The cost of a guided Alaskan moose hunt is around $25,000, well beyond the reach of most hunters. However, if you are willing to put your woodsmanship to the test, Willow Air of Alaska will set you afloat on a DIY hunt for about $12K. That’s still a fair piece of change but it will never be less. This brief video tells the basics and can be the first step to a dream hunt come true. Since hunts have been restricted by COVID in recent years, the timing is right for a monster bull.
Among the many wonders of the white-tailed deer, antlers ALWAYS cast the longest shadow. We have talked about the formula for big antlers multiple times in this blog over the years. It is (in this order):
Age, thenEnvironmental conditions (e.g., food quantity and quality), and thenGenetics.Despite the fact that letting a deer grow older, having better nutrition, and reducing stress produces larger antlers on all males, genetics still gets much of the attention.
From Penn State College Of Agricultural Research: Whitetail Deer
Fortunately, our ability to monitor genetics in a population has become easier and less expensive in the past decade. Two presentations at recent scientific meetings provide some insights into the importance of genetics in white-tailed deer and human’s ability to manipulate genetics to produce more males with larger antlers. Both studies were conducted by the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
The first study tested the “inferior” genes dogma by culling 1.5-year-old males with small antlers at 3 different rates: no culling (a control), moderate, and intensive. They captured 2,937 individual males and culled 1,333 of them. Over the 7 years of the study, they culled 85% – 100% of yearling males at the ‘intensive’ culling rate.
Eddie Salter has been a leading turkey caller and hunting expert for decades. Here at the NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show, he speaks directly to bowhunters on ways to up their game. If you are thinking about hunting turkeys with a bow, Mr. Turkey has the plan.
You can find more information from Salter at [email protected] or call (251) 227-0741.
Mark Kayser is one of the nation’s leading experts on hunting public land. At the Great American Outdoor Show, he speaks to applying for preference points in order to draw coveted big game licenses. I caught him just before he gave a seminar on deer and elk hunting.
Search Mark Kayser on YouTube and you will find a host of information. He’s the guru of DYI, and his tips can save you thousands of dollars while increasing success.
A Florida hog hunt is the perfect adventure between deer and turkey season. Escape the cold weather of winter to the moderate temps of Florida’s Western coast. You can hunt with bow, crossbow, rifle, or pistol, but be prepared for action. These hogs have just been trapped from the wild and they are mad as hell.
Spot and stalk if you dare.Tiger Island’s special has been three 100-pound hogs for $250 and I’ve maxed out on my three trips to hog heaven. Last year, I had to “help” two buddies with their harvest and took a total of five. Using a Wicked Ridge 400 fps bow and Burris rangefinding sight, I took all five pigs with five arrows. I stalked two of them that never moved after the shot, incredible stopping power from an arrow.
150-grain Sevr Robusto heads proved incredibly durable and lethal.If you are considering a new bow or broadhead for 2023, this is the perfect test track. These wild hogs have grown up amongst the gators, snakes, and other predators of the swamps and have great stamina. Your shots need to be accurate and well-timed for instant lethality. Using a 400 fps bow and Sevr broadheads, I’ve never had a hog run more than 30 yards. The Burris Oracle X crossbow sight performed flawlessly, even in dense swamp cover.
Tune up before you hunt.Tiger Island Outfitters has a small cabin and target range adjacent to the hunting area. Groups of 6 or fewer can stay overnight at the cabin with a campfire and outdoor adventure. Targets are adjacent so that you can assure your bow is precisely on target. This arrow came from an Excalibur 360 Micro using a Burris FastFire red dot scope. Since most shots are 30 yards or less, a red dot sight is an excellent choice.
Several tree stands are permanently set on the property.During my three trips to Tiger Island Outfitters, I’ve hunted high and low. The property has several tree stands and ground blinds that are ideal for ambush hunting. Spot and stalk hunting is the most action-packed, yet you must be nimble on your feet. I got within 50 yards of a feeding bore when it suddenly charged me like a freight train. This hog was running as fast as it could right for me. I waved my arms and yelled, causing it to veer off course, but my heart pounded noticeably in my chest.
The NRA Great American Outdoor Show offers some of the greatest hunts in the world. Van Hale’s spring black bear hunts are the perfect example. He has exclusive access to Native American reservations where bears grow to a huge size such that many of Hale’s clients take Boone & Crocket specimens.
Van Hale specializes in hunting the Southwest for deer, elk, bear, and mountain lion. You can reach him at www.trophyoutfitters.com or call him at 928-333-5290. Better yet, talk to him in person at the GAOS that runs through Sunday.
Sharing the video of a hunt is exciting whether you take the shot or not. Doing so can reduce your chance of success, especially with bulky tripods and large cameras. Now you can have your smartphone on your crossbow where it’s easy to control and capture great video. This clip is from the NRA Great American Outdoor Show going on through Sunday in Harrisburg and is definitely worth the trip.
The Painted Arrow MAG-PRO X is the ultimate POV Smartphone solution for Crossbow Hunters. The MAG-PRO X mount is designed so you can quickly and silently attach your smartphone to your crossbow and then video your hunts and shots. Videoing your hunts has never been easier! Check their website at www.paintedarrowoutdoors.com or phone (419) 318-9370
The 2023 ATA Show is in the rear view mirror. As always, many companies within the archery industry introduced new products at the show. Below are a few of the products that created some buzz.
Crossbow speeds continue to get faster which can be a big problem for crossbow hunters because many broadheads won’t fly true out of today’s extremely fast crossbows. Grim Reaper
Broadheads have solved that problem with the Pro Series Crossbow Broadhead. With this
broadhead, bowhunters don’t have to worry about broadhead blades opening during flight. The
Pro Series crossbow broadhead has been tested at speeds beyond 400 FPS and the blades remain closed. This 3-blade broadhead is available with a 1.5-inch cutting diameter or a 2-inch cutting diameter. To learn more, visit https://.grimreaperbroadheads.com.
Morrell Targets is proud to introduce the new Transformer 3D deer target. The Transformer 3D
target is unlike any target currently on the market. For starters, the vital area/midsection on the
new Transformer 3D target is made of High Roller foam. It is a stand alone target. Bowhunters
often shoot at a 3D target when they are shooting in the backyard. When they head to deer camp, they bring a portable target. The Transformer target is two targets in one. When it is time to head to deer camp, the vital area/midsection can be removed from the 3D target and brought to camp.
The removable target comes with a handle that is lightweight and easy to transport.
“The Transformer target eliminates the need for bowhunters to buy multiple targets,” Tanner
Morrell noted. “Now bowhunters can simply remove the midsection from their Transformer 3D
target and head to camp. Best of all, the target is made using our popular High Roller foam,
which bowhunters love.” Learn more at https://morrelltargets.com.
Pine Ridge Archery launched the Kwik Stand in 2017 to meet the demand of archers throughout
the industry to help keep their bows standing upright and protected. In 2019, they updated the
Kwik Stand to be more compatible by making the jaws adjustable to fit more limb sizes. With a
lightweight frame and very simple adjustments the Kwik Stand fits on most bow limbs. The legs
adjust to allow for the best balance angle for your bow.
Jeff Sturgis takes aim at waterholes for deer and tips that can help you avoid some gaping leaks in your overall waterhole strategy. Click the Video Below and let’s get to it.
Six years ago Tim Wells got 2 game camera pictures of an impressive but young buck. He showed up in the following years night time game cameras pictures, and because they had never actually seen him they named him the ‘Ghost.”
So, through the pictures and rare sightings Tim and Sydnie watched him continually grow bigger, get heavier and develop wider and thicker antlers. In 2021 they re-named him “Bullwinkle.”
In 2022 Bullwinkle became active during the daytime rut. Tim saw him first and got good video footage of him but was unable to shoot.
Sydnie was hunting for him also — and it’s all on video. Just click below.
A truly amazing bowhunt. Sydnie Wells hangs tough year after year.
This year, on Halloween morning. Tim Wells brings out his rattling horns to call out to the huge buck he calls the “Gladiator,” and it works.
Tex-Mex Venison with Meatballs is packed with flavors of onion, jalapeño, cumin and garlic then smothered in a cheesy enchilada sauce and topped with fresh cilantro. This dish is about as versatile as it gets. I used venison to make this dish but this recipe works well swapped out with wild boar, elk or virtually any other game meat! It can be served as a quick dinner or makes a great game-day appetizer.
Hey! I’m Jenn Danella. I am a sportswoman, hunter, and wild-game chef with a strong passion for the great outdoors. To me, there’s no greater reward than to be able to provide for myself and my family through hunting and fishing. Check out my cookbooks and more at jenndanella.com.
Not long ago I saw a Facebook photo of a dead elk some happy bowhunter had arrowed in the late season. What snagged my attention was his offhand comment that he’d shot the bull at just over 120 yards.
Sometimes I simply don’t understand.
Yeah, I’ll admit that I’m both a geezer and an old school bowhunter. And I realize that over the decades I’ve witnessed amazing changes in a sport I’ve loved since releasing my first arrow back in the late 1940s. Likely, the most significant change centers on the gear we now use. Namely bows. Arrows. And broadheads.
Think about it. What longbow or recurve shooter from the middle of the last century could have envisioned today’s variety of modern hunting bows? Not me, for sure. And even though Easton had introduced aluminum arrows in 1939, fiberglass and carbon shafts – not to mention plastic fletching – were still years away from widespread use back when I shot my first cedar arrow.
But these obvious equipment changes notwithstanding, hunting with the bow and arrow still stirs the imagination of millions who willingly accept the challenge of what Howard Hill called “hunting the hard way.” I know without a doubt that my own reason for picking up a bow instead of a firearm was and is the challenge of hunting with “sticks and strings.”
Hunting hunting season begins February 4th in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the NRA Great American Outdoor Show. It’s the largest outdoor show in the USA and the information within its walls can be life-changing. You will find information about hunting and fishing trips from around the country and world as well as the gear you need to succeed.
Mark Kayser specializes in public land hunts and will share his expertise.Mark Kayser helped me land a bison hunt in South Dakota 20 years ago while working for South Dakota Tourism. He’s a native of the West and his knowledge of hunting on public land is unmatched. Mark will give seminars February 4-6 and you will get accurate, easy-to-use information on a host of hunting opportunities from coyotes to deer, to elk.
You bagged an elk. Now what?With hunting prices rising with inflation, more and more hunters look to public land and DYI hunts. Bagging a bull elk on public land is a tremendous achievement, but then what? Kayser knows the ins and outs of Western hunting including tips and shortcuts to getting your game out in top shape. By hearing his seminars you’ll learn shortcuts and be able to ask questions.
Mr. Turkey Makes it HappenWant to bag a turkey with your bow this spring? No one knows turkeys like Eddie Salter and he will not only sell you the exact call you need but demonstrate and autograph it. I’ve been trying to use a standard box to make gobble sounds for decades. Salter showed me how to do it in two minutes. Whether you want to call coyotes, ducks, geese, turkeys, deer, or elk, the GAOS has a call for you.
This recipe was brought to you by DSGouterwear.com !
Almost any archer will tell you that it’s important to shoot your bow the same way for each shot. Chris Bee takes it further and discusses and shows you how to shoot a bow properly and how you can Fix the 3 Most Common archery mistakes. This video will help you shoot properly as well as significantly improve accurately.
Direct from the floor of our industries 2023 ‘ATA Archery Trade Show’ here is the latest interview with Jay Liechty and Matt Bateman of Grim Reaper Broadheads covering the new developments and broadhead design improvements for 2023.
Deer season is not over in many states and as this picture shows, some decent bucks have survived the firearm seasons and are still “available.” In bad weather situations, a cellular camera is an ideal way to keep tabs on your stands and animal activity in the area. Unfortunately, freezing temperatures are battery killers, and getting there to replace them is difficult and expensive when you must replace 8-12 batteries.
Technically a security camera, this V200 model has performed well for two years.Vosker cameras are sold as security devices, yet they caught my eye due to their price and built-in solar panel. My deer stands are difficult to access and I wanted a camera that would send images instantly and not require frequent visits to replace batteries. This V200 model works day and night and extends the life of 8 AA batteries to a year in my experience.
This camera is easy to set up and operate.Technology and I do not do well. Fortunately, the camera was very easy to set up and the digital screen and minimal buttons were easy to navigate. You scan a QR code with your cell phone which loads the app and installs the camera. Once done you get this screen that will allow you to make sure that the camera is working and you get a preview of what it sees. Notice the “searching network” tab and the battery charge which are visibly displayed. You toggle up and down the menu with the buttons and then push “OK” when you want to read them.
This small solar panel powers the camera very well.Solar panels work best when they face the sun for long periods of time. Both of my stand sites are on northwest slopes where getting direct sunlight is difficult. Despite this disadvantage, the camera extended the life of my batteries for about a year. the camera takes photos, time-lapse photos, video, and photos plus time-lapse images.
The battery compartment is easy to load.The battery compartments of some cameras are difficult to load. Not this one. Push a button and the back of the camera pops open with a diagram so that you don’t get the polarity of the batteries mixed up. You will note dirt and debris in this camera, the reason for which will be clear in the next image. This camera has been in the field for two full years in very harsh conditions.
A few days after I tagged ‘Big-8’, the Buck that Robbie Cramer was after this year, the buck we call ‘Big 10’, popped up in my nightime Moultree celular photos from my Tin Shed stand site. Below is a picture of Champ, ‘Big 8’and myself near my house.
This is my youngest ever deer hunting buddy “Champ.” He was the first one to follow the trail to the Big-8 buck that I had hunted for and arrowed this year. This picture was taken right after the recovery.After seeing the Moultrie game camera pictures I texted my buddy Robbie Cramer that ‘Big 10’ was in the immediate area. Robbie came down to our deer lease promptly. That afternoon he hunted a Pop-up ground blind that’s in the same strip of woods I where was hunting. He is in a small opening surrounded by cedar trees, half a mile from my stand.
A picture I took with my iPhone as soon as I was situated in the Shed stand site.An hour before sunset I noticed a buck come out of the trees to the North West. He looked over the area. A doe was 30 yards from my Shed’s shooting window, she saw the buck, but ignored him.
But the buck didn’t ignore the doe. He came at a steady pace and I took his picture when he got to the doe out in front of me.
The doe backed up, giving the buck plenty of room. And, I suppose I should mention, that this buck was the ‘Big 10’ buck.
HOW TO BUILD A SCRAPE TREE
How can you bring a big buck in bow range of your blind or treestand that is currently passing within view, but unfortunately is too far for a shot. One thing that land manager and hunting TV personality Steve Bartylla does to increase the odds of a bringing bucks within bow range is to build scrape trees.
“Bucks are like male dogs, they like to mark their territory,” Bartylla told me. “Years ago, I started putting treated posts in the ground near blinds and stands and I attached a licking branch to the post. Often bucks would start building scrapes within days of putting in the scrape tree.”
Bartylla often creates scrape trees weeks or months before deer season starts. Because deer season has already started, he suggests if you want to put in the scrape tree, you should use an actual tree. “Treated posts give off a strange odor so hunters who want to put in a scrape tree should cut a tree down, dig a hole, and bury the base of the tree.”
Scrape trees located on the edge of a field, in the middle of a food plot, or near an area deer regularly travel quickly grab the attention of bucks. “I have had deer hit my new scrape trees the same day I put them in,” Bartylla said. Bartylla likes to position the tree so when a buck comes in to freshen the scrape and lick the licking branch, the buck offers a broadside or quartering away shot.
