Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Just because the firearm seasons are over, and there may be fewer Bucks available and ones that are, maybe, warier, is no reason to pass on what may be some of the best hunting of the year. Sure, the tactics you have used earlier in the year may no longer be as productive. Still, by changing your strategies to take advantage of changing Whitetail movements, you may turn those unfilled tags into wall mounts and/or venison for the freezer. So, let’s discuss some new tactics that will make it worthwhile to leave that warm couch and pursue our passion!

Benefits of Blinds

Earlier Season may have been all about hunting from the several tree stands you had strategically placed throughout your hunting areas; the late season may dictate a change in this method of bowhunting. Trees are bare now and no longer hide your silhouette and add the fact that wary deer now tend to look up more often, these same productive stands give way to better options. I like to utilize hub type blinds during the late season for several reasons. No need to worry about icy tree steps or ladders, and they serve to get us out of cold north winds that can shorten our stay on stand. A blind in the right place with a comfortable blind chair can be pretty cozy and deadly productive.

Late Season Strategies

During severe cold weather, Whitetails tend to be more active during the warmer temperatures of midday and spend more time feeding during this warmer time of day. They are more likely to spend the much colder morning and late evening hours conserving calories by bedding and being less active. The photo above shows a young buck searching for snow buried acorns during a midday foray. I like to set up closer to feeding areas this time of year, as the deer are focused on food sources in order to survive winter challenges. This is true also of rut weary bucks that need to replenish lose weight for the cold months ahead.

Take Advantage of Natural Cover

In the big woods where I love to hunt, I like to search oak flats and any fresh deer sign showing feeding trends. Heavy trails in the snow and dug up snow is evidence of feeding activity and turn into prime locations to set up. A felled tree or natural brush along one of these trails can be a productive blind for unsuspecting deer focused on traveling to chosen food sources.

“Exciting,” “Adventurous,” “Thrilling,” “Inspiring,” “Educational,” are just a few of the words attributed to the annual outdoor pilgrimage to Harrisburg Pennsylvania.  It’s like the opening day of the next hunting season, where every game animal in the world can be seen, and the details worked out.  I’ve been attending the show in Harrisburg for 40 years because it’s informative and downright fun.

Forget Online, Talk to the Experts in Person

Joey Lane killed this great Canadian black bear on a hunt he booked at GAOS.  Instead of looking at pictures and “references” online, you can ask questions directly of outfitters, look at their photos, and compare options in real time.  Often, I have to stand in line to talk to a guide or outfitter and learn from the conversations others are having.

Book a Combination Trip

How about an Alaskan halibut and black bear combination?  Above, I stand with Frank Stelmach, owner of Island Point Lodge that is advertising a spring or fall bear hunt that can be done from his lodge.  I have hunted and fished at Island Point Lodge several times and it’s a great experience. The advantage of talking with outfitters in person is the ability to ask about combination game or secondary animals.

Unique Species

The sika deer of Maryland and Virginia, technically the Asian elk, is one of the least expensive exotic animals to hunt.  For the price of a whitetail deer hunt with most outfitters, you can challenge this monarch of the marsh.  Access is easy, unlike the challenge.  These creatures rut in mid-October, make a whistling bugle, and are known for outstanding table fare.

Shoot the Latest Gear

You can not only see and purchase the latest archery and hunting products but use them as well.  Several manufacturers have shooting lanes set aside with staff members to walk you through the features of the latest bows and crossbows.  It’s one thing to see a bow online, but a whole different experience to handle and shoot it.

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Western public land hunting is dramatically different than the East.  Once you draw a coveted elk tag, you will find uncrowded hunting conditions if you are willing to walk or drive to remote locations.  Last year, while hunting in the same drainage where I killed the 6X6 bull shown above, Assistant Bowhunting. Com Editor Zachary Willems took this mature cow on the second day of the hunt.

Second Day Success

“I spotted elk the first morning of the hunt and headed up the mountain,” said the 17-year-old Idaho resident.  “My breather and I chased after the herd but couldn’t catch up.  I saw a bull cross the canyon and tried to get in front of it. Suddenly, a large cow came walking by and I was so excited that I ranged it, drew and released without an arrow on the string.  Hunting elk is just so exciting!  Luckily, my bow was OK, but the peep sight flew off and I spent the afternoon getting it fixed.”

First, Find the Elk

In early season, elk often feed at or above timberline and Willems used a spotting scope to locate a distant herd and then planned his approach.  State wildlife agencies keep detailed records of elk populations and a call or a visit to their website can reveal which areas have the most elk along with harvest records to finalize your decision.

The Compass Cart is perfect for deer hunting and many other uses.  It operates like a standard deer carrier that attaches to the trailer hitch on an SUV or pickup truck, but it carries more, has wheels for getting that big buck out of the woods, and a handle.  As you will see in the video, it slides onto the mounted receiver so that one person can load a deer.

Multiple Uses

“Each time I’m at a show, someone comes up to me to tell me of a new use for the cart,” said the owner.  “It can be pulled behind a bicycle, as shown or used to carry beach chairs and towels for a day at the ocean.  Parents and coaches love it for getting all their sports gear to the sidelines, and it keeps things organized.  When finished, everything goes in the cart.”

Zombie deer are sweeping the nation! No, they’re not. Well, not like you have been led to believe. By now you’ve seen videos of so-called zombie deer. The videos are nearly always the same: person observes a deer walking in circles, stumbling about, and showing little to no fear of humans. And, you have probably […]

Bowstrings and cables are the Achilles heel of any compound, recurve, or crossbow.  If an object vibrates against a string or cable, it can quickly cause failure.  Whether in the back of your truck or the cargo hold of an airplane, a hunt can be ruined without proper caution.  MTM Case-Gard specializes in protective gear and introduced two new storage and protective products at the 2024 ATA Show.

Bow Case and Suitcase Combined

The MTM Traveler is built to store and protect.  It has room enough to store you bow with the quiver installed or your arrow holder can attach to the inside top of the box. Its size fits bows up to 44 inches and meets airline specifications so you will have room for your hunting gear inside the case.  I often pack boots and heavier clothing inside a bow case which can save the cost of checking an extra bag on a round trip flight.

Safe and Secure

The bow case locks with sturdy latches and has holes drilled for padlocks for extra security.  I always fly my binoculars, rangefinder, and release in my carry-on luggage so that they can’t be stolen or repacked by TSA in a vulnerable position.  Make sure that all strings and cables are cushioned by soft clothing and no sharp or metal edges can vibrate against them.

The Mule- The Ultimate Storage Box with Wheels

“I know I have that, but where?” Hunting is gear-prolific and it’s easy to accumulate numerous hunting objects and products, but then forget where you stored them.  This great product from MTM figuratively “packs like a mule.”  It can be used for long, large objects, smaller gear like all of your scent elimination products, broadheads, or game calls.  It’s great for clothing.  Fold all of your face masks, gloves, and smaller items in one box, use the second for base layers and put insulating vests and jackets in the next.  Plus, it has wheels.

About MTM Case-Guard

I’ve seen and used their products for many years.  They specialize in secure storage and allow you to organize, store, and transport a multitude of items without becoming overwhelmed.  They also make shooting rests that double as bow holders that fit crossbows well.  Check out their website for a host of inexpensive, yet protective gear.  www.MTMCase-Gard.com

Rage is one of America’s most popular broadhead brands, and the new Black Series comes with “insurance.” With compound bows at 350 fps and crossbows over 500 fps, all three new Black Series heads come with vertical bow and crossbow collars.  Personally, I believe this is a wise move to ensure that high-speed arrows won’t open prematurely.  The Black models offer cut-on-contact, chisel, and Trypan +P tips, and each features 420 stainless steel blades honed to a razor’s edge.

New Nockturnal Nocks

Lighted nocks are fun to shoot and critical to game recovery but can be maddening to turn off.  Nocturnal introduces the Shift G nock, that has a physical switch to eliminate this frustrating problem.  They are available in red, green, and red/green strobe, fit X, H, S, and GT arrows, with 20+ hours of battery life.

GlenDel 3-D Targets

My GlenDel buck is old enough to attend college, yet it gets plenty of “study” each fall.  This new Half Scale Elk target is exciting to shoot in a reasonable size.  If you are planning an archery elk hunt, you must condition yourself to aim behind the shoulder as the skeletal anatomy of wapiti is notorious for warding off arrows with thick muscles and a stout shoulder blade.

Spot-On Black Bear

As tough as an elk shoulder can be, black bears have a gristle plate covering their shoulder that acts like a shield.  GlenDel has the vitals realistically behind the shoulder and a broadhead there has incredible lethality.  I once shot a black bear that took three jumps and went paws-in-the-air.  Whether you have a bear hunt planned or are just living the dream, you will love this target.

AXE Crossbow

The AXE 400 emphasizes durability and accuracy with a new limb design tested to over 1,000 shots.  The AXE 400 package includes a high-end scope for greater precision at multiple distances.  A new quiver location makes accessing arrows easier and creates a compact design for transport and carry.  Despite a draw weight of 200 pounds, the bow cocks easily with a rope.  An AXE soft case is available with multiple pockets for arrows and broadheads.

The doe walked right up and bedded 10 feet away as if I was invisible.  I was sitting against the base of a tree, and this deer walked toward me and bedded 10 feet away.  A small buck trailed it in a few minutes, forcing the doe to leave.  Neither the buck nor the doe looked at me despite my open exposure.  I had de-scented all of my clothing and gear with the Scent Crusher earlier that morning and the results were so impressive it was downright spooky.

A Smaller and More Compact Ozone Generator

The Scent Crusher ozone generator is incredibly simple to use.  Push one button and it turns on.  Push the second button and you set a 5-to-30-minute operation.  A tube extends from the generator into the containment bag where scent is destroyed.  Inclusion is the beauty of this system.  You can put your bow, arrows, boots, and all your clothing into the bag and have it de-scented including gear which often contains maximum human scent.

Extremely Portable

If you hunt with a friend, guide, or family member it’s very difficult to contain human scent.  You can be scent free, yet another person’s scent will cancel your efforts.  The Scent Crusher generator allows all of your gear to be de-scented.  I’ve used a large suitcase and that works well, too.  You can travel in street clothes and dress at your hunting site and not worry about scented clothing giving away your location.

Get Really Close

This is the buck I shot at 10 yards as it approached my location.  In all of North America this is my favorite deer spot as bucks pass through thick cover during the rifle season.  Rifle hunters ignore the location due to lack of visibility, yet by de-scenting with ozone, I’m able to score at point blank range.

Scent Crusher Closet

Storage is a problem for many hunters and Scent Crusher offers a closet that both stores gear and allows for ozone de-scenting.  It’s available from Amazon.com with a few clicks.  Check out the video below:

Off-season is the perfect time to experiment with new gear.  Shooting heavier arrows is a popular option, and it’s easy to test with broadheads that come in multiple weights.  Increasing the weight of an arrow shaft is difficult while adding broadhead weight is a matter of screwing in a heavier head or target point.

Begin with Target Points-

Doing weight tests with broadheads will become very expensive if you buy packs of heads in various weights.  A more economical approach is to purchase a “test kit” of field points from 3 Rivers Archery.  For the price of one broadhead you can get points ranging from 100 grains up to 200 grains.  Plus, you will burn a lot less target material.  The above group is from a Ravin R26X at 100 yards.

Cut-on-Contact

Several manufacturers introduced cut-on-contact broadheads at the 2024 ATA Show.  As you can see this Helix brand offers heads up to 225 grains.  Shooting the heaviest head will give the standard shooter a mass of 525 grains instead of the standard 400 grains, a weight increase of more than 25 percent.

Grim Reaper Options

Because Grim Reaper broadheads are made and sourced here in the USA, they offer a wide assortment of types and weights of broadheads.  You can choose from fixed, mechanical, or hybrids which offer advantages of each.  Heavier broadheads can give an arrow a great Front of Center (FOC) weight which helps keep the shaft on-target.