Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Choosing the right mule deer area can be a very difficult and sometimes confusing task. Every state and area has its own set of unique challenges and barriers that lie between you and that buck of a lifetime. Learning to pair your own goals and expectations to an individual area can be an art form in and of itself. The following are five points to consider before pulling the trigger on your next mule deer application. 

The Member’s Research Section (MRS) in the back of every issue of Eastmans’ will give you the answers to these very specific questions and more. When conducting area research this very powerful tool is worth its weight in gold to getting you to that goal of a giant buck.

Big mule deer are some of the toughest, most prized trophies out West. They live from the desert to the mountain peaks and everywhere in between. They are wily and have great instincts to stay one step ahead of hunters. Big mature bucks learn how to survive and have a knack for making the right moves at the right times. Depending on the time of year you hunt, the bucks will be found in different locations and have different habits. Each season will take a different set of tactics to consistently harvest good bucks. 

I have hunted every different season and nearly every western state for big muley bucks. I have hunted sage draws to the gnarliest mountain peaks and have a knack for finding big mature bucks. I have had a handful of tough to draw limited units and have had a boatload of easy general tags. Truth is that big mule deer do not just live in the toughest to draw units they live all throughout the West. I have harvested multiple giants in easy to draw units. It’s more about your skill and knowledge as a muley hunter than some special tag. Big, mind-blowing trophies are out there, it’s just about learning how to hunt mule deer like a pro. 

Early Season

Guest Author: Rocky Mountian Elk Foundation

Take a dive into the hot topic…. wolf reintroduction. RMEF has put together a video on the TOP 10 reasons why forced reintroduction is a bad idea.

“RMEF has a long history in Colorado. Since 1987, RMEF and its partners completed 782 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects with a combined value of more than $177.7 million. These projects protected or enhanced 468,068 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 122,107 acres. There are also more than 17,000 RMEF members and 28 chapters in the state.” – Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

The post Reintroducing Wolves to Colorado – It’s a Bad Idea appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Mule deer or whitetail deer? It’s a hunter’s choice when deer hunting with Wolverine Creek Outfitters in eastern Nebraska. Deer outfitter Ryan Lakovitch offers a full service deer hunting camp. Ike Eastman took a mule deer buck with mass and extras on his 2019 deer hunt with Wolverine Creek Outfitters.

Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more great mule deer videos. Tap the bell to get notifications so you never miss a video from Eastmans! Want more deer hunting?

Check out Ike’s Colorado mule deer from a few years ago: Click Here

Or give this father/son DIY deer hunt a watch: Click Here

Climb into the high country with Ike and Scott Reekers to hunt mountain mule deer: Click Here

Learn how to get tenderloins without gutting a deer or elk in the field in this hunting tip. Hunter Brandon Mason demonstrates how to remove elk tenderloins without field dressing. The gutless method of removing tenderloins can be done on any big game animal, including deer, elk or antelope. Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for more hunting tips and hunting videos. Tap the bell to get notifications so you never miss a video from Eastmans!

The post HOW TO get TENDERLOINS WITHOUT GUTTING! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

An interesting twist in the saga of western wolves has just taken place in Colorado. As most of you already know there has been a push to reintroduce wolves into the state for over a year and it looks as though the groups clamouring for this disaster to happen did indeed end up with enough signatures on their petition to get the issue put on the ballot for 2020. But nobody told the wolves in Wyoming they were supposed to wait. That’s right, CPW has confirmed that there is now a pack of wolves residing in northwest Colorado. 

The wolves were first caught on camera last fall by hunters and before they were able to take video of the animals they listened to their very distinct howls for several days. This all coming from the CPW Northwest Regional Manager. 

Therefore when a “thoroughly scavenged elk carcass” was found in the same general area an investigation by CPW was launched and guess what? Wolves! This is not really much of a surprise to CPW or anyone who understands wolves for that matter. The reintroduction of wolves has always been a hot topic but one of the lesser realized issues of the debate is that wolves don’t really need human help to reintroduce into an area, especially when that area is geographically connected to already thriving wolf populations. It’s simple math and biology… expand your range or starve. 

CPW says they have no intention of taking action at this time and quite honestly that they have no jurisdiction anyway as “wolves are federally endangered species and fall under the jurisdiction of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Go elk hunting in Montana for a late-season monster bull with Guy Eastman. Eastman is rifle hunting in a hard to draw elk unit. The area is known to grow big trophy elk. Elk hunts after the rut can mean hunting for groups of bachelor bulls. Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for more great hunting videos. Tap the bell to get notifications so you never miss a video from Eastmans!

Watch another Montana giant eat dirt on this public land father and son hunt: Click Here!

Guy goes elk hunting DIY in Wyoming’s grizzly country: Click Here!

Ike Eastman hunts his biggest bull yet: Click Here!

Watching mule deer on the public land winter range can give you an idea of the trophy buck genetics in a deer population. This can give you a good start on which hunt areas to apply for in hopes of drawing a tag for next year’s deer hunting season. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more great mule deer videos. Tap the bell to get notifications so you never miss a video from Eastmans!

Learn about Popeye, arguably Wyoming’s most legendary public land mule deer: Click Here!

Check out some other big winter range bucks filmed by Mike Eastman: Click Here!

Obsessed with drop tine deer? Watch this video now: Click Here!

Guy Eastman is bow hunting big cats! Hunting cougars means hunting with dogs. Trained dogs are used to track down and tree a mountain lion. Arrowing an angry cat is a serious challenge when its cornered 30 feet up in the protection of thick limbs. It’s cats vs. dogs in this heart-pounding hunt video.

The post Cats Vs. Dogs Bow Hunting Mountain Lions appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

As bowhunters, we have the responsibility of taking good shots on big game animals. A good arrow setup for your bow, shot angle and reading the body language of the animal are very important components to executing a perfect shot while out hunting. So, let’s dive deeper and take a look at what exactly those look like. 

Arrow setup

Let’s start out with your arrow setup. Correct FOC and total arrow weight as well as your broadhead all have to match your bow and the game you are hunting. I’ve broken this into two categories to make it as simple as possible. If you pull less than 60 lbs. and have a draw length under 27”, I highly recommend building your hunting arrow for maximized penetration. This means a heavier shaft, a cut on contact (COC) broadhead and a total arrow weight near 400 grains. The most important component here is the broadhead. A quality COC broadhead will give you maximum penetration with your setup, but also be sure to avoid hitting any heavy bone like a shoulder. 

If you pull least 70 lbs. and have at least a 28” draw length, I believe you have a little more freedom with your arrow setup. Your total arrow weight won’t matter as much, although the heavier the arrow, the quieter your bow will be, and you will have plenty of KE to take down a deer or elk. I recommend a minimum of 415–grain total arrow weight under these specs. With this kind of power, you will have plenty of energy for expandable or non–COC type broadheads. No matter what your setup is, try to keep your hunting bow shooting 300 fps or less, as broadhead flight can be more sporadic at further distances with increased speed.

Reading body language

The Wyoming Game and Fish has made some fairly significant changes to the draw system process this year for non-resident elk hunters. Starting this year (2020) nonresident applicants will still have to apply for their elk tag by the 31st of January, however their application will remain in the Wyoming system until May. Instead of conducting the draw in February the state will hold off until May to actually conduct the nonresident elk drawing. This is a good news/bad news scenario. The good news is you will have clear until May 8 to modify or even withdraw your elk application, as long as you have one placed into the system by January 31st. This will give applicants more time to modify an application once more is known about the season dates, quotas and winter conditions. The bad news, is your money will be tied up until at least the third week in May and there’s not much you can do about it. The end result, all the guys who depend on the Wyoming elk refunds to fuel other state applications early in the season will have to find other alternative sources of funding for those additional apps this year.

“Nonresident elk hunters should also be aware of a significant change to the draw date beginning in 2020. The nonresident elk application period remains Jan. 2-31. However, applicants have until May 8 to modify or withdraw their applications. Draw results will post the third week in May.  The change is meant to give applicants more information before the draw.” –Wyoming Game and Fish Department 

The post Changes for 2020, Wyoming Elk appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Electric-assist bicycles are growing and growing in popularity. In 2019, our crew spent a lot of time on a Rambo bike and a Bakcou bike (pronounced backoo, formerly called Backcountry eBikes) on our spring hunts and fall hunts. My son and I put on 40 miles on each of these in one day of antelope hunting alone while exploring some new country in my hunting unit. They are a very handy and quiet piece of equipment to get into tough places where pickups & SUVs are a challenge to drive. 

Below is a rundown on the standout features on both the Rambo R1000XPS Carbon and the Bakcou Mule 750w. This isn’t meant to be an overly technical review. This is based off of real field use and user feedback, not a press release. Both bikes use top-quality Bafang motors and high-end front fork suspension systems, Tektro brakes, chains, pedals and tires. 

An important note in field use is not to overinflate the fat tires! The PSI on both brands is listed on the tires, and I suggest dropping the pressure 3-5 PSI per tire … unless you don’t want to sit or walk much the next day. After proper adjustment on the tire PSI, the ride was much more comfortable and sustainable. I would also suggest upgrading to a softer and wider seat for all-day comfort when cruising open trails and roads.

Both brands have a ton of upgrade and accessory options so make sure you check out www.badassoutdoorgear.com to complete your setup for e-bike hunting. Everything from additional battery options, saddle bags, trailers, lights, and more are available and Badass Outdoor Gear happens to carry both brands. Their staff are extremely knowledgeable to answer any e-bike questions.

Bowhunter Dan Pickar shares his first impressions of the brand new Mathews VXR hunting bow. This 2020 bow is lighter than ever and just as quiet as the Vertix. Pickar uses a chronograph to speed test the VXR with two different arrow weights in this bow review.

The post 2020 Mathews VXR Review appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Guest Author: Samantha Gangler

I could see his all his vitals. I just needed him to look away so I could draw back. Right then, the bull smelled the air in the opposite direction of me. As he tilted his head back, I drew my bow slowly; I leveled, aimed and released the perfect arrow into his lungs.

The post Successful Bowhunters: Samantha Gangler appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Guest Author: Matt Jones

Matt went in for the final stalk alone as his mom and I watched from a spot nearby.  It seemed like forever as he worked within 30 yards of the feeding buck, but finally he raised his rangefinder and slowly transitioned to his bow and came to full draw.

The post Successful Bowhunters: Matt Jones appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Guest Author: Brevin Brook

Slowly closing the distance, the big bull is headed straight for me. Because of the angle, I didn’t have a frontal shot. So, I had to wait until this bull was probably a yard and a half. The whole time, I was wondering if he was going to turn or walk right into me; then, he finally turned slightly. As he was doing this, his second brow tine on his right side hit the bottom cam of my Pro Defiant Turbo. Once this happened, I waited a split second for his beam to clear, and I stood on my toes and stuck my arrow right into his shoulder.

The post Successful Bowhunters: Brevin Brook appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Guest Author: Battleborn Wildlife

I let my arrow fly and heard it connect with the tank. He jumped and stood perfectly still. Sherman had no idea what had just happened. The arrow made a clean pass through that connected with lungs. The perfectly–placed shot had left Sherman wobbling. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I wanted to get another arrow in him. I crept around a tree, and he turned into another shooting lane. I drew and sent another arrow flying. It was perfect.

The post Successful Bowhunters: Battleborn Wildlife appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Guest Author: BRANDON STUART

As I ran up to my wife, Sharla, she was crying and telling me she had just, “ruined the hunt.” 

I told her, “Babe, you just saved the day!” 

It had been 11 hours since I had first hit the bull, and we were back in the game! 

Guest Author: ALEX MILLWARD

Ding, ding, ding…. At 3 am, an alarm wasn’t necessarily what I was wanting to hear. At that moment, the internal debate began. You’ve already hunted pretty hard this season, you’re sick and you have to be to work at 9; is it really worth it? Followed by, It’s November, and the deer are rutting hard. Your boss said, “If you kill a deer, you don’t have to come in on time.” The more time you spend on the mountain, the more likely you will be to have a shot. And lastly, Do it for Nick!

Earlier that year, I was deciding where to apply for an archery deer tag. Being new to Utah, I wasn’t sure where to go. While working at the local archery shop, I met Nick, who would become one of my best friends and point me in the right direction. 

Good hunting partners are hard to find; however, you will know you have found the right one when they want success for you more than they do themselves. This describes Nick perfectly. 

This article cracked me up after I read it. The first thing asked about low hunter and harvest numbers in Montana from the fall of 2019 was if it was due to CWD. I commend the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks officials for not knee-jerking their conclusion and comment on what the cause of the low numbers was.

Weather and other factors have probably played a role in hunter harvest numbers this year due to the early winter we’ve had across the region. But…CWD is the hot topic right now, much the same as it was almost 20 years ago, so that is what people assume.

Severe winter weather, wildlife-vehicle collisions, and a host of other reasons contribute exponentially to more big game deaths than the confirmed CWD cases can come close to. This isn’t to say that CWD shouldn’t be monitored, but there is SO MUCH we don’t know about disease transmission and whether or not carriers of the disease always exhibit signs or if some animals are carriers but are immune to the symptoms similar to the way humans can be carriers of certain diseases but the diseases never manifest themselves in their bodies.

The point is we all need to take a deep breath and look at the facts of CWD, not the fodder that is being propagated right now. I’ve seen this “episode” before and I’m not particularly enjoying this recent re-run.