Petersen's Bowhunting

Petersen's Bowhunting is the source for the tactics, tools, and techniques necessary for successful bowhunting. Get practical shooting tips and useful information on archery, equipment tests, clothing, and product evaluations.

Petersen's Bowhunting

A SEASON OF NEW BEGINNINGS • JANUARY MAY MARK the start of a new year on the calendar, but I’ve always considered spring turkey season the unofficial start of the bowhunting year. For most, chasing spring gobblers marks the first real hunting action since fall deer seasons, and after the cold and gray months of winter, it is a welcome opportunity indeed! There isn’t a springtime sound more exciting than a boss tom gobbling off the roost at sunrise or a prettier sight than a sunlit strutter spitting and drumming in all his iridescent glory.

PICKIN‘ SHEDS It's almost as fun as bowhunting itself. Almost! • I’M OBSESSED WITH hunting. I can’t turn the instinct off. No matter the time of year, I’m out there in deer country doing something. But of all the excuses I can muster up for the full-time, deer-hunting lifestyle, shed antler hunting is my favorite.

WHITETAILS VS.WILD TURKEYS: BY THE NUMBERS Both Generate Big Bucks, But One is King! • WHITETAILS are the most popular game animal in the United States and generate the most revenue, by far. Wild turkeys come in second place — though it’s a distant second. With spring turkey seasons upon us, I thought it would be fun to take a closer look at how these two species stack up in the battle for hunting supremacy.

BEING A BEGINNER BOWHUNTER IS TOUGH Mentors Are Essential for Those Just Starting Out • LAST YEAR I HAD the privilege of introducing my 24-year-old daughter Jordan to bowhunting and ultimately helped her shoot her first two deer with a bow. She shot a doe in mid-November and a buck on the first day of December. What I learned through the process made me sit back and think about how hard this sport really is for a beginner.

PART 1 RANGEFINDERS These Essential Optics Vary Greatly in Quality, Cost and Effectiveness • ALMOST EVERY BOWHUNTER who shoots a compound bow uses a rangefinder. The general assumption is often that "a rangefinder is a rangefinder," and they are all created equal; however, that is far from the truth.

TAKING AIM AT TURKEYS Precision Practice and Understanding the Bird’s Anatomy Are Vital for Consistent Success • THE TWO OPPONENTS enter the ring and posture toward one another in an act of intimidation and defiance. Welltoned muscles ripple, and both look for a tiny window of opportunity to take the upper hand.

ELITE ERA An Impressive Debut in the Carbon Bow Arena • THREE YEARS AGO, the Elite Archery team took on a new challenge and began to design and develop the company’s first carbon-riser bow.

TURKEYS IN TROUBLE • WILD TURKEY POPULATIONS ARE DECLINING ACROSS THE NATION.

Turkey TRIFECTA! • 3 States. 3 Birds. 3 Successful Strategies.

IT'S TURKEY TIME

Strutters AND THE SHERIFF • Selfish Acts in the Field Can Ruin the Bowhunting Experience for Others

«QUINTESSENTIALLY QUEBEC» • BOWHUNTING THE BLACK BEARS OF THE LA VÉRENDRYE WILDERNESS

Greenland BOUND • BOWHUNTING MUSKOX AND CARIBOU ON THE LARGEST ISLAND IN THE WORLD

BEATING THE ODDS FOR IBEX • A TWO-TIME PERMIT LOTTERY WINNER TAGS A BILLY AT THE BUZZER

TENPOINT FLATLINE 460An Accurate Rig with Great Speed and Safety • TENPOINT CROSSBOW TECHNOLOGIES has been fueled by relentless innovation since the company’s inception some 27 years ago. This year, as in years past, TenPoint continues to be an industry leader in product design and technology, as evidenced by the new-for-2023 Flatline 460.

MATHEWS BRIDGE-LOCK STABILIZER SYSTEM: SIMPLIFIED STABILITY • A STEALTHY AND STREAMLINED SOLUTION for better bow...