bowhunting

Bowhunting basics: The stick and string in the 21st century

Published by admin on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 9:13am

Ancient man used a bent stick, sinew string and crude arrow to take game for centuries. It wasn’t a sport for them - it was pure survival.

Some of us bowhunters still prefer to keep it simple, using recurve bows or longbows with no mechanical advantage to hunt deer, turkeys and other wild game. But most of these traditional bows are laminated with fiberglass, and we shoot carbon or aluminum arrows (a few holdouts still shoot wooden shafts) tipped with machine-created broadheads that screw into the shafts.

Archery events sharpen bowhunting skills

Published by admin on Sat, 07/22/2023 - 10:10am

Bowhunting season has a way of sneaking up on me and probably most other archery deer hunters, too. The Sept. 16 opener is now just a month and a half away. It’s hard to dream about cool fall mornings in the woods, waiting for that buck to walk by during summer’s warm, sticky weather, but this is when the work begins.

If you want to make that shot count when everything aligns to bring that deer within bow range, you need to make sure your archery gear is working properly and you can hit what you’re shooting at.

Essentials for the deer hunt: Gear to make a good hunt better

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 10:30am

Every fall is a new start and a fresh adventure for us deer hunters.

Whether you are a diehard bowhunter stalking a particular buck on your own land, a parent or grandparent taking a youngster on his or her first hunt, or a gun hunter who enjoys one of Wisconsin’s richest traditions at a deer camp or sharing the camaraderie of opening day with cherished friends, every second of our sacred sport is a blessing beyond measure.

Fitting young hunters to a bow, crossbow and rifle

Published by admin on Wed, 09/14/2022 - 9:00am

Not so many years ago, there was a hunting tradition to hand down Dad’s or Granddad’s rifle to the son or daughter joining the hunt. These full-size rifles, often lever-actions (which carry their own set of safety issues), would be an ill fit for a small body with shorter arms.

It’s finally time to hunt again

Published by admin on Tue, 09/13/2022 - 5:06pm

For as much joy I get out of preparing for the deer hunting season, I’m thrilled to say the preparation is over, and it’s time to hunt.

I’ve hunted deer since I was a little kid, tagging along with my dad and his friends before picking up a gun myself at age 12.

The extent of my deer hunting for a year — after I passed the youth hunt age restriction — was typically just the nine-day gun hunt in late November, with the occasional antlerless-only hunt sprinkled in should the first gun season have not gone as planned.

Crossbow issue to draw comments at survey

Published by admin on Thu, 02/06/2020 - 9:14am

The state’s crossbow deer hunters are cranking up for a battle to save their sport after a surprise attack launched by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board.

The board has proposed an Oct. 1-31 crossbow season for those without disabilities and under age 60, with the suggestion on the spring public questionnaire of the joint Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Congress hearings held in every county. Those with a disabled permit or over age 60 would be able to continue using a crossbow during the full archery season.

Traditional bows return bowhunters to a nostalgic era

Published by admin on Fri, 10/18/2019 - 12:00pm

What’s the most powerful force in nature? Is it sex? Hunger? Thirst? The desire for love and to be loved?

As I grow older and more philosophical, I feel a longing for the good-old days. Call it nostalgia.

Those of us who have reached the ripe old age of 50 or 60 (I turned 60 on Sept. 3) have had many experiences, good and bad. We’ve seen some amazing things, especially in the natural world.

A roller coaster of a hunt

Published by admin on Thu, 10/03/2019 - 2:52pm

Hunts can go down in several different fashions. Some end with you seeing tons of wildlife, while other times you’re lucky to have a chipmunk run by.

My first two days of hunting my home property in Chippewa County were about as eventful as I could have asked for, with plenty of ups and downs across the many hours spent out in the woods.

After hunger foiled my doe encounter on Sept. 28, the following day was full of action.

September’s the season for bowhunting and fond outdoor memories

Published by admin on Fri, 09/13/2019 - 3:00pm

“Try to remember the kind of September, when life was slow and oh, so mellow….”

If I had to pick a favorite month, it would probably be September. This classic tune written by Tom Jones and performed by a few dozen different bands and singers puts me in an early fall mood. I remember singing this song in fourth grade so many years ago, and it made me appreciate my birth month even more.