Accuracy is the most important element of hunting.  Professional Hunters in Africa have long used “sticks” to assure their clients make accurate, lethal shots on even the largest of animals.  Shooting a Cape buffalo or elephant at 50 yards is common, yet even at these close distances placing a round in exactly the right spot can be the difference between life and death.  Today, traditional bipods have taken a giant step forward toward improved accuracy and if you aren’t taking advantage of these advancements, you may be missing the boat (or buck).

Hands-Free Hunting

Hunters often wish they had three hands so they can hold their bow at the ready while working a box call for wild turkeys or banging antlers to rattle in a rutting buck.  In calling situations, it’s common for a whitetail buck, bull elk, or coyote to suddenly appear after a silent approach.  OMG! The hunter gets caught with his bow on the ground and a rattling horn in each hand.  You may only have seconds to shoot and the calling allows the animal to pinpoint your location.  A gripping tripod greatly reduces movement in these situations.

Spot-On Accuracy

Tripod rests create such accuracy that you will need a multi-spot target for accuracy testing.  If you try a 3-shot group from 20 yards with a modern crossbow and a gripping rest, you will frequently destroy arrows.  I was testing my Grim Reaper broadheads on a new Morrell target yesterday and literally shot two arrows in the same hole while using a Ravin R26X crossbow and Final Rest.

Instant Shooting Table

This is my backyard shooting range.  I used to have to set up a shooting table when testing crossbows, but now I use a gripping tripod rest which gives much greater mobility and flexibility when shooting.  It only takes seconds to deploy the tripod and folding chair, yet the stability of the gripping rest greatly reduces “wiggle” in the sight picture.  I can shoot uphill or down with a minimum of effort and be sure my arrows fly true.

Scott Rea is a master at cooking Venison. Here is how he, from start to finish, prepares 3 of his very best Venison Burgers.

Author, Butcher, Cook. The Scott Rea Project started as just that, a project, a personal passion for butchery and food that Scott wanted to share before the skills and traditions he learnt over a lifetime died away. But it has evolved and become a movement, a mobilisation of like minded people who feed off Scott Rea videos – they imitate, replicate, modify and experiment!

We are dragging game, offal and traditional artisan butchery and recipes into the 21st century for a new generation to discover and enjoy. No longer are these products and methods frowned upon, this new audience is getting back to the basics of field to fork, nose to tail eating

As hunters, we never stop learning about deer and hunting them! Over the years, you should have collected enough experiences about the deer in your area, and the mistakes that you’ve made; to use that information to plan your next ambush this upcoming deer season. In 2008, I had the opportunity to hunt in the famous Pike County, Illinois. Pike County is known as the “trophy buck capital of the world”. Don’t get me wrong, there are big, beautiful deer in other parts of the U.S.A. but Pike County is recognized for its seeming consistency with an abundance of large antlered deer.

I had a once of a lifetime deer hunt on an island on the Mississippi River. The idea of that hunt was to situate myself in a fixed tree stand, inside of a patch of cottonwood trees, the morning prior to the opening day of gun season in Missouri.

Missouri; which happened to be located a hop, skip and a jump across the river from my tree stand location on my private little island. Once shooting commenced from the other state at day break the deer would begin fleeing the area and swim across the river onto my island, hopefully crossing below my path, and then he would succumb to my bow and arrow.

Bowhunting the Deer and Elk Extended Archery Season

If you didn’t get your deer or elk earlier in the season, here’s another chance.

If you haven’t taken a Deer or Elk by the time the Archery General-Season or Limited-Entry Hunt ends, you can continue Archery Hunting in Utah’s Extended Archery areas.

Before hunting in any of Utah’s extended archery areas, though, you must complete the Division’s Archery Ethics Courseeach year. You must carry your Archery Ethics Course certificate of completion with you while you’re hunting.

This hunter ethics course is in addition to Utah’s hunter education requirement. We also recommend that archery hunters complete bowhunter education.

Hunting in an extended archery area

After you successfully complete the course, you should print your certificate of completion. You must carry your Archery Ethics Course certificate of completion with you while you’re hunting.

Bowhunting in Utah: An Bowhunter’s Paradise

Utah is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, and bowhunting is no exception. With its diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife, the state offers a unique and thrilling experience for both residents and non-residents when it comes to bowhunting and archery hunting.

Resident Bowhunting and Archery Hunting in Utah:

For residents of Utah, bowhunting and archery hunting are popular activities that allow them to connect with nature and take part in the conservation of the state’s wildlife. Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) manages and regulates hunting seasons and licenses to ensure the sustainability of the state’s big game populations.

Residents who want to bowhunt in Utah need to obtain a valid hunting license and a separate bow permit. These permits can be purchased from licensed vendors or online through the DWR website. Utah’s hunting seasons vary depending on the species, but typically fall into the autumn months when big game animals are more active.

Non-Resident Bowhunting and Archery Hunting in Utah:

Utah’s captivating landscapes and legendary hunting opportunities also attract non-resident hunters from around the world. To participate in bowhunting and archery hunting as a non-resident, individuals must apply for limited-entry permits or participate in the general season hunts. It’s important to keep in mind that non-resident permits are limited and subject to a drawing system, so early application is crucial.

Non-residents planning to bowhunt in Utah must possess a valid hunting license from their home state or country. Additionally, they must obtain a non-resident hunting permit, which allows them to hunt specific areas and species in the state. The DWR provides detailed information on the application process and available permits on their website.

The big 8-point stood behind a wall of brush while I sat motionless among small saplings 20 yards away.  I was a stander on a deer drive and the big buck had every sense on high alert.  For long seconds I watched the buck through my scope until it attempted to double back and escape the drive.  Luckily, for me, it stepped through a tiny opening, and the instant its shoulder appeared I released, downing the nearly 200-pound animal within 100 yards.  This was like a grouse shot with a shotgun and my intense practice regimen paid big dividends.

Realistic Practice Makes Perfect

The quality of your target is almost as important as your bow and arrows.  I took an inexpensive target on an elk hunt about 10 years ago and quickly learned that my powerful bow shot completely through the target.  I began with eight arrows and ended with three when I finally zeroed the scope.  My favorite target is Morrell’s Back-to-Back target shown above.  It not only holds any arrow I can shoot but reinforces the exact area for shot placement.  Most bowhunters are familiar with the behind-the-shoulder shot placement on a deer, but not the tiny kill zone of a wild turkey.  A 3-D target is the best for reinforcing shot placement, but the Back-to-Back is much more portable, affordable, and has two animal visuals on the same target.

Aim Small, Miss Small

A “Robin Hood” is great for the ego, especially in front of friends, yet at $20 a pop for arrows, it quickly becomes expensive.  During your practice sessions, you want to strive for accuracy, yet not destroy or damage arrows.  Even a touch of one carbon shaft to another can cause one or both arrows to be dangerous to shoot.  An easy answer to this dilemma is to use a target with multiple aiming points.  You can judge the accuracy of your shots by comparing grouping within the dots and not risk damage to arrows.   I’ve used the same Morrell field tip target for 15 years and finally upgraded this year.

Practice and Test

Many archers labor over the weight of a broadhead.  Should you shoot 100-grain, 125-grain, or 150-grain broadheads?  Here’s a test of arrow impact of arrows with three weights of target points from a 400 fps crossbow.  As you can see, at the close-to-moderate range, weight affects arrow drop very little.  If for example, you chose to practice with 150-grain target points you’d need to zero at 20 yards and then shoot your reticle placements as you would with 100-grain heads.

Portability is Important

I hunt in Idaho as often as I can draw a tag.  The steep mountains and rugged country are very different than my Maryland hunting ground. Almost as important as coffee is my High Roller target that works for target points and broadheads.  When I first get to camp, I test my scope’s zero after flying across the country.  Also, at the end of each day, I choose to take a 20-yard off-hand shot to verify the zero.  I’ve done this in the headlights of a vehicle when returning at night and it gives me an extra trigger-pull practice as well as accuracy verification.  The High Roller comes in two sizes, with the smaller model ideal for portability.

Deer hunters who embrace long-range rifles and shots from 500 to 1,000 yards love Sig Sauer Optics that pair the ballistics of a specific caliber and bullet weight with a sight that calculates the hold-over at long range.  You may be surprised to learn that the Sig Ballistic Digital Exchange (BDX) algorithm also works with arrows.  I topped a Ravin R26 X with the Sig Sauer Sierra 2-12X40mm scope featuring a SmartBDC reticle.  If this sounds like a premium high-power rifle scope, it is.  A big advantage of using this scope with your crossbow is the ability to easily switch it to a rifle with premium optic options for each.

Kilo 5K Rangefinder Too

The Sig Sauer rangefinding system begins with an app that pairs the scope to readings from the Kilo Rangefinder.  The Kilo operates like a standard rangefinder and sends a Bluetooth signal to the scope. During set-up, the Sig Sauer app calculates the path of an arrow based on the weight and speed of the shaft.  In this way, you can vary the weight of the arrows and they all become part of the sighting system.

Quality Adjustments

Most crossbow scopes are average at best but remember that this optic is designed to handle .300 Weatherby Magnums and even much harder recoiling cartridges.  Elevation and windage adjustments click with precision and crispness that you will not find in factory crossbow scopes.  The Sierra features an illuminated dot with 10 levels of brightness adjustment.

Tank-like Construction

I once zeroed a crossbow and leaned it against a post while I retrieved arrows.  Returning, I found that the bow had fallen into the grass and decided to take one more shot to double-check my settings.  The first arrow flew at least a foot high and I was astounded that such a light bump could cause the scope to be so far off target.  You will immediately see that the scope rings which come with the Sierra are built for adventure.  Everything about the mounting process is ultra strong and ultra snug.

Ultra-long Range- 100-Yard Group

In preparation for my spot-and-stalk African safari, I wanted to test ultra-long-range shooting and began practicing at 100 yards.  By ranging the Morrell Kinetic target with the Kilo rangefinder, the algorithm picked the dot for the shot.  This launch was made from a rest similar to a hunting situation. I quickly learned that by practicing well beyond my expected shooting range, the additional distance challenged my physical shooting skills like breathing, trigger squeeze, and target focus.  The added distance in practice forces a shooter to be at his best on every shot.

Written by Fern Damron 

Axis deer are very striking animal. It has shiny, golden-brown or golden-red fur across its body and legs as well as a broad white patch that runs down its throat. It is similar in size to an adult whitetail deer. The unique Axis Deer has small, permanent white spots on its body.

Like the whitetail deer, the axis deer males and females are visually distinct. Males of the species develop large, sweeping antlers up to 30 inches in length and are usually have larger bodies than females. Every year on their birthday the males shed their antlers on their day of birth, rather than with the seasons. Because they do not have a specific mating season, antler shedding can occur at any point during the year. Additionally, axis deer are almost universally six-pointed. Females have no antlers and have a smaller white patch down their neck.

Though they originated in a relatively small area of the world, the axis deer has managed to spread far and wide to inhabit the woodlands and grasslands that are similar to its native range. In some areas of the world, they are even considered invasive.

In this article, we’ll take a look at where the axis deer originated and how it has come to inhabit such a wide range. We’ll talk about where they roam throughout the United States, how their presence is affecting native species and habitats, and how people are dealing with these foreign animals.

For 24 years, the Outdoorsmans has been manufacturing lightweight tripods and adapters for hardcore hunters who need to be able to quickly and easily attach binoculars or a spotting scope to a tripod. Their unique binocular adapter is standard equipment for hunters across the western United States and beyond.

With one click, a pair of binoculars can be quickly attached to the Outdoorsmans adapter which can be used on a variety of brands of tripods including the American Made Outdoorsmans tripod.

The Outdoorsmans binocular adapter is available in two sizes.

The Tall works best with 56mm objective lenses to allow a full range of adjustment.

The Short version works best with 50mm and smaller objective lenses and can be left attached to the stud for storage inside a bino harness in some cases.

For many hunters, the reason they don’t use a tripod when glassing is because they don’t want to take a lot of time setting up a tripod and putting binoculars on a tripod can take a bit of time. When a Outdoorsmans binocular adapter is used on a tripod, it takes seconds to attach a pair of binoculars to a tripod, not minutes.

Want to try out shooting archery? Visit an Archery Shop. Archery Shops are hubs for archery knowledge, equipment repairs, and everything you need to get started. Most shops offer lessons and their staff knows how to get you shooting arrows quickly. The Archery Store’s experts are your go-to resources for all things archery.

To find a nearby Archery Shop make a quick internet search on your smartphone or laptop. Also, you can use our Archery Store locator by clicking HERE. Once you find aN Archery Store, ask about lessons and archery programs. Many shops rent bows you can use for lessons. That’s a great way to try the sport and get instructions without jumping in and buying gear.

Find an archery shop that offers lessons. Go with a group of friends or take a private lesson. Photo Credit: X10 Archery

A 30-minute one-on-one lesson is a great introduction. As you progress, you might want to extend your lessons to one hour. Group lessons are a fun option for trying archery. Shops offer beginner group lessons for adults and youths.

Another way to try archery is through a program. Consider Explore Archery, Junior Olympic Archery Development, Scholastic 3D Archery, National Archery in the Schools Program, and Olympic Archery in the Schools.

When you attend your introductory lesson, you’ll find an instructor who’s excited to help. You’ll shoot your first arrows at close distances while learning archery’s basic techniques. As your skills increase, your accuracy will improve and you’ll shoot increasingly farther.

How much do wild turkeys change when they get hunting pressure? How do they change?

The Hunting Public Podcast

Contact an Archery Shop

Archery shops are hubs for local archery knowledge, equipment repairs, and everything you need to get started in archery or bowhunting. They will offer archery lessons to get you off on the right track.

Building a relationship with an Archery shop is important. The store’s experts are your go-to resources for all things archery. You can’t simply pull a bow from its box and start shooting. You need an expert to set it up and make sure it’s properly fitted to you.

You can find a nearby archery shop with a quick internet search, or you can use our store locator by CLICKING HERE.

Seek Lessons and Programs

Once you find a shop, ask about its lessons and programs. Many shops rent bows you can use for lessons. That’s a great way to try the sport and get instructions without jumping in and buying gear.

There is useful information for future hunts to be gained from shed hunting. And I have more to add to this article.

For starters, If you see a shed in a particular area, at the very least, you know this area is a place that deer use, buck deer.

can be valuable scouting clues, too. For example, if you find a shed near a food source and its matching side in a bedding area, you have unraveled a buck’s travel pattern. Collecting a set of sheds (or perhaps several consecutive sets) from a particular buck adds to the excitement and experience of hunting him. You can trace his antler growth over the years, and with dedication and a little luck, you might ultimately tag him.

Introducing someone with limited outdoor experience to the outdoors by first taking them bowhunting could be disastrous. Odds are the person will not enjoy the experience of sitting still in the cold right out of the gate, and you probably won’t arrow a deer. But taking someone new out shed hunting can be a lot of fun. Your mentee is free to move around and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Point out a herd of distant whitetails or a flock of geese winging north on its spring migration. You won’t have to worry about your companions spooking game or getting cold. Point out rubs, scrapes and tracks or even plant an antler for them to find. Keep it interesting and engaging. You have more control over the outing, and you can make it a positive experience. Who knows, with a little nurturing and time, you might turn your guest into a bowhunter.

Landowner Relationships

Visiting landowners outside of hunting season can strengthen your relationship with them. While you’re there to search for antlers, offer to help with chores like feeding cattle, mending fencing or moving bales of hay. You might even plan to have dinner with the landowners. These visits can go a long way toward cementing long-term relationships.

FROM THE HOYT LIFE Blog For Jace Bausermen. Twenty-four years ago, I got a tag for bowhunting Antelope in Colorado. By luck, on that first pronghorn season, I harvest a not-too-bright Antelope buck. He was young, trying to rut. I made a move to get ahead in of him, and succeded. And then made the shot that put him down.

Antelope have fascinated me since then. A species all to themselves, the pronghorn is neither goat nor antelope. Surprisingly, it’s closest living relative is the giraffe. Look at the shape of the neck and face of both creatures. Do you see the resemblance? Pronghorn also lack dewclaws, just like a giraffe. The bottom line for me: pronghorn are amazing creatures and are very unique.

One of my favorite ways to bowhunt these prairie speedsters is with a decoy. You’ve likely watched a show on outdoor television, YouTube, or some social media platform of a buck coming in at warp speed to an imposter buck decoy. Yes, this does happen, but it’s nowhere near as easy as it appears on your screen. The window for this type of decoy activity is short. To get this type of reaction, a buck’s testosterone level must be close to or at its peak. Prime decoy time, when a buck will charge from his herd with the intent to fight, in most locales where pronghorn roam, is from the 10th of September through the first week in October. September 15-20 seems to be primetime.

What Are You Looking For?

You’re not going to be able to take a blood test to measure testosterone levels, but what you can do is use your truck, UTV, or whatever, to find dust trails on the prairie. You see, the mission is simple: Cover dirt and look for bucks chasing does and other bucks. When you see chasing, testosterone is on the rise. If you watch a buck breed a doe in his harem, you know he’s running at full tilt. If you witness a buck boil out of his herd to run off a pronghorn that’s far away that buck will come to a decoy. It’s not hard to take a buck’s rut temperature.

NEXT: HOW DO YOU DECOY?

If you have a Deer Food plot, July is a critical month. Jeff Sturgis of Whitetail Habitat Solutions shows you the #1 thing that will ruin your crop, now and in the fall.

Whitetail Habitat Solutions

Back whent my 15 year old self first went bowhunting for whitetail deer in Ocala National Forest, I’ve been concerned about the flashlight I used to get me back in the woods to where I planeded to hunt. And back out after dark. Would the light from my flashlight spook deer?

Honestly, it seemed like it would. But walking through thick brush with the forest blacked out by tall trees, I needed the light from that flashlight to see where I was walking as well as to know if I was on course to end up at my pre-chosen hunted spot. In this video Jeff Sturgis shares his insights and research on the use of flashlights in the deer woods.

From Whitetail Habitat Solutions

Small acts of kindness go a long way in bowhunting. Many bowhunters donate venison to friends, family members or food pantries that spread goodwill far and wide. Those donations provide lean, nutritious, free-range protein to appreciative people while building goodwill for hunting and aiding efforts to manage wildlife.

Benefits of Donating Venison

Many deer hunters donate meat to organizations. Daniel Schmidt, content director and editor-in-chief at Deer & Deer Hunting magazine, said he shoots at least one deer each year to donate. “It’s gratifying,” he said. “When I donate venison, it makes me feel really good that I’m helping someone else out.”

Schmidt has donated venison for over 20 years, and has persuaded many hunting buddies to follow suit. “It’s nice to pay it forward,” he said. “But even if you don’t want the self-accolades, hunters can donate venison for other reasons, like providing food, managing deer populations, and casting hunters in a positive ecological light.”

According to Feeding America, 41 million Americans struggle with hunger. Donating venison provides healthy, all-natural protein to those in need. “Life is hard,” said Josh Honeycutt, associate editor at Realtree.com. “Many people out there are feeling the harsh effects life can present. Donating wild game is something we can all do as hunters to give back and help our communities.”

HOYT, It’s More Than A Bow: HOYT For 2023 – The Latest Bows From Hoyt, And More…

Hoyt Hunting Compound Bows

Gary Cornun with EASTON shows and tells us what all EASTON offers and explains the details of the entire EASTON line of arrows.