Josh Boyd
In the solitary world of bowhunting, many archers chart their own course. Without a mentor’s guiding hand, self-reliance becomes key. Archery, a sport of patience and precision, embraces the lone learner. Teaching yourself archery? It’s tough but doable with grit and determination. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Steady practice, not speed, breeds mastery. Remember, …
For those new to archery, many of the numbers and specifications pertaining to a bow can be quite confusing. This is understandable, as it is not always clear what these numbers represent, and many questions often arise. One such question that is often asked is, what is IBO speed? IBO speeds are the speed at …
Over the past several years, Bear Archery has made quite the habit of producing consumer-friendly bows at an even friendlier price. As a result, the company’s following has grown tremendously, as many have jumped at the opportunity to purchase a premium compound bow without the premium price tag. One important note: I tested the bow …
Diamond Archery has been riding an enormous wave of success that has now spanned almost two decades. Diamond is owned and operated under the provisions of their parent company, Bowtech, which has been a lead player in the compound bow industry for many years. One important note: I tested the bow in real life. I …
As archers, we spend a significant amount of time discussing the various bows currently available on the market. However, even the best bow is of little value without the perfect set of arrows to complement its use. For many, this poses a question of exactly which arrows to purchase. A visit to virtually any outdoor …
The crossbow’s popularity has skyrocketed among hunters over the past couple of decades. This, of course, is for a good reason, as crossbows are quite effective at taking game of any size. Additionally, many states now offer weapon-specific seasons, just for those intending to use a crossbow when heading afield. This, in turn, has led …
Today’s arrows come in a wide range of configurations and stray far from a one-size fits all approach. An archer´s selection of arrows must be based upon a range of criteria, the vast majority of which relate to the overall length and weight. Properly selecting an arrow optimizes arrow flight and prevents undue stress on …
Today, the sport of archery has become rather diverse. Though the use of both traditional and compound bows remains extremely popular, crossbows have gained significant notoriety over the past decade. Though the concept of crossbow archery is nothing new, bows of this design have gained significant traction among hunters and target archers. Crossbows are now …
Whether you prefer target archery or bowhunting, a bow of any type is sure to see its fair share of dirt and grime over the course of time. This places a significant amount of value upon cleaning your bow at certain intervals. While regularly cleaning a bow is of relative importance, many archers do not …
The spring of the year is an undeniably beautiful time to immerse yourself in nature. Trees begin blooming, the landscape starts taking on a more colorful appearance, and wildlife of all types flourishes. Spring also ushers in the yearly fawning season, where does birth their young of the year. While most does give birth to …
Through intense management and the implementation of sound conservation practices, a number of native wildlife species now flourish across the United States, where they once were scarce. Few species of wildlife have benefited quite as significantly from these efforts as the Whitetail Deer and Wild Turkey. In fact, both of these species are now extremely …
Across much of the southern United States, feral hogs have become extremely prevalent, dotting the rural landscape from one end to the next. With each passing year, the home range of the feral hog continues to expand, covering an ever-larger swath of the country. In many areas, spotting a handful of hogs on any given …
Across much of the country, Whitetail deer and agriculture-related endeavors go hand-in-hand. Deer can often be seen grazing in pastures and opportunistically feeding upon standing grain during much of the year. In certain instances, deer have even become accustomed to the sight of tractors and other heavy equipment and go largely undisturbed by such intrusions. …
Deer, like any animal, require regular water intake to survive. In the wild, this water intake generally comes from a variety of sources, including rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds. These, of course, are natural water sources to which deer in a given area are quite accustomed. For this reason, deer drink from these water sources …
Deer and farm country go hand-in-hand, as much as the whitetail has become a staple of America’s heartland. Due to their inhabitants of such rich agricultural areas, deer often encounter several interesting farm-related obstacles. This tends to pose curiosity among hunters, who often question how deer will react to such obstacles. One obstacle often encountered …
Many hunters plan for their impending hunt by studying the upcoming weather forecast. This, of course, is for good reason, as deer movement is highly affected by a number of weather-related factors. However, we do not always understand the exact correlation between certain forms of weather and the effects these particular conditions will have on …
In many ways, the whitetail is a slave to its stomach. Virtually every aspect of a deer’s daily routine is impacted by its need for sufficient nourishment. Whitetail deer have been observed traveling great distances to locate quality feed in the dead of winter when typical forage is in short supply. Both bucks and does …
As most hunters are well aware, deer seize upon any opportunity to feed heavily upon corn. This proves true for both standing corn, and corn used as bait by hunters. During virtually any time of the year, deer will readily feed upon corn wherever it is available, often bypassing other food sources to do so. …
As the sport of archery continues to grow in popularity and school-based archery programs flourish, it is only natural to observe a significant rise in bowhunter recruitment. This is especially true when new archers are coupled with experienced bowhunters in mentorship of sorts. However, not all prospective bowhunters are presented with this luxury, leaving one …
When preparing for any bowhunt, a few tasks are as vital as ensuring that all of your gear is adequately prepared and ready for use in the moment of truth. We, as bowhunters, rely upon our gear to function as intended when needed. It is also our responsibility to the game that we hunt to …
Hunting of any type comes with several inherent challenges. Your ability to overcome these challenges often serves as the difference between success and an unfilled tag. However, try as we might, the game that we pursue occasionally gets the better of us. Though trying, such circumstances serve as teachable moments, through which the studious hunter …
Many hunters place a significant amount of effort into improving the habitat in and around the area they hunt. This is done for multiple reasons, including enhancing hunting conditions in anticipation of the fall ahead. Improvements of this nature are also made to strengthen the health of the local deer herd by improving fawn recruitment …
During the spring of the year, droves of passionate whitetail hunters take to the woods in search of shed antlers. This, of course, is for a good reason, as something is fascinating about locating a shed antler that has been cast to the side. For many hunters, a pile of shed antlers is every bit …
Deer are known for their keen senses, which they employ to avert danger whenever possible. For the average hunter, success hinges upon beating these senses, preventing detection. However, this feat is seldom accomplished without a keen understanding of a deer’s abilities, whether regarding hearing, sight, or smell. When attempting to understand the depth of a …
When hunting, nothing renders success quite as consistently as thoroughly understanding the habits of the game we hunt. This is especially true when hunting extremely pattern-oriented game, such as whitetail deer. New hunters, especially, are often left with many questions regarding the habits of the deer they hunt. One such question relates to where deer …
With turkey season fast approaching for us hunters, it is only natural to find ourselves with a certain level of curiosity regarding the habits of the wild turkey as a whole. This is especially true for younger or less experienced hunters, who wish to learn as much as possible about the species of game that …
When hunting turkey during the spring of the year, the weather is typically anything but predictable. Across much of the nation, turkey season is accompanied by persistent rain showers, which can often discourage those seeking to fill their tags. Although hunting turkey in the rain certainly comes with its own inherent challenges, significant success can …
It comes as no secret that deer follow their stomachs to wherever the highest quality food source in a given area can be found. What this food source is, often differs heavily from one portion of the year to the next. When the cold chill of winter arrives, there are few forages that attract deer …
When Fred Bear launched Bear Archery in 1940, he could have hardly imagined what his company would become. As the years passed, Bear Archery soldiered on, first crafting traditional bows and later joining the quickly growing compound bow market. Though Fred Bear passed away in 1988, his company, Bear Archery, continues today, offering a comprehensive …
Archery is a pursuit where precision is paramount. No matter how minute, every detail can be the difference between a triumphant shot and a frustrating miss. As a seasoned bowhunter, I’ve learned that consistency is king, and to achieve that, one must strive to eliminate variables that can throw off a shot. A key element …