Contributors Emily Anderson

Melissa Bachman

Ramon Bell

Tony Catalde

Lester Harper

Bill Howard

Mark Huelsing

Walter Deet James

Will Jenkins

Darren Johnson

Amanda MacDonald

PapaScott Perrodin

Albert Quackenbush

Ryan Shoemaker

Gretchen Steele

Nick Viau

Bow Adventures The e-Magazine for Archery

Enthusiasts A monthly online

publication.

Publisher/Editor BillHoward Cover Design AlbertQuackenbush Advertising/Marketing BillHoward Circulation BillHoward For free distribution to

your bowhunting group or organization, contact BillHowardOutdoors@gmail.com for information and instructions.

Any reproduction of copy or images without prior permission from Bow Adventures or its contributors is strictly forbidden.

Bow Adventures2012

Cover: Melissa Bachman Turkey Hunt Inset: Kowa Binos kymberli q. photography This Page: Melissa Bachman Bear Hunt

Features 23 - Total Fall Prep Ryan Shoemaker 26 Time to Watch Them Grow Will Jenkins 58 Reflections from 30k Feet Mark Huelsing 64 Shotor Not? Tony Catalde 69 Talking Turkey with Evan Williams Emily Anderson Gear Reviews 48 Prois Eliminator Series Gretchen Steele 52 Wrist Sling from Carolina Cords Emily Anderson 54 Kowa BD 10x42 Binoculars Albert Quackenbush

On Target with Bow Adventures Subject: Carrying on Archery Tradition 07 - Hunting Matters Walter Deet James 14 - Archers Assemble: Effects of Societal Events on Archery Amanda MacDonald 18 Getting into Archery Albert Quackenbush 66 Bringing up a Youth Hunter Lester Harper Columns 22 - Cookin with Camp Dog Crawfish Etouffee Scott Perrodin

28 - 20 Questions Melissa Bachman 34 Better Archer

Broadhead Tuning Mark Huelsing 38 Habitat Management Darren Johnson 42 The Traditional Way Getting Together Nick Viau 60 Bowfishing Tips Big Gar Ramon Bell

BowAmerica is no more. But DO NOT worry!

That is only because we have become Bow Adventures! Bow Adventures promises to continue bringing you great stories on bowhunting, bowfishing, and archery in general. We have refocused our efforts to a quarterly magazine that will not

only tell you stories of great adventure, but allow you to participate through our writers experiences and then give you the information you need to have your own adventures.

So join us in our first revamped issue of Bow Adventures and be sure to share with your fellow bowhunters and archers.

In May 2008 I became the

Hunting Heritage Biologist for the

North Carolina Wildlife Resources

Commission where I dedicate my

time toward understanding issues and

barriers to the recruitment and

retention of hunters. Prior to taking

this position, and despite being an

active in hunter education and other

related activities, I never really

considered the notion that barriers to

hunter recruitment and retention

existed, or that hunter participation

was declining. Growing up in a

relatively rural area of Central

Pennsylvania, nearly everyone hunted.

Back then, most youth received a fishing rod,

single-shot shotgun, deer rifle, or bow and

arrow for their 12th birthday; not an Xbox 360,

cell phone, or iPod. People hunted opening

day of deer season because it was a holiday;

schools and most businesses were closed.

People drove around with deer strapped on

top of vehicles, not hidden inside, because

they knew that Bambi was a cartoon and deer

hunting and meat eating was reality. Guns

were not unlike other utilitarian tools in the

home and used only for hunting, recreational

shooting and self-defense.

Of course, that was then and this is now

because hunting participation, and society, has

changed. According to the 2006 National

Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-

Associated Recreation compiled by the U.S.

Fish & Wildlife Service, peak hunting

participation occurred in 1975 with 17.1

million hunters representing about 8% of the

U.S. population. Responsive Management

(RM), an internationally recognized public

opinion and attitude survey research firm

specializing in natural resource and outdoor

recreation issues, indicated that by 2006, there

were 12.5 million hunters aged 16 and older

including another 1.6 million under age 16

representing roughly 5% of the U.S.

population. A notable change in hunting

participation occurred between 1996 and 2006

when hunter numbers declined 10%

nationally. Under the current trend, as the

U.S. population increases nationwide, hunters

continually represent a smaller proportion of

the population overall. RM also shed light

into the loss of hunters indicating three main

reasons including poor health and age (42%),

no time/family or work obligations (32%) and

Lack of access/nowhere to hunt (16%).

Viewed another way, a report by Families

Afield, a cooperative initiative between the

U.S. Sportsmens Alliance, National Shooting

Sports Foundation, and National Wild Turkey

Federation, indicated the national hunter

recruitment rate was 69%. This means for

every 100 hunters that drop out only 69 are

recruited. Doing the math, it doesnt take long

to figure out the trend is not in our favor and

weve reason to be concerned.

Present-day disconnect

Recruiting the next generation of hunters

has become a challenge in a world of nature

disconnection. The baby boomer generation,

those born between 1946 and 1964 were

weaned outdoors. Having been born near the

tail end of the boomer age myself, I

personally remember bike hikes in the

woods, building huts in the yard, and shooting

tin cans out back in the strip mines near my

home. TV was technology and we watched it

only after it was too dark outside to play.

However, outdoor interest and nature in our

young people today is all but phased out.

Most of todays youth are not experiencing

nature naturally. Instead, much of what they

learn about the outdoors comes from school,

television or other electronic sources.

Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the

Woods, fluently exposes the disconnection

between young people and nature, coining the

phrase Nature-Deficit Disorder.

In summary, our hunter population is

getting too old, too busy, too far from places

to hunt and the next generation of hunters is

disconnected from nature. Is recreational

hunting at a crossroads? Do we throw our

hands in the air and surrender? As stated,

hunters now represent roughly 5% of the U.S.

population. How long before its 4%, then 3%,

2%, or even 1%? Although that may mean

less pressure in the turkey woods this spring,

its not something to celebrate.

Were lucky, in that 78% of the population

still approves of legal regulated hunting, but

could we eventually lose political support for

hunting? Try to imagine a day when hunting

would cease to exist, when the number of

hunters became so low that society decided

hunting really doesnt matter any longer.

Funding for wildlife management and

conservation would diminish, and hunters

would no longer have a vote because we

allowed our numbers to dwindle; the hunters

voice silenced by attrition.

Benefits to Society

The personal loss of hunting would be

devastating to say the least, but the loss

extends much further. For example, a 2007

report by the Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and

Southwick Associates entitled, Hunting in

America, An Economic Engine and

Conservation Powerhouse shed light into

hunter expenditures. During that year

nationwide hunters provided $66 billion in

economic output including: $24.7 billion in

retail sales, $20.9 billion in salaries and

wages, $9.2 billion in federal, state and local

taxes, $4.2 billion in state and local taxes and

all supporting nearly 600,000 jobs with no

bailout required!

Impressive, but thats not all. A 2005

document prepared by the International

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

entitled, Potential Costs of Losing Hunting

and Trapping as Wildlife Management

Methods, indicated that about 4 percent of the

nations 6.1 million auto accidents each year

involve collisions with wildlife. It was

estimated that if hunting were lost as a

management tool the percentage of deer-

related collisions alone could increase 218

percent including potential increases in human

injuries and fatalities. Since deer would need

to be controlled in some manner, the nations

taxpayer would likely fit the bill at up to $9.3

billion annually. Wildlife-related crop damage

could tack on an additional $3 billion,

controlling furbearers $265 million and

damage to homes $972 million. Estimates for

health care and disease control for rabies

alone was estimated at $1.45 billion. Having

hunting and trapping as wildlife management

tools does not eliminate wildlife-related

issues, but without them the problem could

become far worse.

Back to Basics

If our next generation of hunters is truly

disconnected from nature, perhaps we need to

reconnect them. In his book The Hunter:

Developmental Stages and Ethics, Dr. Bob

Norton provides some interesting insight into

this challenge. Before we put kids in the

duck marsh or the tree stand, we need to get

them into the woods, teach them about nature,

let them explore and use their own

imaginations, and further, We need to spend

more time with them in the outdoors, one on

one, answer their questions, and teach them to

respect wild animals and their habitats. In

this way, the interest, respect, and

appreciation for the outdoors will be

developed first.

Although the hunt itself may be the

ultimate goal, we may be lacking in teaching

the prerequisites necessary for developing

lifelong hunters and future stewards of

wildlife. I think we also tend to focus too

much on getting the new hunter a shot at a

game animal thinking thats the best way to

get them hooked. However, as experienced

hunters know, we spend far more time in the

woods not pulling a trigger or releasing a bow

string as compared to harvesting game.

Therefore, setting the stage for quick results

also fosters unrealistic expectations in the

woods. As Dr. Norton pointed out, there are

far more important things to learn and

appreciate before the shot is taken.

Reinforcing Dr. Nortons theory, a 2002

article written by Mark Damian Duda entitled,

The Hunting Mind: Youth and Hunting, was

based on a study conducted by the USFWS. It

was revealed that 52% of youth indicated that

they were not at all interested in hunting, 15%

were very interested, 16% were somewhat

interested and 18% were a little interested.

Obviously those coming from non-hunting

families were least interested in going

hunting. The most important reason why

they (youth) werent interested in hunting was

that they were against killing animals. Killing

animals is serious business and unless a child

is shown through early exposure to hunting

that a hunt is more than simply killing

animals it will remain and important reason

why many young people are not interested in

hunting. Far fewer people come from

hunting families today than 3-4 decades ago,

therefore, the next generation may be

interested in a more holistic approach to

hunting rather than a hasty jump-start to the

final chapter. This might be a good time to

encourage hard work and effort as a means to

success in the field. Preseason scouting is

analogous to studying in school because both

lead to achievement and its unlikely either

will be entirely substituted by technology in a

fast-paced world.

Further, an interesting Human Dimensions

article by Elizabeth L. Ryan and Bret Shaw

entitled, Improving Hunter Recruitment and

Retention, provided As population

demographics change, fewer people are likely

to be initiated into hunting by their families,

thereby reducing the number of individuals

introduced to hunting through traditional

channels. Hunters need to portray themselves

as members of a community that welcomes

newcomers and is willing to instruct mentees

in the skills, techniques, and values unique to

hunting. Recruitment and retention of hunters

hinges on understanding what motivates non-

hunters to participate in a mentored hunting

experience and what motivates existing

hunters to serve in a mentoring role.

So, what really motivates a hunter to

become a hunting mentor? In 2008, RM asked

active hunters, Why did you take someone

hunting? Responses in descending order

were as follows:

Showed interest in learning the sport/asked

me to take him or her (44%).

Wanted to share my experience and/or

enjoyment of the sport (16%).

For fun, enjoyment and/or recreation (11%).

To introduce the sport/to encourage interest in

the sport (11%).

Family tradition/want to continue hunting

heritage (9%).

It is important to learn gun safety, self-

defense, and/or how to shoot (5%).

Companionship (4%).

The survey discovered that the greatest

motivation for mentoring was the fact that

someone showed an interest and asked the

mentor to take them hunting. For someone

interested in hunting for the first time, this

research is welcoming and suggests that a

valuable resource is there for the asking. If

however, our youth are truly disconnected

from nature, waiting around to be asked may

not be very effective. Consequently, it may be

time for us to reach out proactively instead of

waiting to be asked.

Hunter Recruitment is Ageless

We tend to focus primarily on youth

hunter recruitment. Obviously, thats intuitive

thinking because youth are the next

generation, but we should also consider

adult hunter recruitment and retention as

well. In fact, there are many adults that have

not been exposed to hunting early in life, but

now may have interest in participating. In

fact, a 2009 report conducted by DJ Case and

Associates, an organization specializing in

communications in wildlife and natural

resource conservation, indicated that 67% of

first-time hunters were 20 years of age and

younger. However, it also means that about a

third of first-time hunters were 21 and over.

This adult group represents a value-added

hunting community with the ability to

participate in recruiting and retaining other

family members and friends.

Concerning retention, some hunters lose

interest in hunting after becoming

disconnected from family and friends. This

results when individuals move to other states

in search of employment or perhaps due to

separations and or death in families. Helping

to reconnect these folks back into the hunting

community contributes both to increased

hunter numbers and may rekindle the spark of

passing on the heritage to others.

Indirect Mentoring Opportunities

Introducing someone new to hunting is

the ultimate form of mentoring. However, it is

not the only way. Indirect mentoring can be

just as valuable and have nearly the same

impact as direct mentoring. For those that

hunt alone most, if not all, of the time,

indirect mentoring may be your way of giving

back while inspiring the outdoors in

someones life. Opportunities for indirect

mentoring can be achieved through becoming

a hunter education instructor, assisting with

youth conservation field days and or

Becoming an Outdoor Woman event as well

as other initiatives designed to get folks

outdoors. If organized events are not

preferred, the following are some excellent

indirect mentoring examples:

Share hunting stories and outdoor skills with

someone.

Inviting someone to a wild game dinner.

Taking someone along on a pre-hunting

season scouting or shooting trip.

Sharing a hunting magazine subscription with

someone.

Introducing someone to the outdoors through

a simple walk in the woods.

Hunter in the Mirror

An uncle introduced my brother and me

into hunting at an early age and our father, a

non-hunter at the time, also began hunting.

We hunted together whenever we could and

after school squirrel hunts are some of the

most cherished memories of my life.

However, things would change when my

uncle moved away to find work and my

brother and I became increasingly

independent. None of us stopped hunting, we

all had become fully engaged in the hunting

culture, but the paradigm shifted somewhat.

While my brother hunted with dad most of the

time, I became a solo hunter. For those who

can relate to hunting alone, theres something

unique about the one-on-one hunting

experience and I came to embrace it. When

hunting alone, youre on your own time, own

schedule and own deadline. Theres no

waiting for anyone and you can come and go

as you please. It wasnt until I was in my early

40s when I truly came to realize the sacrifice

my uncle had made to the benefit his young

nephews and their father. Hunting positively

influenced our lives in so many ways both

directly and indirectly. In fact, I may not be

writing this now if my uncle had kept hunting

all to himself as did I for many years. Ill

admit, I still continue to hunt alone most of

the time, but do make an annual effort to

mentor work colleagues and friends both

directly and indirectly. If one talks the talk,

one must also walk the walk.

The Future Hunting is Personal

No doubt, hunters have come to a

crossroads which we cannot afford to ignore.

Each year, hunters represent a smaller

proportion of the population overall. Our

disconnection with nature will not

automatically improve nor will society revert

back to the good ole days because times have

changed.

Federal and state wildlife agencies, non-

governmental organizations and others can be

facilitators and catalysts toward improving

hunter recruitment and retention. However,

organizations are made up of individuals and

its the individual hunter, not the organization

that is responsible for maintaining our hunting

heritage for future generations.

If we are to succeed in maintaining our

hunting heritage, it will be accomplished

through the same gift we were provided by

the one who mentored us. Our 26th U.S.

President Theodore Roosevelt communicated

it best by stating, Those of us privileged to

take to the field are entrusted by fate and

circumstance to hold and nurture the hunters

legacy. If hunting matters to you, dont let it

slip away on your watch. BA

Amanda MacDonald

Archery has become the hip new thing.

Those of us that have been doing this for

awhile are nodding sagely with a hint of I

told you so. Girls that shoot are now

definitely regarded as cooler by the boys,

especially in high-school, where coolness can

be tough to come by. Between the Hunger

Games, the Avengers movie and the upcoming

summer release of Brave, kids and adults

alike are getting more exposure than usual to

archery this year. And dont forget the

London summer Olympics, which is right

around the corner.

Wired magazines GeekDad author Jim

MacQuarrie coaches JOAD kids along with

his wife Terri, and has helped the sport gain

exposure through a non-sport avenue by

bringing his experience to bear in tongue-in-

cheek fashion on how its done (or not) in the

movies recently. Because of Wired, Jim has

probably introduced archery to more hipsters

in NYC and Chicago than anyone else, so

there are more skinny-jean and fedora types

out on the range with the camod club these

days. In the Pasadena area the interest shift

has been a little older than expected. Jim and

Terri have noticed that, After Hunger

Games, the single largest increase at our range

has been women age 25-35, which more than

doubled. They expect they will get more

boys after Avengers, and a wave of 6-12 year

old girls after Brave.

My new friend Sydney is 15 and is also a

dancer. This girl also loves to shoot targets

with her dad and siblings on their property for

fun. Sydney is looking at getting her small-

game license to have even more fun this

summer. Bit by the bug just before the movie

rush hit, shes shot some 3-D this winter as

well.

Local shops from Pasadena, California to

Fox Valley, Wisconsin are seeing a boost in

kids wearing mockingjay necklaces leading

their parents in to look at bows. Both shops

where Matt and I shoot have definitely seen

growth in league signups, classes and just

general interest. Camps that offer archery are

expected to get more kids in the door this

summer.

Clubs are getting more calls, too. Doug

and Sue Ludwig, coaches for the Points to the

Cross club, run one of the upstate NY JOAD

programs that introduces kids to Olympic-

style archery. Doug is also one of the coaches

for the Olympic Dream Team, which is

bringing up the talent for the limited spots that

will go to London. PTTC has received more

interest recently, but they arent sure if its

from the movie buzz or from the upcoming

Olympics.

Teresa Iaconi, PR consultant for USA

Archery and certified coach, has a similar

perspective. Clubs in general are reporting

big increases in beginners wanting to learn

how to shoot, and the biggest thing USA

Archery is in need of right now are

instructors, and people who are willing to start

Junior Olympic Archery Development (youth)

clubs in their community.

Just to give you an idea of how much

interest has grown this year,

www.usarchery.org quoted 30,585 unique

visitors in March 2012, versus 19,206 in

March 2011.

Its an Olympic year. I know this because

the P&G tear-jerker commercials with the

gymnast mom are already running and my

friend Dan is shooting full-time just in case

this is THE year. According to US Archery,

the United States currently has the number

one world-ranked athletes and teams in six of

eight categories, including superstar Brady

Ellison, increasing the country's hopes for a

gold medal performance in London and

making the sport more popular than ever.

World Archery recently nominated the USA

as the top archery country since 2008. Until

then, Korea had been the perceived power

house team to beat in the past along with India

and Italy. Lee Ford-Faherty, US Archery

Para-Olympic Team member, has definitely

noticed a jump in interest in her club from

high-schoolers all the way up to middle-aged

women where she trains. Watch for Lee this

summer as she

competes in

London with the

USA team.

Fads happen in

every sport.

Daniel Grundman,

owner of Flex-

Fletch Products

Inc., attests to the

fact as their clear

fletching is selling

like hotcakes due

to the Hunger

Games using it in the stars set up. All

teenage girls know that if you look like

Katniss, you will shoot like her as well.

Amen and pass the fletch glue. I suppose

training with Khatuna Lorig wouldnt hurt

either. Lorig has been a great ambassador to

the sport at the Olympic level and the Katniss

Everdeen character showed correct form

throughout the movie due to her excellent

coaching.

Its not just the clubs that are seeing more

popularity. Archery themed anything has

become easier to find and more mainstream.

Etsy and Pinterest are seeing a burst of

handmade quivers, archery themed home

dcor, and archery related jewelry now being

sold online. Those of us who already decorate

with our extra arrows and gear laying around

the house now look like we knew what we

were doing the entire time. Score.

Of course, I am truly excited that my sport

is getting so much attention right now. Any

sport that welcomes and is accessible to so

This Six Week Session of Four Classes is Full

many age groups gets a solid thumbs up. Its

a sport that kids who may not be quick with a

bat or big enough for football can excel in.

Its a sport where a 30-something woman (or

man) can figure out well enough to fill the

freezer or hit some foam in the middle. Its

satisfying, relaxing, social and for the life of

me, I cant figure out why more people dont

love it with or without the movies. BA

All Kinds of Interesting Archery Equipment are Now Available.

Lives: Upstate NY with hubby, two naughty cats and a lazy dog, Sign: Leo, Day Job: Marketing Manager, Favorite Snacks: Diet Coke. Dark chocolate. Ignoring the rotting fruit on my desk that I shoulda had, but went with the chocolate instead., Favorite music to practice to: Imogen Heap, Explosions in the Sky, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Dominant eye: Neither, Current Gear: Win&Win Inno riser. Yeah, I know its not Made in the USA, but it rocks and Hoyt has enough of my hard earned cash, thankyouverymuch. 30# limbs, homemade string, Dans clicker, X7 chubby indoor arrows (also not mine), prototype Mutant tab by EvoWorx (Never heard of it? You will) Favorite Archer to Study: Joe Fanchin. Best game face ever. When Im not shooting Im: Making stuff in my 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

With the archery craze hitting the

mainstream media with movies like The

Hunger Games, The Avengers, and Brave

more and more people are looking at getting

into archery. The thing that usually holds

them back is they dont know how to get

started. Recently, Bass Pro Shops in Rancho

Cucamonga, CA invited me to give a seminar

on Getting Into Archery directing it toward

women and our youth. I can see why as just

the other night, after returning from the

archery range, I was outside my garage

chatting with a fellow archer when a car drove

past us down the alley and abruptly stopped.

The driver put the car in reverse and stopped

right behind me. I could hear two kids in the

car exclaiming, 'That's so cool! Awesome!' It

dawned on me that I had my side quiver full

of arrows attached to the outside of my

backpack. I quickly turned around and said

hello and they just seemed mesmerized. Goes

to show you the impact these movies are

having. Sure, there are plenty of other movies

and television shows where archery was

present. Most times people can rattle off two

or three right off the bat. There are many and

most are traditional archers. Think Robin

Hood and Lord of the Rings. Then you have

the recurve and compound shooters from

movies like Rambo, Blade: Trinity and TV

shows like Smallville (Green Arrow).

Fortune was on my side as I got my start in

archery when I was very young. How young?

Nine years old to be exact. I hail from a

bowhunting family and my dad introduced me

archery by handing me a fiberglass longbow,

some wooden arrows and walking me to a

stack of hay bales on the farm. Growing up on

a farm had its advantages. The straw bales

were plentiful, so I always had a target to

shoot at. My brother and I would fire arrow

after arrow after arrow, all the while

pretending we were hunting or saving a train

from would-be robbers. No matter what the

game of the day was we had fun, and were

fortunate enough to have someone right there

to teach us.

The most common question I never get

asked is, Where do I begin? Yes, I said

never because many people are simply afraid

to ask. The amount of information out there

can be overwhelming. There is a plethora of

information online, but the best information is

found at an archery range, pro shop by

speaking to other archers. The Bass Pro where

I gave my seminars has a KIDS: Intro to

Archery every Wednesday evening at their

30 yard range. It is such a great way to get a

bow into the hands of our youth and allow

them to have fun with it.

When I start talking to people about

getting into archery I am usually at the

archery range or giving a seminar. They look

at the gear I am using and suddenly look

sullen. My PSE Bow Madness seems all

tricked out to the novice archer. I am quick to

explain that I have been shooting a bow for

almost 30 years and this set up is customized

for me. I move on to explain the difference

between a traditional bow and a compound. In

my opinion, if you are looking to get started

in archery you should always shoot a longbow

or recurve first. That way you gain an

appreciation for using your fingers to shoot,

the draw

weight and

shooting

instinctively.

Once you have

used stick and

string for a

while, and

should you

decide to try a

compound -

then go for it!

I

recommend

that any aspiring archer take some lessons.

Form is VERY important. Ask around at your

local pro shop or archery range and you'll

often find certified instructors. If you can

learn to shoot well, using the proper form, you

will enjoy archery for life.

The next step is to find a bow. Talk to your

local archery pro shops and ask questions.

The available staff will help answer any

questions you have. You must understand that

each person shoots

differently and that

you should shoot

many bows before

making a decision

on the one to

purchase. I truly

mean that. Don't

rely on hunting

shows or someone

telling you that you

'need to shoot this

bow'. Go to the pro

shop and shoot a

few until you find one that fits you and the

way you shoot. While I appreciate all the time

I spent shooting with my dad, we never had

this advice growing up. We went out and

bought the bow that was through a friend, or

on sale at a pro shop. We didn't spend the

time going over the bow and what it would

take to shoot with it consistently. Thankfully,

times have changed and I now shoot a bow

that fits me perfectly.

If you decide on traditional archery, some of

the other items you'll be looking at acquiring

are a leather shooting glove, an arm guard and

arrows. Should you choose shoot a compound

bow you should look into a release aid and

some arrows that fit you and the bow you are

shooting (proper spine). That's a different

article in itself, choosing the proper arrows.

There are many other items like a quiver,

target, etc. that you will also need later on, but

this will get you started. Shooting a particular

bow or release or using a certain arrow is

ALL personal preference. Choose the one that

works the best for you.

The most important thing to remember is

to have fun and enjoy yourself!! BA

CRAWFISH TOUFFE

INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs. fresh crawfish tails peeled with fat 1 large onion, finely chopped 1/4 bell peppers, finely chopped 2 teaspoons dried parsley 1 8oz. can cream of mushroom soup 1 8oz. can good quality tomato sauce 1 cup fresh green onion chopped 3/4 stick butter 2 cloves of garlic (unless your seasoning

mix has garlic) (Camp Dog Cajun Seasoning works well,

has garlic in it.) cooked white rice. DIRECTIONS: 1) Empty crawfish into a large bowl (do not rinse, keep fat on) season well and add

parsley flakes. Mix it all up and let it stand while you prepare the sauce. 2) Melt butter or margarine at low heat in a medium size aluminum pot. 3) Add onions, bell pepper and green onions. Saut slowly at very low heat until onions

are transparent. 4) Add tomato sauce, stirring frequently to prevent sticking for about 15 minutes. 5) Add seasoned crawfish tails. Cover and cook on low to medium heat for another 10

minutes stirring frequently, (do not let hard boil) 6) Add cream of mushroom soup, stir and cook covered for another 15 minutes. 7) Serve over hot cooked white rice.

We certainly hope that you enjoy our recipe and try our products!

Thanks, Papa Scott

Ryan Shoemaker

For most its the offseason. Last fall is

long gone and unless youre chasing the great

gobbler, youre probably eyeing the calendar

like a kid at Christmas counting the days until

opening day arrives. If youre anything like

me, youre left dwelling on your thoughts and

memories from last fall and asking yourself

questions like did my season go well? Was I

successful? What could I have done

differently to change the end result?

Good preparation is all about planning and

if you were to ask yourself if what you are

doing right now is helping to shape your

future in a positive way, what would your

answer be? And be honest.

The great fighter Muhammad Ali once

said, The fight is won or lost far away from

witnesses behind the lines, in the gym, and

out there on the road, long before I dance

under those lights. Whether its boxing,

football, or bowhunting, the truth is, 99.9% of

your success lies in what you do or not do in

the weeks and months ahead preparing.

Where to Begin?

When I talk prep, Im talking 3 main areas:

Physical, Mental, and Equipment. All three

are important and all three work in

conjunction with each other. Its kind of like

the trifecta of bowhunting preparation. If

youre short in one area, youll feel it in

another. With the ultimate goal of being

strong in all three it takes that same

commitment to arrowing a good Whitetail as

it does to stay diligent on your prep. Lets

break down how to do it

Physical Listen, in my opinion there has

never been a time in history with more people

telling you to be in shape to hunt. Never.

More and more people are screaming to run

this, lift that, and to put yourself into super

extreme physical shape to be successful. Do

you need to? No. Does it give you a better

chance at being successful? Yes, I think so.

And, depending upon the type of animal/

terrain you are hunting, it could mean the

difference between success and failure in your

hunt.

I truly believe that Ive experienced and

found success because of the physical and

mental stress that Ive endured preparing for a

hunt. However, I do not believe that this is

the way for everyone. The physical part of

preparing is all about doing whats right for

you and your fitness and expectation level. If

that means running an ultramarathon, great. If

that means striving to run or walk your first

5k, tremendous! The point is, do what will fit

and push you to be at your very best. Make

the commitment to do something. Set a goal.

Work to achieve it, and put yourself in a

better position going into this fall!

Mental Bowhunting is hard. It takes

perseverance, commitment, and a never quit

attitude. The mental part of bowhunting not

only accounts for being mentally tough, but

also the mental exercise of thinking through

situations before they happen. New hunt

areas, new stand locations, dissecting travel

corridors or devising your yearly hunt plan all

takes strategy and effort to break down. Take

the time to sit down and really put forth some

mental energy into working through what

could or should happen come season. Make

the decision now to use your mind to

determine what needs to happen. Plan, plan

some more, plan again, and then execute.

Stay committed to your goals for the season.

Equipment Playing probably the most

vital role to your success is your equipment.

Truth is, no matter how physically or mentally

developed you are, if youre equipment isnt

ready, neither are you. Start now by going

through your equipment and honing in on

those items that need repaired or replaced.

Look over your bow top to bottom. Do the

strings and cables need changed? Do you

need to tweak your arrow set up for better

broadhead flight? With lots of time between

now and opening day, theres no better time to

be experimenting with different setups.

In the end, good preparation is all about

planning. Start today by sitting down and

making a list of what you would like to

improve upon to make a positive impact on

your season. BA

Will Jenkins

While most people

are winding down from

turkey season and hitting the 3D course or

fishing, I am out setting up and monitoring

trail cameras. I have got the tick bites and

poison ivy to prove it! While I dont

necessarily recommend the tick bites and

poison ivy it comes with the territory. I love

getting pictures of bucks and watching as they

develop their racks and watching

fawns grow from

scraggly legged

newborns to fat

little fawns that

can be pretty

entertaining. Trail

cameras have come

a long way from

Flash 35mm boxes on

a tree. They now have

advanced features, black flashes

and even video with sound. With all of these

options what is the best way to record the

growth of your deer herd?

To start you need a camera. Pick one that

fits your needs and budget. Honestly the best

deals on the market right now are the Moultrie

MiniCams. They are small, affordable and

loaded with features. If you do not get one of

those they should at least be the standard by

which you judge others. You can sometimes

find deals on used cameras on local hunting

forums or eBay but these can pose a risk. If

you do buy from eBay I suggest getting them

new and from a seller that advertises the fact

that they are an

authorized dealer.

Now that you

have a camera

where should

you put it?

What should

you put it on?

Should you

put

anything in front of

it? These are all great questions and

some depend on the answers to others. To

start with I would suggest finding a high

traffic area between either a bedding area and

food source or bedding area and water source.

Next there are plenty of apparatuses to hold

your camera from security boxes, to mounts

to camera sticks. While a security box may

be warranted, starting out, just strap it to a tree

about 36 inches high. If feeding deer is legal

in your area I suggest putting down some

mineral with some feed on top. Or if you

dont feel like putting down feed just mineral

will do; the feed just helps them find it a little

faster. The mineral, even if it is a small

application, can last weeks without a

new application and is

much less

expensive than

continually

putting feed

out. I use

mineral in

front of

cameras for

two reasons. First it gives

developing bucks and lactating does a

good source of minerals and second it makes

them pause and hang around for some good

pictures.

With all this new technology how should

you program your camera? I think the best

way to start out with any camera is to set the

sensor to high, make it capture 2 or 3 images

per trigger with a delay of 15-30 seconds.

This gives you the ability to understand how

sensitive the motion sensor is as well as

letting understand the trigger speed.

Capturing multiple images will better your

chances of seeing the animal in frame.

Depending on the results you can then adjust

these settings. These initial settings may lead

to a bunch of blank photos from wind blowing

branches and other things that might trigger it,

but you are sure to not miss any deer or

animals. Then you can adjust based on the

first few card readings. Some adjustment will

also depend on whether you are trying to

catch feeding deer or deer on

the move.

Now,

you are all

set up and if

you are like

me, trail

cameras only

throw fuel on the

fire. Being able to

see the deer grow and develop

through the seasons is amazing and really

brings you that much closer to the animals

you are hunting. The cameras can help you

pattern the deer, understand the makeup of

your deer herd and let you know which

specific deer are hanging around. BA

Bow Adventures asked Melissa Bachman

20 questions that everyone wanted to know.

Ok, maybe not everyone, but we felt these

questions would help you get to know Melissa

and her passion for bowhunting.

Melissa is a VERY busy lady. Between

hunting, filming, shooting her My Take with

Melissa Bachman or just preparing for her

next adventure, Melissa is making her mark

not only on the bowhunting world, but the

world in general. Thankfully she was able to

take a few minutes with us!

So join us in this series as we learn about

Melissa. I am sure you will agree, even

though Melissa is a heavy hitter in this

industry, she is still a very real person.

1- How long have you (been an archer or)

bowhunted?

MB-I got my first bow at 5 years old but

wasnt able to actually bowhunt until I was

12. I was a pretty small kid so I did pushups

for over a year to build up my strength to pull

back my 40 pound bow at the time.

2- What/who started you in bowhunting?

MB-Both my parents are bowhunters so

they got me started at a very early age and

even brought me along with

them on stand

while

out deer

hunting

before I

was old

enough to

hunt on my

own.

3- What was

the first game you

harvested with a bow?

MB-The first game I ever harvested with a

bow was a whitetail doe. I was so proud and

knew I would be a bowhunter for the rest of

my life.

4- What was your most difficult hunt?

MB-One of the most difficult hunts Ive

ever done was a trip I just came back from

yesterday (June 4, 2012). I spent 14 days in a

tent on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska bear

hunting. For the past 3 years Ive successfully

called in some giant black bears but this year I

couldnt get a single bear interested in my

predator call. Not only was the hunting

difficult it takes some mental toughness to

sleep in a tent and hunt for 14 days straight in

extremely wet soggy

conditions. Im not

sure it ever quit

raining and our

gear was wet

from day 1-

14.

5- What

was your

favorite

hunt?

MB-My favorite hunt was

a spot and stalk mule deer hunt I did last

year in Colorado where I went home with a

176-inch velvet mule deer. I spotted a

beautiful high racked mule deer and hunted

him for11 days straight trying to film it all

myself. Finally I connected on the last

morning and it was probably one of the most

rewarding hunts Ive ever done. This mule

deer had tested my patience and really made

me question myself as a hunter a couple

times, but the persistence paid off and I was

able to adapt and finally get within bow range

and as a bonus I filmed the entire hunt from

start to finish on my own.

6- How long do you prepare for a hunt?

MB-I try to get my gear ready a couple

days in advance and put it in a pile while I

think of more things I need to bring. Im a

big list person so Ill try to come up with the

main things I cant forget then add

about an extra 80

pounds of spare gear

just in case. I cant

think of any trip

where someone

would say Wow,

you pack light.

7- How do

you prepare

for a hunt?

MB-I

usually make a list of gear I

need, double check that all my equipment is

in working order, and try to get mentally

prepared before heading out.

8- What gear do you use? (bow, arrow,

fletching, broadhead, release, camo/clothing,

backpack for instance).

MB-Camo- Realtree

Bow- Mathews Jewel 64lbs

Arrows- Carbon Express Blue Streaks

250s

Broadhead- Rage Extreme

Release- True Ball Short & Sweet

Sight- HHA

Rest- Vital Gear Kazaway Rest

Stabilizer- Vital Gear Nomadic Stabilizer

Lumenoks- Where legal

Cuddeback Trail Cameras

SHE Safari Clothing

9- What is the one thing you have to have

on every hunt?

MB-As a

bowhunter I

dont like to have

bulky clothes with

too many layers,

although I hate being

cold! The one thing

you will always find in

my pack are Therma

Care wraps. If I get in a

situation where Im cold I

can always put one on my neck

and back and get that added warmth needed.

There is nothing worse than shivering when

youre getting ready to shoot, I know I shake

enough just from the adrenaline and I sure

dont want to be shaking from the cold as

well!

10- What game do you wish to hunt but

never have?

MB-My dream hunt is to bowhunt brown

bear using my predator call in Alaska.

11- What game do you want to hunt again?

MB-I cant really think of any game I

wouldnt want to hunt again, but I really enjoy

hunting gators, bears and whitetails!

12- What is the one thing regarding

bowhunting you could do without?

MB-I could do without all the hate mail I

receive from anti-hunters who believe

bowhunting is the most cruel thing in the

world. I cant tell you how many nasty

messages I get regarding their hatred for

bowhunting however their lack of

understanding is pretty evident.

13 - Choose 3 people to take on a hunt

with you, 1 living, 1 deceased, and 1 non-

hunter. Who would they be and why?

MB-Living- My family- Although I used

to hunt with my family a lot as a kid, I dont

get to hunt with them as much anymore, so if

I had to pick someone for a hunt it would be

my parents and my brother.

Deceased- My grandfather- My grandpa

and I used to play practical jokes on each

other all the time but he passed away before I

was old enough to hunt and I know we would

have had a blast together.

Non-Hunter- Chelsea Handler- I think she

would be a lot of fun to have along in the field

and would probably enjoy

huntingespecially if she brought Chuey

along as well!

14 - Do you have any superstitions or

rituals that must be followed for each hunt or

preparation?

MB-Im not really a superstitious person

but Im a firm believer in putting in a ton of

time and not giving up.

15 - Any other hobbies you'd like to share

with us?

MB-I spend most of my time hunting but I

also enjoy fishing and shopping for something

different.

16 - What is your favorite thing about

archery or bowhunting?

MB-Since I was a little kid Ive loved

doing things that were challenging. I like to

do things that take a lot of practice and

patience and succeed when others would

likely give up. To me bowhunting is one of

these things. Hunters cant just pick up a

bow and be a great bowhunter within a matter

of hours, it takes practice, persistence, and its

an incredible challenge.

17 - What do you dislike the most about

archery or bowhunting?

MB-There really isnt much I dislike about

bowhunting but the hardest part for me is

probably the early mornings. I would really

like to do a new show called 10-2 and prove

to the world you can sleep in and still take big

bucks!!

18 - Ever have a

hair-raising incident

or scary situation

occur while

hunting?

MB-While

hunting in

Alaska last

year I

called in

a black

bear into 18-yards

with my predator call while

doing a spot and stalk bowhunt from the

ground. The scariest part was knowing that

when I was calling my hand was on the call

instead of being on my release. When I hit

the predator call for the last time at 30-yards

and the bear came rushing toward me I

realized it was time to put down the call and

make my shot count. The bear wouldnt back

down so I ended up shooting him right in the

throat which put him down inside 50-yards.

This was actually the second bear I called in

and shot in the throat with my bow in Alaska.

I can assure you its one of the biggest

adrenaline rushes I have experienced

bowhunting

19 - What is one bit of advice you would

give to a new or young bowhunter?

MB-One piece of advice Id give to a

young bowhunter is to find

equipment that fits so

you wont

have

to

break

bad

habits later.

Ive seen too

many kids get

disappointed because theyre

not shooting as well as they hoped due to

equipment being the wrong size.

20 - What are your bowhunting goals for

the next year?

MB-In the next year I hope to get up to

Alaska to do my dream hunt for brown bear

using my predator call. BA

Mark Huelsing The whistle and wobble of the arrow in

flight was like nothing I had ever experienced.

I was, at the time, a complete novice to

bowhunting. (I still have a lot to learn.) That

erratic and noisy arrow was my first

experience with a mechanical broadhead, but

you know what they say about first

impressions. That disappointing experience

of a broadhead opening up in flight was years

ago and I havent touched a mechanical

broadhead since.

I havent sworn off mechanical broadheads

simply because of that one negative

experience. Actually, the reason that I

havent touched a mechanical broadhead since

that fateful day has little to do with what

happened then, and everything to do with

what I have discovered in the years since

that is, that fixed blade broadheads can be

accurate, consistent, and devastating on big

game.

Maybe you have had the opposite

experience. Maybe your trials with fixed-

blade broadheads has left you wondering why

anyone would forego the forgiveness and

large cutting diameter of todays mechanical

broadheads.

If you are like most bowhunters that have

had trouble with fixed-blade broadheads, your

problem was likely that the fixed-blade

broadheads didnt shoot where your field

points shot. This situation is very common,

and in all but the most extreme cases,

relatively easy to solve.

Before You Begin

The process of tuning for broadheads

begins before you ever take a shot. One of the

most critical aspects to broadhead tuning, and

ensuring you have a proper bow and arrow

setup, is selecting an arrow with a proper

spine. If you arent sure what spine arrow

you need for your setup, contact your local

pro shop, or turn to one of the many online

guides, such as Eastons Arrow Tuning &

Maintenance Guide.

Additionally, before you begin broadhead

tuning you should have already made sure that

your bow is properly tuned with field points.

I like to ensure that the center shot of my rest

is in spec, that my nock height is at (or just

above) level, that my cams are in sync (if

applicable), and that I have a proper paper

tune. If all of that sounds foreign to you, or

you havent had your bow tuned recently,

then take your bow to your local pro shop and

have it checked out.

The idea that fixed-blade broadheads are

inherently less accurate than mechanical

broadheads isnt quite true. However, fixed-

blade broadheads are inherently more

sensitive to weaknesses in our setup and

tuning. Because of this we need to make sure

that we get our bow and arrow setup right

before we begin to tune for broadheads.

Honestly, if you start with a decently tuned

bow and proper arrow setup, then the actual

process of bringing your broadheads and field

points together should be very easy.

The Tuning Process

Start by shooting a group of 3-5 field

points from a distance of 20-30 yards. Make

note of the location of the group on the target

and remove the arrows.

Now we are going to shoot the same

number of broadheads, using the same arrows,

at the same target, from the same distance,

with the same point of aim. Shoot one

broadhead-tipped arrow at a time, removing

the arrow and marking its location before

shooting the next one. Do not change your

point of aim for any of your shots, and dont

worry one bit about adjusting your sight.

Up & Down

It is best to make vertical adjustments,

bringing field points and broadheads on the

same horizontal line, and then moving on to

make left/right adjustments, bringing field

points and broadheads together to the same

spot.

If your broadheads are hitting higher than

your field points, raise your nocking point

slightly. If your broadheads are hitting lower

than your field points, lower your nocking

point slightly.

It is extremely important that you make

very minor adjustments and then re-shoot

your broadheads; sometimes adjustments of as

little as 1/32 are all that is needed. After

each small adjustment, reshoot a group of 3

field points, and then three broadheads.

One alternative to raising or lowering your

nocking point is to raise or lower your arrow

rest. It is okay to do this if you need to

correct very minor differences between your

field points and broadhead groups, but any

major corrections should be made by

modifying the nocking point. Keep in mind

that changing the height of a drop-down type

arrow rest can affect its timing.

If you decide to move your rest, as

opposed to moving your nocking point, keep

in mind that the direction of movement for the

rest is opposite

of the

movement

required for the

nocking point.

If your

broadheads are

hitting high,

lower your rest

slightly. If your broadheads are hitting low,

raise your rest slightly.

Once you have your field points and

broadheads hitting at the same elevation, it is

time to move on to turning for windage.

Left & Right

There are several ways to correct left-and-

right deviations between your field point and

broadhead groups, but there is really one main

reason that this difference occurs namely

that broadhead tipped arrows are more

sensitive to proper arrow spine.

If your broadheads are missing to the left

of your field points, then your setup is

showing signs of a stiff spine. Conversely, if

your broadheads are missing to the right then

you have a somewhat weak spine.

If you are sure that you have selected a

properly spined arrow and your broadheads

are missing to either side of your field points,

then your first step

should be to make

minor adjustments to

your rest and see if

you can begin to bring

the broadheads and

field points together.

If you find that it is

necessary to move

your rest large amounts, or if moving your

rest isnt bringing the field points and

broadheads together, then you will need to

resort to another method of resolving the

issues that you are experiencing.

There are several ways to correct an

overspined or underspined arrow for your

setup. First, and most obvious, you could try

an arrow with a different spine rating.

Secondly, you can decrease your bows draw

weight to correct a spine that is too weak, or

increase it to correct a stiff spine.

Another way to correct the effects of an

improper spine is to change the weight of

your broadhead. Increasing broadhead weight

can correct an arrow that has too stiff of a

spine, and decreasing broadhead weight can

correct an arrow that has too weak of a spine.

One additional way to affect arrow spine is by

changing the length of an arrow. If your setup

is showings signs of a weak spine, cutting

your arrows down can help, if you have the

extra length to do so.

Sighting In

So far we have covered how to bring your

field points and broadheads together to shoot

at the same spot, but it is probable that these

groups arent hitting where you are aiming.

The only time we should touch our bow sight

is after we have ensured that our field points

and broadheads are hitting at the same spot on

the target, regardless of where on the target

they are hitting in relation to where we are

aiming.

Bringing the field points and broadheads

together is the hard part; adjusting our sight to

make these groups hit where we are aiming is

easy. Remember, when we want to sight in

our bow we always follow the arrow with

our sight. If your groups are missing to the

right, then we move our sight to the right. If

our groups are missing low, then we bring our

sight down.

There are certainly plenty of good

mechanical broadheads on the market today,

and some of the new designs out for this year

have me really excited about the direction that

mechanical broadheads are headed. That said,

for me, nothing beats the strength, reliability,

and penetrations of a stout cut-on-contact

fixed-blade broadhead. I hope that you can

use this guide to help fine-tune your bow and

arrow setup for whatever broadhead you

choose. Happy hunting! BA

Darren Johnson

It doesnt seem possible, but summer is

here already. While farm crops are already in

the ground, there is still plenty of time for

those of us planning to plant food plots. It is

common for food plot farmers to try to time

our activities to the traditional farm planting

schedule, but there is no need. Agricultural

crops are planted on a schedule built around

harvest, where food plot schedules are more

productive when built around animal

nutritional needs, proper soil preparation and

plant selection. This is because there is no

need for the plants to mature at a specific

harvest time. If we are off by a few weeks,

the plants are still mature and available as a

food source for the animals during the

upcoming fall and winter months.

In fact, it is common for impatient people

like me to want to get the seed in the ground

too early. This can be problematic due to late

freezes that can kill tender plants or heavy

amounts of spring rain, which can cause soil

crusting or seed rot. This often results in a

weedy, poor quality food plot, or even worse,

none at all. Instead of jumping on the tractor

too soon, it is usually more productive to take

a moment and instead think about your plant

selection.

There are many types of plants that work

well in a food plot, but in this column, we will

discuss some of the more common ones in

which the seed can easily be purchased in

most places. One of the most common food

plot plants is sorghum, also known as grain

sorghum or milo. It is readily available, fairly

hardy and best of all; the deer dont show

much interest in it until late summer and fall

when the seed heads are mature. This allows

the plants to avoid overgrazing during the

summer months when they are rapidly

growing and producing seed heads. It is also

a good plant for bird species such as turkey,

quail, pheasant and dove. It is easy to plant,

competes fairly well with weeds and is

somewhat drought tolerant. This is a very

good all around plant but isnt the deers

favorite food so there may be times when the

deer choose more desirable food alternatives

such as acorns, corn or clover. During the

winter when food sources are at a minimum,

you can bet that the deer will be visiting a

sorghum food plot regularly.

Corn is another very popular food plot

choice. It is a favorite of many animals so a

corn food plot is sure to draw a crowd. It isnt

the cheapest seed or the easiest plant to grow,

but a mature corn food plot is beneficial for

several reasons. First, standing corn in the

winter can be very beneficial in helping the

animals eat enough calories to survive. Corn

isnt high in protein but does offer lots of

carbohydrates to help carry them through

tough times. Deer couldnt thrive with a year-

long corn diet, but for the winter season it

provides much needed calories. Another

advantage is that standing corn offers animals

protection from the elements. While this isnt

a good thing for hunters, it allows the animals

to bed down and eat without burning a lot of

calories traveling to and from the food plot.

Corn needs a lot of rain and significant

fertilization for many soil types, but overall

works well. The toughest part of having a

corn food plot is keeping the deer from

overgrazing the immature plants. Sometimes

overgrazing will be so heavy that the plants

will be unable to bear ears later in the

summer.

Another go-to food plot plant is soybeans.

Drought tolerant and easy to plant, they are

deer magnets. Unlike corn and sorghum, deer

like both the plant leaves and beans. It isnt

uncommon by late summer to see soybean

plants with every leaf eaten off. Even so,

many of these plants will still grow beans that

are a great protein source in late-fall and

winter. I believe there are two keys to

soybean plots. First, dont harvest the beans

in the fall. Let the plants remain and you will

find deer visiting the plot all winter long.

Second, choose a forage bean variety that

grows larger leaves and fewer beans. This

maximizes nutrition during the fawn-nursing

and antler-growing period of summer. You

will find turkeys and pheasants love soybean

food plots also. If I could choose only one

plot seed, it would be forage soybeans.

Alfalfa is another common food plot

choice. It offers the advantage of being able

to be planted in spring or summer and still be

of value later in the year. It generally attracts

only deer and can get weedy from time to

time so sometimes it needs to be killed with

an herbicide and replanted to get rid of the

weeds. If you are planting multiple food

plots, designating one as an alfalfa plot can be

very beneficial to the deer.

Sunflowers are another good food plot

choice. They are desirable to deer, turkey,

doves, squirrels and songbirds of many types.

I have also seen quail and pheasant frequent

these plots. When other quality food sources

are at a minimum, you will find deer trails

that look like highways coming into the

sunflower patch. Often the deer will choose

to bed in the plot rather than waste energy

travelling to and from. They are also an

attractive food plot to passersby and dont

look weedy or unkempt like other food plots

can look.

Another great choice for a deer food plot is

clover. It can be planted in spring or summer,

is a tough plant that is drought resistant and

fixes nitrogen back into the ground rather than

consuming it like other plants do. Due to deer

loving clover, it is great planted around the

perimeter of a plot or in strips throughout the

plot. Deer cant resist nibbling on it so it

provides great opportunities for archers to get

an unobstructed shot on the animal. Anyone

serious about developing food plots on their

property needs to utilize clover to some

degree.

While there are many other food plot seed

types available, any of the ones described can

result in a very productive, successful food

plot that not only improves animal

populations and overall health, but wildlife

viewing and hunting success as well.

If you are like me, each spring you are

itching to hook up the seeder to the tractor and

get going. Instead, take a moment and make

sure that your food plot seed choices are the

best ones available to help you meet your

wildlife management goals. An extra moment

of preparation can reap huge rewards for you

later in the fall and winter. Good luck and

happy planting. BA

Nick Viau

For many archers, a round of 3Ds may be a

great way to unwind on the weekends or keep

ones skills sharp out of season, but it means a

little bit more to the average stickbow shooter.

While scorecards are valued, it is the

gathering itself that is ultimately the most

prized, which is why 3D shoots are usually

three-day events. I am not insinuating that

modern archers arent into gathering, simply

that you dont hear about it as often as the

traditional crowd. Why? I think it is because

weve become the oddballs in the bowhunting

community, and oddballs like to hang out

with other oddballs, and do oddball things.

It is human to be around like-minded

people with similar interests. As these

interests get more specific, the groups of folk

identifying with them are naturally smaller

and more invested. The need for camaraderie

grows stronger amongst this smaller populace,

and reasons to gather throughout the year are

invented.

Ive witnessed the same phenomena

amongst traditional black powder shooters.

Wander into a local sporting goods store and

you are likely to find a pamphlet produced by

a flintlock or percussion cap specific club,

advertising a list of traditional black powder

events. You dont see that for modern

munitions owners because they are more

abundant.

When I began shooting a bow, finding

other traditional shooters or a shop catering to

them was difficult. The industry favours the

highly marketed, moneymaking compound

and that is what shops stock. I had to rely on

fate and hearsay to find fellow enthusiasts,

whereas compound-oriented commerce can be

found in any outfitter. The need to gather and

discuss is not as pressing as it is for those

favouring traditional tackle.

It isnt as difficult to recruit when the

activity is common either. We rely on word-

of-mouth and word-of-action as our primary

marketing tools, but it is the latter of the two

that is the most effective. You cannot truly Continued pg 44

Photo: Bernie Eng

experience the magic of traditional archery

until youve held a stickbow in your hand,

sent an arrow down range with it, or had a

hardy conversation with someone who knows

it intimately.

The following is a taste of what makes a

traditional event special.

Shooting

Obviously, shooting is essential when

creating the ideal traditional event. We come

together in celebration of a projectile-

throwing weapon, after all. Anything void of

shooting would seem fairly drab in

comparison. There are

plenty of opportunities for

arrow flinging of all kinds

at a traditional event.

Summer events usually

sport multiple 2D/3D

courses for the masses to

enjoy, including options

for the little ones, and you

can shoot all weekend for less than a round of

golf.

Friendly Competition

Opportunities for competition vary per

event. Some are structured around it, and

others are structured without it. Some are

garden-variety target shoots with rounds,

scorecards, and trophies. Others pit scores of

archers against each other in open field,

circle-target, hit the bulls-eye in three arrows

at increasing distances, battle royals for

nothing but a homemade arrow and the

respect of your peers.

Fairway games are a delightful alternative,

and are always worth a laugh. They vary from

aerial shooting, breaking clays at close range,

lobbing Flu Flus into pots of faux gold, to

shooting at targets filled with cash at ranges

of 50, 80, and 100+ yards.

Ultimately, the most common form is the

occasional bet between family and friends,

and the scorecards

stay in the car.

Family,

Friends, and Food

Traditional

gatherings are often

planned, annual

vacations. The

camping is usually

free, the people are friendly, there are kids

everywhere, and there is always something to

do. The food is incredible, and abundant, but

you wouldnt expect anything less from folks

who live to prepare and consume wild game.

Whether you visit for the day, or spend the

weekend, there is little reason not to bring the

entire family. You can give them a wonderful

Photo: Bernie Eng

vacation for little money. Several if you

attend more than one! It is sort of like a

family reunion with bows, and it doesnt get

any better than that.

Gear, Gear, Gear

Every traditional event has a vendor or two

present, whether it is small outfitters, major

brands, or independent bowyers from all over

the country. With such a small and specialized

audience, it is a wise investment to make an

appearance at as many as possible. It is also a

personal investment, as they look forward to

going as well. While there is an exceptional

opportunity to push product, there is an even

greater opportunity for networking and

relationship building. Likewise, traditional

tackle enthusiasts seldom get the opportunity

to try products out first hand unless they are

fortunate enough to have a dedicated outfitter

nearby. Few have this privilege, and drive

hours out of their way just to go shopping.

The traditional consumer is a special

breed. We are a loyal lot once we find

something that suits us. We are buying the

bowyer as well as the bow, which is why it is

commonplace to find bowyers and reps

mingling, shooting, and camping with clients

at annual events.

Gear can also be acquired through swaps

(or trade blankets), raffles, and auctions.

Im always stunned by the donations for the

latter. We are blessed with members who are

as generous as they are gifted in their craft.

The vintage pieces that pop up are equally

interesting, and usually still functional.

Valuable Interactions

It is impossible to attend a traditional event

and not bank at least one memorable

conversation. It doesnt matter how

accomplished you think you are as a hunter,

there is always someone out there with the

capacity to humble you, albeit unintentionally,

whether theyve done it longer, better, or in a

way that is totally unique. And sometimes

conversing isnt necessary. Ive met people

who have it, without even knowing what

it is. People who are so passionate it oozes

from every pore. Living, breathing examples

of an ideology- flaws and all. Folks with

mileage who were there when the roads in

which we trod were merely trails to be

cleared.

Ill never forget one in particular at the

2010 Compton Traditional Bowhunters

rendezvous in Berrian Springs (Michigan). It

was a particularly sticky day in June and the

3D courses were slamming with people.

Every target had three to five in tow, which

made for ample discussion time. My Dad and

I decided to shoot through, skipping a

particularly large group of folks, and hitting

the next open target. While doing so, we

butted up against a heavier set gentleman in

his seventies with a straw hat and a long white

beard. After exchanging subtleties and

complaining about the bugs, we decided to

join forces. It didnt take long to realize he

was the genuine article.

He wielded his longbow effortlessly,

sending arrow after

arrow

into the

vitals of

every

target with

ease. We

were

impressed to

say the least,

but whenever

we offered praise he simply

shrugged it off, and grinned as if he preferred

not to receive it.

I ought to be able to shoot this thing by

now, hed retort. Ive been doing this long

enough!

It was evident he had. An aura of

competence followed him from target to

target. Age had weakened the body, but had

not touched his spirit. He was Santa Clause

with a longbow, delivering arrows like

wrapped gifts. At that moment, his bow was

the most important thing in his life, and you

could tell that it had been several times

before.

While we did not indulge in deep

conversation, a sequence of short exchanges

proved all that was necessary. I remember few

of them save one,

regarding his arrows:

ornately crested

aluminums with a

wood grain finish.

Those are

arrows are

beautiful, I said.

Did you do

those

yourself?

I did not, he replied. I used to make

my own, but at this age Id rather do the

shooting and leave the making up to someone

better.

Well who made them? I asked.

A friend of mine, a few years ago, he

paused to examine one. But he passed

recently.

He grinned, returned the arrow and moved

to the next target, signalling the

conversations end, and I immediately

Photo: Bernie Eng

admired the depth of the man and what he

represented. The old bowhunter, passing the

torch to the next generation the only way he

knew by being there.

Tradition

The dictionarys definition of tradition is

the handing down of statements, beliefs,

legends, customs, information, etc. from

generation to generation, especially by word

of mouth or by practice. That is exactly what

people like the gentleman above do through

their example, and what stickbow

organizations do by collecting and sharing

them. People like me do not exist without

those opportunities for inspiration. They keep

me coming back year-after-year.

Should you have the chance to attend a

traditional archery gathering, I beg that you

take it. Even if it is just to tag along. You will

have a great time, and the experience may

change you in ways you cannot fathom. In

fact, give me a shout, well go together. BA

Gretchen Steele

It seems as though I have looked for the

perfect rain gear most of my life. Ive

searched, Ive searched low. Ive worn

everything from a hastily fashioned poncho

made from a trash bag to military surplus, and

just about everything in between. All had their

faults too noisy,

too hot, not truly

waterproof, didnt

come in any

camouflage pattern;

and so it went until I

found The Prois

Eliminator Jacket.

The Prois

Eliminator series is

typical of the

outdoor/shooting sport/and hunting wear

produced by Kirstie Pike at Prois. Its all

about fit, form and function. The Eliminator

series (which also has accompanying pants to

complete the ensemble) is waterproof and

breathable and perfect for all seasons. When

the temps turn colder, simply layer up under

the jacket and pants. When the temps are

warmer, the excellent breathability keeps one

for from feeling that they are suffering inside

a sauna - a common problem in most rain gear

and waterproof clothes.

The Prois Eliminator Jacket is staple in my

outdoor wardrobe and travels with me where

ever I might go. In the hot, humid, summer

months, Im dry during

the torrential

thunderstorm

downpours, without

feeling as if I am

trapped in sauna. I

bowfished almost an

entire rainy, night

tournament in my

Eliminator jacket in

August without feeling

sweaty, hot, or melty. In the cold winter

months, an extra layer or two under the

Eliminator series kept both warm and dry.

From the heavy wet snow, to stinging sleet, to

navigating the soggy wet fields, the

Eliminator series kept me dry. Absolutely dry.

When its not wet and soggy out, the Prois

Eliminator jacket makes a great, silent,

lightweight jacket perfect for spring turkey

hunting or early season deer hunts. This

jacket is my go to jacket for

any outdoor activity, from

bowfishing, to chasing

whitetails, to waiting on the

ducks to come in.

What exactly is it that

makes this jacket such a

must have for any woman

who spend her days in the

field in inclement weather?

The fabric: The Eliminator

line is engineered with 8000/5000wtaerproof

breathable laminate with a polyester tricot

shell. The jacket feature the Prois their

signature nylon lining provide maximum

softness, silence and moisture elimination.

Construction: The Eliminator jacket

features taped seams, waterproof zippers, snap

down zipper sliders for silence. The hood is

superbly designed with a visor for even more

water protection as well as the drawstring that

pulls the hood to the head for maximizing

peripheral vision.

A drawstring waist to keep those damp

chilly drafts out

The Snap up Duck Tail. This is my

favorite part of the coat. The duck tail

unsnaps, and comes down to cover ones

fanny. NO MORE WET BEHINDS! I am

able to sit in the damp or wet

areas while stalking wildlife

with my cameras and did I

mentionNO MORE WET

BEHINDS? No more drafts

up my back when I bend and

twist trying to get the right

angle for a photograph. No

more trying to fashion a dry

spot to sit in a ground blind or

tree stand. The duck tail keeps

the derrire dry! The duck then

conveniently folds up, is secured with snaps,

and seemingly disappears into the jacket when

not needed.

The Eliminator Rain Pants outstanding

features include:

Created with 100% polyester

8000/5000 laminate, these pants are

certain to maintain warmth and dryness.

Exterior shell soft, supple and utterly

silent with movement.

Pull-On styling to use alone or layered

in the elements. Engineered with elastic

waistband and added drawstring with

cord lock to provide the perfect fit.

Taped seams throughout.

Deep cargo pockets with pillow top

closures to keep contents dry.

9" boot zips aid ease of donning.

The Prois tricot lining system is utilized

in these pants for

comfort, dryness and

ease of movement. The

tricot lining also makes

pulling the Eliminator

pants on over a pair of

jeans, brush pants, or

sweat pants a breeze.

Everything slides

smoothly.

The Eliminator series is

available in Realtree AP HD

and Realtree Max 1 camouflage patterns. My

only complaint about the Prois Eliminator

series is that isnt offered in Realtree Max 4;

which is a pattern that I like the best for the

locations where I normally roam.

The sizing on the Prois Eliminator Series

runs true to the Prois sizing chart, as I learned

when ordering the accompanying Eliminator

pants. I initially ordered one size larger in

order to be able to layer up under the pants,

however this was not necessary. The one size

larger pants turned out to be just that, one size

too big. When recommending this rain gear, I

now make sure to caution women that

ordering one size up for layering is not

necessary.

Prois is Gaelic for pride or prowess. Both

terms are applicable to the entire Prois line of

womens outdoor and hunting

apparel. The pride that Kirstie Pike

and the staff at Prois take in the

design and construction is obvious

upon the first inspection of the

garment. The prowess is

recognized in the use of these great

products in the field.

The women of Prois have a

saying, Take pride in NOT being

one of the guys! When it comes

to well fitting, very functional, well

designed womens outdoor wear and hunting

clothes, Prois takes pride in making clothing

that fits a woman hunters needs as well as her

feminine form.

Even Sarah Palin chooses Prois for her

outdoor apparel! The now recognizable P for

Prois is being seen on more and more

professional women hunters and outdoor

enthusiasts.

Visit Prois website today and have look at

the many excellent designs for any type of

outdoor pursuit you may have. BA

Emily Anderson

When I first started shooting a bow, I

quickly learned there are many opportunities

to personalize your equipment. We all know

how girls like to accessorize, but it isnt just a

girl thing when it comes to bows! It really

doesnt matter whether you are male or

female, as Ive seen some pretty snazzy

looking bows owned by guys at the local

archery shop. Bow customizations include

everything from colored strings, matching

arrows & fletchings, dipped or anodized

cams, stabilizers, etc.

One quick and cheap way to jazz up your

bow is to coordinate a paracord wrist sling

with your bow string. There are many

companies which allow you to personalize the

color scheme and even pick out leather

options. Carolina Cords is one of these

companies. They have a good selection of

colors to pick from on their Facebook Store.

A sampling of their color options include

purple, Carolina blue, maroon, hot pink, neon