August/September 2010
BE YOUR OWN
BOWTECH
BOWHUNTING: Make A Date With A BULL WIN A
PSE BOW Details Inside
SCOUTING SCOUTING HABITAT
For BOW MULE DEER PRE-SEASON PLANS FOR WHITETAILS SOUND ADVICEFOR ARCHERY ELK
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER 8591 CAPRI DRIVE, HELENA, MT. 59602 RICK & AMY HAGGERTY Advertising - 406-370-1368 hunting_news22@yahoo.com bigskyoutdoornews@yahoo.com The entire contents is Š 2010, all rights reser reserved. May not be
reproduced without prior consent. The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by The Rocky Mountain Bowhunter Nor does the printed material necessarily express the views of the Rocky Mountain Bowhunter.
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Glass first, then hunt pockets of habitat for bow muleys ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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Scouting
Habitat For BOW
Mule Deer
Both bucks and bulls will be drawn to seeps, springs, stock tanks and lakes in the foothills, timbered high country, and even agricultural margins. Find this water, and you’ll find game.
By Andrew McKean Even in a moist year like this one, big mule deer bucks will be
found in pockets of habitat, and your first job is finding the places that mature muleys like to be months before they start thinking about does and the November rut. Or, to put it more clearly: in the early bow season, you need to scout the habitat first, then hunt specific bucks only after you find them. As the plains and foothills cure out, and even some of the alpine basins where the biggest, heaviest bucks like to hang out start to lose their snowmelt, bucks will start to suck into moist basins, the bottoms of deeper, shadier draws and the north sides of timbered ridges. In that way, they’re not unlike bull elk, so heavily clothed in dark fur that the only way for them to regulate their body heat is to find shade and water. (continued on page 28) ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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World Champion Elk Caller: 5 Tips For Better Hunting THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION
For elk hunters who’d like to be
better elk callers, there are few mentors more qualified today than Joel Turner, reigning and two-time champion of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships. Turner, 33, of Eatonville, Wash., won his second world title in three years at the March event held as part of RMEF’s Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo. A cop and state firearms instructor by trade, Turner also is a devout elk nut, bowhunter, guide, naturalist and call maker. He’s spent the past several years developing an elk calling philosophy and hunting system—some of it based on tactical theory—that has consistently produced bulls in multiple states for him and his hunting buddies.
1. Call to an Instinct, Not an Attitude “A common elk-hunting strategy is covering ground and bugling until you find a bull in the right frame of mind to come charging in. But those bulls can be hard to find. Most often, when challenged by rival, a bull’s first instinct is to retreat. Keep in mind that we’re mammals, too, and our own natural reactions often mirror those of elk. If you arrive at the mall with your wife or girlfriend, and some guy yells at you from across the parking lot with a clear intent to start trouble, your probable reaction is to get back in your car and leave. Same for elk. It’s OK to bugle to locate elk
from a distance, but afterward, rely on calls that trigger their breeding, rather than their escape, instincts.”
2. Mimic a Breeding Scene “All mammals are drawn to the sounds of breeding. Morals conflict with that instinct in humans but elk aren’t burdened that way. When a bull hears those sounds, it wants to attend the event! To mimic breeding elk, get tapes or attend a calling competition and learn to make four specific calls: 1.) estrus cow call, which is a long, whining cow call, 2.) estrus cow scream, a loud mew made through sputtering lips, 3.) tending bull bugle, which is a soft moan made
Turner shared the following five tips for better elk calling and hunting:
In the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, amateur callers have 30 seconds to mimic cow and bull sounds. Professional competitors like Turner are required to make specific calls including standard bugles and cow calls as well as breeding calls.
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through a tube, and 4.) glunking, the sharp hiccoughing sound of a bull. Glunking can be replicated by popping your palm over the end of a tube, or by voicing “uck” over a diaphragm. When I’m hunting, I add huffing and heavy breathing through a tube, breaking limbs and scraping the ground. Volume doesn’t matter. It’s OK to get loud. You can hear a bull’s attitude change with these sounds. They typically get frustrated and begin bugling constantly. Sometimes they run to the scene. If not, keep calling while your buddy sneaks in and shoots the preoccupied bull.” 3. Anticipate the Hang-up Spot “An approaching bull will nearly always stop as soon as it can see your calling location. Once he can see where the elk sounds were coming from, but no actual elk, he probably won’t come any closer. Hunters can use this natural elk behavior to their advantage. Don’t call unless your setup, in relation to this hang-up spot, is correct (never call when elk are in plain view of your location). I like to shadow a herd until the terrain is favorable for calling. One of my favorite situations is when the elk are on a bench above or below me, and the bull has to walk to the edge to look over and see my calling location. That’s the hang-up spot, and I try to set up within 20 yards of it. When antlers appear as the bull nears the lip, draw your bow. You have only a couple of seconds until he’s positioned to see you!” 4. Wait for the Parade “Eight out of 10 times, when a bull arrives at the hang-up spot, he’ll spend a few seconds looking for the cow. If he doesn’t see it, he’ll parade a few steps to one side and then the other. Still no cow, he’s outa here. But this parading instinct is your chance to stop the bull when it presents a clear, broadside shot. Most turkey hunters are familiar with “putting” to stop a gobbler in shooting position. The same theory works with elk. Give a loud cow call to stop the bull—and be ready to release your arrow.” 5. Measure Your Breathing “Through my law enforcement training, I’ve learned that tactical situations and elk-calling situations can cause very similar physical and mental reactions in humans. Adrenaline causes spikes in our pulse and respiratory rates. The mind goes from logical thinking to experiential thinking, which is based entirely on previous experience or training. But no training can replicate a bull screaming and slobbering and coming to your call. Even an experienced hunter can get so charged up they’re unable to function. It’s important to keep your mind in logic mode, which is associated with a pulse rate of 100-140 beats per minute. Control your pulse by controlling your breathing. Do this: Breathe in through your nose while counting to four (about 2.5 seconds), hold it for a four-count, then exhale through your mouth while counting to four. Repeat until you feel yourself calming down. Now you’re ready to make your next call.” In the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, amateur callers have 30 seconds to mimic cow and bull sounds. Professional competitors like Turner are required to make specific calls including standard bugles and cow calls as well as breeding calls. Judges score each competitor anonymously. Winners in the six divisions of competition receive prizes and cash ranging from $500 to $2,500. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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Bitterroot Wolf Elk Study Request For Funding Montana Bowhunters Assoc.
Predation from wolves has, without a doubt, contributed mightily to the current problem. FWP biologists estimated the wolf population in 2009 at a minimum of between 45 to 60 wolves in 11 packs for the Bitterroot. They are uncertain of wolf numbers in the West Fork of Bitterroot, HD 250. Efforts to document the number of wolves in the district have been unproductive due to its status as a low priority non-cattle producing area. However, USFS biologist Andrea Shortsleeve estimates there may be 5 or 6 wolf packs roaming the West Fork district.
Bitterroot Wolf / Elk Study Request For Funding The Bitterroot Elk Herd Is In Crisis
The Bitterroot Elk Herd has declined by 22% since 2005 due primarily to predation and overharvest brought about by a flawed elk management plan. The spiraling upward population increase of wolves, lions and bears has reduced the calf to cow ratio to unsustainable levels in five of the six Bitterroot hunting districts and the post season bull to cow ratio in 3 districts are at critical levels.
Elk in the West Fork of the Bitterroot, HD 250, are 63% Below Objective. Nowhere is the problem more acute than in the West Fork of the Bitterroot, HD 250. The 2010 spring population trend survey counted 764 elk with 11 calves:100 cows and 4 bulls:100 cows. This represents the second year of poor calf recruitment, poor bull survival, and very low overall population trend. The bulls:100 cows figures, for the second consecutive year, are below the Elk Plan recommendations for HD 250. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
Elk Survival and Recruitment Study Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have approval a $200,000 three study to evaluate the factors affecting elk survival and recruitment. Factors affecting population declines may include poor body condition in cow elk, reduced pregnancy rates, or increases in calf predation by black bears, lions, or wolves. The Department will investigate the effects of nutrition, body condition, and predation on elk productivity, survival, and recruitment. The study involves putting GPS collars on 40 cow elk, 20 from the East Fork of the Bitterroot (HD 270), and 20 from the West Fork (HD 250) beginning in February 2011. Radio location data will provide information on movement patterns, location of calving areas, and interchange with adjacent herds. Beginning in spring 2011, 60 elk calves will receive radio collars and monitored daily for one year to determine survival and mortalities. In addition, wolves will be fitted with radio collars in the West Fork with the intent of targeting packs that are presently unmarked. We Need Answers A few folks may question the need for this seemly expensive study and its benefits. FWP Biologist for the Bitterroot area Craig Jourdonnais best sums up the answer to the question as to why we need this study. “What doesn’t seem right to me is to manage our phenomenal wildlife resource in the Bitterroot with more emotion than science. The residents of this valley deserve to have some of their most important questions regarding elk and predators answered. We all have a chance to bring some excellent science to the forefront. The Bitterroot is not the Yellowstone or the Madison. It is not the North Fork of the Flathead. It is unique on many levels. Our watershed and the wildlife it supports are every bit as important to us as any elk or wolf in the other highly researched areas.”
“We have a chance to compare our system with those that have been the focus (continued on page 21) rockymountainbowhunter.net August 2010 Page 8
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arrow placement. Besides, odds of getting a responsible shot are slimmer when bow hunting. There are fewer bow hunters than rifle hunters, and only a small percentage can get a shot at an elusive elk. More Stealth Skills Required During rifle hunting season, an elk hunter is not as dependent on camouflage, scent control and stealth as someone using archery equipment must be. See a discussion of scent control at http://www.elk-hunting-tips. net/scent-control-hunting.html.
BowHunting Elk: Make A Date With A Bull By David W. Rowell www.elk-hunting-tips.net
W ill you be bow hunting elk or rifle elk hunting? Deciding on good places to hunt will depend on what
season you choose. Elk might be in the same places during both seasons, but more often they move as food supply changes with the seasons and hunting pressure increases. Archery season is a good time to learn the habits of elk and where they go, because you usually see more of them during the early fall. The weather is much more pleasant during that time of year as well. Bulls are Looking for a Date, and You Could be It! When bow hunting elk during archery season, there’s a good chance of calling a bull to you. Many states allow either sex for bow hunters. If you’re willing to kill a cow, your chances of success are increased. However, cows are wary and often act as lookouts for the herd. When it comes to rifle season, bulls aren’t as willing to “come-a-courting” in response to calls. All elk are more wary once rifle hunters start stomping the mountains, so even a cow becomes harder to hunt. Archery season gets you in the game while the “game” is still calm and unaffected by the hordes and noise of rifle hunters. The weather is warmer and you tend to see more during an elk rut hunt, but you do have to get in close to kill one. Without lots of shooting practice and a well tuned bow, you’d be better off leaving your bow at home, rather than risking a poor shot. Go to http://www. elk-hunting-tips.net/tuning-a-bow.html to review that process. Rifle season allows longer shots. However, you will not always find elk in rifle season in the same places they were during archery season or during summer scouting trips. If you have the endurance and tenacity to get away from the crowds, you can still see plenty of animals during rifle season. Big game hunts are demanding and rewarding, regardless of which tool you use. Game Wounded by Arrows? More big game animals are wounded with rifles than are wounded by people bow hunting. The perception is the opposite, because no one sees an animal with a bullet sticking out, as is sometimes discovered after a poor
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
So many things can go wrong while hunting with a bow. You might spend all spring and summer practicing, only to take one of many “opportunities” to blow the chance at a shot with a bow. All it takes is one false move, even drawing your bow at the wrong time, to cause an elk to turn on a dime and flee. You might get your bow drawn without being seen, but the elk might not step into a shooting window. As the seconds tick by while you are at full draw, the ability to shoot straight slowly dissolves. Or, perhaps everything goes well for an hour long stalk, crawling on your hands and knees to get closer, only to find they moved away when you had your head down. These scenarios repeat themselves each year among hunters who get close to elk. If it hasn’t happened to you, you probably haven’t been archery hunting for elk. A good big game rifle allows elk hunters to effectively shoot out to about 200 yards with practice. Perhaps farther, with more practice. Bulls are Harder to Find During Rifle Season The larger bulls separate from the cows after the rut is over. If nothing but a bull will satisfy you during rifle season, just be realistic and prepared to have many “dry” seasons. If you stick with it and continue to add to your research and experience, it is possible to expend the considerable effort needed to regularly get into bulls each rifle season. If you are willing to hunt with a bow and arrow, archery season opens up a whole new world to bull elk. If you really want to hunt bulls, seriously consider archery. During archery season, it can sometimes be much more feasible to get close to bulls than to cows. On the other hand, if you have never hunted during archery season, take that with a big grain of salt. Elk don’t follow a set of rules. I have been frustrated by many a cow while trying to get close to bulls on the other side of them. While you’re focused on a screaming bull, those cows can “bust you” in a hurry. Game over. Bow Hunting Elk is Frustrating! If you want to avoid the repetitive frustration that will happen when bow hunting elk, wait for rifle season. If you enjoy mixing it up with noisy elk during the rut and are willing to put the time in to practice and endure being frustrated repeatedly by these smart animals, invest in some decent archery equipment. The archery adventure is truly a hoot!
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Cool Tools For Bowhunters 2010 BY BRODIE SWISHER
E
very year there seems to be an onslaught of new gadgets and gear unleashed on the bowhunting industry. While some of these products do in fact revolutionize the way we hunt, countless others seem to fall short in their claims to make the archer shoot better, faster, straighter, smarter, deadlier…and the list goes on. It’s time once again for our annual product review geared specifically towards bowhunters! In this issue we’ll flush out some of the year’s hottest archery and bowhunting gear from the midst of a seemingly endless supply of new offerings for bowhunters. They are indeed products that work…not gimmicks. Black Gold Ascent Sight One of my top picks in hunting sights for 2010 is the new Black Gold Ascent (blackgoldsights.com). The Ascent gives you target sight accuracy with Black Gold’s legendary durability for the ultimate moveable hunting sight. A simple turn of the knob lets you quickly and easily adjust distance. The Ascent is available in a number of configurations including 1 and 3 pin options. The Ascent also works great with one piece quivers, unlike most slider sights. It offers more range and adjustability than traditional hunting slider sights. The Ascent is designed to accommodate computer generated sight tapes. It offers quick, smooth, and quiet adjustment, as well as exclusive front axis adjustments to keep the sight dialed in at long ranges. Trophy Taker SmackDown Arrow Rest The SmackDown arrow rest from Trophy Taker has created quite a buzz among avid bowhunters this year. The SmackDown (trophytaker.com) launcher pivots on a rock solid bearing system and features the quietest launcher dampening system available. Additionally, the SmackDown is designed for attachment to the bottom limb or the upward moving cable. Using the limb or up cable to operate the rest allows the launcher to raise early as the bow is drawn, lifting the arrow long before the broadhead approaches the bow and long before the cams break over into the let-off position. When the bow is shot, the arrow travels along the launcher for nearly the full length of the shaft resulting in increased arrow guidance time. The increased time that the launcher guides the arrow during the shot makes tuning challenging bows much easier. At the last instant, the launcher is pulled down out of the path of the vanes and held firmly in the down position. As an added bonus, the SmackDown promises to be the quickest and easiest rest to set up and tune that Trophy Taker has introduced to date. TightSpot Quiver Ever since the beginning of my archery career, I’ve been removing the quiver from my bow prior to shooting. I’ve had some great quivers over the years, but they all placed an unbalanced feel to my setup when at full draw. All that has changed with the new TightSpot quiver (tightspotquiver.com). The TightSpot Quiver is the first ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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Helena 406-449-3111 buffalojumparchery.com bow quiver designed to help archers shoot better while keeping their bow quiver attached to their bow. The TightSpot Quiver fits tight to your bow, minimizing torque and improving accuracy. It’s the first bow quiver to complement, not compromise, the performance of your hunting bow. TightSpot Quiver is fully adjustable and fits most, if not all, hunting bows. HSS 360 Extension Limb When I saw the 360 Extension Limb, I knew that someone had finally solved the answer to all those neck-strangling moments in the treestand when rotating in the stand as you prepare for the shot. The life-saving tether connection from a hunter’s fall-restraint system has always been the very thing that can prevent full 360-degree shooting. Hunter Safety System has eliminated this problem with the introduction of the new 360 Extension Limb (hssvest.com). (continued on page 24)
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PRE-SEASON PLANS FOR
WHITETAILS Now is the time to get your buck figured out for opening day!
By Neal M. Cote’
M ature Whitetail bucks are just different from all the rest. If they
feel pressured, such as might occur when someone tries to pattern them during early fall, they change their way of doing things. Some vacate the area completely, while others practically become nocturnal. Both circumstances greatly diminish your chances of taking that buck once the season finally opens. So what can you do to increase your chances? Scouting during the late summer equates to setting up and watching from a distance to make certain your plans are working. Be careful not to put too much scouting pressure on the mature bucks. I rely heavily on local landowners and ranchers to keep me informed on deer patterns. I talk to rural mail carriers and school bus drivers. Deer become familiar with these people and don’t see them as a source of danger. Early-season whitetails are animals of habit; they normally follow the same routine daily, although the times may vary a bit. Late-summer and early-fall deer feed in the same
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
areas, especially where there are fields and crops or fruits that ripen early. When you find these food sources, you’re in pretty good shape, especially if you don’t have the time or the opportunity to scout throughout the rest of the year. In more arid areas and before cool weather brings rain, deer tend to go to drink at the same place late every day. Find a pond or stream that has a trail covered with deer tracks, set up some distance away and watch to see what comes to drink. This is not only a good scouting method but is also a good way to take a big buck. Deer, even mature bucks, are creatures of habit. If you don’t disturb them too badly, you can use their habits to your advantage. Early-season bucks often travel in bachelor herds. Such bachelor groups can provide excitement if you’re sitting in your stand and a group of them comes along. Remember that when you hunt bachelor herds, there are many more eyes looking and noses scenting rockymountainbowhunter.net
for anything out of the ordinary than you’ll normally have to deal with when hunting a single buck. During the early deer seasons, most bucks will have recently shed their velvet, and testosterone levels are increasing. They spend more time rubbing their antlers on trees, shrubs and bushes. The first few days after the velvet comes off, bucks are all still tight in bachelor groups. They lick and groom each other. Freshly out of velvet, they spar with each other, pull their racks apart and look around to see which other bucks might be watching. Most of this is done just a few yards from openings and fields where they will be feeding. Hunting near field edges early in the season, I prefer to set up on a trail back in the woods. Quite often, large-antlered, mature bucks tend to hang back and do not enter open fields until after dark. These woods-edge staging areas are where they stand and wait. This is where they will spar with other bucks, both August 2010
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to kill a little time and to start establishing their pecking order in the group. That is where a hunter will have a better chance of bagging mature animals. Staging areas are usually 10 to 25 yards off the field’s edge. You can determine where they are by
“Hunting near field edges early in the season, I prefer to set up on a trail back in the woods. Quite often, large-antlered, mature bucks tend to hang back and do not enter open fields until after dark. These woods-edge staging areas are where they stand and wait.” looking at tracks. Find where a deer has walked back and forth across a trail, rather than staying on it. Try to locate these staging areas well before the season starts. When setting up stands or selecting stand sites, if I have to trim limbs and trees, make sure to do so long before the season opens. I certainly don’t want to do anything out of the ordinary that might alert a mature buck that something is amiss on his doorstep! The first few weeks in August are usually the latest times for this. Mature bucks tend to pattern a hunter if the hunter spends too much time in an area. I’ll move in hopes of taking another buck that was located during my other scouting forays. If I don’t do any good in the new location, I may return to my original stand after letting the area “cool down,” encouraging the buck to return to his previous normal activities and routines. Again, keep the big picture in mind. Scout, and scout some more. If conditions are favorable to hunt a particular stand, go for it. If not, scout with optics during prime hours at first and last light. You might feel like you’re being lazy just watching deer from your truck or checking out areas at midday, but the cautious approach will be rewarded later. It’s better to learn the habits of the deer gradually through the course of the season than it is to hunt willy-nilly early on in badly chosen stands that result in blowing snorts and stomping feet. That only makes killing a buck more difficult as the season wears on. Homework done, bucks located, stands hung. It is now a waiting game. During the remaining month or so before deer season, I will now spend my time honing my shooting abilities, double-checking equipment and waiting. I’m a firm believer in scouting early, then staying out of the area until it is “go” time. Good luck this season! ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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Regional News Early Elk Seasons Open In August Some early elk hunts opened August
1, most of them antlerless “green-field” hunts.
The early “green-field” hunts in seven elk management zones - Palouse, Weiser, Lemhi, Beaverhead, Pioneer, Snake River and Owyhee-South Hills zones - are meant to help landowners reduce crop damage. Early archery hunts also started August 1 in the Snake River elk zone, and controlled green-field hunts also open in the Dworshak and Hells Canyon zones. The green-field hunts are open only outside the National Forest Boundary and within one mile of cultivated fields. They help reduce depredation problems and control populations causing crop damage by harvesting or discouraging animals in specific areas or portions of units.
2010 Archery Hunt Preview U
tah’s first hunt of the fall—the general archery buck deer hunt— starts Aug. 21, 2010. As you head into the woods on Aug. 21, 2010, the number of young bucks you see might vary. If you’re hunting in northern Utah— where the winter was mild this past winter—you could see more young bucks. If you’re hunting in southwestern Utah, where deep snow covered the deer’s winter range, you might see less.
August hunts, however, bring concerns about waste. Hunters have an ethical and legal obligation to salvage the edible portions of their kill. But meat spoilage is an important concern during typical hot August weather. The key to preserving meat is starting the cooling process quickly. Game animals should be skinned immediately and quartered in most cases and transported quickly to cold storage facilities. Early season hunters may consider using large ice chests to keep game meat cool and clean. Removing meat from the bones also helps speed cooling. When cutting up the elk carcass, hunters must be sure to preserve the evidence of sex. If the head or antlers are removed, evidence of sex in the form of testicles, penis, scrotum, udder or vulva must remain naturally attached to the carcass or parts thereof until it reaches the final place of storage or personal consumption, or a commercial meat processing facility. Antlers or horns removed from the head must be left naturally attached to the skull plate where size, point or brow-tine restrictions apply, and they must accompany the carcass or parts thereof. Hunters must have a valid 2010 Idaho hunting license and tag in their possession, and they are encouraged to review the 2010 Big Game Rules for additional details.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
Alert mule deer buck at Nash Wash in eastern Utah. Photo by A J Rogers, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources,
Overall, the number of mule deer in Utah is holding steady at just over 300,000 deer. The number of bucks wildlife biologists saw after last fall’s hunting seasons averaged about 16 bucks per 100 does on the state’s general season units. The total number of deer in Utah has been hovering around 300,000 for several years. “That indicates to me that the habitat we have in Utah right now can support about 300,000 deer,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. Aoude says the Division and other agencies and organizations are pouring millions (page 27) rockymountainbowhunter.net
Cheyenne Field Archers Continue To Support Wyoming Hunting & Angling Access While hunting at a walk-in or hunter management area this fall, tip your hat to the Cheyenne Field Archers.
For the fifth consecutive year, the archery organization made a generous donation to the AccessYes program to fund hunting access. As they have since 2006, this year the field archers again sponsored a two-day competitive 3-D shoot with all proceeds benefiting the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s hunting access programs. This latest shoot raised $1,056, raising the five-year total enrolling walk-in and hunter management areas to $6,286. “The Cheyenne Field Archers are proud of the fact that they can help be a part of a program that has such a positive effect on so many people,” said Bob Day, organization president. “All this would not happen without the dedication and generosity of the Cheyenne Field Archer’s members.” Matt Buhler, the Game and Fish’s statewide access coordinator, commends the group’s efforts. “The success of Wyoming’s access program is a joint effort between landowners, hunters, anglers and the Game and Fish,” he said. “The continual financial support of groups like the field archers is key to that, as are individuals contributing to the program when they apply for or buy hunting and fishing licenses.” For 2009 - the Game and Fish enrolled 670,587 walk-in hunting acres, 4,891 walk-in fishing acres, and 917,438 hunter management areas acres. Combined with an estimated 1.5 million public acres also accessible through the programs . August 2010 Page 14
Randy Hatch of Belgrade
Deadline To Purchase Black Bear Hunting Licenses Is Aug. 31 MFWP
T
he deadline for black bear hunters to purchase licenses for the fall season is Aug. 31. A black bear license may be purchased after Aug. 31at a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office or on the Internet licensing site at fwp.mt.gov http://fwp.mt.gov/ , under Online Services, but it may not be used until five days after the license is issued. The black bear archery season opens Sept. 4 and the general black bear hunting season opens Sept. 15. Black bear hunters must have successfully completed the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a black bear license. The training and test are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov under Education, click on Hunter Education. A paper version of the test may be obtained at FWP offices or license providers.
MFWP Clarifies Bow Hunter Equipment Regulation
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A change in Montana’s 2010 big game
hunting regulations is causing confusion among some bow hunters. In the 2010 regulations, under “Archery & Crossbow Equipment,” the 28-inch bow length regulation includes the phrase, “axle to axle.” To clarify, for FWP enforcement purposes, a bow is considered legal if it’s at least 28 inches in total length. Bows shorter than 28 inches are prohibited for use in Montana. To review the online 2010 big game regulations, go to the FWP Web site at fwp.mt.gov and click on the Hunting page and then Regulations.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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d l e i f e h t m o r f s o t o h p NICOLE BERGMAN
RYAN WERNER
HELENA SPRING TURKEY
Missouri River Breaks Bull 380+ Bull Awesome!
TOM WILLSON
JAY SHERLEY HELENA ANTELOPE 81-4/8” BOW: BOWTECH
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
OPENING DAY MONTANA WHITETAIL
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August 2010
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DUSTIN THOMPSON
DOUG FOOTE LOLO 5X5 WHITETAIL HARVEST IN 2009 WITH A MARTIN BOW
MISSOULA FIRST BULL WITH BOW TAKEN NEAR DILLON, MT.
CASEY RIPPLE
HELENA 2009 SPOT AND STALK HIGH COUNTRY BULL. GROSS SCORE 351” BOW: HOYT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
RYAN EDWARDS HELENA WHITETAIL BOW: MATHEWS
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ENTER THE 2010 BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS PHOTO CONTEST
Anthony Kazmierczak
You could win a PSE bow or Leupold Optics. SPONSORED BY
Dream Season Bow
PAUL ROUSH BUSY AT WORK ON ANOTHER BOW TO PERFECT.
Read Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure for complete details. Available free at a store near you or online at www.bigskyoutdoornews.net Photo contest starts Sept. 1 - Dec. 12
Be Your Own Bow Tech BY BRODIE SWISHER
With another hunting season right around the corner,
now is the time to ensure that your equipment is in tip-top shape for the rugged use and abuse it will endure in the days ahead. Despite the incredible integrity and toughness built in to today’s bows, there are still a multitude of things that can go wrong with your equipment. In this issue we’ll take a look at a few steps that will help you avoid having to run to the archery shop when minor tech issues arise. We’ll also help shine some light on how to be better prepared for “in-the-field” disasters that would normally take you out of the hunt. Paul Roush and Matt Alwine are a couple of guys that I not only consider friends, but are also the go-to guys when it comes to bow tuning and deadly accuracy for precision archery competition. Paul has run a number of archery shops including his own archery center, as well as lead archery tech for Sportsman’s Warehouse and Wholesale Sports. Matt has run his fair share of archery shops over the years as well, and has continued to be one of the top shooters across the northwest. I recently had the opportunity to pick their brains a bit and take a closer look at how they keep their bows prepared for the moment of truth. Q) What are some of the basic things the average shooter can do to keep his or her bow in check and tuned without the aid of someone from the local archery
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
shop? Roush: “One of the biggest things bowhunters overlook, or simply don’t know the importance of, is string wax and taking care of the strings and cables. It is also very important to keep your bow out of the heat. Heat is the number one reason for string and cable stretch. The material that strings are made of is tested at 85 degrees. More extreme temperatures will make strings and cables stretch excessively. Alwine: “I think one of the most useful things you can do is take a silver-colored Sharpie marker and mark where your site and rest is set (both windage and elevation), where your peep is set, and where your cables lay along your cam. This will allow you to quickly check for any timing issues that you might be experiencing. That way when something does go wrong, you can look at all your markings and know where to start.” Q) What are the basic points to check on a bow to see whether it’s in tune or not? Alwine: “Cam timing, cam lean, nock point, center shot, and having your broadheads tuned are always among the first places to check for tuning issues. Each broadhead should be tuned and spin-tested to make sure they are all straight and then shot to make sure each arrow/broadhead combination shoots like a dart.” Q) What do you gain by using a high-quality custom bowstring on your setup? Roush: “I can’t say enough about investing in a high-quality set of custom strings. They help eliminate so many tuning issues. With quality custom strings, you’ll have less stretch in your string and cable system, less peep sight rotation, as well as less chance of your center serving moving, which can change your loop height.” Q) What are some of the must-have tools every archer should have in his or her tool box to help keep their bow in check? Roush: “The basic tools I feel every bowhunter should have are a quality set of Allen wrenches, string serving material, extra loop material, and pliers. Learn to use each of them competently and you’ll be able to fix many common problems that arise.” Alwine: “Never leave home without Allen wrenches,
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string-wax, super glue, string loop material, needle-nose pliers, and duct tape…and we’d have to include a safety warning if I actually explained what all I’ve used duct tape for to make emergency bow repairs in a pinch!” Q) Give me a quick checklist every hunter should go through to make sure their bow is in top shape prior to opening day. Roush: “Look over every inch of your string and cable prior to opening day. This includes the center serving and end servings. Also, make sure your string loop doesn’t show any excessive wear. Next, check your serving around your peep sight. Any movement in this area will cause your accuracy to go downhill quickly! If you’re using a fall away rest, make sure that the activation cord is in good shape and shows no sign of wear.” Alwine: “Know your bow. The more time you spend working on it, shooting it, and playing with it, the better you will know how it all works. In turn, you will be more prepared to repair it when things go wrong.” Q) What are the common mishaps that tend to occur with your bow while in the field? Roush: “Believe it or not, cutting your string with a broadhead continues to be a hunt-killer year after year for many bowhunters. Despite all the excitement of the hunt, hunters must pay attention to their equipment and avoid careless mishaps in the field.” Alwine: “I have a lot of guys complaining about their sight or rest coming loose while on a hunt. This is simple fix if you’ve got the tools mentioned above. However, the majority of bowhunters hit the woods without the tools in their pack for such repairs.” Q) What are your top tips or secrets for in-the-field bow repair for various parts of your bow? Roush: “I always carry a bottle of quality super-glue. This can allow you to make some quick fixes in the field that may save your hunt. I also like to carry a few extra screws that fit your sight, rest, and quiver for quick and easy replacement…if you have your Allen wrenches! If you’re on an extended hunt, far from any archery shop, I always recommend that you carry an extra set of strings and cable that you’ve set up prior to the hunt. Knowing how to replace the strings by way of a portable bow press will keep you in the game when others would be stuck in camp with broken equipment.” Q) What do you recommend for the archer wanting to do his or her own “tech” work from their home or garage/ shop? Roush: “A good bow press is a must to be able to perform most tech tasks on the bow. Last Chance Archery makes the EZ Press, which I feel like is the best bow press made in the last 20 years. Aside from the press and a arrow saw for building arrows, the other tools enabling you to be your own bow tech are pretty simple and fairly inexpensive.” Q) What are your favorite tools for arrow building both in the shop and on the road? Roush: In the shop and at home, I still use the Bitzenburger fletching jig for building my arrows. It’s simply the best of the best, in my opinion. Also, I’m a big fan of the Blazer vanes. After lots of research and experimenting, I truly believe the Blazer vanes to be among the most accurate vanes in the industry. And after many years, I’m still using Goat Tuff glue to build my arrows. It’s a super strong adhesive… perfect for all my arrow building needs.” Alwine: “I still think the Bitzenburger fletching jig with helical clamp allows me to build the most consistent and ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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accurate arrows possible. Other gear I use includes AAE adhesives, and Blazer vanes from Bohning.” Q) What tips can you provide for building more accurate arrows? Roush: Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different things as you attempt to create that perfect set of hunting arrows. I go to great lengths to ensure that my first and last arrows are exactly the same. Consistency is the key.” Alwine: “When cutting your arrows down, try to cut off each end of the shaft. If there are any inconsistencies in an arrow shaft it tends to be on one end or the other. So I always try to cut an inch or two off each end.” There is a satisfaction and freedom that comes with knowing your equipment well enough to service and keep it in check throughout the changing seasons. Whether you’re seeking the know-how to conduct all your own bow-tuning and tech needs, or simply wanting the knowledge of how to salvage your hunt when disaster strikes while in the field; the previously mentioned advice is sure to keep you in the hunt regardless of what the elements throw your way. Tech Gear to Keep You in the Hunt: Last Chance Archery – EZ Press Deluxe – www.lastchancearchery.com Bitzenburger Fletching Jig – www.bitzenburger.com Arizona E-Z Fletch - www.ezfletch.com Bohning Archery – Blazer Vanes, Adhesives, Jigs, Arrow Wraps – www.bohning.com Pine Ridge Archery – Allen wrenches, tuning tools www.pineridgearchery.com Winner’s Choice Custom Bowstrings www.winnerschoicestrings.com
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Sound Advice For Archery Elk Hunters By Brian Dam
E
very elk hunter that ventures forth carrying a bow soon realizes that when you omit checking every single detail, an elk will notice your error and slip away. To reduce those pesky detail errors, first match your bow and arrow combination so they shoot straight, always adhere to your maximum distance limit, spend hours of practice pre-season, and reduce the size of the country you’ll hunt by scouting. Luckily, Mother Nature provides the biggest advantage to the archer after big bulls; the timing of the rut allows you to call a bull so close you can hear him breathe. Without this edge it would be purely a stalking game or in sparse cover, a waiting game at a water source. When that big bull finally steps into range, poor equipment is usually the reason behind major losses to an archer’s success rate. Looking to decrease the loss we spoke with an expert, Jay Sherley, who works in the Capital Sports bow shop in Helena, Montana. As an archery equipment technician, Jay has the added advantage of having hunted elk and has tallied enough bow kills to provide experience and knowledge you can tap into in your quest to become a successful archery elk hunter.
As a successful archer August Barany out witted this 362” Montana Monster and thought the hard part was over until… he realized a 900 pound animal and 75 degree days will be his next challenge. Congratulations August Barany on a great archery bull.
up in stores, can provide archers with new equipment that will improve their success rate. His favorite broadheads come from Muzzy in both conventional fixed blade and the mechanical Grim Reaper. Mechanical head designs have come a long way in the last ten years and their dependability is now superb. He cautions however that hunters using blinds with a shoot-through window need to be aware that the new mechanicals will deploy as they pass through the window material. The window must be open for correct arrow flight – finding that out as you see the bull of a lifetime walk away will ruin your whole year!
“Water is more of a key element to success in September than any other month.”
Jay explains that late summer, when all the new archery products show
Jay also recommends re-tuning your bow each year; the sight, arrow rest, peep and tiller can be off kilter just enough to allow your trophy bull to remain unscathed at the moment of truth. Re-tuning also allows you to quickly upgrade with any new technology and not have the expense of buying a new bow.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
rockymountainbowhunter.net
He also explained that most archers are switching over from carrying the basic back pack to newer packs specialized for bow hunters which allows them to carry their bow while leaving their hands free. Companies like Eberlestock, and Badlands each have a line of packs developed specifically for the archer and his gear When asked what is the best way to locate an area with good bulls, or one good bull, in September, he answered, “Water is more of a key element to success in September than any other month.” Elk heat up while chasing cows and prefer to have a strong rut smell, so it is not unusual for them visit a wallow twice a day. Their visit can occur at any time, not just daybreak and sunset. When slipping up on a bull, whether at a wallow or feeding, if you do not pay attention to wind direction you will fail. An elk’s nose is his strongest defense. A good rule of thumb is an elk will see you three times before walking away, hear you two times, then leave, but if it smells you once – the whole herd will all be gone! Properly prepared equipment, pre-season scouting and strict attention to the wind are the three main ingredients of a successful elk hunt. August 2010
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HUNTING SEASONS MFWP Species Antelope
Start Date End Date 900 series Archery General
August 15 September 4 October 9
November 14 October 8 November 14
Bighorn Sheep Archery General
September 5 September 14 September 15 November 28
Bison
Bison
November 15
Black Bear
Archery Fall
September 4 September 14 September 15 November 28
Deer & Elk
Archery September 4 Youth (Deer Only) October 21 General October 23 Backcountry (HD’s 150, 151, 280, 316) Archery September 4 General September 15
February 15, 2011
October 17 October 22 November 28 September 14 November 28
Moose
Moose
Mountain Goat
Mountain Goat September 15 November 28
Mountain Lion Archery Fall Winter
September 15 November 28
September 4 October 23 December 1
October 17 November 28 April 14, 2011
Upland Game Birds Mountain Grouse Partridge Pheasant General Youth Sage Grouse Sharp-tailed Grouse Turkey Spring Fall
September 1 December 15 September 1 January 1, 2011 October 9 January 1, 2011 To Be Determined September 1 November 1 September 1 January 1, 2011 April 10 May 16 September 1 January 1, 2011
Waterfowl
General Youth
To Be Determined To Be Determined
Wolf
Wolf
To be determined Once again delayed by Federal Judge Don Molloy
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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Bitterroot Wolf Elk Study Request For Funding (continued from page 8) of intense wildlife research projects for decades. We have a chance to bring some incredible resources to this valley that will assist all of us in managing elk and carnivores using quality data. The proposed three-year research effort goes well beyond predation influences on elk.” The driving force behind this study is science over opinion. The results of this study could potentially have a profound impact of the future direction of the elk management as well as the court. The study will allow FWP to set predator quotas based on science to help achieve elk objectives. Funding the Study Some of the funding for this study project will come from hunter license dollars. The majority of funding will have to come from private sources and grant programs such as those offered by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Bitterroot National Forest’s RAC program. The MBA has a proud history of being one of Montana’s strongest wildlife advocates and benefactors. Providing support for programs dedicated to the conservation and preservation of wild game is central to the MBA’s mission. This study will answer questions related to how predators, particularly wolves, are affecting elk survival and recruitment. Support the Study I respectively request the MBA members and the Sportsman of Montana to contribute to the funding of this crucial study that is so vital to the survival of an essential Montana elk herd. More importantly, it will provide benefits to all Montanans’ and the elk we all treasure. Every dollar could save a life of an unborn elk. Please send your contributions to the MBA PO Box 23611 Billings, MT. 59104-3611, or contact your local MBA rep. Make sure you provide your contact information with the contribution. Thank you for your consideration. Respectively, yours in Bowhunting, Jason Widaman – MBA Region 2 Representative (406) 799-9939 region2mbarep@yahoo.com Special thanks to former MBA president Charlie Johnson for providing us information about this Study. August 2010 Page 21
6 GUERILLA
TACTICS TO
AMBUSH AN ARCHERY ELK BY TRAVIS R. DE BOER
I
sat almost in tears on that mountain for almost two hours without moving, overjoyed with the dramatic events I had just been a part of. I had just arrowed my first bull elk at seven yards. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. What still astounds me today a few years and a few hunts later is that this was my first year hunting elk with a bow, and I was hunting completely alone. I had taken up bow hunting just a couple of seasons prior to this when I was going to college in Kentucky. Just eight short years ago, I was introduced to bow hunting by a veterinarian I worked for, John Spillman. Since that intro two things have happened that have enriched my life beyond imagining. I have a lifelong best friend and mentor and I am a confirmed bow hunting fanatic. In my few short seasons hunting whitetail in Kentucky I killed a lot of nice deer and desperately wanted to try my hand at hunting elk upon my return home to my native state. I have hunted a few seasons now and have had success on every one. In my short time bow hunting I have arrowed close to thirty deer, two bear and have got my elk every ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
year I have been able to hunt them. Decent numbers for a guy who has, with residency issues and his relatively late arrival to the sport, only been atit a handful of seasons. I don’t want to sound arrogant. In fact my point is this: even an ignorant novice like myself, can have consistent success bow hunting right from the start. Admitting that I was a novice was the first step. Not having any experience bow hunting, or even big game hunting for that matter, I have relied heavily on six things I learned while serving as a special opps player in the military that have helped me to get this relatively new passion successfully off the ground and running: 1) Confidence - You have to believe (scratch that!) you have to know you can do it! Period!! Everything that follows is pointless without confidence. Ever wonder why Army Rangers, Navy Seals, Green Berets, or Delta guys you may have met are so confident? It is cultivated in us because it’s effective and necessary. The fact that they are standing in front of you and breathing (or rockymountainbowhunter.net
writing an article) should be all the proof you need. I look at it like this. If you don’t believe it will happen it probably won’t (it‘s hard to stay motivated on a suicide mission). If you think it might happen, it might. If you say “I’m going to do this no matter what - even if I have to quit my job!” You can go ahead and clear some space in your freezer because you are most of the way there.
“You have to believe. You have to know you can do it!” 2) Recon - This is where admitting I didn’t know squat came in to play and where I took steps to remedy that. Good recon starts long before you even look at a map. Basic information on your prey is always essential. I start with fundamental information that you may find in a field guide or a Marty Stouffer video. Only when I understand the principal habits of my prey do I move on to more tactic specific intelligence. Find out what other hunters do to get close enough to them and avoid taking to heart advice that comes from hunters who say discouraging things like “don’t expect success August 2010
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on your first season” or “hope you have a lot of time on your hands” or “the wolves ate’em all” or worst of all “there are tons of elk up nun-ya canyon you should start there“. If they are negative it is probably because they have had little success and there advice is not useful. In my case ground hunting with calls was the most appealing. I spend enough time in stands and blinds waiting on whitetail. It also seemed a very effective technique according to everything I read. This decided, I needed to learn to call and how to properly set up an ambush should I actually get a response. A bugle/cow call package with an instruction CD from Hunters Specialties was all that was needed to get me going. I listened to the CD in the car and at home and mastered what has to be the lamest and squeakiest bugle ever heard in the woods as well as a basic sequence of shabby cow calls. To address the ambush setup I watched countless fair chase public ground elk hunt footage. Two words-The Truth- a series by Primos, but don’t just look at the pretty bull, pay close attention to the calling, shot placement, and the behavior of the animal on approach. I then talked to successful (willing to help) hunters and read everything I could about doing it solo as this was how I was to do it. This is where I learned about the flank maneuver, which few people seemed to know or be willing to share at what point one should try to execute it. (My rendition of this one man killing move will be covered in step six.) The next step, of course, is to investigate likely spots to start a search. Places with things like water, cover and food. 3) Equipment - Check your bow or have a professional do it prior to practice. Know how to use it. I’m not saying you have to shoot fifty or sixty yards, I’m saying get accurate at a reasonable distance (20 or 30 yards) and practice shooting from different positions mimicking possible field conditions. Know your range limits taking into account stressful or excited situations in the field. Judging distance manually without fidgeting with extra gear will also be very important to this type of hunting. 4) Surroundings - The first half a dozen elk I called into my limited shooting range came in with nothing more than a early chuckle followed by absolute silence. In almost every case I gave up and stood only to see a monster less than 30 yards away turn and retreat leaving me with nothing more than a view of his light rump and horns disappearing into the woods. This is especially important and very likely early in September and in areas with lots of predators like wolves or grizzlies. Move slow, pay attention, and be ready for anything. Things like running to the top of a hill to glass can cost you. 5) Intestinal Fortitude - Keep going and don’t give up! Odds are it’s going to hurt! No matter how good of shape you’re in this is a physically demanding sport. Every guide I’ve talked to or article or book I’ve read on the subject says be in the best shape possible and for good reason. Be prepared to pay the price and suck it up if you are made to do so, this is perhaps the most rewarding part of this game. 6) Deliberate Deadly Action – September 23rd: Just another pleasurable day of being taught lessons in humility by these beautiful creatures. I had successfully called in and blown opportunities on ten different bulls that day, a couple of which were very respectable. They would either not present a shot or ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
I would get winded or busted trying to flank for a shot one way or another. I felt like I had tried it every way possible and frustration was beginning to rear its ugly head. I began making my way down the hill in defeat (see step five). The only thing comforting me was the apparent effectiveness of my silly sounding elk calls. It was all I had to cling to. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon and hot as I could stand. On my way down I decided to give myself a chuckle and do one more of my patented borderline hilarious elk bugles. Before I finished I got an answer that was no where near as dainty as the sound I had just made. It was all I needed to finally remember step five.
“Pay close attention to the calling, shot placement, and the behavior of the animal on approach.” I decided to wholeheartedly try one more. The wind was perfect and he sounded about 500 meters away to my ears. I must have walked right past him on the way up (see step four). I advanced straight towards him to what I figured was about half way there and tried a cow call (which was the call that had worked best for me most of the day). Nothing. I tried another squeaky bugle...what I heard next I’m sure would have translated from elk to English something like “I’m gonna rip your squeaky little head off!!!” I knew it was serious and I could hear him advancing. I did the same, picking up a good sized stick along the way. We went back and forth with bugles and he would stop what had to be every other step to thrash what sounded like an acre of forest. I was way past intimidated and shaking at this point. I advanced one more time and knew he was in a very small draw just over a small hill no more than 30 or 40 yards away. I stopped and squeaky bugled on more time and then used the stick to try and sound as intimidating as he did with it on a small dead tree. It didn’t even compare but the brute must have decided that an easy butt kick’en would be a good way to fill a couple of his minutes and came screaming. That’s when I flanked him! (at the last possible point when he was still not going to have a chance of seeing me) He made so much noise coming the last 20 yards that it was perfect timing to slip to his left and advance quietly another 10 yards or so and kneel behind a small spruce. Just before he cleared the crest of the small hill I side armed what was left of my stick back towards my previous location. I got lucky and it nailed a bunch of dead lower limbs making a decent amount of noise and he continued to advance past me. My arrow had been shaking around in its rest for a while now and I checked its status and clipped on my release while forcing myself to breathe . He walked no more than seven paces from me and I let my arrow fly. It was a good shot and I was surprised at myself for remembering that I had seen a bull respond to a cow call even after being shot. It worked and he stopped just up the other side of the draw on his retreat, looked back almost longingly and I began to tear up. He was shaking worse than me now, but only a little. I found him not very far past where I last saw him (see step five). This is just one series of examples of what I am talking about but I believe they illustrate the point nicely. Do what you have to, live in the moment, breathe, try not to stumble while you’re at it and don‘t sweat it if you do. Use these strategies and they may serve you as well as they continue to serve me. Good luck this September! Get out there and start a fight with something you’d be happy to lose to!
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Introducing the Phantom FG4 Bowsight Total Accuracy, Complete Visibility • Best pin visibility
(continued from page 5)
The 360 Extension Limb is a reinforced steel branch that attaches to the tree in place of the standard tree strap. The 360 Extension Limb allows the tether to move freely and silently above the hunter, providing for easy shooting in any direction, while automatically adjusting to the direction of the shot. Cuddeback CuddeView X2 A trail camera is one of the single greatest tools to aid you in knowing when the time is right to move in for the kill. The Cuddeback trail cameras (cuddeback.com) continue to offer long battery life and fast trigger speeds. Their Capture IR unit is a great camera for monitoring activity in your hunting areas. With super simple setup, it provides color images by day and infrared images by night so there is no flash to spook game. IR’s trigger speeds are twice as fast as previous Cuddeback models, and delays can be set as low as 30 seconds.
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Keith Dvoroznak of Dillon, owner Rip Cord Arrow Rest with this big Montana Whitetail ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
Cool Tools For Bowhunters 2010
Another tool that actually allows you to view your photos while in the field, both quickly and easily, is the CuddeView X2 . You can take this handheld unit from camera to camera as you view, transfer, retrieve date and time, and delete photos. This product is absolutely priceless when it comes to low-pressure monitoring of game in your area. The Crusher Ground Blind The Primos Crusher ground blind (primos.com) features the most technical ground blind fabric ever. It is made from a multi-layer, sonic welded fabric. The outer shell is a non-reflective crushed fabric that is sonic welded to a complete blackout interior. The result is a blind that naturally blends in with its surroundings with no shine and natural shadowing. The multi-layers help the blind to be extremely water resistant and scent tight. The black innermost layer eliminates your profile inside the blind. The new Double Bull hub system reduces the force required to open the blind by 50%. As an added benefit the hub is over-molded with rubber to eliminate hand pinch. The Crusher comes with Primos’ new Double Bull Frame Pak. The Frame Pak’s simple hassle free design packs and unpacks your blind in seconds. The Frame Pak converts to a high-back ground chair or ground blind shelf as an added benefit.
Attraction Release The all new Attraction from Carter Enterprises (carterenterprises.com) has once again raised the bar in mechanical release aids. In the past, mechanical release designs limited the shooter to deciding on one shooting style or the other. However, the Attraction gives the shooter the option for shooting either a pull tension activated release or a thumb trigger activated release all in one comfortable unit. By simply adjusting one Allen head screw you can change the release from being pull tension activation to the thumb trigger activation release.
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Targets For 2010, the Rinehart line of super-unique targets grows with the addition of their new RhinoBlock (rinehart3d.com). This incredibly versatile new target sports six unique sides to shoot at, ideal for every type of practice. Two sides of the cube display a textured, life-like 3-D deer target zone — one displaying outlined vital areas of a deer, and the other detailing an anatomically correct display of a deer’s organs.
Real-World Buck from Delta (deltatargets. net). With the exposed whitetail vitals and bone structure on one side of this economical 3D target, you can understand potential The other four faces of the target are success of every single practice comprised of Rinehart’s signature, highly visible target zones — allowing shot. When shot, the target shooters to continue target practice even in low light conditions. Two of rotates from these sides consist of twelve smaller the force of the zones for consistent arrow shooting arrow, creating and placement, while the final two a new shooting sides feature one large target zone angle every time for honing, surrounded by four it comes to rest. smaller zones. The increased practice From the folks at Field Logic comes scenarios the new GlenDel buck. allow you the (glendel.com) It’s a scaled down version of its bigger, GlenDel Full kind of perfect Rut brother, but with all the same practice that great features, and a price-tag that’s increases your even easier on your wallet. By opportunities in rotating the insert within the body the field. of the GlenDel Buck target, you essentially get four inserts in one. Each side features a different vitals facing and the vital areas are offset or staggered so you are shooting into different areas of foam. This assures long lasting durability. The GlenDel Buck is designed to take any tip, including field tips, broadheads or expandables.
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Broadheads The popular Rage broadhead beefs up for 2010 with its latest offering in a Titanium body for an even stronger head. Rage’s streamlined 3/4” diameter, along with its smaller Titanium ferrule, make it fly like a field-tip. The titanium body features a stainless steel over-sized instant-cut tip. The cam-deployed rear blades follow the tip without grabbing or deflecting, even on an angled hit, and are guaranteed to deploy before entry, maintaining full kinetic energy. Take your practice to a new level of perfection with the Archer’s Choice ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
The guys at Trophy Taker (trophytaker.com) not only offer one of the most innovative arrow rest of 2010, but they’ve also unleashed rockymountainbowhunter.net
one of the hottest new broadheads to hit the shelves in some time. Building off the design of their previous Shuttle T-Lock design, they now offer the Terminal T-Lock, a fast, accurate broadhead that cuts a big wound channel and remains quiet in flight. Terminal T-Lock Broadheads fly like field points, cut larger holes, penetrate deeper, and guarantee no lost blades. It often seems that half the fun of being a hunter is the preparation that takes place prior to opening day. Prepare yourself for a season of success this year by adding some of the industry’s top product offerings for 2010 to your gear bag. The previously mentioned items will no doubt make you a more lethal bowhunter when you hit the woods this fall. August 2010
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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2010 Archery Hunt Preview (continued from page 14) of dollars into work to improve habitat for mule deer and other wildlife. Mule deer winter ranges have received most of the attention, but summer ranges are starting to receive attention too. “Habitat improvement work doesn’t pay off overnight,” Aoude says. “It takes years for plants to grow and establish themselves. But when they do, and the state’s habitat has the ability to support more deer, the number of deer in Utah should grow.” To find success during the archery hunt, Aoude encourages you to do three things: - practice shooting your bow until shooting it becomes second nature - scout the area you’re going to hunt before the season starts - keep the wind at your face while you’re hunting. “Those three things can make all the difference between taking a deer home with you and coming home empty handed,” he says.
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rockymountainbowhunter.net
August 2010
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Scouting Habitat For Bow Mule Deer Both bucks and bulls will be drawn to seeps, springs, stock tanks and lakes in the foothills, timbered high country, and even agricultural margins. Find this water, and you’ll find game. “If I was looking for a good buck after a month of dry weather, I’d either be way up at treeline or way down in the alfalfa fields,” says Wyoming bowhunter Bill Howe. “Those nicer bucks are going to be by themselves, but they might be coming down low to the irrigated fields and feeding at night.” Many bowhunters think of their sport as a close-quarters activity. But savvy archers, especially those looking for early season mule deer in open country, know that they can cover lots of ground by sitting on a vantage point with a good spotting scope. Glass these spots, and chances are good you’ll find a buck worth pursuing with your stick and string: ·Rimrocks – Older bucks are using this pre-rut month to store up their energy for the competition they know they’ll be facing starting in late ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
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October. They are bedded down during daylight hours, usually making their beds in spots where they can see danger approach, and escape either by tucking into the terrain or bounding over the ridge in one or two hops. Use your optics to pick apart any overhanging rocks, the skinny shade of single trees, dense sagebrush on the north slopes of steep canyons. ·Cutbanks – Similar to rimrocks, except that dirt cutbanks dominate even shallow prairie drainages. Bucks like to sit out hot afternoons by scraping beds in the shady sides of coulees. Pay special attention to exposed dirt just beneath overhanging juniper and cedar limbs. ·Timbered Ridges – Bull elk love to bed down on open ridges. With one consideration: there must be dense timber nearby. Often you’ll see lots of mule deer sign in these same places, high ridges where the morning wind blows downslope and afternoon zephyrs blow uphill. If they smell danger, bucks and bulls need only jump a few yards before they melt into the rockymountainbowhunter.net
timber. ·Alpine Basins – Some of Montana’s biggest bucks came from above treeline in the alpine cirques and basins of the mountains. These remain good places to find an early season buck. But approaching mountain mule deer is tough, so use your optics to pick apart wildflower parks and meadows to find deer, then figure out how to use terrain and the wind to sneak up on these studs. ·Alfalfa Fields – The best groceries in the state right now are irrigated crops, and you’ll find some great bucks feeding in the lowlands. The biggest, smartest veterans, though, are ducking back into cover at first light, so plan to stake out well-used fields after sunset and before sunup to pattern these alfalfa-munching whoppers. If you can find the trails that they’re using to enter and leave the fields, you can post up in a ground blind and ambush them as they leave the security of nearby badlands and rough coulees. August 2010
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ENTER YOUR HUNTING PHOTO AND WIN A PSE BOW THIS SEASON! DETAILS AT WWW.BIGSKYOUTDOORNEWS.NET
OUTDOOR
GEAR Elkevator: A Better Game Hanger
R alph Waldo Emerson said, “Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.” How about a better big game hanger? The guys at Infinite Elk Innovations have created a game hanger called the Elkevator.
ELKEVATOR
The Elkevator is a lightweight aluminum single tree type hanger that is very easy to mount high up on a tree trunk while standing flat on the ground. It has a 1,000 pound capacity, so hanging an elk on it is no problem. It is lifted and secured high up on the tree trunk in two places using the lift rods that come with it. Getting the elk, bear or deer up there can be done effortlessly with any come-along or winch, including another IEI product called the Horse in a Bag. The included stainless steel cable and pulley create just the right angle to get your game off the ground for field dressing or skinning and out of the reach of bears. Cost: $235 plus shipping. For more information visit www.ielki.com
Long Distance Game Retrieval Winch
The guys at Infinite Elk Innovations outdid themselves with this invention. All you need is any ATV and your only limitations with the “Horse in a Bag” are how long your rope is. It’s a great chainsaw winch alternative. The Horse in a Bag attaches to the hub of any ATV and uses the power of your ATV engine to do the work. It has been used to pull elk 2800 feet in a half an hour. (“Bull line” or “mule tape” used for pulling electrical lines provides up to a mile of line for pulling big game up even 45 degree slopes. Must be purchased separately). The weight capacity is rated at 3500 pounds.
HORSE IN A BAG
Cost: $425 plus shipping. For more information: See thorough discussion at http://www.elk-hunting-tips. net/chainsaw-winch.html and their site at www.ielki.com.
ATV Big Game Trailers
There are two innovative ATV trailers that are worth taking a look at. The Elk Hearse: Infinite Elk Innovations manufacturers a rugged trailer that is narrow enough to store under the ATV during truck bed transport, but is big enough to haul an elk. It is made to slide over rocks and downed trees with a sled type bottom. The low-to-the-ground design makes it easy to load and secure a big animal carcass on it. The low center of gravity keeps it upright on slanted terrain. An added value of the Elk Hearse is a removable hitch. Load surface dimensions: Bed size is 19-1⁄2” x 73” x 4”. Weighs 71 pounds. 2000# axles. Cost: $330 plus shipping. For more information visit www.ielki.com
ELK HEARSE
LO-BOY
Lo-Boy Trailer: Jim McCauley of Boulder, Montana developed this trailer to make it easy to haul strapped up to the back of the ATV, so it isn’t dragging behind you when it is empty. The tongue pivots up and locks in place while being transported by the ATV to the game kill site. The tongue also pivots left and right to allow for easy loading from the side. While the Lo-Boy trailer is attached to the ATV hitch it can be laid over on its side for loading, then a pull from the opposite side rights it back up on its wheels. It is a roll over hitch so if you roll either the ATV or trailer on rough terrain it doesn’t tip the other over. It weighs 48 pounds. Load capacity is 600 pounds. Load surface dimensions: 48’ X 28” Cost: $340 plus shipping. For more information phone (406) 439-8676 or (406) 225-3676. No website. See game hauler review at http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/game-hauler.html. See game hauler review at http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/game-hauler.html.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWHUNTER
rockymountainbowhunter.net
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August 2010
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