Bull’s eye!

That’s what we want to call out after we feel the recoil of an arrow leaving our bow and finding its mark.

However, there is much more involved to hitting your mark than simply tossing a broad-head or two during hunting season.

One way to achieve the perfect shot is to practice.

Not all of us have the time or resources to attend every 3D-archery shoot in the state, but many of us do have a local archery shop or property that is equipped with an adequate shooting area of 20 yards or more.

This is where you can spend quality time in the offseason, fine-tuning your equipment and, most important of all, building your shot placement confidence.

Some bowhunters will shoot at a hay bale no more than a few feet away just to get their muscles accustomed to the tension of pulling back a bowstring.

Twenty or thirty times a day, they practice not on distance but merely form and release.

More often than not your back is creaking more than the limbs on your bow.

Many times the equipment is performing its task. Your bow is sighted in, but you have not shot an arrow since last hunting season.

A bad shot may be result of poor shooting form rather than equipment failure.

It’s only fair to the game animal you plan to hunt to make sure your archery tackle and shooting skills can perform a quick and lethal shot to ensure good penetration and a quick recovery.

Besides, every archer needs to knock the dust off the bow from time to time.

I try to take advantage of every 3-D shoot or course that time allows. For an average of 10 dollars you can shoot a round of 40 or more targets.

Shot scenarios are usually set up to resemble actual hunting situations, including brush, limbs, rocks and other natural barriers that you’re likely to experience when drawing back on an actual animal in the field.

During a typical year my family and I travel to fifteen or more shoots throughout the Pacific Northwest and northern California.

By shooting all year, I build up my distance-judging skills and shot confidence, by far the most important parts of being able to take the perfect shot.

Another key thing to consider are shot angles, bone structure and anatomy of the animal that you’re about to harvest. Just because you put a hole in an animal does not necessarily mean that it is going to perish quickly or even at all.

I have been on both sides of the scenario. Sometimes you make a shot and the animal expires within 30 yards, if not less.

And sometimes, you make a shot, it looks good, there’s plenty of sign and you track the animal for hours only to find it hundreds of yards from where you made the hit.

If you hunt primarily from a treestand, you may want to do some practice from an elevation that is equal to your stand.

At extreme angles of 30 degrees or more, distance is often cut in thirds or even half.

Many treestand hunters practice on the ground and then find themselves shooting over the back of an animal even at a mere 10 yards.

At that angle you have pretty much eliminated the arc that is formed when shooting level.

For a 20-yard shot you would use a 20-yard pin. At 4 or 5 yards, you would use your 50 or 60-yard pin.

You are closer to your target, thus eliminating the arc completely.

Another key factor to consider when hunting is to stay focused. Shooting at foam deer or elk is completely different than the real thing.

One thing I try to do is pick one spot on the animal. Look for an area where the hair might be scruffed or parted. Focus entirely on that spot.

Once I draw back, I look for that spot and then settle the pin on it.

Relaxing, I squeeze the trigger of my release and hold my bow in place until the arrow makes contact with the animal.

Focusing on the shot and not on the size of the animal will help calm your nerves as well.

Being aware of the bone structure on animals is key.

Bones on a deer are not as dense, and with today’s modern archery equipment, you are more likely to penetrate a shoulder blade of a deer.

Elk on the other hand are much larger and the shoulder bone resembles more of a steel plate than an easily penetrated object.

On an elk you definitely want a broadside shot. There’s less obstruction and the chances of getting a pass-through are much greater with this shot.

If your target is walking broadside, try to make the shot as the leg moves forward.

The vitals on an elk are pretty generous, giving a little room for error.

A clean double lung shot with a razor-sharp broadhead will put your prize on the ground in no time.

A shot that is quartering towards you is definitely one you don’t want to try. Let the animal turn broadside before releasing your arrow.

On a quartering-away shot where the animal is facing away, basically look through the animal and pretend you’re going to shoot it in the opposite shoulder.

This will place your arrow through the vitals and usually put the animal down quickly.

Depending on how confident you feel about your shot placement, you should always give the animal at least half an hour, maybe more if you think you may have hit it a little further back than you would prefer.

Giving the animal time to expire will keep it from spooking and running further than planned.

Also it gives you time to settle down and realize what just happened.

Take your time and don’t pursue a wounded animal right after the shot.

A well-hit animal can travel hundreds of yards if spooked. Stunned and confused they usually won’t travel too far.

However, if they see a hunter, they are more inclined to head for the farthest ridge.

To help get the “perfect shot,” you might use a range finder. A pocket-sized range finder has greatly increased my confidence and shooting ability.

When I find myself in a set-up situation, I can easily reach into a side compartment and one-handedly pull out the range finder and get the precise distance (plus or minus 1 yard) at any given time.

I never step into the woods without one anymore.

Find one the fits your needs and your budget as well — it could easily be one of the best archery investments you will ever make.

Again, the best way to get the “perfect shot” is simple — practice, practice, practice.

Spend some time tuning both your equipment and your skills. Soon you will feel confident every time you take to the woods to hit the bull’s eye. 
Practice at your local 3-D range or even in your backyard will greatly increase your confidence in your ability to make the shot when it counts.

The author shot at this elk target five or six different times at different angles, keeping in mind the best places to hit the animal for a quick recovery. 

Ask any archer about crossbows and their inclusion into the “archery” family and you will most certainly get a vivid response expressing their disgust or enthusiasm for the controversial topic. Many bowhunters are advocates to the use of crossbows (sometimes referred to as “X-Guns”) and feel that they are closer to a firearm than a bow due to their characteristic string locking mechanism, gun stock design and ability to use telescopic scopes. On the other hand, crossbow supporters debate that crossbows still have a string that must be drawn, still shoot an arrow (called a bolt), are sometimes even less accurate than new compound bow designs and even shoot at roughly the same speeds as high end compound bows.

In reality, there are many differences in the engineering of traditional, compound and crossbow designs. Traditional, or “stick” bows, use a single string attached to a one piece wood riser and limbs. Some long bows and recurves, however, are made with the limbs and riser being separate pieces of wood. This method is used to create the specific pull weight of the bow string. Traditional bows can use wood, aluminum or carbon shafts and a variety of points and vanes.

In comparison, compound bows are different in that they use a cam and pulley system. For instance, single cam bows use a simple pulley system to create stored energy when drawn to hurl the arrow at a faster rate of speed than most traditional bows. The cam system also allows for the archer to enjoy a more relaxed and longer hold on full draw due to the “let-off” or amount of energy that is taken from the string and stored in the limbs (usually 65 to 80 percent). Due to the force that an arrow is released from a compound bow, these designs are only able to shoot aluminum or carbon arrow shafts with a variety of points and vanes similar to that of a traditional bow.

Crossbows are similar to the compound bow design with a few exceptions. First, a crossbow when fully drawn uses a locking mechanism to hold the string in place. This releases the “archer”, or “shooter” if you prefer, to allow the bow to distribute 100 percent of the stored energy in the limbs, effectively allowing the bow to do the work of holding the string for long periods of time. Second, crossbows use a stock very similar to that of a firearm instead of the normal riser design used in traditional and compound bows. Crossbows, due to their design, are also able to use a bolt, which is a smaller sub-species of the arrow, and telescopic sights similar to the version found on firearms. Most argue that crossbows are much less accurate than traditional or compound bows but I am hesitant to say this is due to design more than the abilities of the “archer/shooter”.

State and national bowhunting organizations are beginning to lobby strongly against the inclusion of crossbows in the archery-only season. In August of 2005, the NABC (North American Bowhunting Coalition) and 32 other interested organizations released a formal letter stating their position on the crossbow topic:

“A major issue addressed by the summit attendees was the use of crossbows during archery-only hunting seasons. It was immediately apparent that the attendees were unified as being strongly opposed to the use of crossbows in any bowhunting season. State and provincial representatives unanimously agreed that crossbows are not bows and should not be allowed in archery-only seasons.”

It’s apparent that many active archers and hunters alike have serious opinions on the crossbow topic. Since we have highlighted the differences and similarities of traditional, compound and crossbow designs, let’s look at the exact reasoning behind the statements released by the NABC:

“A hunting bow is recognized as a compound, recurve or longbow that is hand-drawn and that has no mechanical device to enable the hunter to lock the bow at full or partial draw. Crossbows, on the other hand, are locked at full draw by a trigger, utilize a rifle-like stock, have rigidly controlled internal ballistics, can readily be shot from a rest and typically use a telescopic sight. A crossbow’s characteristics are so vastly different from those of conventional bows that summit attendees agreed that crossbows would negatively impact bowhunting seasons if allowed in archery-only seasons.”

Naturally, these opinions do not express the thoughts and feelings of every archer or hunter. Horizontal Bowhunter (http://www.horizontalbowhunter.com), which states itself to be “The Official Magazine of the American Crossbow Federation”, has this to say about the crossbow debate in their Frequently Asked Questions section of their website:

MYTH: Because it is not hand-drawn and released, the crossbow is more closely compared to a firearm than a vertical bow.

FACT: Opponents to the crossbow often quote an apples and oranges comparison when voicing this smokescreen. The vertical archer, if they are a sportsman/bowhunter, prior to ever going into the field hunting spends hours and hours working on the physical conditioning required by drawing, aiming and shooting their chosen tool — nothing mystical, just physical work. Once the season starts, the act of drawing, aiming and shooting (especially with high let-off compounds utilizing a triggered release aid) is no more difficult for a vertical bowhunter than a crossbow hunter. Movement is required by both (one to draw back the other to raise the crossbow into a shooting position) to obtain the target at an average of less than twenty yards. Both hunters must be accomplished woodsmen to get that close to a whitetail and still mask those necessary movements.

MYTH: Crossbows are too easy to shoot.

FACT: Experienced rifle shooters can expect to quickly achieve tight arrow groups on targets up to forty yards (the effective hunting range of a crossbow). Is that bad? Isn’t accurate shot placement the goal of all ethical hunting? Does the difficulty of shooting a bow accurately deter people from participating in bowhunting? However, to be successful, a crossbow hunter must master all skills and tactics common to bowhunting.

So back to the debate at hand: Is a crossbow actually a bow? Should they be included in the archery-only hunting seasons? Are they really that different from traditional and compound bow designs?

That is a debate that will more than likely be the topic of discussion around many state and national hunting organizations for years to come. In my opinion, crossbows are no less dangerous or easier to shoot than traditional or compound bows. However, crossbows are certainly engineered in a very different manner than that of the design typically considered to be in the “archery” family. I believe that an archery or hunting enthusiast should support whatever method they feel the most comfortable with and have the most fun shooting.

Remember, the goal of the archery and hunting industry is to promote a) legal and ethical tactics, b) a place for recreational activities for women, children and men alike regardless of physical abilities or preferences in equipment and c) to promote the sport of hunting and shooting with a unified voice. If this can be accomplished, the overall achievements and gains will far outweigh the losses due to allowing crossbows to actually be considered a bow.

Not many events would justify me missing the opening weekend of archery elk season. Hunting Barren Ground Caribou north of the Brooks Range in Alaska was one such event.

Joined by my brother Billy and good friend Dave Chapman, we decided it would be quite the adventure to experience the land of the never-ending muskeg bogs and wide-open tundra in search of the largest antlered specie of caribou. Although we were there to hunt, I wasn’t prepared for the other sites that the Arctic would provide.

The weather for 9 out of 10 days consisted of freezing rain, sleet, snow, harsh biting winds, and sub-freezing temperatures. The scenery was nothing like I imagined. Driving over the Brooks Range down onto the North Slope, I was witness to moose, bear, sheep and more caribou than I could ever hope for. The landscape was incredible, from towering mountains to wild, unforgiving tundra masses that disappeared into the horizon.

The hunt included many blown stalks, a couple of errant arrows, and a few days of limited caribou sightings. Even with the large herd sizes, the frequency of caribou encounters, and the total caribou out on the North Slope, getting one on the ground did prove to be a challenge. Whether it was the fog and not being able to spot them, the swirling wind and numerous eyes, the final “close the distance” stalk, or even in my case an arrow that missed it’s mark, we experienced it all.

It wasn’t until day five that I was able to connect with a really nice bull. Dave had an opportunity at the exact same bull just the evening before. Dave’s encounter took place on our side of the river, and he watched the bull cross and head for a small island. As darkness approached, we took off for camp and devised a plan for the following morning, which included the use of our very small Zodiac skiff to haul three of us across the freezing river.

The next morning, and after careful river navigation by our experienced oarsman Dave, we finally made it across the river. Dave and Billy split off in one direction, and I started downriver in the other. As I tiptoed my way up the river, I looked toward the middle of the island and spotted the unmistakable antler configuration of a mature bull caribou. He was bedded down in a soft dirt depression. I could tell his antlers were facing away from me, and as luck would have it, I was heading directly into a steady wind. With the soft dirt, great wind, and freezing rain, the stalking conditions were excellent. I took off my backpack, and with him in the depression, I basically just walked briskly right to where his antlers were. I walked until I was 25 yards from the bedded bull, still not being able to see his head or body.

After a short wait, the bull started to stir, and he slowly stood up. At this time my release was already snapped on my string, and all I had to do was get the bow back without a bunch of movement. Being only 25 yards from him, this was tough to do. He stood up, and, as scripted, stepped to a perfect broadside position. I yarded my bow back and settled in.

I watched my arrow zip through him about the mid-ship level, a few inches behind the shoulder. I knew he was mine. His death sprint took him up the bank out of the depression and promptly into the freezing river. He fortunately was able to swim away from the cut bank, deep-water side of the river and make it all the way to the shallow side before dying. Billy and Dave witnessed the action, and as the bull started floating down river, I yelled for them to retrieve the raft, not knowing how well caribou float and how far downstream he would go. Thankfully, his antlers caught on some rocks, and after a brief 60-yard float he came to a stop.

This Alaskan adventure wasn’t simply about the hunt and killing of a caribou bull. It was much more than that. The chance for me to stand outside my tent at 2:00 a.m. and watch The Northern Lights dance across the sky was worth the trip in and of itself. Alaska is truly The Last Frontier. One I hope to explore again in the near future.

The elk were there we just had to find them, but how? Hunting is not like fishing. It is not as easy to get help in finding the hot spots from a bait shop or game warden. They hear the same questions from every hunter they see, so they pretty much give the same answer to everyone,”The elk are up high and they are not vocal yet.” Well this year I didn’t get much scouting in but it only took two days to figure the elk out. Don’t get me wrong, every year brings a diferent senario, but I will give you my best advice on figuring them out. The truth is about everywhere elk are hunted there is private land close by. Every year elk in Colorado anyway are starting to stay on the private land all year long. Although this creates a problem because you can’t hunt them on private land, the truth is you can learn alot by watching the elk on the private land. This year I watched a herd of over 100 elk on private land and noticed that every one of them were either a cow, a calf, or a spike. Not a shooter bull in the bunch!

So the question that needed to be answered was, where are the shooter bulls? Well by reading articles and reading books i have learned that during calving season and througout the summer the cows will not let the bulls near the calves. So the bulls group up in what they call bachelor groups and spend the summer months together at higher elevations to get away from the bugs and heat. Well when I noticed the shooter bulls where not with the cows yet I checked the high elevations and in one afternoon I found three diferent groups of bulls together.

Finding them still in these groups told me that they were probably still in their summer patterns. All summmer they are trying to put on weight and usually fall into a routine. So I watched two days in a row and sure enough they all did the same thing everyday.

Although they were not bugling or trying to gather cows yet like they usually are at the begining of archery season, they were still very huntable because they were very patternable. So the moral of the story is that instead of cursing the private land elk herds, they are a very helpful tool in figureing out the public elk in the area. So watch them and be observant and you can learn as much from them in a day as you can in a week of scouting.

This article is about a bow hunt that resulted in a deflected arrow hitting a buck in the head and the activity that followed. Photo shows arrowhead embedded in brain cavity.

When Tony White of HuntingAZ.net hangs up his gear after a long season of North America adventures, much of his time is spent working with different clubs generating money to help wildlife habit. However — although the next chase may be months away — he never forgets to keep in touch with his local archery experts.

When bow hunting season is over, it’s important to begin thinking about proper equipment storage and keeping your skills and body in top form. Here are some expert tips to help you accomplish those feats.

• Choose a dry, cool storage place
  “Heat kills bows out here,” says George Sensabough, general manager of Archery Headquarters in Chandler, AZ. With that in mind, don’t even think about storing your bow in the garage. Instead, opt for a closet or other climate-controlled space, suggests Tracy Baack, manager of Bear Mountain Outfitters in Scottsdale.

• Store in the proper position
  Back off the tension on compound bows and completely unstring recurve bows, advises Baack. He also recommends hanging bows rather than storing them flat. Sensabough reminds archers that arrows should be stored separately rather than bundled together, which can damage fletchings. Colton Bagnoli of Archery Headquarters further advises keeping broad heads separate from the bow to prevent them from cutting strings if your case gets rattled around.

• Keep your bow waxed up
  Prevent drying out by keeping cables, strings and other parts lubricated, advises Sensabough.

• Upgrade during downtime
  “The only thing advancing faster than archery is computers,” says Baack. With this in mind, consider using the off-season to improve your equipment. Remember when replacing equipment, the more advanced equipment you purchase,
  the slower it becomes obsolete.

• Go to the shop before you go hunting again.
  “When you take your bow out of storage, be sure to have a professional archery shop give it a tune up and replace the rubber peep tubing,” Sensabough says. “It is he best way to start a new hunting season.”

• Keep shooting
  Visit Bear Mountain Outfitters indoor range or outdoor ranges at Ben Avery or Usery Mountain to keep yourself in practice and in shape. Or, take advantage of dart leagues at Archery Headquarters that enable you to shoot at video footage on a 12-foot screen. Target leagues also are available. As an added benefit, regular shooting during the off-season keeps you familiar with your bow, allowing you to detect and correct any equipment problems before they get serious, notes Bagnoli.

• Get as close as possible to the real thing
  Rather than block targets, shoot at animal targets and 3-D targets at Usery Mountain and Ben Avery, Bagnoli advises. It will help you hone your shot placement. Additionally, he suggests practice shooting in the woods, desert, or other places to prepare yourself for actual hunting scenarios. That way, you’re shooting uphill, downhill, and with wind, Bagnoli points out.

• Exercise regularly
  At Archery Headquarters, you can find Bow Fit, which is similar to a large rubber band and helps condition by duplicating the motion and resistance of shooting with a bow. Additionally, Bagnoli suggests hiking to get in shape.

Editor’s Note: Check listings in your local yellow pages for archery pro shops and ranges in your area.

When the one ton giant bull rounded the sagebrush-covered hill in front of us, our hearts pounded as he headed straight for us on a dead run!

This exciting January day actually began a month earlier, when I won a trophy bison hunt from Thousand Hills Bison Ranch and Mt. Blanca Gamebird & Trout Lodge of Blanca, Colorado. Thousand Hills Bison sponsors sporting clay tournaments throughout the country in which they give a trophy hunt away. Although I did not win any of the shooting prizes, I did get drawn for the grand prize!

As morning dawned, the temperature hovered at a balmy -14 degrees. Our kind hosts, John and Michele Ray of Thousand Hills Bison, served hot, homemade cinnamon rolls during our pre-hunt briefing. The hunt takes place in the Brown Hills of the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Located at 7,894 feet above sea level, the hunting area covers over 62,000 acres of prime, native bison habitat. The valley floor is dotted with sage, rabbit brush, and blue gramma grass while the rolling hills consist of large lava rocks.

Setting out in a four-wheel drive pickup truck, we stopped periodically to glass the valleys and hillsides for our quarry. We spotted a band of wild horses with majestic Mt. Blanca in the distance. It was a sight I’ll never forget. As we proceeded deeper into the hunting area, a small herd of pronghorn antelope made a guest appearance. What a great way to begin this hunt of a lifetime!

Our intense glassing finally paid off. “There he is!” John declared. The lone bull was about 1½; miles to the north. We planned our stalk. The hunting party included my wife, Terri, as the videographer, Bill Langdon, a long time friend from Lamar, CO, and myself. I was carrying my Mathews bow and Easton ACC arrows tipped with 100 grain Thunderheads. Although I had been practicing at 62 pounds, today I was set up for 72 pounds. Bill was carrying a backup rifle at the request of John. Safety and caution are paramount should a nasty, wounded bull elect to charge.

As we headed north toward the area where the big bull had been spotted, it was decided to use the hill on our right as cover. This would allow us to be out of sight and able to move quickly to reduce the distance between us. Reaching the halfway point, we were amazed at how much ground the bull had covered while grazing along a wild horse trail. Now we were forced to regroup as he had completely changed his travel route, putting more and more distance between us.

We headed across an open, grassy flat. Moving as quickly as possible, we began narrowing the distance. Only 200 yards from the safety of the hill, the bull suddenly appeared around the corner of the hillside–catching our party out on the open flat. As he rounded the hill, we realized that something had startled him as he was running directly for us! Separated from the security of the herd, a strange object or sound will often times spook a lone bull. Instinctively, we all dropped to the ground, not knowing our next move. Just as we thought he was going to run right over the top of us, he suddenly veered off to our right. Whew! What a close call!

I used my Bushnell 400 Range Finder to locate him at 134 yards, but he sure looked a lot closer than that to me. These Lords of the Prairie are mammoth beasts.

The bull was now heading back the direction we had just come from. So, we headed back as well. I am truly amazed at just how agile an animal of this size can be and how quickly he can cover rough terrain.

We finally arrived at the base of the elongated hill he had disappeared behind. Again we regrouped. Now we felt that we were finally in a good place for an ambush. Moving slowly around the hill, I was alerted to the fact that he was standing only 80 yards away, looking in our direction! Dropping to the ground, we slowly began a cautious retreat. A sense of urgency overcame me. We had to hurry. Going as fast as we dared, our trio started up the backside of the rocky ridge. When I peaked over the top of the ridge, I was surprised to see his rapid approach. Quickly, I nocked an arrow and prepared for the shot.

As he walked into the open. I pulled my Q2 bow back to full draw with the sight pin setteling in low behind his brown shoulder. Having studied their anatomy, I knew the heart to be a difficult shot as it was low in the chest cavity and semi-protected by the shoulder. A lung shot was certainly my best opportunity for a clean kill. As his right leg went forward, the release went off and the arrow silently flew to its mark! Mortally wounded, he lunged forward and staggered. He only traveled a few yards, stopped, and turned back to see what had happened. I nocked another arrow and aimed for the same location, but now on the opposite side. I know how tough these brutes are to bring down and I was taking no chances after the merry chase he had already taken us on. This second arrow scored and went clear through the chest cavity! Massive bleeding occurred instantaneously from his nostrils and he went down. He traveled only 15 yards from where he was first hit to where he expired.

Celebration and congratulations were in order! I had bagged my first bison, the largest game animal in North America. You can never really appreciate the enormous size of these magnificent animals until you get up close to them. He was a mature bull with exceptional horns that would easily qualify him for the Safari Club Record Book. The cold mountain temperatures had caused him to grow a thick winter cape, making for an exceptionally fine robe. His enormous skull would soon hang in my trophy room, and as we took photos and enjoyed lunch, I could not help to look up and admire the beautiful, snow-capped mountains that surrounded us. What a glorious sight!

As we skinned the bull, I thought of the many meals we would enjoy from this animal. Bison meat contains less fat, calories, and cholesterol than beef, pork, or skinless chicken. The flavorful meat is not gamy at all and actually tastes better than beef. With each delicious bite, I will savor the wonderful memories of this truly exciting adventure.

I want to thank the fine people at Thousand Hills Bison Ranch and Mt. Blanca Gamebird & Trout Lodge for a dream come true. If anyone shares my dream of harvesting an American bison trophy bull, I heartily encourage them to contact Thousand Hills Bison Ranch at 719-672-3070. Adios Amigo!

Who wouldn’t want to go on top-notch guided hunt after guided hunt? I would love to have that opportunity someday, but currently as any other budget conscious bowhunter, I simply cannot pull it off. This means either I don’t hunt or I set up my own hunts, which is what we like to call, Do-It-Yourself bowhunting. There are other differences besides the obvious monetary consideration when comparing guided to DIY trips. The thing I like about on your own hunting is that if I kill it is because of me and if I don’t kill it is because of me. In the field, making all the decisions in the heat of the battle is how many of us like it. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment after a successful DIY outing is indescribable.

I will share the gear I have used and the lessons I have learned over years of backcountry hunting. Much of my hunting has been solo, so the gear listed is what I carry on my back to go remote after bulls or bucks for 4 or more days at a time. Here is a list of equipment or gear, thoughts or theories that you must consider.

Pre-season Preparation

To pull off a dream DIY endeavor you are going to have to do your homework. Just as in life, in this type of hunting, there are seldom shortcuts to success. This is where the most tedious, repetitious and mundane work is done, but also, possibly the most important. This is the foundation of your successful hunt.

Shooting

I would suggest hitting as many 3-D shoots as possible. These are great for preparing you for steep angle shots and pressure shots. I also shoot an indoor league at my local Pro-Shop, The Bow Rack, once a week and make certain that I shoot at least 20 arrows every single day from about February on.

First arrow — Your first arrow is really the only one that matters. You have to be able to hit what you are aiming at, every time with that first arrow of the day. Remember, there are no warm up shots in the field.

Scouting

Gaining intimate knowledge of your hunting area is huge. Get out into the country you will be hunting and verify hunches and investigate any leads you picked up from studying your topographical maps. This is also a prime time to test gear. There is no better time than during scouting trips or overnight outings to test new gear or learn things you may not have thought of.

Physical Conditioning

The fact is that you simply cannot be in too good of shape. I also realize that everyone has his or her own levels of fitness and conditioning. Keep in mind that even a guy in marathon shape will probably still be fatigued during a 10 day high mountain elk hunt, so it is your best interest to pay particular attention to the conditioning aspect of hunt preparation. Whatever you have been doing to get ready for your big trip, do more. More stamina is better and you will need it. That being said, it is also true that:

• You will typically hike and climb 5-15 miles a day in terrain that is rugged and at higher elevation than most of us are used to. This is why a good cross-training fitness program is most effective. You should incorporate hill work, weights, biking, road running, etc. in an effort to achieve total body condition.
• One thing that most of us can’t do in advance is to get acclimated to high altitude. Many live at elevations that may only be a few hundred feet or even less above sea level, while most elk hunting takes place at 3,000-10,000 feet. The only way to get acclimated is to go to the elevation you will be hunting at, which is not feasible for most of us, but consider that the person who is in good shape physically will have much less of a problem with altitude and will acclimate much faster.

With every rule there is an exception. What can’t accurately be quantified is desire. My hunting partner, Roy Roth, is one of the mentally strongest guys I have ever met and what he lacks for in the conditioning department he more than makes up for in the, “Quitters never win and winners never quit” department.

Food and Water

Average daily calorie requirements in the field are 2,800 to 3,600 calories for males and 2,000 to 2,800 for females. Not getting enough food and nutrients leads to rapid weight loss, which leads to; loss of strength, decreased endurance, loss of motivation and decreased mental alertness. Given this, it should be obvious how important packing the right foods are to bowhunting success. I am not even sure if a guy can haul enough food in his pack for an extended backcountry hunt, but you need to really pay special attention to exactly what you’ll be hauling on your back for body fuel.

So far as food goes it should contribute at least 100 calories per once of weight otherwise it’s not worth packing. For instance, I pack a handful of Nature Valley 100% Natural Oat ‘N Honey granola bars. They weigh 1.5 oz. and have 180 calories, 29 grams of carbs and 4 grams of protein.

You must treat your water, period. This means either with a filter or iodine tablets. I prefer iodine, as it is safer, lighter and more convenient. A filter weighs anywhere from 11 oz. to 14 oz. and costs approximately $60. Iodine tables weigh next to nothing and cost $5. Some complain of the taste, but for one, you do get used to it and besides, I cover the taste with Emergen-C powdered drink mix. This powder mix, which is added to water, comes in small packets that weigh a piddly .29 oz. yet contain 1,000 mg of vitamin C, which 1666% of you Daily Allowance as well as 500% of B6 and 416% of B12 plus it is high in potassium. This is something you must use.

I think the best main staple to the wilderness bowhunter comes in the form of military rations called Meal Ready-to-Eat, or MRE which are about $5 a piece or $2 just for the main course purchased separately. These things are awesome and have a ton of calories, are convenient and are balanced in nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fruit, etc.). Also, they eliminate the need for a stove. They come with a sleeve that you insert the main entrée into and then add a very small amount of water, which activates chemically a self-contained meal heating system. In minutes you have a hot meal. By packing MRE’s you will not need to haul a stove, cook set or utensils in your pack. This is huge as every ounce is critical. MRE’s come in many different combinations of main meals, fruits, crackers, potatoes, rice, noodles, ham, meatloaf, etc. They also come with a number of this I do not want to pack, like instant coffee and Tabasco sauce among other things, but I simply take these out and discard, along with the heavy package the MRE’s come in, prior to my trip.

Equipment

When in doubt go with quality. However, there won’t be any doubt because this is what you’ll need:

• Headlamp — Must have a good headlamp. Mine is a Petzl and ran me about $30. I have had the same one for about 3-years with no problems. I also carry a small halogen flashlight for back up and extra AA batteries, which both of these are run on.
• Sleeping Bag — Can’t sacrifice quality here. Must be lightweight and not too bulky. I have a system in which I am able to put my entire camp into my sleeping bag stuff sack.
• Bivy Sack — For true bivouacking, I don’t think you can do better that the all Gore-Tex Bivy Sack. I have had mine for over 6-years and it still is going strong. It weighs less than 2 lbs. and with my sleeping bag inside, will, as I mentioned fit in one stuff sack. With this system I can set up and breakdown my camp in under 5-minutes. This is key in the world of the efficient wilderness hunter.
• Compression Bag — This will compress your sleeping bag and Bivy sack into virtually half the size. When it is lashed to your packframe, size is almost as important as weight. You can get them at REI.
• Rangefinder
• Binoculars — The old cliché, “Get the best pair you can afford,” still holds true. I honestly don’t know how you could do any better than a 10X pair of Swarovski’s. Remember, you can’t harvest what you can’t find. Quality optics are responsible for increased opportunities. Paramount item.
• Bino-System
• Platypus Water System — Must have item for the guy who will be working hard and covering lots of ground. You have to keep yourself hydrated and this deal will make that task much more doable. It will hold 2 liters of fluid and the tube that comes from the container and attaches to your pack’s shoulder strap makes drinking very easy, which lends itself to more fluid consumption. This is a good thing.
• Sleeping Pad — It is not about comfort it is about getting yourself off of the ground and retaining body heat. My self-inflating pad weighs about 1 lbs. 15 oz. and was $35.
• Packframe — I like using an external packframe as I am able to lash quite a load on with my nylon rope. My Peak-1 packframe with a Tarantulas pack ran me about $170. This is a great pack, with very usable compartments, good waist belt and comfortable shoulder straps with a chest strap.

Miscellaneous — Doesn’t really fit into any one category, but never the less, these items should not be overlooked:

• Knife and Sharpener
• Chapstick
• Ibuprofen
• Duct Tape — This might be the best first-aid kit ever.
• First Aid Kit — At least should have some stuff to clean up cuts etc., as a nice complement to the Duct Tape.
• Cut Your Toenails
• Nylon Cord — 100′ of small diameter, braided, nylon rope.
• Extra Release
• Extra Serving
• Cell Phone — I have used one to call my packer for meat hauls and directions to the kill sight. Very important during those warm and getting warmer Septembers. Obviously, the battery will only last for a few days, but that is the precise time you’ll need it. For instance, if I kill a bull early, I can still hunt for deer or bear and visa versa, but before I am free to do that I have to get the meat taken care of off the first kill.
• Baers’ Feet
• Extra Broadhead Blades
• Oversized, Durable Cotton Game Bag
• Camera — Must have a good 35 mm camera with flash and self-timer and small tripod. Carry at the very least two rolls of 100 or 200 speed film and take a number of different set up shots with your kill.
• Allen Wrenches — You should pack a couple of the key sizes. If a rest of sight comes loose your hunt could be over unless you have your Allens.
• Toilet Paper
• Handy Wipes — A package of these antibacterial wipes in a small resealable travel pack are worth the extra weight.
• No Saw — This is extra weight and if you bone your animals – which will help the meat cool anyhow – you won’t need one.

Clothing and Footwear

• Boots — All about timing of your hunt and comfort. I have hunted during times of unpredictable weather in mountaineering type boots, which incidentally wreak havoc on my feet after many miles and days, but are very necessary. I have also hunted during the September elk season, where chances of any substantial weather are nil, in Gore-Tex trail running shoes which are much more comfortable. Some guys might not feel as though the trail shoes or anything less than a heavy leather boot would give enough support to ankles, feet, etc. and they would be right. This is a personal preference and knowing what your body needs structurally to stay operable.
• Two Changes of High Quality Socks. The new Bass Pro Shops catalog has some great CoolMax socks for about $8 a pair. These would be perfect for the typical archery elk hunt. They are 50% acrylic, 30% CoolMax, 18% stretch nylon and 2% spandex. This is a perfect blend of sock for the hunter who will be covering some country.
• Lightweight Polypropylene Underwear. This is worn against the skin to wick away moisture.
• Lightweight Waterproof/Windproof Jacket. Even late summer storms can be brutal in the high country.
• Camouflage — I typically wear lightweight, cotton, large pattern camo during elk season.
• Other — I always have a pair of cut-off camo pants and a t-shirt (not white) to wear during midday travel. You want to try and control body odor, so getting overly hot and sweaty should obviously be avoided.

Hunting Strategies, Tips and Bow Performance

Bottom line is DIY hunting requires more planning and logistics than that of a typical “backyard” bowhunt. If your quarry is elk or even big mule deer, you will probably need to figure on hiring or finding a packer to haul the meat out of the backcountry (In this case, I’ll call “backcountry” anything more than 3 miles off of the road). Typically, I don’t think one guy can pack out the meat off of a bull elk in time if the distance is over 3 miles. I know there are always exceptions, so just use this as a general rule of thumb.

You must be efficient with your energy supply. Over a long hunt you can only push the envelope so long before bad things start to happen, i.e., missed shots, loss of drive, half-hearted stalks, and so on. To be most effective in the backcountry you should bivouac out with the sleeping bag/Bivy Sack system I spoke of. It is a considerable squandering of energy to hike back and forth to a base camp. With camp on your back, you can, relatively speaking, sleep near the elk, roll out of bed and kill your bull. Bivouacking out means more opportunities and more opportunities, means more kills.

Additional Tips

• Topography Map — Any seasoned backcountry bowhunter will have camp on their back and a topo map handy at all times. A topo map enables you to maximize hunting opportunities by helping you to locate water sources, funnels, saddles, likely bedding benches, etc.
• Shooting With Your Pack On — This changes things a whole bunch. It is a kiss of death to practice all summer in shorts and a t-shirt then go run around in elk country for a week with 40 lbs. hanging off your shoulders and expect to be able to hit anything once “Crunch Time” comes. You must practice with your hunting pack on. You have to be able to not only shoot, but also shoot accurately.
• Hitting the Target — You absolutely have to shoot your broadheads prior to season. First paper tune your field points then designate a couple of the exact same brand of broadheads you will be hunting with as “practice” heads. Shoot these with the exact same brand and size of arrow you will be hunting with and make sure they are flying straight.
• Spin — your broadheads and arrow like a top to make sure they are a good match. There should be no warble or wobble.
• Razor Sharp Broadheads
• Sight Level — A bubble level on your sight is a must when hunting broken and steep country. Bow canting has caused many a miss or worse, wounded animals.
• Hunting Bow Performance Expectations — In my opinion, you should forget speed. All excessive speed will do is allow you to miss faster. I might be a little envious as with my draw length I never have to worry about excessive speed. I think if a guy can shoot around 260 FPS and more importantly his bow is quiet and forgiving, this end of the deal is set. Durability is very important also. You have to have a rig that can stand some abuse.
• Kinetic Energy — While too much emphasis is put on speed, not enough is put on kinetic energy. This is where you penetration power comes from. You should shoot for about 60 foot pounds of kinetic energy, which can be figured using this equation — square the velocity (speed), divide by 450,240 and then multiple it by the full grain weight of your arrow.

Backcountry Myths

• Myth #1 — There is no way I could afford a wilderness or backcountry bowhunt.

  Fact — Three buddies and myself are paying $2,000 total or $500 a piece, for a horse pack in drop camp hunt in Oregon’s largest wilderness area this coming elk season. This price includes four pack mules, which will haul 120 lbs. apiece gear and supplies and also includes meat hauls.

• Myth #2 — I have to be in supreme physical condition to bowhunt rugged country at high elevation.

  Fact — It sure wouldn’t hunt anything but if you pace yourself and hunt the entire trip, anything is possible. I like the saying, “You don’t know if you don’t go.” You gotta do it to see where you’re at. Everyone learns something every time out. But, you also must be realistic. Many guys go way too hard the first day or two and simply can’t sustain it and quit. The desire is gone and essentially then, they are just on a camping trip.

• Myth #3 — Wilderness bowhunting will be one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.

  Fact — The truth is a hunt like this might not be enjoyable 100% of the time, but it will be on of the most memorable week or 10 day portions of your existence. Like all bowhunts a DIY backcountry hunt can be tough, fun, depressing, brutal and cherished to name of few of the biggies. The only difference is that back there everything is accentuated by approximately a factor of 10.

n Tony White of Huntingaz.net hangs up his gear after a long season of North America adventures, much of his time is spent working with different clubs generating money to help wildlife habit. However — although the next chase may be months away — he never forgets to keep in touch with his local archery experts.

When bow hunting season is over, it’s important to begin thinking about proper equipment storage and keeping your skills and body in top form. Here are some expert tips to help you accomplish those feats.

• Choose a dry, cool storage place
  “Heat kills bows out here,” says George Sensabough, general manager of Archery Headquarters in Chandler, AZ. With that in mind, don’t even think about storing your bow in the garage. Instead, opt for a closet or other climate-controlled space, suggests Tracy Baack, manager of Bear Mountain Outfitters in Scottsdale.

• Store in the proper position
  Back off the tension on compound bows and completely unstring recurve bows, advises Baack. He also recommends hanging bows rather than storing them flat. Sensabough reminds archers that arrows should be stored separately rather than bundled together, which can damage fletchings. Colton Bagnoli of Archery Headquarters further advises keeping broad heads separate from the bow to prevent them from cutting strings if your case gets rattled around.

• Keep your bow waxed up
  Prevent drying out by keeping cables, strings and other parts lubricated, advises Sensabough.

• Upgrade during downtime
  “The only thing advancing faster than archery is computers,” says Baack. With this in mind, consider using the off-season to improve your equipment. Remember when replacing equipment, the more advanced equipment you purchase,
  the slower it becomes obsolete.

• Go to the shop before you go hunting again.
  “When you take your bow out of storage, be sure to have a professional archery shop give it a tune up and replace the rubber peep tubing,” Sensabough says. “It is the best way to start a new hunting season.”

• Keep shooting
  Visit Bear Mountain Outfitters indoor range or outdoor ranges at Ben Avery or Usery Mountain to keep yourself in practice and in shape. Or, take advantage of dart leagues at Archery Headquarters that enable you to shoot at video footage on a 12-foot screen. Target leagues also are available. As an added benefit, regular shooting during the off-season keeps you familiar with your bow, allowing you to detect and correct any equipment problems before they get serious, notes Bagnoli.

• Get as close as possible to the real thing
  Rather than block targets, shoot at animal targets and 3-D targets at Usery Mountain and Ben Avery, Bagnoli advises. It will help you hone your shot placement. Additionally, he suggests practice shooting in the woods, desert, or other places to prepare yourself for actual hunting scenarios. That way, you’re shooting uphill, downhill, and with wind, Bagnoli points out.

• Exercise regularly
  At Archery Headquarters, you can find Bow Fit, which is similar to a large rubber band and helps condition by duplicating the motion and resistance of shooting with a bow. Additionally, Bagnoli suggests hiking to get in shape.

Editor’s Note: Check listings in your local yellow pages for archery pro shops and ranges in your area.

The secret to successful DIY backcountry bowhunting is simple:

• Get in the BEST shape of your life
• Be the BEST shot
• WANT it more than anyone
• Hunt HARD
• Use GOOD gear

Sound easy? Well, not exactly. It is definitely easier to type my stratagem than it is to implement. But the key is this approach is attainable for more guys than you might think. Keep in mind that there are no shortcuts to success in life or in bowhunting. The harder you work the more successful you will be.

Personally, I am not the greatest runner to ever lace up a pair of Nike running shoes, nor am I winning 3-D tournaments across the country, but I guarantee that no one works harder than I do to achieve my dreams. There might be guys who work as hard, but not harder. As a result of my obsessiveness to bowhunting success, I run a lot and consequently can hold my own against some pretty talented guys and I shoot my bow a lot to the point where I can hold my own against some pretty good shooters.

I doubt if there is going to be anyone, anywhere that will top both of these categories, but many of you, like me, can be right up there. Couple this with a never say die attitude, psychoness when it comes to equipment perfection and the utilization of bivouacking gear I can count on and success is inevitable. If I can do it, so can many of you, but this is a secret so keep it under your hat!

For more information see my article, “Guide To Do-It-Yourself Bowhunting“.