Petersen's Bowhunting - September 2022

84 Pages·2022·113 MB·English

I
p. 30 p. 72
4
BULLS THAT WILL
p. 34
LISTEN & LEARN
p. 42
WORK FOR WHITETAILS
EXTREME SACRIFICE EARNS A BIG-BUCK PAYDAY
TIPS & TALES
3 WAYS TO PATTERN YOUR BUCK
SOLO ADVENTURE IN ALASKA

THE CULMINATION OF 30 YEARS
OF ARCHERY INNOVATION.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE V3X AND OUR NEW INTEGRATED
LINE OF ACCESSORIES AT MATHEWSINC.COM

SEPTEMBER 2022
VOL. 33 · ISSUE 6
FEATURES
34 BREATHTAKING BULLS
Two State Records and a 428-inch Non-Typical
Taken by a 16-Year-Old Are Among 2021’s
Most Impressive Bow-Killed Elk
By Mark Demko
42 MOVE WITH THE HERD
Patience Is the Key to This Proven Strategy
By Clint Casper
30
50 HERO TO ZERO — AND BACK AGAIN!
All’s Well That Ends Well in Elk Country
By Ralph Cianciarulo
60 FROM BAD TO GOOD
A Tough Elk Trip in Montana’s Badlands
Leads to a Great Deer Hunt
By Eddie Claypool
66 GOING TO EXTREMES
Sacrifice Creature Comforts
for More Whitetail Success
By Bill Winke
34
DEPARTMENTS
6 First Shot By Christian Berg
12 Whitetails By Jason Snavely
16 Bowhunting Wisdom By Bill Winke
20 Better Bowhunting By Randy Ulmer
24 Crossbows By Brad Fenson
28 Spot-On By Cabe Johnson
80 The DIY Guy By Eddie Claypool
GEAR
30 Bow Test By Jon E. Silks
Elite Terrain
72 Crossbow Test By Jon E. Silks
Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock
74 Field Tested By BOWHUNTING Editors
Rhino Blinds 180 See Through Ground Blind
and Axcel Archery Armortech Lite Sight
42
78 New Gear By Mark Demko
/4/ PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING
warranty failure, we guarantee unmatched optical clarity and rugged
reliability for life. Because at Leupold, failure is not an option.
An Outdoor Sportsman Group® Publication
PUBLISHER Jeff Waring
By CHRISTIAN BERG EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR Christian Berg
ART DIRECTOR Mark Olszewski
A SCORE TO SETTLE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mark Demko
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sally Burkey
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Jason Henning
SR. DIGITAL EDITOR Drew Pellman
since that bull walked out of my life,
FIELD EDITORS
and my failure to send an arrow still
I WANTED TO VOMIT. THE DIY GUY Eddie Claypool
torments me each time the memory GEAR TESTING Jon E. Silks
I was still in the first hour of invades my brain. Much like a BETTER BOWHUNTING Randy Ulmer
50-pound salmon that spits the hook at BOWHUNTING WISDOM Bill Winke
a 2020 elk hunt with J&J Guide
the side of the boat or a game-winning ADVERTISING SALES
Service in Montana, and I had field goal attempt that clangs off the ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Jeff Millar
[phone] [email protected]
upright, this bull will forever remain
PRODUCTION
just let my “bull of a lifetime” slip a trophy that was so close, yet so far
MANAGER Brittany Kennedy [phone]
away from my grasp. And I have no [email protected]
through my fingers.
one else to blame. ENDEMIC AD SALES
Thankfully, we aren’t defined as VP, endemic sales
Mike Savino; [email protected]
bowhunters, or people, by our failures. national endemic sales
An unexpected encounter led to In fact, we often learn our most im- Jim McConville [phone]
a fleeting — but perfect — 52-yard, portant lessons from them, and some- western region
Hutch Looney; [email protected]
quartering-away shot opportunity. I times, we even get second chances
NATIONAL AD SALES
came to full draw and stared through to take what was wrong and make it account director – detroit office
Kevin Donley [phone]
my peep sight as the monster bull right.
posed perfectly for several seconds. I was blessed with just such a national account executiVe – chicago office
Carl Benson [phone]
But as I struggled to control my breath- chance this spring when I drew a
direct resPonse adVertising/non-endemic
ing and my nerves and settle my pin limited-entry elk permit for the same Anthony Smyth [phone]
on its chest, the clock ran out and the eastern Montana unit where my heart
www.bowhuntingmag.com
bull stepped back into the pines. was broken two years ago. Upon
You idiot! How in
I thought to myself. learning the draw results, a brief cel-
BOWHUNTING, (ISSN # 1049-9768) is published 8 times
the world could you not get that shot off?!?!
ebration ensued, quickly followed by a year, including two double issues; March (Gear Guide),
Apr/May, June, July, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov/Dec, by OUT-
The look on my face, captured the realization it was time to get to
DOOR SPORTSMAN GROUP®, 1040 6th Ave., 17th Floor,
forever on video, said it all. I wanted work. New York, NY 10018. Periodical postage paid at New
York, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER:
to curse. I wanted to cry. I wanted A brand new Hoyt REDWRX Car- Send address change (form 3579) to Bowhunting, P.O.
Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0539. Return undeliverable
to curl up in the fetal position right bon RX-7 bow was soon set up for the
Canadian addresses to: 500 Rt. 46 East, Clifton, NJ 07011.
there on the side of the mountain hunt, along with a dozen Easton 4MM Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 41405030.
and call my mommy. Then I remem- FMJ arrows tipped with Muzzy broad-
SUBSCRIPTIONS INQUIRIES: Should you wish to change your address,
bered outfitter Rich Schneider and heads. Countless shots have been
order new subscriptions, or report a problem with your current subscrip-
tion, you can do so by writing Bowhunting, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA
cameraman Jim Thompson were launched at the Rinehart 1/3 Scale Elk
50037-0539, or e-mail us at [email protected], or call
watching, so I decided to hold it target in my yard, and I’ve cleaned up TOLL FREE [phone]. BE AWARE THAT PETERSEN’S BOWHUNT-
ING ONLY ACCEPTS SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS FROM AUTHORIZED
together as best as I could in an effort my diet and made dozens of trips to AGENTS! WE MAY NOT HONOR REQUESTS FROM UNAUTHORIZED
AGENTS, AND YOU THEREFORE MAY LOSE YOUR MONEY IF YOU BUY
to salvage a shred of dignity. the gym prepping body and mind to FROM AN UNAUTHORIZED AGENT. If you are offered a subscription to
Petersen’s Bowhunting, please call 1-800-800-4269 to determine if the
It has now been nearly two years go back and be better than before. agent is authorized. For more information on subscription scams, please
visit www.ftc.gov.
Just a few short weeks from now,
Subscription rate for one year is $17.97 (U.S., APO, FPO, and U.S. pos-
I’ll be in Big Sky Country, hunting sessions). Canada add $13.00 (U.S. funds) per year, includes sales tax
and GST. Foreign add $15.00 (U.S. funds) per year.
hard in search of a happier ending Occasionally, our subscriber list is made available to reputable firms offer-
ing goods and services that we believe would be of interest to our readers.
than the one I experienced last time.
If you prefer to be excluded, please send your current address label
Who knows, maybe the very bull that and a note requesting to be excluded from these promotions to:
Outdoor Sportsman Group® • 1040 6th Ave., 17th Floor, New York, NY
haunts my dreams is still alive? If not, 10018 • Attn: Privacy Coordinator or email your label information
and note to [email protected]
I’m sure there will be plenty of others FOR REPRINTS: For Reprints/Eprints or Licensing/Permissions, please
contact: Wright’s Media - TOLL FREE [phone].
to pursue.
CONTRIBUTIONS: Manuscripts, photographs and artwork must be sub-
Either way, I’ve got a serious score mitted to the Editorial Office with a SASE. The Publisher assumes no
responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please send to:
to settle — with myself. Bowhunting • 6385 Flank Drive, Suite 800 • Harrisburg, PA 17112-2784
[phone] Fax: [phone]
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
This is the look of a bowhunter who
has just let a golden opportunity
slip away. It ain’t pretty!
/6/ PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING

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Cover Photo: Vic Schendel