Download - BowAmerica March 2012
Contributing Writers
Emily Anderson
Bernie Barringer
Tony Catalde
Bill Howard
Mark Huelsing
Will Jenkins
Darren Johnson
Amanda MacDonald
Albert Quackenbush
Ryan Shoemaker
Britney Starr
Gretchen Steele
Nick Viau
Tony West
BowAmerica The e-Magazine for
Bowhunters
A monthly online
publication.
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BillHoward
Contributing Editor
BritneyStarr
Art and Cover Design
AlbertQuackenbush
Advertising/Marketing
BillHoward
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BillHoward
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©BowAmerica 2012
w
On the Cover: Michele Leqve, first female
bowhunter to take polar bear. Michele Leqve
This page: Bison by bow. Bill Howard
COMPOUND
Dream Hunt Collaboration 16 - The 4 S’s MarkHuelsing 19 – Get Fit for the Dream AlbertQuackenbush 21 – Do It Yourself! RyanShoemaker 24 – Research From Afar TonyCatalde 26 – Pick the Draw EmilyAnderson 31 – How to Pick a Guide/Outfitter TonyWest
TRADITIONAL
45 – Traditional Gear Review: Rasher Custom Quivers
NickViau
BOWFISHING
35 – Prep Your Gear! Bowfishing is Near!
GretchenSteele
WOMEN IN BOWHUNTING
Trials, Trails, and Trophy - 8 BernieBarringer
TARGET
NFAA World Archery Festival - 51 AmandaMacDonald
BOWHUNTING LIFE
Archer’s Shoulder: Part 2 - 33 WillJenkins
WILD KITCHEN
Camp Dog’s Catfish Courtbouillon - 38 PapaScott
Spicy Buffalo Sauerbraten - 49 WildKitchen.net
HABITAT & GAME MANAGEMENT
Habitat Management - 47 DarrenJohnson
PREVIEW
Badlands Clothing - 41 RyanShoemaker
The trophy shows are in full swing throughout America. What better time to discuss how to plan
and do your dream hunts! As you walk down the aisles of the shows, looking at the different mounts
and pictures of exotic game animals in exotic locales, you feel that urge. But your brain tells you it is
nothing but a dream. Well, our staff with BowAmerica will hopefully fuel that fire within you and set
you on course for that once in a lifetime hunt.
On the table of contents page, you see a bison I took by bow. That was the first big game animal I
ever harvested with archery equipment. Through practice, determination, and research I was able to
make not only a dream come true, but I was also able to do it with equipment that I would come to love
to use. That made the hunt even more special.
We changed up the way the articles would flow this month, figuring the both the traditional and
compound archers would need the same information on planning and executing that dream hunt. So
you will see a section on dream hunts, with 6 different authors. They share information on how they
are planning their dream hunts in order to show you how to plan yours.
But, leading off, is a story you MUST read! Bernie Barringer of BowHuntingRoad.com shares
Michele Leqve‘s quest for the largest bear in the world. Not only is it the largest bear, but the hunt
must be taken in the harshest conditions. I spoke with Michele by phone while planning this issue and
her story really is remarkable. She shows the essence of dedication to a dream as well as stick-to-it-
iveness. Despite hurdles along the way, Michele and her husband Jim stayed the path, and the result
was extraordinary.
Other stories include Part 2 on Archer‘s Shoulder by Will Jenkins. Last month he laid the basic
biology behind the shoulder and muscles and how they work together. This month he gets a little more
specific on how archer‘s shoulder and rotator cuff injuries may come about.
We have a preview of Badlands new clothing line, and for you traditional archers, a review of
Rasher Quivers.
We also have Gretchen Steele joining us reminding us that bowfishing season is right around the
corner, so you had better get that equipment ready!
Amanda MacDonald covers our target and competition shooters with her experience from Vegas.
You know the saying, ‗what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas‘. Well Amanda did not listen and brings
the NFAA World Archery Festival to you here in BowAmerica magazine.
Darren Johnson continues his now monthly column on habitat management. If you are planning on
managing your own land for optimum hunting experiences, this column will become a must read each
month. Darren does a great job of explaining the little things that most will not think of while not
getting too technical. If you missed last month‘s first installment of Habitat Management, be sure to
read it and print it, and do the same with this issue and future issues.
Speaking of printing it, you can download the magazine into a pdf file and print the articles you
want to save and refer back to at anytime. Of course, our past issues will remain online as well at
BowAmerica.com. There will be a short description of what is in each issue for you to refer back to.
Now, go out there, set the goals, and make those dreams a reality! BA
The e-Magazine for Bowhunters
BowAmerica Association and Business Program
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Association and Business Program. We produce our national online magazine and then format the front for your group. You
can use up to 8 pages for ads, messages, calendar of events, and/or member/customer photo gallery. Then on the 5th of each month, the magazine can either be sent to your group by BowAmerica or we can email the link to you for you to forward to your email list. If we send out the magazine for you, your email list will remain secure and not be shared, sold, or ‘rented’ to any other company or individual. We will also include a banner at the bottom of the cover displaying your association or business. BowAmerica will also place links on your facebook, Google+, or twitter pages as well.
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you a chance to sell ad space for your association for additional income each month, or if you are a business, a chance to showcase specials and events and have the opportunity for any co-op monies offered by various manufacturers and vendors.
Contact Bill Howard today to sign up so you can start right away at 252-205-7681 or by
email [email protected] . We are happy to answer any questions you may have as well.
The polar bear is the largest carnivore on the
planet. A lot of bears have a bad reputation, and
certainly all of them could kill you and eat you;
though cases of such are rare. This is not the case
with the polar bear, however. More people have
been killed and eaten by polar bears than any
other bear. This monstrous bear, commonly
weighing over half a ton, spends its life roaming
the vast wastelands of the north and the frozen
sea ice looking for food. And anything that
moves, it sees as food. That includes people. A
lot of big game animals have a reputation for
being dangerous. The polar bear has the goods.
So what would cause a woman to want to go
out onto the frozen sea ice near the North Pole
and try to shoot one with a bow and arrow? ―It‘s
all about the adventure,‖ says Michele Leqve.
The whole thing is so dramatic, she says; so
difficult, and so surrounded by amazing sights
and amazing people. She fell in love with the
Inuit people, and gained a lot of respect for their
everyday lives. But before we get too far into
this, let‘s begin at the beginning.
Michele is a very accomplished archer and has
taken more than a dozen species of big game
animals with her Mathews bow. She has bagged
several remarkable specimens that qualify for the
Pope & Young record book. This flight attendant
became hooked on archery when her husband
introduced her to it. To say she fell and fell hard
would be an understatement… she‘s got it bad.
She loves her bear hunting, and has taken several
with a bow, so it was not a big leap to start
thinking about the largest and most dangerous
bear of all. When she discovered that there was
no record of a woman ever killing a polar bear
with a bow, the seed was planted. Over the next
few months and years, it would take root and
grow until it would not be denied.
Michele and Jim Leqve are not wealthy
people. They work hard and prioritize their
hunting; and they are comfortable, but a polar
bear hunt can cost between $30,000 and $50,000.
They had to figure out a way to pull it off, and
they did. They booked the hunt through
Bowhunting Safari Consultants. Jim would go
along to film the adventure and shoot photos and
Michele would release her arrow, when the time
came.
But the trip almost didn‘t happen. Michele
was a flight attendant at the time for Northwest
Airlines. About the time the trip was going to
take place, Northwest filed for bankruptcy and
Michele‘s future became very uncertain. They
considered bagging the whole grand thing, but in
the end they decided life was too short to live in
fear of the future, and they stayed the course.
A hunt like this is not a one-on-one deal. In all
about a dozen people from the small town of
Pond Inlet contributed to the hunt and most of
them were along for the entire trip. This included
a family of Inuit that guided them, along with
other camp help.
Pond Inlet is in Nunavut Territory in North
central Canada, but its name is not a fitting
description of the area. It is a small town covered
in ice almost the entire year, a jumping off point
for the northern peoples who spend much of their
time out on the sea ice trying to scratch out a
living from a very harsh land. From there,
Michele and Jim ventured farther north into the
barren white. It was mid-April, yet the
temperatures were still averaging -30 to -40
during the day.
The hardships encountered on such an
adventure have to be experienced in order to fully
realize how difficult of a task this is. Imagine, as
a female, having to go to the bathroom when you
are in a flat barren land of white, it is 40 below
zero, and you have seven heavy layers of clothing
on. And that is just the beginning. Just staying
alive and avoiding frostbite is tough enough
under these conditions. Plus you eat what they
eat, which includes raw fish. Interestingly,
Michele claims it isn‘t that bad… if you are
hungry enough.
According to the law, you cannot pursue a
polar bear with a motorized vehicle. So Michele
rode in a large, partially-enclosed dogsled called
a ―Kamotik.‖ The dogs pulled it at a pretty good
pace, but the support crews rode snowmobiles
and they often had to wait for the sled to catch up.
They ventured north for a day to where they came
to a cabin to spend the night before going out on
the sea ice. That‘s when the first storm hit. They
were all jammed into that cabin for that day and
most of the next. This was a 14-day hunt and time
was wasting. Michele and Jim enjoyed talking to
the people about their lives, playing games, and
watching one of the boys do his school work. One
of the guide‘s helpers, Titus, admired Michele‘s
Mathews bow. He said he had been looking at
one similar to it on eBay! She gave the bow to
him before she left and he was thrilled.
When the weather broke they were heading
out to the north once again. After some long
hours banging along in the sled, they stopped to
make camp about 5:00 pm. They were about half
way through the laborious task of setting up a
camp when a friend of the family pulled up on a
snowmobile and greeted them. When he
discovered that they were polar bear hunting, he
offered some great news. He had cut a big bear
track not too far back. Suddenly, camp was being
broken down in a frenzy, and Michele was
amazed that they were going to go after the bear
right then, instead of camping for the night.
Michele, her guide Omik, and the dogsled
took off right away while the rest of the crew
would follow with the camp on snow machines as
soon as they could get everything together. If she
got the bear, the plan was to camp right there
where she shot it.
Things were about to get a little hairy.
They caught up with the bear after about three
hours and the sun was getting low in the sky. It
was a big male; a definite shooter. Days are long
that far north in April, but no one wants to be on
the ice with the world‘s largest predator after
dark, with no camping gear. The rest of the crew
was nowhere in sight.
Despite the fact that this was a legal hunt,
Michele cannot bring her polar bear hide back
into the United States. The US has made it
illegal to bring even legally taken bear hides
across the border, in part due to politicized
global warming hype.
Michele has had to endure some criticism
from people who do not understand sound
wildlife management and have yielded to the
fear that the bears are dying off. Nothing
could be further from the truth, she says, the
bears are abundant as ever and in fact, the
natives are harvesting more of them to keep
the population in check as pressure from the
states is reduced by stricter regulations.
Michele‘s bear is mounted and on display
in a large sporting goods store in Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan. She is not sure if she will ever
be able to bring her bear home, but she
doesn‘t dwell on this seeming injustice. She
has the memories, the photos, and some
amazing video footage to remember it by.
Michele and Jim produced an excellent
video of the hunt, and included four bonus
hunts of Michele shooting a black bear, a
caribou, a whitetail and an elk. It is available
at their website: www.bowrusoutdoors.com
The technique they use to slow the bear down
for a shot is to let one of the dogs loose. You
could never catch a polar bear on foot, but a dog
that knows what he is doing will bring the bear to
a standstill by harassing him. By the time the dog
had the bear bayed, Omik was expecting Michele
to shoot, and indicated so with a sense of
urgency. But Michele did not come all this way to
shoot a bear without her husband present and
filming it! Omik could not understand why she
wouldn‘t shoot; there was a communication gap
for some very tense moments before the
snowmobiles appeared on the horizon. By that
time, Omik had turned more dogs loose and they
were surrounding the bear, making a shot
difficult. It was mass chaos, and this normally
nerves-of-steel extreme huntress began to feel
like she was going to panic! She got her bow
drawn and tried to settle the pin on the churning
mass of dogs and bear.
Her shot was a clean miss.
Flight attendants are trained to remain calm
when emergencies arise. But this was an extreme
situation. The bear was moving around, Jim was
getting into a position to film the shot, dogs were
yammering, the guide was urging her to shoot,
and her heart was pounding. Michele forced
herself to settle down, and took a deep breath.
She calmly sent the second arrow right through
the bear‘s heart at 40 yards. Within seconds the
bear was lying in a heap. Jim got it all on film;
and Michele Leqve was the first female on record
to kill the world‘s largest land carnivore with a
bow and arrow. No one else can ever make that
claim.
There was quite a celebration and lots of
photo shooting as camp was set up and the bear
was dressed. The Inuits use every scrap of the
bear including the guts.
She has mixed feelings about shooting the
bear on the third day of a 14-day hunt. On one
hand the hardships were so extreme that it was a
blessing. On the other hand, shared hardships
create close bonds between people, and the
feelings she has for the natives who accompanied
her are strong. She would have liked to have
more time with them. What other things might
she have seen and done if she was out there
longer? She may never know. When asked if she
would do it again, she was quite adamant. ―Once
is enough,‖ she replied. ―I wouldn‘t do it again. It
was a once-in a lifetime experience.‖
The income from the polar bear hunts has a
remarkable affect on the native people. There are
32 bear tags issued for that large area in most
years, and without it, the people would not be
able to have the comforts that they have today.
And they love the byproducts of a bear hunt too.
The day Michele and her crew arrived back in
town, there was an announcement on the radio
that a bear had been shot, and the location where
people could go to get a share of the bear meat
was announced over the air.
The natives also know how important the hunt
is to the health of the species as a whole. They
understand that it is important to keep the
numbers of male bears in check because the
males kill bear cubs and often eat the females too.
Plus, a population of too many bears takes a toll
on the seals and other animals that the people
depend on for food. There‘s an important balance
to be maintained and hunters are a vital part of
that balance.
Michele is grateful for the opportunity to do
this and remains humble about it, despite the fact
that she made hunting history. The hardships, and
the triumphs, will be etched in her memory
forever and no one can take them away from her.
She says the one thing that sticks with her most is
the constant unknown attached to the adventure.
―I just never knew what to expect or what was
going to happen next! It is not like a whitetail
hunt where you kind of know what things to look
for. This was all new, all the time.‖ BA
Editor’s note: You can purchase the DVD ‘Hunting Nanuq with Xtreme Bowhuntress Michele Leqve’ at www.bowsrusoutdoors.com featuring Michele’s Polar Bear hunt as well as four other trophy hunts.
I knew in the
moment, that what I was
experiencing was
special, but I didn‘t
realize at the time just
how life changing it
would prove to be. We
were sitting on the shore
of his pond, lazily
fishing, but more
importantly talking. My
Grandpa didn‘t really
open up much,
especially after my
Grandma passed away
in a tragic accident
years prior. On the
exterior he was a hard
man, but anyone that
knew him well could
see that he had a heart
of gold. On that day, he talked about the years
after her accident and how his life had changed.
He realized for the first time just how short life
can be; he decided to start living life and pursuing
what he had always wanted to do.
One of his dreams had always been to hunt elk
out west, which was a dream that we had in
common. Unfortunately it was too late for him.
Years of manual labor, arthritis, and ultimately
cancer, kept him from pursuing that dream. Me
on the other hand, I was fully capable of making
that dream a reality. He told me earnestly and
directly to not just dream about that hunt, he told
me to make it happen.
I can think of dozens of obstacles,
circumstances, and situations that could keep my
dream hunt from becoming a reality. It is easy to
convince myself that I don‘t have enough time,
money, or knowledge to pull off this hunt
anytime soon. It is easy to dream. It is easy to say
―one day I will make that happen.‖
What if that “one
day” never comes?
Every hunter has a
hunt that they dream of
taking one day. Most of
us have several. You
may dream, as I do, of
chasing the mighty bull
elk through the Rockies.
Maybe you dream of
that 30‖ high country
mule deer or a record
book Midwestern
whitetail. Or, maybe
you dream of pursuing
big game in Alaska,
Africa, or even New
Zealand.
I want you to think
long and hard about that
dream and ask yourself
one question...Do you really want it?
I think you can make that dream come true. It
may cost you a lot of money, a lot of time, and a
lot of effort, but if you want it bad enough, you
can embark on your dream hunt.
As I recall my conversations with Grandpa,
and think about making our dream a reality, I
have realized four things which are helping me
make that dream come true. I‘ll call them the
―Four S‘s…
Study, Schedule, Save, and Sweat
Study – Turning your dream hunt into a
reality starts with studying. Many don‘t actually
know what it will take to pull off the hunt of our
dreams. Studying involves getting a concrete
grasp of what will be involved on making our
dream hunt come true. How much will it cost?
How can I draw the tag? When is the best time to
go? What equipment will I need?
There are a lot of questions, but thankfully we
live in a day and age in which the answers are
accessible. The internet contains a vast amount
of information in blogs, forums, magazines
(ahem), and even state wildlife department
websites. In addition to searching online, don‘t
overlook picking up the phone. Helpful game
officers and conservation agents are usually just a
call away.
There are a lot of things you probably don‘t
know about your dream hunt, but you have no
excuse to stay that way. The information is
available, but you must study!
Schedule – Now that you have studied your
hunt, you should have a good idea of what it will
take to pull it off. The most important thing you
can do next is schedule your hunt. No, I don‘t
mean booking a guide, buying plane tickets, or
locking yourself into a specific day. What I mean
is setting an honest timeframe of when you can
make the hunt happen. Your goal may be one
year, or it may be in twenty. The point is,
schedule the hunt so you know what you need
and how much time you have to get it done.
Don‘t keep saying ―one day‖. Instead say, ―In the
Fall of 20xx, I will go on this hunt.‖
I decided last fall that I would be hunting elk
in the Rockies in two years. I had been studying,
and now I set my date. I am well on my way to
making my dream hunt a reality. Now I just need
to…
Save (and Spend!) – I think the biggest
excuse that most hunters make for not pursuing
their dream hunts is the lack of funds. And, quite
honestly, that is a legitimate hurdle for the
majority of us. I am a young guy with young kids.
I get that money is tight. Saving, just like
scheduling, is something that will remain an
excuse, unless we choose to do something about
it. If I don‘t start saving today, then I will never
just have the money for my hunt. That is, unless I
win the lottery.
In addition to chasing elk in the Rockies,
another one of my dream hunts is to pursue
Bighorn Sheep with my bow in British Columbia.
That will not be a cheap trip by any means. I can
keep dreaming, or I can start saving. A little bit
here, and a little bit there, will
certainly add up to
something. It
may take me
10, 15, or even
20 years, but I
will get there.
In addition to
saving, one of the
best things we can
do to make our
dream hunts possible
is to spend wisely. If
you are like me then
some of the gear you
use now may work
for your dream hunt,
but some of it may
have to be replaced or
upgraded. I am filtering every hunting-related
purchase I make through the long-term goal of
my dream hunt(s). Maybe product X will be fine
for my hunting now, but if I would go with
product Y I will be much better off in the long
run. I don‘t hunt elk yet, but I bought my new
bow with backcountry elk hunting in mind. The
same can be said of my sight, arrows, backpack,
tent, etc.
Don‘t just save smart. Spend smart. It is better
to buy once.
Sweat – It is going to take a lot of hard work
to make your dream hunt come true. It may mean
extra hours of work to save the money, or it may
mean extra time spent researching and planning.
It will also often mean literal buckets of sweat.
Most of us dream of chasing elusive game in
terrain that we are not adapted to or physically
prepared for. If we want to be successful and hunt
our quarry in their home turf, then we are
going to need to prepare
for that physically. We
must condition our
bodies and raise our
hunting and shooting
skills to the next level.
There isn‘t
enough hours in the
day, I can agree
with you on that
one. But, if you
really want to
make your dream hunt
come true then you are
going to need to find the
time – maybe even skip
some sleep. I am
squeezing every extra
minute I can to train
myself physically,
prepare myself mentally, and learn as much as I
can about the animals I am after, and the terrain
in which they reside – all while working hard and
loving my family well. It is difficult, but it can be
done.
Stop dreaming and start hunting! It will take
some studying, you will need to schedule it out,
you will need to make some financial sacrifice,
and you must be willing to put in the work.
You can get there, if you really want it. Do
you? BA
My ears ring from the bellowing screams.
They are getting closer. I have hiked mile after
mile and gained elevation with each step. The air
is so thin that I have trouble breathing, but I am
determined. My heart is now racing. Suddenly,
the mountain comes to life as he majestically
appears in an opening in the forest. I draw my
compound bow, settle the pin, focus...and then I
wake up! It was just a dream. An incredible,
exciting, adrenaline-fueled dream!
Bowhunting the Wapiti in the high country of
Colorado has been a dream hunt of mine since I
was young. Actually, it was more of a
pipedream. When I lived in New York State, I
had an abundance of whitetails to hunt and was
living paycheck-to-paycheck, so I stuck with
bowhunting what I knew – whitetail deer. I
figured bowhunting elk was out of the realm of
possibility. As I have grown as a man, as a
bowhunter, I know that hard work, a little
research, and focused determination can get you
that dream.
The first order of business was devising a
game plan; a ‗How-to-attain-my-goal‘ list, if you
will. When I sat down and put pencil to paper, I
sat there in a hazy stupor. Where was I going to
start? The task was powerfully overwhelming. I
put the pencil down and jumped on bowhunting
forums like DIYbowhunter.com and posed a
question about elk hunting and where to begin. It
turns out there are many hunters out there willing
to share information; you just have to ask the
questions!
The assistance I was offered by my fellow
bowhunters was incredible. It was rather
humbling to find people willing to share this
priceless information. In no time, I had
information on where to start and everyone
insisted I take my time with planning. It wasn‘t
going to happen overnight, so I listened and
absorbed all of the information.
I burned a few lunch hours researching the
tags and areas to hunt as I was so focused on
reading the material offered by the Colorado Fish
and Game Dept. I had no idea that you could get
an over-the-counter elk tag in Colorado! Not
only was it over-the-counter, but you can choose
between an OTC archery cow or either-sex tag
(the latter cost a little more).
I then decided I needed more information. By
joining the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation I
was rewarded with great information like
“Secrets to Better Elk Hunting”. Talk about
abundant information! This is packed with it! If
you are looking to hunt elk and are not a member,
join and you‘ll be rewarded with invaluable
wisdom.
Mental and physical training are two key
elements I needed to work on to have an
enjoyable, successful OTC DIY Colorado elk
hunt. When I lived back East, my training was
limited to rugby practice. I didn‘t have a need to
train hard for hunting out of a tree stand 100
yards from the road. Hunting an elk isn‘t going
to be easy and having them walk right under a
tree stand is not very likely, so I will have to train
my body for this hunt. Sure, I could probably
wing it. I could show up with my gear and go
hunting. Then the altitude would strangle me, the
hiking would drag me down, and I wouldn‘t
enjoy the hunt. Then, if and when I am
successful, the downed elk isn‘t going to walk
itself out of the forest. Physical training is a
must!
My physical training began with cardio in the
gym. I exercised, ate better, and I dropped some
weight. Then I got to thinking. If I kill an elk, I
am going to have to pack out a hundred pounds of
meat at a time over rough country and quite
possibly have to do it many times. I needed to
replicate that feat. So, I broke out the Badlands
2200 and loaded it with sandbags. I am hiking 3-
4 miles with a combined weight of 70 lbs right
now. By the time September rolls around I aim
to be lugging 100+
pounds on my back and
hiking more than 5
miles at a time.
Living just above sea
level is going to be a
major challenge as the
altitude is going to be
my enemy. Even still, I
will be taking it slow. I
don‘t want any
headaches or
lightheaded hikes.
Training in the Southern
California foothills will
help some. I‘ll be able
to gain some elevation
and to run some hills, but the true test will come
when I am climbing that first Colorado mountain
in search of elk.
Mentally, I am focusing on shot placement.
Consistent archery practice is also going to be
essential to my success. Not only will I have to
hit the archery range more often, I will also have
to practice out further. My goal was to regularly
practice out to 80 yards so that my 40-50 yard
shots are chip shots. With the addition of a 7-pin
sight, I have begun practicing out to 80 yards. I
am now becoming
accustomed to that
distance and when I
creep in to 50 yards it
almost seems too close.
Another major item is
hitting the target right
where I want to.
Practicing out to 80
yards is all well and
good, but I have to do it
AND hit the sweet spot
on the target. Once I
feel comfortable on a
level surface I plan on
practicing on hill sides.
Shooting up, down,
sideways, out of breath, crouched, and I could go
on, but you get the picture. I want to be ready for
any situation.
Another form of practice is sharpening my
cow calls. A great way to learn has been to
practice in my car on my way to work in the
morning. I figure if I have to be stuck in traffic,
but it doesn‘t mean I can‘t accomplish
something! I listen to proper calling,
practice, listen some more and practice
again. If you record what you are doing it
really helps you fine tune your calling.
My work is cut out for me, but with my
dream in sight, 2012 will be the year I
make it to Colorado for a DIY elk hunt
with an OTC tag. I will be ready. My
body will be fit, my skills honed, and the
air clean. My dream hunt WILL happen in
2012. What about yours? BA
Randy R. Mabe (336)908-0699 [email protected]
www.BroadheadKennels.com
Right out of the gate, I‘m going to apologize.
I‘m sorry if I offend anyone with this story, but as
a guy that feels he has earned the right to say
what I‘m about to say, I feel you should know up
front what you‘re getting into. No miscon-
ceptions, no confusion, no soft selling, I‘m
talking full disclosure. As your writer, I feel it is
my duty to be upfront and honest and tell you
what I have told anyone else that has asked me,
including my dad. If you have a dream to head
west in pursuit of the mighty Wapiti, then I feel it
my obligation to warn you elk hunting with a
bow and arrow on your own is hard. Downright
brutal with the potential to chew you up and spit
you out. Do It Yourself (DIY) backcountry elk
hunting takes no prisoners and it doesn‘t give one
iota how much time and effort you‘ve put in.
Nothing is given and success is earned one inch
at a time.
So if we know DIY elk hunting is hard, then
that must mean DIY elk hunting when you‘re
from the east is somewhere close to impossible.
If you answered yes, then you are correct. DIY
Elk hunting when you‘re from the east is a hard
that‘s harder than the first hard. Please don‘t take
this the wrong way, but if you‘re soft, lazy, or
just in general don‘t seem to have ―toughness‖
about you, then I suggest you stop reading right
now and move on to something different. I won‘t
be offended, I will not judge, and what is good
for one is not always good for another.
If however you‘re still with me, then I invite
you to saddle up as we embark on discussing
what I feel are the first steps in becoming a DIY
Elk hunter from the east.
----
Getting Started
Keeping in mind this is a magazine article not
a book, there are a few basic topics that I feel
need to be answered when considering a first
timer hunting the west.
Step 1: Setting the Tone.
Step 2: Who are you going with?
Step 3: Where are you going?
Step 4: Devise a plan.
Step 1: Setting the Tone.
I‘m a quote guy. I love them. I have a quote
on my phone screen, “He who suffers,
remembers”, I have a quote on my bow limb,
“Failure is Not an Option‖. These quotes,
strategically placed, remind me to not only stay
focused day in and day out, but also help
motivate me. When thinking about Step 1:
Setting the Tone, the quote that says it all to me is
from Bryan Tracy, a renowned author and
motivational speaker, when he says…
“Between you and every goal you wish to
achieve there is a series of obstacles, and the
bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your
decision to be, and have and do something out of
the ordinary entails facing difficulties and
challenges that are out of the ordinary as well.
Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your
ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.”
For me it doesn‘t get much simpler than that.
If I want something, then I need to do something.
It‘s that simple. I don‘t mean to sound all Johnny
hardcore with this, but if your dream is to go elk
hunting, then go elk hunting. Stand up, look
yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself you‘re
going elk hunting. The biggest obstacle in this
entire process is not where to go, what equipment
you‘ll need, or what tag you need to draw, the
biggest obstacle in the entire process is you.
Make the commitment. Be bold and give your
heart and soul to the journey.
Step 2: Who are you going with?
Once you decide you‘re going, the next move
is to decide who you‘re going with. Please be
forewarned this is a step not be taken lightly.
Whoever you
are considering
asking, my
advice is to
really think it
through before
you actually
make the
decision. Just
because a friend
is fun to hang
out with at a 3D
shoot doesn‘t
mean they‘ll be
fun to hang out with when
the going gets tough in
the backcountry.
I once had a good
friend tell me (when
talking about running a
100 mile ultramarathon)
“If you have a weakness, a 100 miler will find it.”
Trust me when I tell you the mountains are no
different. They will find your weakness and
exploit it. The last situation you want to be in is
to find yourself 6 miles deep into the backcountry
with the wrong person in the wrong situation.
Whether you pick 1, 2, 3, or 6 people, I
encourage you to choose wisely and make sure
that your goals are aligned with those in your
party.
Step 3: Where are you going?
This is one that is going to take some serious
time and energy. When deciding where to go
there are a number of variables to consider with
the most important in my opinion being tag
availability vs. quality of animal. Your best bet is
to start reading and researching through magazine
publications such as Western Hunter, Eastman’s
Hunting & Bowhunting Journal, and Elk Hunter
Magazine, just to name a few. There is also a
wealth of books available on this topic.
The second option when considering where
to go is the internet. There literally has not
been an easier time in history to find and
access information on hunting in other states.
Take for example the access we have to
individual state Division and Department of
Wildlife web sites. Hunting regulations, tag
information, drawing
odds, hunt planners,
harvest information,
biologists and ranger
phone numbers, can all
be found by a click of
the mouse. This,
along with other
resources such as
Google searches,
hunting forums, blogs,
and mapping software
like Google Earth and DeLorme Topo make it
pretty darn simple to obtain some serious
hardcore information about a hunting area if you
want it. Start digging, stay diligent, and ask a lot
of questions. Eventually through all of your
research, a spot will emerge.
Step 4: Devise a plan.
I‘m not going to lie; devising a plan
encompasses a lot. From logistics of getting
from your house to camp, to equipment including
archery gear, camping gear, clothing, food, etc.,
to breaking down an animal and getting it out, to
putting yourself into mountain conquering, elk
killing shape, step 4 of devising a plan is all about
the details, and lots of them.
Cutting my teeth I‘ve missed details that
directly cost me shots at filling my tag and I
found out the hard way how important the little
things are. My best advice for step 4 is to look at
things through the eyes of the Nth
degree. Always
err on the side of caution and over-prepare for
what you expect.
In future issues of BowAmerica I will do my
best to break down subject areas in this step such
as logistics, equipment, backcountry nutrition,
physical preparation, etc., and share with you
what I feel has worked for me. By no means do I
claim to be the expert, I‘m just a simple guy that
wanted to go elk hunting so bad he found a way
to make it happen while living and growing up in
the east. BA
We all have been caught day dreaming at
work of far off places in which we fulfill our
childhood dreams of taking a trophy animal on a
species not native or our normal hunting grounds.
Wildebeest on the African plains, a 7x7 Rocky
Mountain Elk in Montana, Dall Sheep in Alaska
or a Big Mature Whitetail in South Texas, but for
me it is the fastest land mammal in North
America, the North American Pronghorn or
Speed Goats as I'd like to call them.
I have spent countless hours scouring videos,
articles, blogs, BLM maps, Google Earth and
hunting stories of others taking their trophies on
the plains of North American. A lot of people
take them with a rifle and sit 200+ yards away
while the goat stares at them, but my dreams are a
little closer than that. I want to be able to see my
reflection in their eyes as I lift my range finder up
to verify the yardage of my then equal. Game
and hunter facing each other at 30 paces, lime old
west gun slingers, me the drifter and he the salty
country folk locked in a battle of wits and wills.
The drawing of his last breath and the exhale of
mine, a symphony of power and grace, that
results in a well placed arrow just behind his
shoulder at the intersection of white and brown.
A short yet vigorous run from the goat results in
the most monumental event in my hunting career
up to this point, my first Speed Goat. The crowd
stands in applause as the curtain falls and I win an
Emmy for my film on hunting in Idaho. Well at
least that is how it plays out within my mind, or
something like that.
Fast forward a few years and insert an
opportunity hunt public land in the great state of
Idaho and more specifically South East
Idaho. Top that off with a friend who is a local
who has endless connections and the ability to
give much needed support on the ground, and I
am poised to embark an adventure that will for
me at least, be forever remembered.
So now that I have the pie in the sky plans laid
out in front of me where do I go from here? To
start, my hunt is all public land and though from
what I have heard from others and what I have
seen from pictures there are big goats out there, it
is really still just hear-say and promises. But, I
do believe I can do a lot of scouting from my
office in California of the land and topography in
South East Idaho. Here is a basic rundown of my
normal routine.
A simple Google search can do wonders
for providing information on an area.
Articles, a guides notes, and details from
past hunters on a general area. You will
find restaurants, archery shops, motels and
endless information and possible contacts
on an area that you have never even see. It
is a daunting task at this point, but you
need to start somewhere.
During the search, click on the Images tab
and start the endless hours of looking at
pictures that have been posted by people
and websites. It is amazing what pride
will do to a hunter, with all the
advancements in technology our bar room
boasting has only moved to the computer
for everyone to see. People tend to give
way to much information on who, what,
when, where and why's of the hunt,
especially when they harvest something.
Also take note of key geographical
features in the background to help you get
your bearings when in the field.
In my case with Pronghorn, water during
August and September is the best way to
hunt them. Find water on public land and
you most likely find antelope smacking
their lips for a refreshing drink. So I
looked up pictures of windmills, watering
holes, hay fields and photo blogs.
Photographers may not pursue game in the
sense that you or I, but they hunt game
with a lens and share it freely. You'd be
amazed of the quality of information you
can get from hikers, geocachers and
wildlife photographers.
Now that the basic information has been
found it is time to get specific and look at maps
and more specifically aerial photographs of
watering holes and hopefully game trails. Last
year I hunted a new area and by only searching
Google Earth and my other best friend, Cabelas
Recon, I set myself up on a spot that had a 250+
pound pig trotting right at me within 15 minutes
of being set up.
Look for programs and information on the
web to help you set up what you can from your
home. Lastly don‘t be afraid to call up shops for
information on the area you are targeting, search
content and ask questions on regionally specific
forums. The worst they can say is nothing or no,
at the least they may give you some info and
maybe, just maybe, they will invite you over for a
drink and tell you to bring your map when you
get to town. BA
Submitting for out of state tags can sometimes
be a daunting task. After years of hunting your
own state and becoming familiar with all of the
local application processes, fees, deadlines, etc.,
if you decide to venture outside of your state
lines, the application process quickly becomes an
adventure of its own.
Living in Colorado, I‘m pretty familiar with
how things work in my state, but as soon as Troy
and I decided to start submitting for big game
tags in other Western states, we quickly realized
that it is necessary to do your homework and plan
ahead. It is not as simple as buying your tag a
month before your hunt. You must plan ahead
and submit for your tag well in advance. Each
state has their own application process, and most
get started around the first of the year. The
deadline to submit for 2012 big game tags has
already past for several of the western states;
however, if you are still wanting to plan a trip out
west this fall for big game, there is still time. But
you will need to act fast!
The best recommendation I have if you are
planning on hunting out west in the near future, is
to start doing your research now! Changes to the
application process often occur from year to year,
but the more familiar you are with how a state
works, the better off you will be.
Something else to consider, even if you are
not planning on hunting a western state this year
or even next year, is the option to begin building
your preference points. By having additional
points, when you submit for a tag in an area that
limits the tags or ―permits‖ allowed for a unit, the
greater chance you have on drawing a tag in a
preferred unit. Many states will even allow you
to purchase these points even if you are not
planning on hunting that year. Keep in mind that
some states will only allow you to be considered
for the draw after accumulating a certain amount
of points. You can receive your points by either
being unsuccessful in the draw, or by simply
purchasing a bonus point for that species as
mentioned previously.
The below sections, separated out by state,
give a high-level glance at the some of the more
popular big game tags, along with the 2012 non-
resident pricing structure. The application
deadlines and hunting regulations were obtained
through each state‘s Division of Wildlife (DOW)
site. Your best bet is to access each DOW
directly for the most accurate information. Most
of these states now have Big Game Application
Guidebooks that can be downloaded directly from
their websites. Another great feature that proves
very helpful when trying to determine where to
hunt is the Drawing Odds. E.g., Wyoming has
the 2011 Drawing Odds listed for each species
drawn.
All prices listed below are for nonresident and
male species animals. Refer to individual DOW
hunting regulations for other pricing options,
resident, youth, antlerless, etc.
Once you select a state for your next DIY big
game adventure, begin planning well in advance
and make sure you read through and be familiar
with all the hunting regulations prior to your
hunt. Remember that each state is different and it
is your responsibility to ensure that you follow
and respect their laws.
COLORADO
In Colorado, if you are unsuccessful in the
draw process, there are still opportunities to
purchase a left over draw tag or over-the-counter
(OTC) unit tag for some species, e.g., elk and
antelope. The big game regulations brochure
details all of the draw and over-the-counter units.
The only down side to hunting in an OTC area is
potential hunting pressure and lower animal populations.
Another thing to consider if coming to CO is the bow regulations. Scopes, electronic or
battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to bow or arrow. Yes, that includes
lighted nocks. In addition, there are regulations on the broadheads allowed, e.g., a minimum of 7/8-
inch outside diameter or width and minimum two steel cutting edges. Each edge must be in the same
plane for the entire length of the cutting surface. Many broadheads now days have a helical design,
which is not allowed in CO.
I‘ve said it several times already, but this is another great example of why it is important to read
through the regulations for each state.
Preference Points Available? Yes. CO offers the opportunity to acquire / buy preference points.
Application Process: Online / Mail
*Nonresidents must use paper applications if applying for moose hunts.
Additional Fees? Yes. A $10.00 Habitat Stamp is required when purchasing a license.
Proclamations: Sheep & Goat; Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Moose, Bear
COLORADO www.wildlife.state.co.us
APPLICATION DEADLINE COST
ANTELOPE Apr 3, 2012 $349 - adult $103.75 - youth
BIG HORN SHEEP Apr 3, 2012 $1,919
DEER Apr 3, 2012 $349 - adult $103.75 - youth
ELK Apr 3, 2012 $579 - adult $103.75 - youth
*MOOSE Apr 3, 2012 $1,919
MOUNTAIN GOAT Apr 3, 2012 $1,919
UTAH
The big change for Utah this year is the general season deer hunt now takes place in 30 units instead
of five regions. Due to this change, the buck / bull combo hunt is being discontinued in the Northern
Region.
Preference / Bonus Points Available? Yes. UT offers the opportunity to buy bonus points for
$10.00; however, a license must be purchased first in order to qualify.
Another thing to keep in mind, is that if you are building bonus points, you must apply at least once in
a consecutive three-year period in order to not lose points accrued. Deadline this year is March 8, 2012
Application Process: Online / Mail
Additional Fees? Yes. Before applying for a hunting tag in UT, a hunting license must be
purchased first. A nonresident basic hunting license costs $65.00.
Proclamations: 2012 Application Guidebook; Regulations
*Once-in-a-lifetime species
UTAH www.wildlife.utah.gov
APPLICATION DEADLINE COST
ANTELOPE Mar 1, 2012 $288 (limited-entry)
*BIG HORN SHEEP Mar 1, 2012 $1,513
DEER Mar 1, 2012 $263 (general) $463 (limited-entry)
ELK Mar 1, 2012 $388 (general) $795 (limited-entry)
*MOOSE Mar 1, 2012 $1,513
*MOUNTAIN GOAT Mar 1, 2012 $1,513
WYOMING
Wyoming also offers the opportunity to purchase leftover licenses if you are unsuccessful in a draw.
They are available to purchase this year on July 10, 2012 and it is a first come, first serve basis.
Keep in mind; if you acquire a tag in WY and will be hunting within a game management unit that
has a wilderness boundary, it is mandatory that you have a guide with you at all times. This is a state
law. There are several areas that are not wilderness within a game management unit, but it is still up to
you to be familiar with the area you are hunting. Know your maps!
Preference Points Available? Yes. Preference points can be purchased online July 1 - Sept 30 for
deer, elk, antelope, moose, or Bighorn sheep
Application Process: Online / Mail
Additional Fees? Yes. Wyoming has a $14.00 nonrefundable application fee for each tag
submitted.
Proclamations: 2012 Big Game Regulations
WYOMING www.gf.state.wy.us
APPLICATION DEADLINE COST
ANTELOPE Mar 15, 2012 $272
BIG HORN SHEEP Feb 29, 2012 $2,252
DEER Mar 15, 2012 $312
ELK Jan 31, 2012 $577
MOOSE Feb 29, 2012 $1,402
MOUNTAIN GOAT Feb 29, 2012 $2,152
MONTANA
Montana offers combination licenses which include a fishing license, bird license, conservation
license and hunting access enhancement fee. This seems to be a good option considering all of the
additional fees required when purchasing a license in MT.
New this year for nonresident applications is the option to purchase your additional elk / deer
permit at the same time as your license. The deadline for both permit and license is now March 15th.
In the past, the permit deadline was June 1st. By changing the deadline to the same date, the draw
results will be available by the end of April for both, which provides additional time to plan your hunt.
In order to purchase a MT bow and arrow license, it is necessary to provide a National Bowhunter
Education Foundation certificate.
Preference / Bonus Points Available? Yes. Preference points can be purchased for a $50 fee.
Bonus points can also be purchased for a $20 fee. Both preference and bonus points are lost if not used
for two consecutive years. More detailed explanation of Preference vs. Bonus points can be found
here.
Application Process: Online / Mail
Additional Fees? Yes. There are several. A $10.00 conservation license is a prerequisite for all
licenses. A $10.00 Hunting Access Enhancement Fee assessed at the time of license purchase. And, for
bowhunters a $10.00 Archery license must be purchased after obtaining a hunting license.
Permits may also be purchased for each license which allows the hunter to expand the area they are
hunting in.
Proclamations: 2012 Deer and Elk
MONTANA www.fwp.mt.gov/hunting
APPLICATION DEADLINE COST
ANTELOPE Jun 1, 2012 $205
BIG HORN SHEEP May 1, 2012 $755
DEER Mar 15, 2012 $561
ELK Mar 15, 2012 $794
MOOSE May 1, 2012 $755
MOUNTAIN GOAT May 1, 2012 $755
IDAHO
Idaho offers great big game hunting opportunities, and licenses can be purchased for either general
or controlled hunts. Their controlled hunt permits are issued by a random drawing, and if you are
fortunate to draw a tag, you will want to take advantage of the Idaho Hunt Planner which is a great
resource for planning a DIY hunt. Maps and information on Idaho‘s rules, dates, harvest information,
drawing odds, etc. are available through this online resource.
Preference / Bonus Points Available? No
Application Process: Online, Mail (Nonresident Application), or phone (1-800-554 - 8685)
Additional Fees? Yes. The state of Idaho requires a hunting license of $154.75 to be purchased in
order to qualify for a tag or permit. If applying for a controlled (limited) hunt, an additional $14.75 fee
is added for each application.
Proclamations: 2011 - 2012 Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat; 2011 Big Game
NOTE: As of Feb 2012, ID does not have updated proclamations available. Be sure to check the ID
website for the most current information for the 2012 - 2013 season.
IDAHO www.fishandgame.idaho.gov
APPLICATION DEADLINE COST
ANTELOPE Jun 5, 2012 $311.75
BIGHORN SHEEP Apr 30, 2012 $2,101.75
DEER Jun 5, 2012 $301.75
ELK Jun 5, 2012 $416.75
MOOSE Apr 30, 2012 $2,101.75
MOUNTAIN GOAT Apr 30, 2012 $2,101.75
So, there you have it - a brief, high-level comparison on prices and applications for hunting big
game species in a few of the Western states. And, if you aren‘t up for the challenge of navigating
through the application process, there is always the option of going through a full service licensing
program, e.g., Cabela‘s T.A.G.S. BA
All hunters and outdoorsman have some sort
of dream hunt they would like to do.
In making this hunt happen you need to have
access to public or private land. Some hunters
just don‘t have that luxury, leaving them to rely
on guides and outfitters. Prior to bookingvthe
hunt there are some questions hunters may want
to ask to ensure that they are getting their
money‘s worth while talking to guides and
outfitters. Are licenses and tags included in the
price or do they have to be bought separately and
does the price include lodging and meals, for
instance. With most guides and outfitters lodging
and meals are included, but be sure before
booking your hunt. If there is a need to fly, will
there be transport from the airport? What about
processing of the harvest and preparation of the
meat for transport? Processing of the harvest and
preparation for transport can be expensive and
different states have laws and regulations
concerning transport or the harvest. Many states
do not allow deer and other cervid carcasses to
cross the state line due to the threat of CWD.
How will you get to where you are going to
hunt? Some outfitters use horseback and not
atv‘s. If you are going to ride a horse and have
never ridden one, well you better go to a riding
stable for practice. If atv‘s are to be used, find
out if the outfitter and guide provide them, or if
you must bring your own.
What is the success rate for kills with the
outfitter? If the answer to this question is ―I don‘t
know for sure‖ or ―Pretty good,‖ be alert to this
question.
What constitutes a kill? For example, does
that mean if an animal is wounded and not
retrieved are you charged for that? This is an
important question to ask, especially if you are
Guide and Outfitter Checklist
Licensing and Tag Requirements Lottery Draws Priority Points Areas to Apply For Guide/Outfitter/Landowner Tags Non-Resident Costs Additional Permits Needed WMA Permits Habitat Permits Archery Permits Game Specific Permits 3-day / 5-day Permits Education Requirements Hunter Safety Bowhunter Education Over The Counter Permits Places to Purchase Outfitter Transportation State Agency Website
Hunting Success Rates Kill Success Rates Archery Kill Success Rates What is Considered a Kill Blood Hair Actual Recovery Shot Opportunity Rates What is Considered Shot Opportunity
Lodging / Meals Type of Lodging Campsite Resort Style Hotel How Far From Hunting Area Special Rates Type of Meals Brown Bag Style Lunches Full Breakfast / Supper Make Your Own Special Meal Accomodations
Transportation From / To Airport To / From Hunting Area To / From Game Processors Outfitter Supplied ATV / APV Bring Your Own ATV -next page-
hunting exotic animals on a preserve. The
outfitter pays for these animals since they are not
native. Does the outfitter only accept payment
once the animal is harvested? Some outfitters
provide wild boar hunts guarantee a kill or you
don‘t have to pay.
I have seen outfitters that charge different
prices for whitetail deer that score 130-140 class
and the price increases as the score of the buck
increases. Several outfitters I have talked to
charge a flat fee for the hunt. The same is true for
upland bird hunting on a shooting preserve. The
hunt may be sold all inclusive or you may be
charged by the bird.
It is very important not to choose the first
outfitter you talk. Do your research and ask
questions. Check references by talking to
previous hunters that have hunted with the
outfitter. Guides and outfitters love positive
feedback and most want to ensure your hunt is a
memorable experience. They also want return
business, so a negative response will most likely
show up if you ask the right questions.
I chose Silver Creek Outfitters in Cadiz, KY
this past deer season. I was a little reserved prior
to scheduling my hunt mainly because I didn‘t
know what to expect. I was greeted with a smile
and given full run of the farms. Scouting
opportunities were made available to me for both
morning and evening hunts. Stand locations were
wide open with the choice of using my own stand
or pre-hung stands. I had game camera pictures
along with scouting opportunities to help me
decide where I was going to hunt while there.
After my hunt was over I knew I had gotten
my money‘s worth and was well pleased with my
hunt making my experience a memorable one.
Asking questions and learning from previous
hunters experiences helped to make my hunt a
success and the memories great. BA
Guide / Outfitter Checklist continued
Hunting Habitat and Climate Typical Weather Habitat River Bottom Swamp Desert Forest / Hard Woods Mountains Field / Pasture Terrain Grassy Rocky Wet Special Clothing / Equipment Layered Bug / Tick / Snake Gear GPS or Google Earth / Maps Location
Hunt Areas Food Plots Baited Areas Natural Funnels / Corridors Trail Camera Locations Tracking Use of Dogs
Shooting Facilities Target / Sighting in Equipment
Guided Fully Guided Semi-Guided Self-Guided Game Tracking / Recovery Assistance Quartering / Skinning Assistance Typical Opportunity Average Shot Distance Guide with Firearm Backup
Before / After Come Early to Scout? Early Success-What About Remainder of Time? Last Hour Success-Does Guide Continue Recovery/Tracking of Downed Game?
Trophy Fees / Other Fees Trophy Class Fee if Large Animal? Size Requirements-Fee for smaller size?
Add-Ons Small Game Opportunity Other In-Season Big Game Combo Hunts
Other Services Game Processing Taxidermy Services
Last month in part one of this segment, we got
a quick and basic understanding of the major
anatomy of the shoulder and a very general
understanding of how the shoulder works. As
you recall, one of the main things to remember is
that the rotator cuff plays a significant role in
stabilizing the shoulder for virtually every
movement. Also, keep in mind that while it is a
ball in socket joint the socket made by the
glenoid fossa is shallow and the Labrum (ring of
cartilage) makes it a little deeper but is still
relatively unstable. Now you can imagine the
two most commonly injured areas, in my
experience, are first the rotator
cuff, and secondly the labrum.
While there is some pathology
specific to archers those
conditions are somewhat rare
and most of you reading this
aren‘t injuring your shoulder
with archery but are aggrav-
ating injuries sustained in other
manners. I will focus on the
injuries you are most likely to
encounter that will give you
trouble when shooting.
By far the most common
shoulder injury is some sort of
trauma or overuse injury of the
Rotator Cuff. The Rotator Cuff
is made up of the tendons from four relatively
small muscles that originate on the scapula and
attach to the head of the humerus. Such an
important structure is prone to overuse. One
condition is called Impingement Syndrome which
is caused by a narrowing of the space between the
Humeral head and the Acromion Process of the
Scapula (See Illustration; red circle). It can often
be treated with rest and physical therapy.
Otherwise the main injury is a sprain or tear of
the muscle or tendon. This is caused by trauma,
poor form, or various other mechanisms. Minor
sprains can be treated conservatively while major
tears are usually treated surgically. Keeping your
shoulder healthy (which we will cover shortly)
can be key in preventing most of these injuries.
Labral injuries are a little trickier and can be
caused by trauma, dislocation or subluxation.
Dislocation is when the head of the humerus is
moved out of the socket and
get stuck there. The labrum
can be injured during the
dislocation or during the
reduction (putting it back in
place). A Subluxation is a
dislocation that spontaneously
reduces itself. In other words
it pops out and then pops right
back in on its own. Because
several ligaments attach to the
labrum it can also be torn by
some forceful movements of
the shoulder in various
directions without the humeral
head leaving the joint socket.
Lastly, I‘m sure some of you
have heard of a SLAP tear. It is one of the most
common injuries to the labrum. I‘ve heard all
kinds of crazy ideas people come up with as to
why it‘s called a SLAP tear but what it really
means is Superior Labral tear Anterior to
Posterior. So basically the top part of the
cartilage is torn from front to back usually be
falling on an outstretched arm, bracing yourself
or repetitive overhead movements. Unfortunately
most of the time SLAP requires surgery, and is
somewhat difficult to prevent as it‘s usually
caused by trauma.
Now that we know the most common injuries
we‘ll review how we can prevent them, by simply
keeping your shoulder healthy. I will start of by
saying if you currently have shoulder pain see a
physcian! This article is not intended to treat or
diagnose any injuries. While some injuries can
be treated with the exercises we use to prevent
them, if done improperly they can make an injury
worse. Alright, now that we covered that we can
move on to prevention. The main thing that
prevents injury is strengthening which if done
properly also increases stability. We can promote
shoulder strength by targeting those small rotator
cuff muscles as well as larger stabilizer muscles.
A couple of simple exercises you can do are
Internal and External Rotation. If you put your
elbow at your side then put your hand on your
belly button and swing your hand out away from
your stomach by rotating your upper arm that is
external rotation and internal is just the opposite.
By using some sort of resistance in each direction
like a resistance band or cable machine you can
strengthen those rotator cuff muscles. You can
also use resistance with your elbow out at a 45 or
90 degree angle from your body. The key with
this exercise is to start with embarrassingly light
weight and slowly work your way up paying
close attention to muscle fatigue. Only move out
to 45 and 90 degrees once you have developed
strength at your side. Also, when doing the
motion with resistance with your arm at your
side, don‘t keep your elbow tucked against your
body. You should have a small gap. If you need
help maintaining that gap role up a small towel
and put it between your ribs and your upper arm
to create and maintain that small gap.
The next motions that can really help with
functional shoulder stability are called D1 and D2
Flexion and Extension which are really 4 total
motions. They are diagonal patterns of
movement that build on a technique therapists use
called Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation.
We won‘t dive into that concept but this is taking
a manual physical therapy technique and turning
it into a resistance exercise. The D1 movement is
somewhat like throwing a Frisbee, but more of a
direct downward movement. You start with your
hand on the opposite shoulder and move your
hand down and across your body to your hip.
That is called D1 extension and D1flexion is just
the exact opposite. Starting at your hip and
moving your hand up and across your body to the
opposite shoulder. D2 is a little different and is
like drawing a sword. Extension starts with your
hand on the opposite hip, move your hand up and
across your body in a diagonal motion until your
arm is outstretched above your head. Again D2
flexion is just the opposite starting with your arm
outstretched above your head like the statue of
liberty, move your hand and down across your
body to the opposite hip. Again, free motion
cable cross over machines or resistance bands can
add resistance to these motions for great
functional shoulder stability.
Lastly you can use a resistance band and
pull it back just to like you would your bow string
to help condition the muscles used in your draw
cycle but that will only keep one plane of
movement strong and stable. Before you go out
and try any of these exercises do your research
online and consider each source. Try to stick
with sports medicine university programs for
advice on the Internet or consult a fitness
professional. I can‘t caution you enough to start
with incredibly little weight or resistance and stop
at any sign of pain or discomfort outside of minor
muscle fatigue. BA
All the signs of spring are starting; the trees
are beginning to bud, the waterfowl have all left
for their northern homes, and the antlers are
dropping. Bowfishing season and the carp spawn
are just around the corner. That means it‘s time to
get your equipment that has sat idle all winter and
get it ready to roll. It‘s time to stash the equip-
ment in the car, have it at the ready, and even
pack along when shed hunting for those first
rough fish coming out of the winter depths.
My bows have hung quietly on their racks in
the bedroom for several months now, and I can
see that perhaps, just perhaps, I was so ready for
waterfowl hunting that I just sort of pulled them
from their stash in the truck and threw them up
there, minus any winterization or preventative
maintenance. Yikes! Is there really mud and
blood still on the recurve? Lordy, do they need
some attention before heading out to the
backwaters!
Getting your bowfishing equipment ready
isn‘t a tough or time consuming task, and these
last few gray, ugly, damp, cold days of winter
that are hanging on are the perfect opportunity to
spend a little time inside preparing for the spring
spawn and rush that‘s ever so close.
I feel obligated to interject here that one really
should retire their equipment properly at the end
of the season; it will not only save your bow, but
it will save you time come spring when you hear
that first fish flop and go racing to water‘s edge!
However, if you are like me and segue quickly
from bowfishing season to other cold weather
pursuits and just swapped out your bowfishing
tote in the truck for your deer hunting tote, here
are few guidelines for getting that equipment in
top operating shape for the season ahead.
First I do an overall visual inspection, and
quick clean up, so that any problems can be noted
and listed. If I‘m going to have to make a trip to
my local archery shop, I might as well have a list
ready and not traipse over there forty seven
different times.
After I do the initial once over, I start in
earnest. First check the strings for any frays or
damage that would require them to be replaced. If
you note that the string has stretched; traipse over
to your favorite bow shop and have them add
twists to tighten the string back up. Stop to
consider the huge number of fibers that make up a
bow string, factor in the added twist that they
endure and this leads us to the next step in my
spring clean up – those strings need lubricated!
Water proof wax, in my opinion, is still the best
material for this. The wax also protects the string
from the abuse bowfishing puts bows through.
For those new to bowfishing, it‘s a dirty, messy,
wet faced, fast-paced, shoot, shoot, and shoot
again business. Not at all like a quiet autumn sit
in a tree stand. Water, sand, mud, blood, and the
occasional submersion will eventually ruin your
string if not enough wax is present. Use a good
soft wax and apply it to the string, rub it in with
your fingers, and wipe off any excess. Whatever
you do, DO NOT heat the wax or strings; that‘s
instant recipe for disaster.
Next on the list; check your cams, idler
bushing, and limbs. Also inspect the outer edge of
your cams for any sign of damage, dings, bends,
or snags. Any of these could
cause the string to slip off or
cause damage to the string
itself. If the cam is damaged;
add that to list of items to be
addressed when you visit your
local archery shop.
Visually inspect the limbs,
look for cracks, finish damage,
unusual bends/twists, and
anything that seems out of the
ordinary. During the rush of
carp spawn is no time to have
limb explode or crack. If
there‘s an issue with a limb,
correct it now. Once again, put it on that list for
the archery shop.
One of the most important parts of your
bowfishing set up is your retriever and line. I
recommend using a little hot soapy water clean
up your retriever, get out all the tiny bits and
pieces of dirt, grit, and carp scales that always
seem to wind up in them. Add a bit of fresh
grease to the gears, and your retriever will be set
for that giant grassy hanging out in the weeds
waiting for you.
It‘s crucial to inspect your line for fraying, and
length of line in the bottle. Over the course of a
busy bowfishing season you can cut off a lot of
line; lots more than you probably realize. If you
have a standard retriever bottle check the
manufactures recommendations for the correct
amount of line. A general rule of thumb is 25
yards in a regular sized bottle and 50 yards in a
larger bottle retriever. A quick and easy way to
check this is by pulling all the line out of the reel
and cranking it back in. As rough guide, one
rotation on the handle equals ½ yard of line. So,
if you have 50 rotations on the handle that equals
25 yards of line. If you pull all the line out of
your bottle and you retrieve 45 rotations or less,
you should put new line in the reel. Suppose you
use a large bottle style retriever;
in that case 50 yards of line is
more acceptable. Using the one
crank-½ yard trick... the larger
bottle retrievers need 100
cranks. This formula works for
both 200lb Braided Dacron and
400lb Fast Flight line. Trust me,
there's nothing worse than
falling just short of that big gar
because you forgot to check the
length of line in your retriever.
Once I‘m satisfied that the
bows are in good working order
and set to go, I turn to my arrow
stash. A quick and inexpensive way to store
bowfishing arrows is to use a length of PVC pipe
with a secure cap on one end. I drill a couple of
holes in the end cap to help with water drainage,
and they are at the ready and easy to transport or
strap to the boat. Inspect all your arrows and
points. Is the arrow cracked? Warped? Does it
just plain look out of whack? Toss it. Toss it now.
Use it to stake up your tomato plant if you want,
but do not fling it at a fish.
Take a look at the tips. Are they rusty, bent,
and dull? Replace any that look past their prime
or look as if they aren‘t salvageable. Grab a can
of WD40 or similar lubricant and give the tip
threads a little squirt. This will make for faster
easier fish removal when the action is hot and
you are shooting what seems like a fish a minute.
Now that your bow and arrows are ready to
roll, don‘t forget all your accessories. Are your
sunglasses holding up okay? No scratches? Still
fitting well? Did your bowfishing partner step on
them late in the season? If they aren‘t in excellent
…these last few gray,
ugly, damp, cold days
of winter that are
hanging on are the
perfect opportunity to
spend a little time
inside preparing for the
spring spawn…
condition then add them to list of items to pick
up. A good set of polarized sunglasses is vital to
your success in daytime bowfishing. So much
that I sometimes am of the opinion that they play
a bigger part in bowfishing success than your
bow and arrows. Check your lights if you have
them attached to your bow or in your tote full of
equipment. Make sure you don‘t need to replace
the batteries and clean the contacts, if necessary.
Do it now, not in fit of frustration during the dark
on a riverbank.
If you primarily use a boat for your
bowfishing excursions, now is a good time to
give it a once over as well. Have a gander at the
welds on the shooting deck and rail. Safety first!
Repair or replace anything that could result in an
accident. Is the matting on the floor of boat
intact? We don‘t want loose edges to catch a
slimy foot and send someone into the water.
Visually inspect the wiring and use a tester to
check for any loose connections or bare spots
from pesky mice snacking or transport vibrations
that you may have encountered at the end of the
season. Double check the batteries and generator.
Give the batteries a fresh charge.
It won‘t be long and the carp will be moving
into the warm back waters, the days will be long
and the nights longer, as us bowfishers do our
part in taking out the exotic invasive carp and
other rough fish.
Follow these simple guidelines and you‘ll be
ready to rock and roll when you get that longed
for spring phone call saying, ―Holy Moly! …
There‘s carp everywhere! You have to get here
fast!‖
Think big, aim low, and see you in the
backwater! BA
Wild Game Recipes presented by Papa Scott’s Camp Dog
Catfish Courtbouillon Ingredients:
4 to 5 lbs. of Catfish, cleaned & cut into steaks 2 tbl spoons of vegetable oil to coat bottom of pot (I like
to use cast iron black pot) 1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped ½ cup of green onion chopped 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, chopped ¼ cup of parsley flakes 1 8oz. can tomato sauce 2 tbl spoons of flour Cajun Seasoning to taste (I use Camp Dog Cajun
Seasoning) original blend 1/2 cup of water to mix with flour to use as a thickener.
How to cook:
Season fish with Cajun Seasonings only Pour oil into pot and heat on medium setting Once oil is hot stir in cut onions and sauté for a few minutes then add green onions and
cook slow for about 15 minutes, once onions get transparent add tomato sauce, garlic and parsley and cook slow for about another 30 minutes stirring often, add just a little water to keep from sticking.
Now you are ready to lay your fish steaks in, try not to double steak if possible. Reduce heat cover and let cook very slow, do not stir but shake the pot often to keep from
sticking. If the fish is fresh it should produce its own water (you may add just a little if needed).
Cook for about 30 minutes then mix the flour and water and pour over the fish. Shake, cover and continue to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes until fish is cooked and sauce is just covering the fish.
Serve over a bed of hot rice with sides: ENJOY!
Emily Anderson Colorado
My hunting journey began shortly
after I got married. That fall as
opening season for deer was drawing
near, my sweet husband asked if it was
okay if he went hunting over the
weekend. I quickly responded with,
"Sure! As long as I can come
with." Ever since then, we have been
enjoying our passion for the outdoors /
hunting / fishing, and all that comes
with that... together as a husband and
wife team. I enjoy sharing our stories
of the times spent in the woods. They
can be quite interesting at times. As a
female hunter, I've learned a few
lessons of how to keep up with the guys
in camp. Because when you are hunting,
it is not about looking good and
smelling pretty for those elk. Instead
you learn to not be seen or smelt at
all. I also write the blog Scent Free
Lip Gloss.
Bernie Barringer Minnesota
Bernie began bowhunting in 1973 as a
14-year-old. This became a lifelong
addiction. For more than 35 years, he
has pursued small game, whitetails and
bears across the Midwest, but he is
expanding his experiences to include
other species in other parts of North
America.
After a few years in the 1980‟s as a
professional fur trapper, Bernie has
worked as an outdoor writer in fishing
and hunting, plus in promotions and
marketing in the fishing business for
more than 20 years. He has written more
than 300 magazine feature articles and
nine books. The Bowhunting Road web log
is a response to the request of people
who are fascinated by his passion for
bowhunting and his ability to tell a
story in a compelling way. Bernie is
“living the dream” as he chases game
with stick and string each year.
Tony Catalde California
I am a California born country boy
that grew up with a gun in one hand and
a fishing pole in the other. I have
been able to turn my passions of
bowhunting and fishing into my day job
where I am the Southwest Sale rep for
Elite Outdoor Sport. Western big game
is my passion, but I am not opposed to
bow fishing for carp either.
Bill Howard North Carolina
Bill is a hunter education (IHEA)
and bowhunter education (IBEP)
instructor, lifetime member of North
Carolina Bowhunters Association,
associate member of Pope and Young, and
official measurer for both. He writes
a weekly outdoors column for several
newspapers in North Carolina, is a
regular contributor to North Carolina
Bowhunter magazine, and writes the blog
BillHowardOutdoors and is publisher of
this magazine.
Mark Huelsing Missouri
Mark Huelsing is a regular guy with
an irregular passion for bowhunting and
the outdoors. In addition to writing
for BowAmerica, Mark runs the
bowhunting blog Sole Adventure, and is
also a contributor to several other
outdoor outlets such as Filson Life and
Bowcast. Connect with Mark at
SoleAdventure.com, or say hello on
twitter @SoleAdventure.
Will Jenkins Virginia
Will Jenkins runs TheWilltoHunt.com
Hunting Blog where he recently started
the „Harnesses for Hunters‟ Program. He
also writes for Maryland Whitetail
Magazine.
Darren Johnson Indiana
Darren Johnson is the author of
Taking a Walk on the Wild Side, a blog
born out of his personal love of nature
and his desire to help youth and adults
improve their lives through higher
self-esteem, good decision making and
strengthening family bonds by building
a relationship with nature. He lives
in central Indiana and spends as much
time as possible in nature activities
such as hiking, photography, archery,
hunting, fishing, food plot and habitat
development, as well as other
conservation projects.
Amanda MacDonald New York
Amanda MacDonald is a competitive
target archer and writes the blog Bow
Meets Girl. Amanda lives in Upstate NY
with her husband, two naughty cats and
a lazy dog. When she is not shooting
she is making stuff in her studio,
taking the dog for a hike with Matt,
baking something carb-tastic, or making
excuses to ditch the gym and go shoot.
Albert Quackenbush California
Al writes the bow-hunting blog site
SoCalBowhunter. He is a graphic
designer, photographer, life member of
the North American Hunting Club, and a
pro staffer and primary gear reviewer
for DIYBowhunter.com.
Ryan Shoemaker Ohio
Ryan Shoemaker maintains
Bowhuntquest.com and is a Solo DIY
backcountry hunter, ultra-marathoner,
and pro-staffer for Badlands, Bowtech
Archery, Trophy Taker, Victory Archery,
and Wilderness Athlete.
Britney Starr Michigan
Britney Starr is a native of
Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She is
currently part owner, client services
representative, and social media
manager of Starr & Bodill African
Safaris. Britney enjoys working side by
side with her father and licensed
Professional Hunter, Dwaine Starr, to
provide their clients a worry-free
safari. She also writes gear reviews
for The Women's Outdoor News, an online
resource for news, reviews, and stories
about women in the outdoors.
Gretchen Steele Illinois
Wild Woman, Medicine Mama, Dancin
Arrow Diva - Proud member of the The
Outdoor Sisterhood...just spending my
days walking the woods and waters, the
forests and the fields...Gretchen
writes the blog Walking with the Wild
Woman.
Nick Viau Michigan
Nick Viau authors the traditional
archery blog longbowblogger.com and is
a frequent contributor to the
stickandstring.com website and
publication. He is also a member of the
Michigan Traditional Bowhunters (MTB)
and Michigan Longbow Association (MLA).
Tony West Kentucky
Tony is 39 years old and married to
his best friend and biggest supporter.
He is a father of 2 amazing children.
Tony has been bow hunting since he was
10 and has never looked back. He is a
trial and error hunter who just loves
the challenge. He is the founder of
Hunters for Christ, pro-staff with
Whitefield Outdoors and Field Staff
with Following Ghost. He really enjoys
the outdoors and sharing his exper-
iences with others.
Thanks to ALL of our contributors
and writers and be sure to check out
their blogs and websites between
issues!
Ryan Shoemaker with Badlands
previews Badlands 2012 Clothing
Editor’s Note: Ryan serves as pro-staff for
Badlands
Seventeen years after producing their first
backpack, the folks at Badlands have pushed the
envelope to chart a new course for 2012 with the
release of their new Performance Apparel
System.
The system uses new concepts and in-house
technology to design a three part Performance
Apparel System. A Base layer for optimal in
core body temperature regulation, a Mid layer
designed to hold on to the body‘s heat, and an
Outer layer that completes the system by
keeping out wind, rain, and cold while still
allowing moisture to vapor out through high
performance microporus membranes. Each layer
was designed to work with the other and is
highlighted by seven main technology
features:
Scent Reduction System™ - The ultimate
antimicrobial treatment impregnated deep
into the fabric allowing it to kill odor
causing microbes.
Hex-Lite™ Fleece – A honeycomb
proprietary fleece design that increases
heat retention by trapping warm air into a
multitude of interlocking channels leading
to an increase in heat retention while at the
same time reducing bulk.
Bio-Shell™ - A proprietary composite
fabric designed with a custom treated
fleece. In a nut shell, it keeps the core
warm and dry.
DuPont Teflon DWR® - DuPont Teflon
is simply the highest quality water
repellent money can buy.
Mammoth Fleece™ - Performance fibers
that have been blended together to create
the optimal in heat retention.
Dry-Vent™ - A high performance, highly
efficient, Hydro-folic coated membrane
that draws moisture to the surface.
Variable Motion Seams – Designed to
enhance the body‘s natural range of
motion, each seam is tailored and
articulated to perfection insuring comfort
at all levels.
The Base
The core of the Badlands apparel system starts
with the Bio-Thermic™ Base layer. The base
layer pulls moisture away from the body helping
to regulate core temperature while at the same
time eliminating your scent through the anti-
microbial Scent Reduction System™. The
Element Top and Element Bottom headline the
base layer and are made of multi-stretch polyester
allowing for a full range of motion, and non-
chafing multi panel flat lock stitch construction.
Sizes range from M-XXL and are available in
Realtree AP™. (See Below)
The Mid
The Spectre Top and Spectre Bottom, Ion
Pants, Kinetic Vest, Impact Jacket, and
Inferno Jacket all make up the Badlands Mid
layer system and provide for a variety of layering
options. Each piece features Badlands Bio-
Thermic™ technology, articulated shoulders,
knees, and elbows, and range in size from M-
XXL are available in Realtree AP.
Getting into specifics, the Spectre Top and
Spectre Bottom is a heavier weight base layer
when compared to that of its close counterpart the
Element. The Spectre Top features a laser
welded shoulder pocket, articulated elbows, and
an integrated thumb hole for easily layering.
Both top and bottom also incorporate
antimicrobial SRS™ and DuPont Teflon DWR®.
(See Below)
At the corner stone
of any clothing system
is a solid, tough as nails
six pocket pant and the
Ion Pants are
committed to filling
that roll. Featuring six
pockets, welded water
proof zips, non-wear
Hypalon cuffs for
increased durability,
articulated knees, nylon
re-enforced belt loops,
antimicrobial SRS™
and Hex-Lite™
technology the Ion
Pants have arrived and
are prone to seize their
throne at the top. Sizes
range from M-XXL
and are available in
Realtree AP. (Right)
Taking advantage of the incredible
opportunity to improve on current fleece jackets,
the Impact Jacket and Kinetic Vest feature
Fusion Fleece at the core of their design. Joining
multiple layers and densities of materials and
placing them strategically around the body,
allows for a new way to build a light weight
while at the same time maximizing insulation.
The Impact Jacket and Kinetic Vest also
incorporate Bio-Map™ construction, DuPont
Teflon DWR®, antimicrobial SRS™, articulated
shoulders and elbows, urethane base tape, and
fusion fleece technology in their design. Sizes
range from M-XXL and are available in Realtree
AP. (See Below)
The Inferno Jacket is all about sustainability
using less materials to do more. The jacket
features a super lightweight design and is
composed of advanced materials making it great
for packability while at the same time keeping
you as warm as its insulating layer weighing
twice much. The Inferno jacket also incorporates
antimicrobial SRS™, insulation filled heat
channels, a Hex-Lite™
Fleece liner, waterproof
zippers, DuPont Teflon
DWR®, and articulated
shoulders and elbows.
Sizes range from M-XXL
and is available in
Realtree AP. (Left)
The Outer
The Momentum
Pants were designed
with tough in mind
allowing them to
withstand what could
be ten years of use in
a single weekend.
The pants feature
Hypalon cuffs for
increased durability,
articulated knees for a
wide range of motion,
nylon reinforced belt
loops, antimicrobial
SRS™, a built in
removable gator, Bio-
Shell™ construction,
a Hex-Lite™ Fleece liner, and DuPont Teflon
DWR®. The Momentum Pants range in size
from M-XXL and can be found in Realtree AP.
(Above Right)
The benefits and performance of soft shell
materials are no secret when it comes to the
outdoors. Soft, durable, quiet...how do you
improve on that? Well, the folks at Badlands
made an attempt with the Velocity Jacket. The
jacket features Hex-Lite™ Fleece, antimicrobial
SRS™, adjustable sleeve cuff, articulated elbows,
Bio-Shell™
construction, urethane
base tape, and zipper
garages. Sizes range
from M-XXL and can
be found in Realtree
AP. (Right)
Whether you‘re
sitting on stand for
hours on end, or humping your way through
extreme conditions and two feet of snow,
Badlands designed the
Convection Bibs with a
goal of not wasting a
single unit of heat that
your body produces.
The bibs feature
insulated filled heat
channels, Hex-Lite™
fleece, antimicrobial
SRS™, articulated knees
for a wide range of
motion, DuPont Teflon
DWR®, high lift side
zippers, and an
integrated waist belt. Sizes range from M-XXL
and is available in RealtreeAP. (Upper Left)
The Badlands Alpha Jacket is designed with
one thought in mind, keeping you dry no matter
what the conditions. The proprietary Bio-Shell™
material has been
laminated to a three
layer breathable
membrane that
features 100% water
proof construction.
The Alpha Jacket
also features all
seams sealed and
taped, Dry-Vent™
high performance membrane, DuPont Teflon
DWR®, magnetically closed zipper guards, water
proof zippers, adjustable cuffs, articulated
elbows, and a removable hood. Sizes range from
M-XXL and is available in Realtree AP. (Upper
Right)
For more information on Badlands Performance
Apparel and Back Packs, please visit
www.badlandspacks.com. BA
Company: Rasher Quivers
Model: Canyon Quiver
Type: Tubular sling (side) quiver
Price: $174 (special introductory offer)+
shipping
Where to buy: www.rasherquivers.com
The Company
Rasher Quivers is a family-owned business
specializing in custom, hand-tooled leather
archery equipment.
Owned and operated by Jason Albert and his
son Gabriel, Rasher is the most creative and
innovative quiver company I‘ve encountered to
date. They make a quiver for every application,
whether it is hunting, competitive target archery,
or Tolkien-esque medieval roleplaying.
My introduction to Rasher was pure
coincidence. We are all members of the Stick and
String traditional archery forum and Jason is one
our most active members. After checking out his
site and admiring his work for several months, I
approached him with a conundrum and asked him
and Gabriel to solve it.
The Problem
Any quiver can handle field points. Most
quivers can handle broadheads. Yet, only a
handful of quivers can handle small game points.
This is primarily due to their design, which
utilizes spring-loaded arms, blades, or a large
contact surface to stop the arrow from digging
into trees and stumps, or burrowing into the
ground. It is this same design that makes
transporting them securely and drawing them
from the nock a nightmare.
I knew that a tube-style quiver with an
opening on the side allowingpoint-first drawing
would be the most functional solution. Several
companies were making similar quivers, but none
of them had the vibe I was looking for. I wanted
something made out of leather with buckles, and
rivets, and attitude — something straight out of
the dark ages.
The Product
Rasher was happy to comply, and the
―Canyon‖ model was born. The Canyon is a tube-
style sling (side) quiver with a twist — the
opening from which you draw your arrows is
actually located on your draw-hand side near the
oblique.
I was surprised to see this alteration but the
functionality won me over. My lasting complaint
with tube quivers is the awkward way in which
they are shifted from a vertical position along the
back to a horizontal position beneath the armpit
in order to draw. The Canyon is designed to wear
like a back quiver and draw the arrow out and
away from the body with little adjustment; a
concept any hunter will appreciate.
The Canyon‘s leather construction is expertly
cut, stitched, and finished with a mahogany grain
akin to an antique wooden desk. Rashers are also
available in black, brown, and saddle tan, but I‘m
glad to have chosen the mahogany. It has a
natural camouflage quality I find immensely
appealing.
At 3‖ across, the diameter of the quiver is
perfect, holding eight of my 23/64‖ woods, or
twelve of my 5/16‖ aluminums securely. At 35‖
in length, it is plenty long enough to conceal my
31‖ arrows from point to nock with room to spare
(though I would order a shorter version if you
shoot a shorter arrow).
Other features include a reinforced bottom
with a foam pad and fur lining to protect your
points and limit noise, a utility pocket for a
stringer or folding knife, and a pigskin flap with
drawstring to protect your fletching from the
elements.All of which make useful additions in
the field.
The Bottom Line
At an introductory rate of $174 the Canyon
isn‘t cheap, but it isn‘t cheaply built either.
Leather archery quivers are a commodity these
days, and you‘ll be hard pressed to find anything
below $200, let alone something customized to
your unique measurements and vision.
The truly remarkable part of the Canyon‘s
inception is that it wasn‘t a part of the Rasher
catalog until I asked the Alberts to create it.
Through their Custom Corner program Rasher
was able to make my dream a reality, and the
experience was worth every penny. I even had
Jason tool an armguard with my blog logo to
match.
The traditional archery community is blessed
with a plethora of craftsmen building exceptional
handmade products in their own backyard. The
folks at Rasher quivers are a fine example and a
pleasure to work with.
You can purchase your own Canyon Quiver
or custom armguard on the Rasher website
www.rasherquivers.com. If you would like to
customize your own quiver or armguard, contact
them at (702) 501-1680. BA
with Darren Johnson
In last month‘s column, I discussed the
concept of wildlife habitat management and laid
out the six-step foundation of a successful plan.
To help you visualize how this plan can work on
your property, I will recap how some friends and
I started a wildlife habitat management plan on
some land in central Indiana.
The first step of the plan is to determine what
you want out of the property. Wildlife habitat
management is often thought of as a tool for
whitetail deer only, but it can be used for any
single species or group of species. In this case,
our plan had two components. First, the property
had an excess of whitetail deer. We felt the
population was currently above the carrying
capacity of the land and as a result, the deer were
individually not very healthy. While we enjoyed
seeing them virtually every day, we felt that we
might be one harsh winter away from a massive
starve-off. Also, the deer weren‘t staying on our
property. Due to a shortage of food at times, they
were travelling to other properties as the food
sources changed throughout the year. We wanted
a healthy, sustainable population to remain on the
property throughout the year.
Secondly, we wanted to increase the wild
turkey population. We had seen turkey nearby
and very occasionally on the property, but like
deer, we wanted a permanent healthy population.
We even were considering reintroduction efforts
in order to boost the population quickly. Lucky
for us, the habitat needs of turkey and deer are
similar and so much of our efforts would help
both species.
Our plan consisted of educating the hunters
about what we were doing, and how it would
benefit them. This discussion led to the
commitment from all that they would focus on
harvesting does until the deer population returned
to sustainable levels. Harvesting a buck was still
allowed, but the emphasis was placed on killing a
doe instead of an immature buck. An exception
was made for youth or new hunters, who were
encouraged to take the first deer that presented an
ethical shot opportunity. As a result, the doe to
buck kill ratio was approximately four to one, and
the population was reduced quickly over the first
couple of years. As a side note, the next fawning
season we began to see more twins and triplets
being born, which was probably due to better
nutrition for the mother. This emphasis on
killing does over immature bucks continues to
this day, and we are seeing more and larger bucks
as a result. In addition, the deer are much
healthier and we are killing more deer on the
property each year.
We also required all hunters to report all
turkey sightings, but none are allowed to be killed
until the population reaches target levels.
Part two of the foundation is to complete a
species inventory on the property. Ours showed
far too many coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and
opossums. The coyote kill a lot of fawns and
small game each year so we increased our
predator hunting on the property. We have taken
numerous coyote, but they are proficient breeders
and therefore, a perpetual focus is necessary.
Many of us see this as just another opportunity to
go hunting.
Raccoons, skunks, and opossums are
voracious egg eaters, especially those of ground
Continued on page 50
nesting birds such as the turkey. We increased
our hunting of these species but also implemented
a trapping program to reduce the populations.
While we have taken many raccoons and an
unbelievable amount of skunk, we must continue
to focus on this so that the turkey population has
a chance to grow. We are considering opening
the property to professional trappers who are
much better at it than we are.
Taking soil
samples on
the areas
where you
intend to plant
food sources
is the third
part of the
plan. This
was
completed and
the proper
nutrients and soil amendments
were purchased. Additionally, we
talked to experts about what food
sources would be best for our plan.
We had many plant options to
choose from, so as a result, we
chose many and created a ―mix‖ to
plant. In hindsight, this
overcomplicated the process
greatly in our first year. Not only
did it make planting more difficult,
but some of the plants were not
―Round Up‖ ready, meaning they
couldn‘t be sprayed with herbicides to control
weeds. As luck would have it, we had an
invasive weed take over in many sections of our
food plots so the weed killer had to be applied by
hand, a very laborious task.
Additionally, many of the shorter plants were
crowded out by those plant species that grew
taller. We learned from our rookie year and in
year two, we planted forage soy beans only in our
biggest plots. These plants produce larger leaves
and fewer beans that the standard commercial
varieties of soy beans. They are not harvested in
the fall but remain all year long to provide food
for the deer and turkey. Also, they are Round Up
ready so we could spray every couple of months
to control weeds. An additional benefit is that
due to their short height, we could see the animals
using the plot very easily, yet
animals still felt safe enough in
them to bed down.
Part four of the plan was to
learn all we could about our target
animals. We had quite a bit of
collective knowledge about
whitetail deer but found out that
we didn‘t know as much about
turkeys as we thought we did. To
combat this, we talked to our local
chapter officer of the Wild Turkey
Federation.
As a result of
our
discussions,
we dropped
the idea of
reintroducing
turkeys and
just focused
on the
turkeys‘
nutritional
and shelter
requirements. Almost immediately, we began
seeing more turkey on the property.
Aerial photography was the keynote of the
plan‘s fifth part. Knowing the property well
enough that we could intelligently pick the areas
to plant, mow or build habitat was the key. We
spent hours looking at the maps, selecting areas,
and then walking them to make sure that we were
Food Plot: End of First Season
Food Plot: Now
working in the areas that made sense. These
generally were areas that weren‘t in the animals‘
bedding areas but close enough so that the
animals could find these food sources and shelter
areas. The result was almost immediate increases
in sighting of deer and turkey. We also designed
these areas so that animals could travel to them
by ways other than crossing roads so that our
efforts didn‘t result in higher road kill. We also
picked areas for food plots and trails that allowed
the hunters the easiest access to and from the
areas. A major water source, such as a creek or
pond, was nearby each selected site so that the
animals‘ food and water requirements could be
easily met.
The final component of the plan was to
inventory equipment and labor so that we would
understand what we had to work with and what
we needed to obtain from somewhere else.
Several of us mowed and sprayed areas. Then, a
local Pheasants Forever
chapter loaned us a
seed drill and then we
hired a local farmer to
disc the ground and
plant the seed.
Collectively, we called
in enough friends and
family members to cut
trees, pull fences, and
do other manual labor
as needed. All told, it
cost us very little and
was a good way to
build camaraderie and
commitment to what
we were doing.
In next month‘s
column, we will
discuss plants and food
options for each
region/species, along
with more details about
what went well and not
so well with my first
wildlife habitat
management plant.
Until then, go enjoy the
great outdoors! BA
What do you get when you put all the current
major archers in the world, archery
manufacturers, gambling, prime rib, and beer
under one roof for a week in Vegas? A great time,
that‘s what! Held back-to-back with the World
Archery Indoor Championships, the NFAA
Vegas Shoot offered the opportunity to watch and
compete against almost 2,000 archers from the
USA, Mexico, and Europe and shoot next to
people with accents from as far away as South
Africa and Australia. Most of the teams stayed on
to compete at the NFAA shoot and mixed up the
action in both the Championship and non-
championship flights.
Bows, bows, and more bows. It was a bit
unreal to see bows moving through the casino, on
the elevator, escalator, arena, and generally
everywhere except maybe in the pool. The folks
that were not there for the shoot had lots of wide
eyed questions when riding up on the elevator
along with strung bows with monster stabilizers
attached. The elevator was the place to be. We
ran into almost every ―name‖ and their spouses,
parents, coaches, and kids on the elevator. I did
my share of elbowing Matt while mouthing,
―OMG, do you know who that is?!‖ Yeah, I‘m
secretly still ten. My favorite elevator moment
however, was when a west coast guy sporting
cigarette jeans, seriously pointy shoes, and giant
Elvis pompadour along with his equally stylish
gal stepped on after a camo‘d midwestern
teenager and his mom. I so wish I could have
whipped out my camera to capture the expression
on that kid‘s face. Classic!
On the floor, it was a fantastic culture clash,
with the typical American traditional barebow
guy sharing a bale next to a Russian Olympic
recurve archer. Ladies and men competed against
each other, no separation in the flights. There
were no points for style given, but maybe there
should have been. Texas sized bling with head-to-
toe pink accessories were spotted along with 3
inch heels on the ladies compound line. Hey,
when you look good, you shoot good, right?
Shooting styles varied tremendously. Everything
from flamboyant French releases with the
continental double kiss for good arrows, to the
quiet, ultra-controlled USA team machine style
that continued to win medals. I spent an
unforgettable hour watching Miranda Leek, Holly
Stover, and Jennifer Nichols before going to
shoot my final day. Having those correct mental
impressions actually helped my release later on.
Para archers were out in numbers, including
an exceptional blind woman whose guide dog
napped patiently off the line between ends. Yes, I
said blind. To see these guys and gals shoot and
shoot well mind you, is amazing to watch. Plus,
they were lumped in with everyone else for
scores, no special treatment there.
Impressive final shootouts beginning the night
we arrived under spotlights, rock music, and live
online coverage set the tone for the week. I have
no idea how you prepare for shooting under those
crazy conditions. It‘s critical to have nerves of
steel to have the announcer holler, ―NINE!‖ and
keep it together for the next shot for a ten. I tend
to turn fire engine red while shooting
anonymously in a crowd without the benefit of an
announcer when I hit a bad shot. Most of the guys
and gals at that level are
used to it, but getting to
that point is pretty
extraordinary. YouTube
posted the shoots live all
day and a great
overview of the venue
and all the team and
individual finals can be
found here.
We had a great time
and would definitely go
back again. If you
haven‘t been yet, I
would highly
recommend it. BA
Anticipating the next issue of BowAmerica already? Make sure you subscribe either by logging in with your facebook account on ISSUU.com or by entering your email at BowAmerica.com! Our April issue carries us straight into Gobbler Season! Our feature story will cover the Wild Turkey Grand Slam with Randy Mabe. And of course, as always, we will have articles on traditional, compound, bowfishing, women bowhunters, habitat management, life and exercise, gear reviews, how-to, and more.
Also, feel free to drop questions or comments to our contributors anytime by clicking one of the social media buttons on our contributors’ page. See you next month!