I review my bowhunting related successes and failures of 2011.

Above:  Larry Jones is gracious enough to pose with me during ATA 2011.

January rolled in with me joining the Hot Shot Manufacturing, Strother Archery and TightSpot promotional staffs as well as attending the 2011 Archery Trade Association show.  I am very grateful to Hot Shot, specifically Robin Parks, Strother, specifically Cori Upper, and TightSpot, specifically Joe Jacks, for these opportunities.  The ATA show was everything those of us who haven’t attended dream it to be.  While I don’t get into the glitz and glamour of “professional hunting personalities” I was ecstatic to shake the hands of such greats as Larry Jones and Norb Mullaney.  See dv’s Top Product Picks from ATA Part I, dv’s Top Product Picks from ATA Part II and People Pictures from the Archery Trade Association.

March wasn’t so happy.  Without previous symptoms I hurt my ankle on a fifteen mile marathon training run.  Three doctors, numerous physical therapists and literally months of therapy later it has not recovered.  My focus has now changed to weight-lifting and the elliptical trainer for cardio.  I miss running greatly, but in life’s marathon I want to make sure I can still walk.  Here’s to hoping the ankle improves in 2012.

Above:  Kansas friend Brian poses with one of his 2011 spring toms.

For the first time since 2007 I returned to Kansas for the archery only turkey season in early April.  I spent four days hunting with high school friend Brian and one day with high school friend Big Will.  Despite many opportunities and seeing the most bearded hens I’ve ever seen in my life I did not seal the deal.  Brian and I weathered an awesome tree-dropping storm in the woods one evening following a temperature drop of over twenty degrees in just a few hours.  Times like that make me feel alive.  With the help of local hunting intelligence Big Will had gathered he and I brought a tom to eight yards that actually yelped all the way in.  No arrows were released, but what a great day we had including a coffee and cinnamon roll break with the great folks in little Reading, Kansas which was annihilated a few months later by a tornado.   Best of luck to them as they rebuild.   

Above:  After five years I finally harvested a Wisconsin turkey.

Mid-April brought Wisconsin’s turkey season.  With the help of Outdoors Buddy Seth we finally brought a five-year journey in pursuit of my first Wisconsin turkey to its end.  See Turkey of the Dead here.

Above:  This four-plus pound dog fish went down to a new Strother Valor.

The summery months brought a smidgeon of bowfishing with Super Slam Bowhunter and friend Gary Martin.  We have a hard time making our schedules match so the trips are not nearly as frequent as either of us would like.  Besides the large dog fish pictured above I also took the largest, nastiest looking “leather” carp I’ve ever seen.  It was so sickening my stomach hurt looking at it and I don’t want to share another picture of it. 

Above:  My first whitetail doe of the 2011 season.

September brought Wisconsin’s whitetail season, thankfully.  One long, wet, five-hour morning sit in the Peanut Butter stand produced nothing, but the game camera later showed that I left at 11:30 am and a doe arrived at 11:31 am.  Go figure.  That afternoon’s hunt, though, produced my first whitetail doe of the season, see Rainy Day Doe here.

Above:  My first Kansas fall hen turkey.

October found me in Kansas once again hunting with Big Will and Brian.  Will and I both had deer in front of us  the very first day and I took a nice doe that evening, see First Kansas Archery Whitetail here.  My brother, who lives just a few miles away, came out one evening.  He had a doe in front of him nearly right away.  Although I saw no bucks the signs were there and compared to the land I hunt in Wisconsin game was very, very abundant.  Later that week I took my first fall hen turkey with the help of Brian, see First Fall Turkey here.  The trips to Kansas have become the highlight of my year and I look forward to hunting with Big Will and Brian more and more.

Wisconsin rut hunting was good in November.  I did not harvest an animal, but saw the biggest buck I’ve ever seen outside of Texas dogging a doe on public land.  I also managed to get an eighteen-month old doe five yards in front of my Primos Double-Bull Dark Horse blind one evening hunt, another first.  I’d already used my tag back in September on the Rainy Day Doe so all I could do was sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

2011 brought other opportunities as well.  I joined the Buck Country Products, see The Oxy Elim-A-Scent here, the Straight ‘N Arrow Archery and, as noted in dv’s 2010 Bowhunting Year in Review, the Vapor Trail Archery promotional staffs along the way.  Throughout the year, as is expected, there were successes and there were failures.  All in all it was a good year, though, and 2012 is shaping up to be better with more of the same adventures plus some.  Anything you’d like to share about your 2011 bowhunting year?  Please leave a comment below.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• An Interview With Robin Parks of Aim’n Low TV
• An Interview with Straight ‘N Arrow Archery
• dv’s 2010 Bowhunting Year in Review
• dv’s Top Product Picks From ATA Part I
• dv’s Top Product Picks From ATA Part II
• First Fall Turkey
• First Kansas Archery Whitetail
• Rainy Day Doe
• Kansas Turkeys 2011 – Fightin’ and Sleepin’

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I’d like to hear your tips, feedback, comments or questions. Please leave them below.

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2012

   

                                   

We are blessed by the hunting spirits this week to have an interview with Robin Parks of Aim’n Low Productions. 

I first ran into Robin on Archery Talk a number of years ago when he tried to sell me some high quality bib overalls and most recently as the pro staff manager for Hot Shot Manufacturing.  Robin was a nice guy back then and he continues to be a great guy now.  Unlike many of the folks we deal with these days if you contact Robin he takes the time to communicate with you, reliably and with straight-forward honesty. 

dvMA:  How did Aim’n Low start?  Why make videos of your adventures?

RP:  Several years ago one of my best friends, Keith Riehn, bought a video camera and asked me if there were any decent bowfishing videos out there.  At the time, there were some videos but none I considered very good, including a couple I had been involved with.   He point blank asked me why we couldn’t make the best one ever produced and my answer was, “We can, let’s do it.”  Soon after we formed Aim Low Productions as co-owners.

dvMA :  How long has Aim’n Low been around?

RP:  We officially formed our company in 2004 and released our first DVD in early 2005.

dvMA:  So, you started with just bowfishing videos and transitioned to big game?  Why did that happen?

RP:    Like I said earlier, our first goal was just to make a good bowfishing DVD.  What we found out was how cool it was to get good video, be able to watch it and share it with other people.  It was just natural for us to want to try to video our hunts as well. 

dvMA:  As I understand it you are focused on the internet vice TV as a media distribution method.  Webisodes I think they are called?  How did you arrive at that decision?

RP:  The idea was originally brought to us by one of our sponsors’ marketing people.  They felt that outdoors TV just wasn’t bringing the return it once did.  At that time, everyone and their brother were picking up video cameras and making a “show” because new outdoor networks were popping up left and right.  Keith and I were unsure of leaving television, but we went with it and it has been a great decision.  Lots of people have followed in our footsteps with webcasts, but we try to separate ourselves by keeping our quality of footage on par to what it would take to make it to television.

dvMA:  Who is your target market now as opposed to when you were focused on television?

RP:  Our target audience has always been the everyday hunters and bowfishermen.  But, with TV, it was always hard to relate to our audience, or even know who was really tuning in.  Now, we can keep our video “real”, and produce it how we want it to look, with us setting the limits on number of minutes, impact shots, etc.  We know our viewers because they know they can email us, or pm us on the forums, or hit us up an Facebook.  Our target audience really is people just like us, people that love to do what we do.   If one of our webcasts gets 20,000 views in a month, we can be sure it was people that actually had an interest in watching.  Guess what?  That also means our sponsors know our viewers are interested in their products!

dvMA:  I remember a post on a bowfishing forum a number of years ago where you were about to sell the boat and throw in the towel due to no sponsors.  What was the tipping point back in the other direction? 

RP:  The biggest boost to our recognition had to be in 2005 when we shot the Bowfishing Association of America world record alligator gar and also the state record buffalo on the same trip.  When you shoot a fish that is nearly twice your own size, people tend to take notice!  But the real trick for us keeping it going was getting involved with some great companies that believed in us and allowed us to make a difference in their company.  Dave White from Cajun Archery (and now Hot Shot Manufacturing) is one of those people.  He has made a huge impact to Aim Low and I believe we have to his companies as well.

dvMA:  I know you also have a full-time job outside the hunting industry.  How do you manage to hold that down, pull off Aim’n Low and spend time with your family?  What tips do you have for dvMA readers on this subject?

RP:  I am very fortunate to have the job I have.  I began working for the US Army Corps of Engineers while still in college and have been with them for 20 years now.  A great benefit of my job is plenty of vacation time.  My family is what is most important to me.  They understand that certain times of the year mean I am going to be gone.  When people ask me when I plan to be off for the whitetail rut, I jokingly answer, “November.”  But the reality is that I try to get home for a day or two each week, no matter what season it is.  Archery season for deer is a full quarter of every year, so pace yourself throughout to keep from burning yourself and your family out.

dvMA:  Since joining the Hot Shot pro staff I’ve asked you a bunch of questions and you’ve patiently answered them all.  I’m guessing I’m not the only one you take time out for.  How are you so responsive when it is hard to get anything out of companies who are trying to sell us products? 

RP:  Kind of a long story to that, but it is very true and worth telling.  Back in my college days while working part time at a pizza place a hunting “pro” often came into our store.  I recognized him from video tapes I had watched and eventually talked to him.  The guy gave me his card one time and told me to call him anytime.  Coincidently my wife (then girlfriend) bought me a shotgun just like this guy used in his videos and I was having trouble with mine.  I decided to call him and ask him about it and left him a detailed voice mail.  After no response, I called again a week later and again left a message.  Finally I got a return call and he told me that he was out hunting most days and “way too busy to mess with stuff like this” and not to call him back and bother him.  I’ve never forgotten that phone call, and now to me, not being responsive is just not an option.  I treat people the way I would want to be treated, at least the best I can.  I take the same approach whether I am acting as a representative of Aim Low, Cajun Archery, Hot Shot Manfacturing, or any of our other sponsors.

dvMA:  You defined for me a difference between “Professional Staff” and “Promotional Staff”.  Are there many Promotional Staff opportunities out there for bowhunters who aren’t all about shooting 300x’s?  How does a bowhunter best take advantage of those opportunities?

RP:  Sure there are.  I can’t say that every manufacturer has the same approach as I do, but I think mine is a good one and it has certainly worked well for Cajun Archery and Hot Shot, the companies whose staffs I have developed.  A “pro-staff” doesn’t have to be full of top end shooters or wildly successful hunters.  Of course there needs to be some success, however that is defined, but I look at other things as well.  How the person presents themselves, what they show me they can do to promote the company and product, verbal and written communication skills, and (a big one for me) ability to take quality photographs for the company’s use.  You don’t have to kill a record whitetail to impress me, but you do have to be able to share your successes with great photographs.  You do have to be able to talk about our product intelligently.  You might be surprised at what a well thought out, well written inquiry to companies that show them how you can benefit them might turn up for you.  Just be sure you are at least familiar with the product and better yet, using it.  The two worst kinds of sponsor requests I get are “Hey man, how can I get sponcerd by your campany?” and “Hi, I have never used your product before, but I would be willing to check it out if you would sponsor me.”  Yes, those quotes are real requests I have received!

dvMA:  What is your favorite non-archery piece of hunting gear?  And your favorite animal to pursue?

RP:  Both are tough questions…for the gear, I would have to say Cranford EZY tree steps.  No, they are not a sponsor, but they are simply amazing screw in tree steps that are so easy to install.  Anyone that hates screw in steps hasn’t tried these.  Favorite animal…wow, even tougher!  I can’t decide between bowfishing and bowhunting, so I will name one for each.  Bowfishing has to be giant buffalo, fish over 60 lbs.  Hunting is not so easy to answer.  The last two years I have came to a renewed love of turkey hunting by using archery only and of course it’s hard to beat a whitetail under your stand.  But just because of the sheer fun of it, I’d have to say my current favorite is wild hogs, stalked with a bow, no fences.

dvMA:  Tell us about the oddest thing that ever happened to you in the woods?

RP:   It didn’t happen to me directly but has to be a hunt long ago in south Texas for hogs.  We were night hunting under a full moon.  After being out most of the night, we stopped to pick up a buddy at the designated spot.  As we pulled up he jumped out of the brush with a wild look on his face, like he was scared out of his mind.  “Aliens!  Freakin’ Aliens!” is all he would say at first and I am thinking to myself that he really thinks he saw a UFO or something.  Finally he settles down enough to tell us about a chain of border jumping Mexicans that walked under his tripod that scared the life out of him when the last one looked up at him.  He fully expected them to pull out their guns and start blasting, laughing.  No one had warned us that we may see Mexicans walking thru the brush! 

dvMA:  Say something to dvMA readers (all three of them). 

RP:  Have fun hunting but be safe.  Be proud to be a hunter but respectful to those that may not be against us but don’t hunt themselves.   Check out Aim N Low TV and tell a friend about the dvMA blog so we can get the readership up to at least 4!

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• An Interview With A Bowhunting Booking Agency
• An Interview with Straight ‘N Arrow Archery

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2011

   

                                   

“Plinking” with the bow can help your shot execution and range estimation skills. 

Dad was sitting on the back steps plinking at cans near our burn barrel with a .22 rifle.  I remember picking up a spent casing and burning the heck out of my fingers.  I was just a little, little, boy with hot fingers but that ever pervasive wonderful aroma of burnt cordite lingers in my mind when thinking of that event and I still feel the life-long love of plinking.  Even though my primary focus has shifted from firearms to bows it doesn’t mean I can’t or don’t plink any more. 

A judo-pointed arrow sailed through this can from 20 yards. 

For the majority of us when we shoot at a paper target on a back stop we will be successful.  By that I mean regardless of where the arrow strikes we’ll likely hit the back stop.  When was the last time you totally missed a 3D target?  It has only been once for me in a long, long time, but that doesn’t mean my hits were “successful”.  I think our brains consider these events “successful” even if the result wasn’t a 12 or an X.  However, if we stick an old aluminum arrow in the ground a 20 yards, shoot at and miss it, we have clearly failed.  A miss is a failure.  We have to concentrate extra hard not to fail.  We have to want to not fail.

Good targets for the bowhunting plinker; a large tennis ball, a green bean can and a filled water bottle. 

 The same goes for shooting at a bean can, beer can, soda bottle, tennis ball or what-have-you.  Whatever you like to shoot at with your rifle or handgun makes the same excellent target for your bow.  You can even go advanced and make it more fun by implementing some things you may have seen at novelty shoots; playing cards or balloons on sticks, charcoal briquettes hanging from strings, spent shotgun shells, etc.   If you can hit an empty shotgun shell or charcoal briquette at 20 yards you’re likely ready for whitetails.  If you can hit a bean can at 50-60 yards you’re likely ready for mule deer.  Including a friend while wagering ten cents a shot makes it even more interesting. 

The same targets shown above are now 30 yards away.  It is hard to even focus on the bean can.

Even from 40 yards this bean can didn’t stand a chance against the judo points.

Want to work on yardage estimation on a deer-vital sized target?  Grab an old Nerf or soccer ball, screw on the judo points and head afield.  If practicing for eastern game head to the woods, if practicing for western game head to open meadows.  Kick the ball as hard as you can.  Guess-estimate the range and take the shot. Then range the ball with your rangefinder.  Were you short, long, right on?  Go advanced and write your guess-estimate down on a small piece of paper and compare that to the actual range.  If the difference is consistent then you can adjust your estimates in the future. 

Shooting a water-filled bottle with the bow is just as fun as with a firearm.  This 30-yard direct hit went through the bottle like it was hot butter.

Note:  Whole articles are written on yardage estimation techniques.  I’ll just throw two out here.  The first method involves 10-yard increments.  Simply estimate 10 yards plus 10 yards plus 10 yards plus the remainder, say 3 yards, and you shoot for 33 yards.  Or, alternatively, use 20 yard increments.  Another method involves simply guess-estimating the entire distance.  My friend, Super Slam bowhunter Gary Martin, uses this method with scarily accurate results typically within 1 and ½ yards out to 50 or 60 yards, but he verifies with a rangefinder.

Judo-pointed arrows won’t snake under the grass like field-point tipped arrows.  These two arrows won’t spin true and aren’t what I normally use, but they were good enough for hits out to 40 yards and if they are damaged I won’t care.

So work some plinking into your practice routine for concentration, confidence building and range estimation.  You’ll have some fun and improve your shooting at the same time.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• Trophy Photo Tips
• Overhauling A Hunting Bow
• Archery Release Mystery Solved
• Rangefinder Carry Tip
• DIY $25 Bow Press
• Short Draw Bow Speeds And Technical Discussion
• Short Draw Bow Kinetic Energy And Trajectory
• A Chronograph Experiment
• Multimeter – A Handy Bowhunting Tool

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2011

   

                                   

 By Jerry Long, June 7, 2011 

Talking about carrying a rangefinder.

I often see discussions on the popular bowhunting forums about the best way to carry a rangefinder.  If we were to drill down into the participants’ locations there would likely to be a big division between “eastern” and “western” hunters and how they manage this task.  Through by-gosh and by-golly I’ve managed to take a cross-section of species, but I’d still say I’m probably “eastern” in style.  What works well for me in a blind or tree stand from Kansas to Wisconsin also works well for me stalking javelina in Texas, would have worked well for me on black bear out west had digital rangefinders been available to me back then and did work well for me blind-hunting in Africa, but did not really work well for me crawling along on my belly for pronghorn in South Dakota.

These aren’t good for much.

Every pouch I’ve seen that came with a rangefinder was worthless for use in my opinion.  They might have been good for preventing loss, as a hunter could never get the rangefinder out when he or she needed it, but they weren’t good for ready use.  The lanyards that come with the rangefinders make noise sliding around your neck or shoulder when you bring the rangefinder up for use.  For me, pocket storage isn’t realistic.  This cold little carcass needs pockets for its hands, not equipment.  The “media” pockets on some of the newer hunting clothing might be ok for this use, but I wouldn’t want to have to be “digging around” for my rangefinder and, honestly, my MP3 player often ends up there. 

I’ve never heard enough good about retractable tethers, such as the Nikon version, that attach to binocular straps and my binos are usually somewhere at arm’s length for my “eastern” style of hunting, not on my carcass.  Some people speak highly of the Range Snap and Cherry Hill Outdoors has their own version.   S4 Gear’s Sidewinder EVO looks like it may have some potential.  I’m hoping to try it in the future.  In the end, though, it is tough for me to figure out where I want something clipped to.

Maybe the ultimate answer is that there is no one way for a hunter to carry a rangefinder for every type of hunting.  In the mean time this tip is the method I’ve used for the last couple of years to great success.  It was passed on to me just before my last trip to Texas in 2009.  It is quiet and reliable.

Remove the string lanyard from your rangefinder.    Slide the spring-loaded keeper all the way down to the other end of the lanyard.  Find an old split key ring; black if possible.  Check your significant other’s purse or junk drawer.  Thread the key ring through the rangefinder’s hard loop and then thread the string lanyard onto the key ring.  The key ring allows the rangefinder to slide up and down the length of the lanyard without noise.  If the metal bothers you wrap it up with some black electrical tape.  Mine has never been an issue.

Remove the noisy double snaphook lanyard, put it in the carry pouch and throw both in your bowhunting junk drawer.

Remove the factory string lanyard if installed.

Thread a split keyring through the lanyard hole on the rangefinder, slide the spring-loaded keeper all the way toward the opposite end and then thread the string lanyard through the split ring.  This results in a quiet, easy slide lanyard set up.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:    

• Packin It In And Out – Treestands
• Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
• Trophy Photo Tips
• Overhauling A Hunting Bow
• Camp Fire Tips
• How To – Prepare A European Skull Mount
• DIY $25 Bow Press
• DIY Deer Drag
• DIY – Turkey Call Striker
• DIY – Knife Sheath
• DIY – Arrow Squaring Rig
• How To – Use A Sharpening Steel
• Bow Stakes – “A Pointless Tip”
• DIY – Stabilizer

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2011

   

  

Friend and bowhunter Gary Martin is presented a Super Slam Award at the 7^th Annual Grand Slam Club convention.

Gary receiving the award.

Gary poses with his award at the recent Wisconsin Bowhunters Association annual convention.

In late February, Gary, along with a number of other accomplished bowhunters, attended the 7^th Annual Grand Slam/OVIS Club Convention in Las Vegas, NV.  They were recognized at the event for their outstanding achievements.  The interesting thing for me is that these aren’t gents we see bows named after or on television shows touting the latest piece of (ahem) “must have” gear.  Of those I have met they are often quiet, everyday folks who live and love the bowhunting life.   

For those readers that may not know the Super Slam is defined as harvesting 29 species of North American big game animals.  At one time there were just 28 species to take as when Chuck Adams accomplished the feat, but a fairly recent addition of the Tule elk, read more here, expanded the number to 29.  The number of actual species didn’t grow, but the general ability for everyone to harvest one did.     

Gary completed the North American 28, or Super Slam, in 2008.  When I asked him where he stood in order of those who’d completed the NA 28 and 29 with a bow he said, “This gets confusing.  They haven’t assigned numbers yet, but according to my data I was the first in Wisconsin, the 16^th person to accomplish the NA 28 and the 8^th person to accomplish the NA 29.”  For Gary the quest started around 1980, took twenty years and was accomplished with a bow. 

Randy Liljenquist, Gary Martin, Frank Noska and Walter Palmer display their Super Slam Awards.

So, what’s next for this Super Slam Bowhunter?  Sometimes I think that if I were to accomplish such a thing I’d need a nap.  Twenty-five of the twenty-nine species Gary has taken qualify for Pope and Young.  He intends to take new representatives of the four “non-book” species that do qualify for Pope and Young.  With 4-5 bowhunts still scheduled each fall and late winter, not including local whitetails or turkeys, he’s a busy bowhunter that shows no sign of napping.

happy hunting, dv   

If you liked this blog you may like the following:    

• An Interview With A Bowhunting Booking Agency
• Outfitter Report – Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2007
• Powder River Outfitters – Outfitter Report
• Outfitter Reports – Why You Should Be Doing Them
• No Bird Left Behind - A Turkey Tale
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
• Boar Attack – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• Quest for the North American 29 – Tule Elk
• Super Slam Bowhunter Gary Martin – WY Pronghorn and NV Desert Bighorn Sheep

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2011

 

  By Jerry Long, January 10, 2011

Matt with a beautiful kudu.   

I’ve used a booking agent/agency for four of my eight non-DIY bowhunting adventures with varying levels of success. Two of those adventures turned out unsuccessful and were not great experiences including one where the booking agent’s representative accompanied us on the hunt. I received very little support or communications from the booking agent on one adventure and in another case the booking agent was the guide. These two latter experiences turned out very well. For me thus far a booking agent is a tool just like a rangefinder. By following Matt’s advice for choosing a booking agency, below, I think we’ll all be better off if we decide to use this service.   

dvMA: Matt, please tell us about yourself.   

MB: I have owned and operated Stick & String Outfitters, a bowhunting only booking agency, for close to 10 years. I got into booking hunts because of my passion for bowhunting and wanting to share it with other archery hunters. I have bowhunted for over 25 years and was born and raised in Colorado and have hunted most of the western states for numerous species. Although I love to hunt the west my other passion is to hunt Africa. I have been there 4 times to date and am planning a trip in the near future.   

If you are a bowhunter, I think it is important to use a bowhunting only booking agent who knows what it takes to harvest big game animals with archery equipment.   

dvMA: What is a booking agent; what does a booking agent do?   

MB: A booking agent arranges guided hunts for its clients and acts as the middle man between interested hunters and outfitters.   

dvMA: Why should a hunter use a booking agent; what does a booking agent bring to the table?   

MB: The advantage of using a booking agent is it saves time. A booking agent represents several quality outfitters and can steer hunters to the right hunt and outfitter. This saves time rather than contacting outfitters individually. A booking agent also screens outfitters and only represents those outfitters who have proven track records. The service is also free and most booking agents do not charge any more than what an outfitter would charge. So it’s actually a win-win situation for hunters.   

dvMA: What value added things does a booking agent do?   

MB: A booking agent saves valuable time and also screens outfitters for you.   

dvMA: How does a hunter pick a good booking agent?   

MB: This is the trust factor. You need to find a booking agent you can trust and who doesn’t “over sell” the hunts. Find a booking agent with a good reputation and who has gone on the hunts he represents.   

dvMA: How does a hunter avoid picking a bad booking agent?   

MB: Ask around. Most bad booking agents have a negative reputation. Use a booking agent who is referred by other hunters.   

dvMA: If I use a booking agent and start to encounter problems what do I do?   

MB: Contact the booking agent directly. Most quality booking agents will be more than happy to help with the problem.   

dvMA: If I used a booking agent and I encounter problems on my hunt what do I do?   

MB: Contact the booking agent. Most problems that occur on a hunt are due to the outfitter. But the booking agent can often help smooth things out.   

dvMA: What is the best piece of advice you have for hunters booking hunts either with or without a booking agent?   

MB: Be careful of booking agents who “over sell” a hunt. This means that a booking agent makes the hunt sound better than it is. Find a booking agent who is straight and to the point. I also recommend using a booking agent who is experienced at bowhunting.   

dvMA: Finally, besides archery equipment what is your favorite piece of bowhunting gear?   

MB: Being from the west, we do a lot of glassing and my favorite piece of bowhunting gear are my Swarovski binoculars.   

dvMA: Thanks Matt.   

happy hunting, dv     

If you liked this blog you may like the following:      

• Outfitter Report – Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2007
• Powder River Outfitters – Outfitter Report
• Outfitter Reports – Why You Should Be Doing Them
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas

Feedback, Questions & Comments     

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 By Jerry Long, December 6, 2010 

I spotlight the successes of everyday bowhunters from the 2010 Wisconsin whitetail archery season.

Josh’s First Deer – Josh is at least the third generation of archery only hunters from his family.  His grandfather belonged to my local archery club, West Allis Bowmen, as early as 1962 and still does (and could out-shoot me with only one arm).  In preparation for his first season I watched Josh diligently practice his shooting throughout the spring and summer 3D seasons.  We often compared notes to see how we did and if either of us lost or broke any arrows.  When I received this photo from his mother I was so excited I shouted aloud and waved my fist in the air!

Look at those smiles!  Congrats to Josh, posing with his father, on his first whitetail deer!

Hunt Master’s Buck Was A Long Time Coming – Al is also known as Camp Pug’s Hunt Master here on the pages of Mostly Archery.  He is steadfast in his whitetail pursuit and often sacrifices hunting opportunities for the benefit of other or new hunters and family commitments.  Because of that this is the first deer I’ve seen him harvest in the three years I’ve hunted at Camp Pug. 

Congrats to Al on a nice Wisconsin public land whitetail.

Super Slam Bowhunter Gary Martin – You’ve read about and seen pictures of Super Slam Bowhunter Gary Martin here on Mostly Archery.  Gary tells me he hadn’t taken a deer on his Wisconsin property in quite some time so when this eight pointer came by he just had to dump the string.

Congrats to Gary

Outdoors Buddy Seth’s “One Acre Buck” – Outdoors buddy Seth often graces the pages of Mostly Archery, see Foundation of an Outdoors Person.   Seth put the smack down on this nice Wisconsin whitetail in November.  He and friend Nate are considering writing a book titled, “How to Hunt Whitetails on One Acre.” 

Seth’s 8-pointer has a very nice looking rack.

Stoney’s Archery Range Deer – My local archery club, West Allis Bowmen, has not allowed hunting on its sixty acre property since inception, but we changed that in 2010.  Amid concerns of trespassers hunting on the property in our absence, adding an incentive for members and as a fund raising event it was decided that we would allow archery only hunting, based on a raffle, for members whose work hours were up-to-date.  A doe was taken in the early season and member Stoney, also known as Camp Pug hunter “Rock”, took this doe just last Saturday evening before the club’s annual Christmas party.  Stoney hunted his heinder off during the Wisconsin rut around Camp Pug without result so it was good to see him connect on Saturday.

Stoney with his archery range deer.

Congrats to all these successful hunters.

happy hunting, dv 

If you liked this blog you may like the following:  

• Beating the 2009 Whitetail Bust
• Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
• Overhauling A Hunting Bow
• No Bird Left Behind - A Turkey Tale
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
• Boar Attack – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• Return On Investment – Outdoor’s Style
• Preserving Bowhunting Memories
• Deer & Turkey Classic Review
• Slick Trick Burgers
• dv’s List Of Archery and Bowhunting Don’ts
• The Foundation of an Outdoors Person
• Quest for the North American 29 – Tule Elk
• National Trappers’ Association Convention

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 By Jerry Long, November 29, 2010 

While regaling everyone with my African Archery Safari Journal I’ve been hitting it hard in the Wisconsin whitetail woods.  This week I share the harvest of my first whitetail since 2008.  

My 2010 whitetail doe.

 October 2^nd, 2010 found me in the field on a new piece of southeast Wisconsin private property that is open to public hunting by drawing permit.  This is the first time I’ve hunted southeast Wisconsin since 1994 which was before the Chronic Wasting Disease scare and the Wisconsin DNR’s scorched earth policy for the southern CWD zones.  Since this was an “earn-a-buck” unit I could only shoot an antlerless deer.   The morning hunt, aggressively crowding what I believed to be a buck’s bedroom in a marsh, went without a sighting to my surprise.

After that I set up another treestand site and did some quick in-season scouting.  The property is in various sized pieces with one section that must be accessed through a several acre waterfowl/beaver pond (no kidding).  As I was trudging through twelve inches of water in the middle of the pond a neighboring landowner whose deck overlooks it decided to interrogate me on my authority to be there.  After displaying all the appropriate permits and ensuring him I enjoyed the challenge of the trek (which he did not appreciate) the deck troll bid me adieu.   I chose to try to avoid the water using the south end on the return trek – big mistake!  At times I had to balance on woven wire fencing topped with strands of barbed wire to keep from plunging down to who-knows-what depth.

An overhead view of the waterfowl pond where the Deck Troll interrogated me.

My mid-day power scouting led to a plan for the evening hunt.  Someone had placed treestands along a heavy deer trail on either side of a large valley where the trail exited into the fields.  I do not believe in hunting field edges on pressured properties.  Pressured deer will likely reach these spots long after legal shooting light.  Instead, I chose the middle of the valley at a point where a marsh from the northwest met up with hardwoods to set up my four Lone Wolf climbing sticks and Alpha Assault stand.  Utilizing Ex-Steps I was able to get higher and actually step down onto my stand instead of my normal climb up routine.

An overhead view of the stand set up.

Just barely visible here around the user’s right boot the Ex Step gives the treestand hunter extra, easily packable height without using an extra stick.

At about 5:00 pm a “crack” to the north east alerted me to a doe and young one that were too close.  I was sitting down with my bow on the hook soaking up the surrounding beauty.  The “cracking” had actually been going on for a little while, but I hadn’t been able to pin point its source.  By carefully waiting for the doe and young one to look in other directions I was able to get up and get my bow.  The doe presented a shot… and I was unable to fully draw my 70 pound Bowtech SWAT.  I’d never had that happen before.   I think my feet were twisted and I didn’t have a good base on the stand. 

She moved forward snacking as she went and I was able to get repositioned and draw.  Then it was a waiting game for the shot opportunity.  Once the bow was drawn I had no problem holding it at full draw and actually just leaned against the tree waiting.  She took a step and opened up the kill zone window.  Her offspring was looking somewhere else.  I pulled up, anchored, put the pin on the sweet spot and triggered the release.  The Slick Trick tipped Easton aluminum arrow hit home a little high, but I was confident.

She took off back to the northeast as the little one took off to the northwest.  The doe made it about twenty yards before she began that familiar short-of-breath swoon then she charged back to the south about twenty yards and was down.  Considering 2009’s whitetail dry spell I jumped up in the air with my bow raised in my right hand and vigorously pumped it up and down (silently, though, just in case).  The young one snorted off to the northwest.  I texted Mrs. dustyvarmint, “Yes!”  Normally I am a staunch believer in waiting one-half hour or longer before following the blood trail, but I didn’t think it necessary.  I was sure she was down.   I didn’t even think it necessary to follow the blood trail; I thought I knew where she was. 

Sure enough, about forty yards away she was down.  After snapping a few camera phone pics for my Kansas friend Will, I drug her to my tree, packed up the stand and clothes and headed to the truck.  At that moment I suddenly realized I’d left my game cart in my driveway at home.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  I shook my fist at the clouds and thanked goodness I had a deer drag rope in the truck.  At the truck I grabbed my Canon A40 camera, my Targus Grypton 6” tripod (link), Forschner-Victorinox pare knife and a towel I keep for field dressing then headed back. 

After a number of photos and field dressing  I headed back to the truck dragging her all the way including up a very steep embankment, past one of the field edge treestands, through a bean field, up another incline and then down the long two-track to my truck.  At that point I felt physically old… (and stupid for forgetting my cart).   I celebrated on the way home with dinner at Taco Bell where the young man at the window said, “Nice deer.  What is it?”

I took this fine public land Wisconsin buck in 2005 on a one afternoon speed-scout-place-stand hunt.

Scouting a property and successfully hunting a new stand all in one day is something that gives me a lot of satisfaction.  Being an almost entirely self-taught whitetail hunter, I typically try to overcome my lack of skill with sheer effort.  In this case it paid off – I broke my whitetail dry spell and “earned a buck” tag. 

happy hunting, dv 

If you liked this blog you may like the following:  

• Packin It In And Out – Treestands
• Hamming With Game Cams
• Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
• Overhauling A Hunting Bow
• A Clothing System For Cold Weather Bowhunting
• Passing On The Tradition
• Deer & Turkey Classic Review
• Slick Trick Burgers

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 By Jerry Long, August 3, 2010 

Bowhunter and friend Gary Martin harvests the Tule elk turning his Super Slam 28 into the North American 29.
 
Over time you’ve read about and seen pictures of local Super Slam bowhunter and friend, Gary Martin, here on dv’s Mostly Archery.  He called last Friday morning to tell me he’d taken a 6×6 Tule elk via spot and stalk on the second day of his hunt. Gary estimates he may be only the eighth person in the world to complete the North American 29 using a bow.

Gary with his Tule elk.
 

 
After years of conservation effort Tule elk hunting was re-opened in 2009. According to Wikipedia Tule elk are a subspecies of elk found only in the grasslands and marshlands of California.  Tule are the smallest species of American elk.  It is estimated that 500,000 roamed the regions when Europeans first arrived, but by 1895 habitat loss and hunting had reduced their population to only 28.  Today it is estimated that the wild population exceeds 4,000.
 
Gary completed the archery Super Slam in 2008.  He is sponsored by Muzzy, Strother, Easton and Vital Bow Gear.  He’s been a contributing member of West Allis Bowmen for more than 25 years as well as a lifetime member of the Wisconsin Bowhunters’ Association, a National Bowhunter Education Foundation instructor, a lifetime North American Hunting Club member, a lifetime Foundation for North American Wild Sheep member, a National Rifle Association member and a Grand Slam Club member.  

However, unless you knew him and asked him about hunting you’d never know how accomplished a bowhunter he is.  He often bowhunts, bowfishes and shoots with us “everyday” bowhunters and Gary has locally mentored future archers for the past eleven years through 4H at our local club, West Allis Bowmen. 

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:  

• Packin It In And Out – Treestands
• Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
• No Bird Left Behind - A Turkey Tale
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
• Boar Attack – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• A Clothing System For Cold Weather Bowhunting
• The Best Valentine’s Day Ever – Winter Bowfishing
• WWAC – What Would Africa Cost?
• dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part I
• dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part II
• Preserving Bowhunting Memories
• Passing On The Tradition
• dv Goes To Africa – Bow and Arrow Set Up
• dv’s List Of Archery and Bowhunting Don’ts
• The Foundation of an Outdoors Person

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 By Jerry Long, May 31, 2010  

If a broadhead isn’t sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm, it isn’t ready to shoot at an animal.  The KME Broadhead Sharpener makes that a reality.

Maybe it is just the cheap in me, but it just makes fiscal sense to resharpen broadheads if they have no dents or other abnormalities.  I used to sharpen them by-gosh and by-golly holding the little blades in my hands using the scary sharp method.  This method uses sandpaper on plates of glass and is most associated with woodworking, especially chisels and planes.  If you’re interested in learning more an internet search for “scary sharp method” will return numerous helpful how-to’s.  The problem is these middle-aged hands get cramped up after a little while and locking pliers just never seemed to work quite right.

Then on an archery forum I saw talk about the KME Broadhead Sharpener.  I was intrigued.  The concept worked well for my woodworking chisels.  I thought it would work on my broadheads.  I paid $34.95 for the basic sharpener plus $7.00 shipping and handling. 

I’ve had good success with this sharpener on a variety of broadheads including little Wasp Jakhammer SST blades, Slick Trick blades and traditional style cut-on-contact two-blade broadheads.  The sharpener will not work on traditional style fixed 3 and 4-blade broadheads (like a Wensel Woodsman).

The KME Sharpener holding a Slick Trick broadhead blade.  Note the brass-colored collar on the right.

Sharpening tiny Wasp Jakhammer blades.

Sharpening Slick Trick blades.

To use the sharpener, first determine which clamp to use.  Then tighten down the clamp on the blade using the supplied wrench.  Then insert the clamp stem into the roller guide and tighten down the collar.  Now start sharpening.  Based on the provided instructions I went back to my sharpening stones which I have plenty of.  For this I use a silicon carbide combination medium/fine grit stone and an Arkansas fine stone.  I follow the same sequence as when using a sharpening steel, see How To – Use A Sharpening Steel.  Using the medium grit stone I’ll do five strokes on one side of the blade or broadhead and five on the other.  Then four, then three, then two, then one.  Then I switch to the fine side of the silicon carbide stone and repeat.  Then on to the Arkansas fine stone using the same process.

An Arkansas fine stone on top (white), a combination fine/medium silicon carbide stone (gray, long) and a medium silicon carbide stone (bottom). 

 I used to finish them off with a ceramic sharpening steel, see How To – Use A Sharpening Steel, if necessary.  However, since I ran into KME at the Madison, WI Deer and Turkey Classic, I learned an even better trick.  Now I use corrugated fiber board following the same five, four, three, two, one method, except I pull the blade along instead of pushing it.  Basically, this is a finely guided stropping method.

A final stropping on some corrugated fiber board.  Note that the blade is being pulled from left to right versus being pushed from right to left.

Finally, I test the blade by attempting to cut the hair off my hand or arm.  If it doesn’t then it is back to sharpening or off to the practice pile.  I’m not successful with all blades, but am with most.  If you are of the fairer sex with no hair on your arm, then I suggest saving some on your leg for the purpose.  Just tell your significant other it is all in the name of bowhunting and ethical harvest.  I suppose paper and rubber bands are suitable substitutes, but those analogs definitely lack commitment.

happy hunting, dv 

If you liked this blog you may like the following:  

• Packin It In And Out – Treestands
• Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
• JD Welding Arrow Spin Testing – A dv Gear Review
• Overhauling A Hunting Bow
• Archery Release Mystery Solved
• DIY $25 Bow Press
• Short Draw Bow Speeds And Technical Discussion
• Short Draw Bow Kinetic Energy And Trajectory
• DIY – Arrow Squaring Rig
• DIY – Solar Lighted Stabilizer
• How To – Use A Sharpening Steel
• Bow Stakes – “A Pointless Tip”
• Deer & Turkey Classic Review

Feedback, Questions & Comments 

I’d like to hear your tips, feedback, comments or questions.  Please leave them below.   

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