic, the type of person that loves to recall a memory while looking at a picture or thinking about what places a piece of gear has traveled with me. Recently I was asked to review the Crispi Valdres boots and that brought back memories from one of my favorite pairs of boots from year’s past – the Crispi Hunters.

It took over 1000 miles on the trail for the Vibram soles of the Hunters to need resoling and they maintained their comfort level throughout one of the worst pack outs I have ever been a part of (and there have been a few). Brandon Mason and I decided that some unseasonably warm weather dictated a VERY heavy packout was in order to get the entirety of my 2014 bull out of the six mile deep ridge where I killed him. The boots bear the scars of that trip on the sole and the 1” rubber rand.

The new GORE-TEX lined 8 “ Valdres aren’t as tall as the Hunters and are my choice for early season hunts and the Crispi Crossbow Frame is a welcome feature on summer scouting trips. Trekking comfortably between high country basins can be the difference between finding the buck of a lifetime or going home empty handed.

With 100+ miles of use on the Valdres so far, the Anatomic Fit and Flex 3 features are positives in the world of mountain boot break in. Like most upper end, minimum stitching boots with 1” rubber rands, breaking them in takes time and sometimes brutal effort. The Crispi Valdres were stiff enough for me to trust their ankle support but flexible enough for a comfortable break in period.

Eastmans’ Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. We strive to help our audiences become more skilled and ethical hunters, while expanding their knowledge, appreciation, and awareness of the outdoors and wildlife through entertainment media.

Eastmans’ Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. We publish book and magazines, along with producing videos, DVDs, and TV programs. We also develop and sell products such as apparel, hats and artwork.

Want in depth analysis of every antelope hunt in Idaho? SUBSCRIBE HERE for the MRS!

Idaho pronghorn populations have held steady in recent years. This past winter resulted in a few localized die-offs, but most of the herd remained healthy. Idaho does not have many antelope tags. Rifle draw odds are bleak for residents and nonresident alike. Trophy quality is really lacking in Idaho as well. Since 2000, Idaho has only entered 18 trophies into the Boone and Crockett record book, basically equating to one 80” buck killed and registered each season. Contrast this with Wyoming, a pronghorn powerhouse, which has entered 495 during the same timeframe, or about 31 per season. I say this to highlight the reality of pronghorn hunting in Idaho. You can certainly have an enjoyable experience, just do not go there expecting to find many 80” or even 70” bucks. On the plus side, the overall hunt cost is less compared to many others.
Archery and muzzleloader are the hunts to apply for as a nonresident. The rifle permit odds are simply too tough to overcome. One circumstance where it makes sense to apply for rifle antelope is applying in the area you already plan to pursue elk or deer; possibly setting yourself up for a combination hunt.

Top Units
Units 37-1, 39, 54 are the top rifle units in Idaho. All four have odds below 7% for the resident and below 1% for nonresidents.
Unit 37-1 has great access, high harvest success and decent trophy potential.

Unit 39 has an excellent public land percentage, high harvest odds and decent trophy potential.

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The Idaho elk population is in a good position entering the 2017 season. The winter was a hard one, but elk are hardy. The elk winter kill was not substantial. None of the limited entry hunts saw notable tag allocation declines, and some were increased.

If seeking a 350” bull, the options are narrow. Although several Boone and Crockett bulls are harvested each year, it is less than other states. Most of the big bull units are in the southern Idaho desert bordering Nevada and Utah or along the borders with Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming.

1. Owyhee Unit 40 is along the Oregon border southwest of Boise. Public land access is superb at 83%, and the terrain is not physically challenging. Harvest success has averaged 57% but every single one of the bulls taken the past three seasons has been at least six points.
The rifle season opens while the rut is ongoing. The bow hunt is also one of the top choices. Harvest success has been high for a bow area, at over 50% the past three seasons. Every bull taken during this time has been a six point or better.

The Idaho Deer application deadline is June 5th. If you have put off your research, I’ve put together a little last minute cheat sheet to get you up to speed. The past winter was hard on the deer herds. Snowfall in most areas was well above average. Fawn mortality has been extremely high in some areas. In response Fish and Game eliminated antlerless general season hunts in the following units: 48, 49, 52, 66A, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78. What this means is there will be a gap in the age class of the deer going forward, and in the 4-6 year old group it will be harder to find mature bucks.

Surveys indicate strong survival for mature bucks. On the plus side, high snowfall can mean a very wet and green spring and summer as the snow melt lasts longer into the year. These conditions are ideal for bucks to get enough nutrition to maximize their genetic potential. It could be a good year to be in the Idaho mountains. This article focuses on limited quota hunts, but Idaho also offers an extensive OTC opportunity. If you don’t pull a premium tag, plenty of big boys can be found in the general hunts.

1. Owyhee Unit 40 has the magical ingredient to growing big animals. The habitat doesn’t encourage dense populations for deer, so finding your buck may be tough, but the quality is there. The average hunt has taken 6 days, and 80% of hunter fill their tags. 76% of the unit is public land.

2. Smokey-Bennett Unit 45 access is notably better than its cousin to the North, at about 64%. The terrain is mostly lowlands and very easy for an Idaho hunt. Draw odds are very steep for both residents and nonresidents. Harvest success has been 85%, and 90% of the bucks taken were 4+ points. The average hunt has taken 6 days.

The days of “range guesstimation” are long over, or in your case they should be. I will admit, being a traditional bowhunter for many years made me resist the idea of rangefinding technology being incorporated into my gear. Boy, was that wrong!

In my humble opinion, I since feel that having a quality rangefinder in your chest rig makes you a more conscientious hunter. So instead of guessing you now know precisely how far that critter is. Couple that with the knowledge of your weapon of choice’s ballistics, and you have the formula for success. In short, knowledge is power and yardage is everything. It gives us the information we need to either stalk closer, or take the shot. Just a few yards either side of that can spell a missed shot, or worst of all – a wounded animal.

So where is all this leading? I guess it’s leading to the fact that if you don’t have a quality rangefinder you should, and I have fallen in love with SIG’s rangefinders, specifically the 2400ABS. This rangefinder is a permanent fixture in my hand and the information it provides is priceless!

It’s the most powerful in class rangefinder you can buy and power is everything when it comes to ranging “soft/non-reflective” targets like game animals. Power equates to distance at which you can read a soft target. With the 2400ABS ranging a game animal at 1,300 yards is no problem. Reflective objects, like a rock or hillside an animal is standing on, no problem, I have gotten readings back from 2,200 yards. That’s well over the 1,760 yards in a mile!

With the wrath of the worst winter in nearly 40 years finally behind us, the Wyoming deer herd has suffered tremendously, particularly on the Western side of the state. The regions of G, H and K have taken the brunt of the winter losses. Along with that historic limited quota go to areas for many such as 102, 141/162, 130 and 105/106/109 have seen very serious winter losses for their mule deer populations. As an example, the state of Wyoming had 99 mule deer fawns from last year (yearlings) collared for a study mostly from Regions G and H. Of those 99 only one single fawn survived the winter. Not a very good scenario to say the least. With that said, the options are pretty slim this year, and even at that, these are what I believe to be the best mule deer options available at this time in the state of Wyoming, which may not really be saying much.

1. Area 87-1: Right in the heart of the famed Carbon County and clear of the epicenter of the winter danger zone this area is a very solid bet for a high point holder who really wants to hunt deer this year. An increased quota, limited hunting pressure and high success make this area a very high quality hunt for Wyoming. Public land access can be a bit problematic here, so do your research.

2. Area 89-1: A solid producer and an expanding mule deer herd put this hunt on the list this year. This deer area has one of the highest buck to doe ratios in the entire state and one of the only mule deer herds that is over objective population levels. A great hunt for good bucks, but true monsters can be hard to come by here. A great bowhunt.

3. Area 101-1: This area has very limited hunting pressure and tons of country to hunt in. Although this area is in the winter danger zone I think the limited amount of tags and the excessive moisture from this winter and spring could really benefit the survivor bucks in this area. Probably the best bet in the state for a true monster of a buck this year, but could be a bit risky with decreased deer herd numbers.

Generally speaking, antelope do tend to fair somewhat better during a rough winter than the mule deer do. Antelope are notoriously hardy critters given their size. I do think the antelope have managed to fair slightly better than the deer did this past winter mostly due to the relatively mild spring we have seen this year. Even with that said, I would be very leery to burn a bunch of preference points on the historic big buck hot spots in Sweetwater and southwestern Carbon Counties. Historic hot spot areas such as 90, 96, 92, 59, 58, 57, 61 and 62 would probably be a huge gamble this year. Since antelope grow their horns during the winter months, even a very luscious spring, like we are now seeing may not be enough to boost the horn growth above and beyond the average most heavy point holders are usually looking for. A few exceptions could be these five antelope areas which should be free and clear of the heaviest of the winter damages.

1.Area 67-1: In the heart of Fremont County, this area has seen solid moisture this year but was somewhat clear of the worst conditions winter dealt to the areas just to the West. Monster bucks are definitely a possibility here, particularly on a year like this. Probably the best bet in the state this year for quantity and quality of bucks.

2. Area 114-1: This area is a very solid big buck producer and has been for decades. With the increased moisture levels this winter and spring, coupled with plenty of protected agriculture fields to winter on the antelope in this area should be as good as ever.

3. Area 75-1: A very solid and steady producer this area has plenty of antelope and can have some big bucks on a good year. This year should be good with the very wet spring and somewhat average winter here.