Summer will be gone before you know it, and Opening Day will soon be here.
Where are your best prospects for putting that next trophy on the wall or meat in the freezer? Find out in Bowhunting World’s annual Bowhunting North America guide. We cover seasons, regulations, and the most popular species for each state, province, or territory. We offer basic hunting forecasts and regulations so you know what you need, what to expect, and, if something piques your interest, where to go for more details.
Pulling the most interesting news from the guide, editor Mike Strandlund in From The Editor comments on developments for the upcoming seasons, including new crossbow opportunities throughout the United States and Canada, plus the addition of Sunday hunting in many places.
Speaking of crossbows, Crossbows 2011 offers an overview of the latest X-bow products, plus advice for choosing scopes. For example, crossbow scopes typically range from 0 to 5x magnification. Think about it; you don’t really need the higher power of a rifle scope because the crossbow is a short-range weapon. Writer Bob Humphrey also provides insights with crossbow safety tips, news, and interesting facts.
If you prefer simpler, more traditional bows, then Mark Hicks’ Traditional Almanac covering the latest “trad” products and news—plus an interview with A&H Archery founder Larry Hanify—is for you. Did you know that three-finger-under releases work better for novice shooters and most others who shoot shorter ranges. However, if you shoot farther, you should consider changing to a split-finger release. Find out why.
“Let the young ones grow up.” That is the essence of East Texas rancher Jack Brittingham’s deer management strategy, but that’s not all. He gives Rick Sapp and Bowhunting World readers more winning advice on stand selection, rattling techniques, and timing while Hunting The Old Home Place.
On his Best Bear Hunt, Bob Robb discovered that bears, hounds, rugged country, crummy weather, and real cowboy guides add up to a real Western adventure—and he takes you along for a rollicking ride.
In the aggressive approach, hunters sit atop high vistas, spot mule deer heading to daytime bedding spots, and stealthily slip into bow range. But mule deer pattern like whitetails with nearly the same consistency as food-plot-lured bucks, allowing a more passive, sit-and-wait for them approach. Which approach is best for you? Mark Kayser explores the pros and cons of each in Passive Or Aggressive For Mule Deer.
Darren Warner teaches us how to Become A Game Camera Guru by maximizing our “eyes” in the woods with setups, images, and data. If you think that baiting deer to your cameras is a good idea, think again. Why? Because you won’t be able to get a good pattern on anything that is artificially lured to a location. More advice: When you pattern, focus on the does—the bucks are sure to follow.
Bowhunting World’s 2011 Annual offers even more in its regular columns, including New Gear, Up Front, Secrets Of The Masters, Whitetail Science, Bob Robb’s musings in Back Country, and the latest news from the International Bowhunting Organization. Don’t miss it!
