The American West is home to iconic big-game country with plentiful opportunities for bowhunters who want to chase game and enjoy the rugged landscape. Since most hunting licenses out West aren’t available over the counter, an organized system of logging application deadlines, point requirements and more is critical. Ultimately, it’s crucial to create a short-, intermediate- and long-term plan to achieve your bowhunting goals.   Understanding Hunt Units Western big-game herds are scattered across vast landscapes and separated by mountain ranges, river valleys, state lines and more. This m ..read more

If you’ve taken deer or other big game with a bow and are now considering trying for turkeys, you should be in good shape. Most archery equipment suited to whitetails will work just fine for turkeys. However, bowhunting for turkeys does differ somewhat from hunting four-legged game. You may be accustomed to chasing bucks while perched in a tree, but you’ll likely pursue gobblers from the ground. What’s more, you’ll probably want to use a blind to conceal your draw motions from those prying turkey eyes. A pop-up blind is your best bet for total concealment. Unlike whitetails, which are usually ..read more

Wild turkeys are the only big-game animal in America with just two legs, so their anatomy departs dramatically from that of deer and other four-legged animals. As such, there’s a shot placement learning curve when hunting turkeys with a bow and arrow.   Identify the Turkey’s Vitals A turkey’s vital area, including its heart and lungs, is much smaller than a deer’s, about the size of a grapefruit. The small target means there’s a small margin for error. Pair that with the fact that turkeys can fly, and don’t bleed much even if they do just run, and you’ll see why it’s extremely important t ..read more

White-tailed deer are the most popular big-game animal to hunt in North America. In many states, an overwhelming majority of bowhunters report using an elevated stand to hunt whitetails. I’ve been a big-game hunter for 20 years, but I never used a treestand to hunt whitetails until last year. That’s not because I don’t hunt whitetails in my home state of Montana. It’s because western hunting tactics are often different than those used in other areas of the country. I’ve only lived and hunted out West. My skills are rooted in spot-and-stalk, public-land hunting. However, because proportionally ..read more

Bowhunting springtime bears is growing in popularity. Tags are affordable and available over the counter in some states, such as Montana and Idaho. Bears are one of the few North American big-game animal bowhunters can target in spring, too. Whether you’re new to bowhunting bears or a seasoned vet, keep these things in mind when preparing for a hunt.   Make Sense of Map Scouting There’s a seemingly endless amount of public land scattered across the West, but bears don’t live in all of it. It’s best to develop criteria to help narrow your search for a productive hunting spot. Areas with re ..read more

Crossbows are often considered tools for new hunters, elderly hunters and those with physical limitations, but they’re actually available to everyone during archery season in most states. You could benefit from incorporating a crossbow into some of your bowhunting strategies regardless of your age, gender, skills or mindset. Todd Snader, a 48-year-old from Ohio, was like most veteran, adult bowhunters. He saw the value of crossbows for people who: lack the strength to pull a vertical bow but want to start bowhunting; lack time to practice regularly with a vertical bow; have limited physical a ..read more

Bowhunting of any sort requires preparation, but hunting the high country for elk, mule deer, sheep, goats and other mountain species is particularly challenging because it requires a lot of physical and mental preparation. Hunters need to be in good enough shape to scale mountains in pursuit of game animals, but there’s more to it than that. The human body functions differently at higher elevations. Without proper preparation, bowhunting in the high country will not only be extremely challenging and uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Here’s how to prepare to hunt at high altitudes.   Alt ..read more

  Shots at deer don’t always go as planned, and every bowhunter who chases whitetails long enough will eventually be faced with a difficult blood trail. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t hit the panic button — these tips can help you recover your deer even when the odds are stacked against you.   Call a Tracking Dog   Set a tracking dog on the trail if it’s legal in your area. Photo Credit: John Hafner   Where legal, a tracking dog is the best solution for expediting the recovery of your deer. If you’re not confident about the shot, it’s best to trust your gut ..read more

You have a big smile on your face and a tagged bow-kill at your feet. You did it! If it’s an adult white-tailed deer, you’ve harvested 30- to 50-plus pounds of lean meat, depending on its age and your geographic location. There’s only one problem: Your meat isn’t packaged in cellophane and Styrofoam like meat at grocery stores. It’s inside a hide, fully intact and attached to bone. OK, No problem. First, you must field dress your deer. Field dressing means removing the animal’s internal organs, also known as the entrails, which is necessary to preserve its meat. This process als ..read more

You might not think it, but late December and January can be the most productive portion of the season for arrowing a big buck. Melissa Bachman, host of Winchester Deadly Passion (currently in season 12), enjoys late-season hunting and usually finds success in December and January. She saves some tags and hunting spots specifically for the late season, and she also loves returning to other locations for a redemption hunt if she has an unfilled tag. Hunting tactics for the late season are different than they were in the early and midseason. Bachman shared her tips for making the most of this ch ..read more