Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Bowhunting.net is excited to welcome Bob Humphrey to its growing list of contributors.  I’ve known Bob for many years and enjoyed his writing, photography, and unique way of blending science with practical experience.  Here’s our official greeting.

Bob Humphrey is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, Registered Maine Guide, and outdoor writer/photographer with credits in dozens of national print and internet publications. He has bowhunted for finned, furred, and feathered critters across North America and was the first person to complete a wild turkey grand slam with a crossbow.

Every archery turkey hunter should master the diaphragm call because it allows the hunter to manipulate the turkey and have both hands free to draw a bow or raise a crossbow.  Eddie Salter is a champion turkey caller many times over and is so successful that he has accrued the nickname “The Turkey Man.”  Box and slate callers are ideal for locating and drawing a turkey closer to your blind or setup, yet once the bird enters sight distance, using them becomes problematic.

Practice in the Truck

As a young man, I tried using a diaphragm caller but gagged constantly.  I had a dentist make an impression of my teeth and sent that off to a dentist in Texas who made a diaphragm holder to fit my mouth.  Ironically, that device taught me that I was putting the diaphragm in my mouth backward LOL.  Soon, I could switch to standard mouth calls for deer and elk.  Practicing at home can annoy others, so I often keep calls in my vehicle and practice on the way to work or a hunt.

Match the Cadence

I’ve had the good fortune to hunt with Eddie Salter on several occasions, and he stresses the importance of “give them what you get.”  Matching the cadence of a calling turkey is more important than matching the tone or pitch.  To call a gobbler with hens, it’s often best to call the hens so that the gobbler tags along.  If the lead hen makes five yelps, you should make five.  If it’s a fly-down situation where the dominant hen calls repeatedly, match the same cadence it uses.

Here’s The Turkey Man

Trail cameras have become an integral part of scouting year-round. Regular trail cameras and cellular cameras continue to evolve and improve each year. In 2022, SpyPoint introduced its Flex line of cameras. Then, in 2023, they launched the G-36, a 36-megapixel camera. The Flex-M, Flex Plus, and Flex-S followed in 2024. Those SpyPoint models were wildly popular. So, what does SpyPoint have up its sleeve in 2025?

Entry Level Trail Camera

SpyPoint is introducing an entry-level trail camera called the Force 24. It has a 24-megapixel camera and is simple to use. Install 8 AA batteries and a new 32 GB SD card, and find a place to attach it to a tree. Turn the camera on and view your settings. Choose between 2K video or 24-megapixel pictures. Any of the SpyPoint Solar panels can also power the Force 24 for year-round use. SpyPoint will be selling these cameras for $59.99!

Depending on where you live, it may feel like late winter or early spring. Either way, it’s a tough time for deer, and many well-meaning managers are considering ways to help the deer over the hump. But the road to disaster is paved with good intentions. Conversely, providing the right food could pay significant benefits.

Bad for Winter Deer

Let’s start with what you shouldn’t use. Unless you’ve been feeding all winter, now is not the time to provide corn. A deer’s digestive tract is very complex, and it takes time for bacteria in the gut to adjust to different foods. This time of year, much of their diet consists of coarse, woody browse, which is difficult to digest. Corn is a “hot” food, and suddenly providing it now would be analogous to running your chainsaw on straight gas; it could be fatal for deer.

Bulbs and Tubers

If you planted winter plots, you’re already ahead of the game. Long after herbaceous vegetation freezes or gets eaten, bulbs and tubers from plants like brassica, turnips, and beets persist, and deer will dig and eat into the frozen ground to get them. If you didn’t plant them, you might consider it going into this fall. Established perennial clover plots are also a good idea, as they’ll be in place and ready to provide nutrition at green-up.

Calories, Minerals, and Vitamins

Now, we move into true supplements, which could be blocks or loose feed. This is where climate might factor in a little more. Deer have been operating at a nutritional deficit all winter, and by late winter, their gas tank of fat reserves is empty. Right now, they need calories, which they can get from grains like wheat, oats, barley, and rice, and a little corn. They also need trace minerals and vitamins. Supplemental loose or block feed designed explicitly for deer contains all of the above, along with some protein. In the latter case, around 10% is a good guideline.

Plenty of Protein

As winter gives way to spring, the growth process begins again, and the deer’s protein needs increase. The growth rate of unborn fawns and antlers starts speeding up, increasing nutritional demand on the deer carrying them. Now, you may want to provide feed with a higher level of protein – 14%-plus.

Killing a turkey with a bow can be extremely difficult. In fact, in most states the data shows that the success rate among turkey hunters who are bowhunting that tag a bird is in the single digits. Filling a turkey tag with a bow is tricky for several reasons. The first reason is that a turkey has a small vital area that is easy to miss, so many turkeys get wounded and are not recovered. Another reason why many turkey hunters go home empty handed is because a turkey’s eyesight is excellent, so many hunters get busted by a longbeard or his hens when they attempt to draw their bow.

One guy who knows a thing or two about killing a turkey with a bow is Jeff Budz of Florida. Budz has killed more turkey grand slams with a gun than any other turkey hunter alive. (117 grand slams). He has also killed four grand slams with a bow. “I have killed 30 turkeys with my bow and it is safe to say it can be tough to kill a longbeard with a bow but there are a few things I do every year to stack the odds in my favor,” Budz said.

HUNT FROM A BLIND

One thing Budz never leaves home without when bowhunting gobblers is a popup blind. “I know there are a lot of hunters out there that like to bowhunt turkeys without a blind, but if I were trying to bowhunt turkeys for the first time, I would always use a popup blind because it almost eliminates the possibility of the bird seeing the bowhunter draw their bow,” Budz explained. “Plus it allows the hunter to use a stool, switch between different types of calls without being seen and sit for long periods while waiting on a bird. A popup blind is a must-have. When I have the opportunity, I also hunt from hard-sided blinds. Hunting from a blind makes getting away with movement a lot easier.

USE A MECHANICAL BROADHEAD

Another must have for Budz is a mechanical broadhead with a 2-inch cutting diameter. “The vitals on a turkey are extremely small. The larger the cutting diameter of the broadhead I am using, the more wiggle room I have if my shot is off a little bit,” Budz said. On top of using a large mechanical head, Budz says hunters need to know the turkey’s anatomy. “The vital area of a turkey is not the same as a whitetail or any other critter. I like to aim right above the drumsticks because it allows me to remove their legs so they can’t run or fly away. Hitting a turkey high in the drumsticks will also remove the back of the chest cavity, quickly killing the bird.”

What bears do in March

A spring gobbler is one of bowhunting’s toughest challenges.  Even after outwitting its incredible eyesight and hearing, a gobbler is easy to miss or wound at point-blank range.  Remember that a strutting turkey has more than 50 percent feathers, so there is no “there,” there.  Hunters need to develop a mental picture of a wild turkey in various configurations to make an instantaneous shot decision to ethically down the gobbler.

Head/Neck Shots

The big tom shown above is a Gould’s subspecies taken in Mexico, one of my great hunting adventures.  I noticed that turkeys were traveling to a roost along a fence row.  After several passed by, I moved to an ambush sport just before this large gobbler ambled by.  When it was within range, I gave a cutting sound that caused the bird to raise its head and extend its neck.  My arrow struck this most vulnerable spot and downed it immediately.

Frontal/Rear Angles-

Frontal and rear shot angles have the advantage of an aiming point.  In the picture above, an arrow just above the beard is the traditional aiming point and the anus of a fanned-out gobbler facing away can be lethal.  When choosing these shots, it’s critical that the bird be facing directly toward or away from the hunter.  For example, notice that the bird above is slightly quartering away.  An arrow just above the beard will not catch the spine and vitals.

Shoot the Shiny Spot

This video is one of the best I’ve seen for shot placement.  Whenever I look at a strutting gobbler, I mentally decide to pass or take the shot.

The head and neck area of a turkey is a prime target.  Shotgunners know that a single pellet in the brain or spine will kill a turkey on the spot.  A broadhead striking this region is equally devastating, yet some hunters have taken this shot further by using broadheads so large that they decapitate the gobbler.  This effect is 100 percent lethal, yet is it ethical or practical?

First Experiments

I experimented with these large braodheads in preparation for a trip to Mexico for the Gould’s subspecies. I wondered how a sizeable 4-blade head would fly from a compound bow set at 60 pounds.  I set up a turkey target on a hay bale and was pleased to learn that the arrows struck point-of-aim. The following day, I hunted from a blind as birds flew from a roost, but none came close enough for a shot.  That evening, a large tom walked by a nearby fence line, and I downed it instantly when the gobbler extended its neck.

Ethical Concerns

When videos of turkeys being decapitated circulated on the internet, a backlash arose about the practice, and some states voted to ban large braodheads designed to decapitate a turkey.  Hunter ethics dictate showing respect for an animal, and cutting off a bird’s head was a bridge too far for many lawmakers, and some states banned their use.  Before using large cut-on-contact braodheads, make sure that your state allows them.

Other Options

Large expandable braodheads are one option for turkeys, especially body shots.  The vitals of a wild turkey are about the size of a softball, so the larger the broadhead, the greater the margin of error in striking this critical tissue.  If you target a turkey’s head/neck area, a large fixed head may be more advisable due to its greater cutting diameter on impact.  Regardless of your choice, the most critical element is that the broadhead flies like your target points during practice.  Because the vital areas are so small, pinpoint accuracy is crucial.

The Down Side

Returning home from the Mexico trip, I found that the large heads were equally accurate from a 350 fps crossbow.  I knew of a vocal gobbler near my home and set up the perfect ruse.  I placed a jake decoy 20 yards into a small field and settled against a large tree trunk.  The big tom walked past me and headed straight for the decoy.  Circling behind it, the bird was broadside, and I aimed for its head.  One blade from the large broadhead caught the wing butt and bounced away.  What would have been a slam-dunk shot with any other broadhead was a bust.  The gobbler jumped slightly and then walked away as I hastily tried to recock the crossbow.  There was no blood on the broadhead, and only a few feathers were found at the spot of the shot.  That was a difficult lesson well learned.

The Oxford Dictionary defines trivia as: “details, considerations, or pieces of information of little importance or value.” The following tidbits might seem trivial, but savvy hunters will find ways to utilize this useless information.

1) Deer are ruminants. Like cows, they have a complex, four-chambered stomach consisting of the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. If you read my previous column, you know that’s important because providing the wrong supplemental feed at the wrong time could prove disastrous. But wait, there’s more…

Deer are most active at dawn and dusk when they feed feverishly before heading off to bedding. However, like cows, they regurgitate a bolus or cud, which they chew to break down coarse food further. This might create a little extra space, which they’ll want to fill before they bed down for the day, and you just might see a brief period of feeding activity an hour or two after things have slowed down.

2) Deer have interdigital glands between their toes that constantly secrete small amounts of scent. That’s primarily how other deer and tracking dogs follow them. Small quantities of fresh scent might even put other deer at ease. When deer stomp their feet – usually when they’re nervous or suspect danger, they disperse higher amounts of scent, and biologists suspect it’s not the scent but the amount that may put other deer on alert when they encounter the odor.

Lighted nocks are a terrific hunting aid because they allow an archer to see the impact of a high-speed arrow from a crossbow or swift compound.  During practice, they make shooting more fun and can show the impact of an arrow at more extended range.  Finding an arrow after a shot just before dark can be critical for determining wait time before trailing.  Lighted nocks are especially helpful to crossbow hunters since arrow speeds are so high and finding an arrow without the light enhancement is very difficult.

For all of the benefits of lighted nocks, one universal knock, pun intended, is turning the darned things off.  People use pliers, pocket knives, teeth, and other means to prolong battery life and turn off the nock.  Here’s a short YouTube video explaining how to turn them off.

The Proper Way

A quick, ethical demise is the goal of every bowhunter; the more you know about the impact of your arrow, the better.  Delta McKenzie and Big Shot offer targets that pair with your smartphone to show how this process works.  Brian Kightlinger traveled to Harrisburg and Columbus, Ohio, to explore these new technologies and shares his videos:

Here’s the Target in Action from YouTube

Spring gobblers are an exhilarating challenge with a bow and arrow.  Many compare turkey hunting with the challenge of calling in a bugling elk, only populations of turkeys are much greater, tags are far cheaper, and you don’t need a pack mule to get the meat home.  With a compound, recurve, or crossbow, you can use standard deer gear like camouflage and arrows, but may want to switch to a larger broadhead.

Decoys and Open Ground

Unlike whitetail deer, which often prefer thick wooded areas, turkeys rely heavily on their eyesight to avoid predators and seek open areas with enhanced vision. This environment increases the effectiveness of decoys because turkeys can see them from a greater distance, and decoys may draw an approaching gobbler into a preselected shooting location.

Pack Your Patience

When setting up for turkeys, always choose a location with a backdrop that will disguise your silhouette such as a large tree trunk, blowdown, or heavy foliage.  You want to be in front of the cover, not behind it.  If you are 1000 percent still, a turkey may approach your camouflaged figure to very close range.  The trick becomes how to raise your crossbow or come to full draw.

The following video does an excellent job of depicting what a turkey hunt is like, especially the importance of patience.

The Plan Comes Together

Recurve-style crossbows are easy to love, and Excalibur has perfected simplicity. I hunt with an Excalibur Micro crossbow every year and have dubbed it “Old Reliable” because of its consistent performance.  All three of my grandsons have taken their first deer with it because it’s light, compact, and very accurate.  At the 2025 ATA Show, I shot the new REVX which was definitely recurve 2.0, loved it, and ordered one.  It arrived yesterday and I had the chance to unbox and sight it in.  Here are my impressions:

Crank Cocking

The REVX shoots a 350-grain arrow up to 400 fps so a crank cocking device is needed for most hunters.  The Excalibur system is very simple and the crank handle nests into the stock so it’s always at hand.  A trigger box release lever is easy to use and allows the trigger box to slide easily to the string where it attaches with a distinct click.  Engage the safety and then crank the bow to full cock.  You can pause the process with no backwind or handle twirling.  Full cock is indicated by a “click,” back wind the handle three times, and remove.

Easy Peasy

As you can see in the above picture, the trigger release tab is large and easy to operate, as is the safety button in front of it. Hunting in cold weather often requires gloves, and these large control elements make the bow easy and safe to operate.

Well Labeled

The REVX is a powerful bow, and Excalibur has gone the extra mile with its labeling and safety instructions.  In case you need a refresher on how to cock and uncock the crossbow, the directions are printed on the buttstock.  Like an airplane pilot, you have a checklist of procedures so that the arrow can be launched accurately and safely every time.

Easy Sigh-In

The labeling on the scope turrets was clear and precise. Note that directions are printed directly on the scope adjustments, making them much easier to fine-tune.

The Ravin R 16 may be the best crossbow ever built for tree stand hunting.  Whether you hunt from a saddle, ladder, or hang-on stand, most crossbows risk striking the tree trunk when the limbs expand.  Ravin’s R 16 has limbs that rise instead of expanding horizontally so you can’t hit the edge of a blind window or other close object.

Short Arrows and Unique Features-

The Ravin R 16’s unique design makes it compact and lighter than most crossbows. It is built to shoot 16-inch arrows like the TenPoint Flatline and several Excalibur crossbow models. The arrow weight is 350 grains, yielding a speed of 330 fps, which prompts the question, “Does a deer or turkey hunter need a bow with faster arrow speed and heavier mass?”

Been There, Done That

The answer to the speed question is emphatically, NO.  Ten years ago, I began my crossbow career with this same question.  Could a crossbow take down game like deer and elk?  To find out, I booked a hunt in South Africa where I shot the kudu, shown above, wildebeest, warthog, impala, and an nyala, an antelope the size of a large mule deer.  I took each animal with a single 16-inch arrow from an Excalibur bow shooting 305 fps.  I used Excalibur 150-grain fixed broadheads, giving me an arrow weight of 400 grains.  If I were to hunt with the Ravin R 16, I’d experiment with broadheads of 150 grains or more.  Shooting heavier arrows in a crossbow decreases vibration and reduces noise.

Upward Expansion

Regardless of the type of tree stand you hunt from, a hunter must always be aware of the relationship between his crossbow limbs and any vertical obstruction.  Deer seldom follow a script and when a big buck suddenly appears behind you, it becomes incredibly easy to spin around and touch the tree trunk with an expanding limb.  Once that happens, a missed shot is nearly guaranteed.  For more information about the Ravin R 16 click HERE

Pedro Ampuero is a Spaniard who bowhunts internationally, including animals that have never been taken with bow and arrow.  In this video, Ampuero travels to three of the most popular hunting shows in the world, beginning with the “Sheep Show” (The Wild Sheep Foundation) in Reno, Nevada.  Next, he visited the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT), which featured a separate archery pavilion this year, and finally, the Safari Club International Show (SCI) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Like Jim Shockey’s, Ampuero’s videos are always interesting and challenging. Attending one of these big three hunting exhibitions, including the NRA Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a fantastic experience that will expand your hunting horizons tremendously.

Most predators are mating at this time of year, so they often move more in daylight hours.  Tim Wells likes to hunt predators, and he doesn’t disappoint on this desert quest.  Wells places his caller in a tree so that the sound carries farther and when a predator approaches, it looks up toward the source of the call.  This enables a hunter to draw a bow or raise a crossbow without being seen.  This tactic is so successful, Wells stands against brush or small trees and the lure of the caller makes the hunter the hunted.

Use Large Broadheads

One might think that large broadheads aren’t needed on small animals like coyotes or bobcats, yet just the opposite is true.  Wells uses the Grim Reaper Whitetail Special with three blades and a monstrous two-inch cut.  Since predators often sneak in behind brush and grass, you may not get that perfect broadside shot and the extra wound channel created by the huge Grim Reaper broadhead leads to a quick demise.  Here’s Wells in action”

Most suburban areas have too many deer, especially in local, state, and national parks where hunting is prohibited or significantly restricted.  Although deer season is many months away, now is the time to focus on areas that require hunting permits.  Many of these special units are listed in the state’s hunting regulations which include season dates, where and when to apply.

Lots of Hoops

Regulations about these hunts are a double-edged sword.  First, dates are limited and you must have a permit to hunt.  You may be asked to write an essay about why you want to hunt and take a shooting proficiency test.  You’ll probably have to use a tree stand and hunt a particular spot.  On the positive side, this red tape discourages many hunters, significantly increasing your odds of drawing a tag.  Although a nuisance, you will have access to big buck hunting options that would cost thousands of dollars to lease.  The trick is to apply to all the units to increase your odds of drawing one.

Almost Heaven for Sure

West Virginia deer hunting is synonymous with mountains and rugged terrain, yet the four southern counties are bow-hunting only, creating a huge area with great big-buck potential.  Among these counties are state parks that allow bowhunting if you can draw a tag.  Since deer are used to seeing people, these deer are easier to scout because they often feed on golf courses and other open areas.  However, don’t think they are stupid.  Once in the mountain, they are as wary as any other deer.  The following video demonstrates the accessibility of Eastern draw hunts and is a great primer for next fall:

Making a lethal shot on a wild turkey is one of bowhunting’s biggest challenges.  Even though the range is close, your aim and performance must be precise.  Strutting gobblers are more than 50% feathers and the kill zone is barely the size of a softball.  During the next few weeks, we’ll look at decoys, broadheads, callers, and other hunting techniques, but shot placement is the place to begin.

Skeletal Image

This image is available through the Bowhunting Education Program and dramatically demonstrates how small a wild turkey’s kill zone can be.  Bowhunters often prefer shooting at the broadside of a strutting turkey, yet a hunter must be able to visualize the vitals of a wild turkey through the feathers.  Here’s a quick video that shows various shot angles and is a good starter for the season.

Proper Shot Placement

Hinge cutting is a popular forest management tool for deer.  It provides winter browse that can last for years and creates the kind of cover that deer use for bedding and fawning.  This comprehensive study found that hinge cutting not only can dramatically improve deer bedding and fawning, but also reduces predation because predators prefer open areas where they can see their prey.  The details of how this can be done are important and The National Deer Association does an excellent job explaining them in print and pictures.  To read the full study click here.

Southern hemisphere hunts happen in our summer (their winter) and are an excellent way to hone your skills for fall and feed your adventurous spirit.  The folks at SKRE gear produced this film and display their products in action.  I’m a fan of their clothing and have used it successfully throughout 2024.  Enjoy the show while watching products for this spring and fall.

Fallow Deer Down Under