Getty Images, Lynn_Bystrom It was a balmy day in the middle of rifle season in upstate New York the first time I caught buck fever. I was on watch, deer hunting high up in a treestand hidden in a grove of hardwoods. There were "runway" clearings to both my right and left, and deer were known to pass by this area frequently. I was familiar with my firearm and had practiced shooting it before the season. It was accurate. I was prepared. And then I saw antlers for the first time. A buck emerged from the forest thickets, walking diagonally to my left. It was the moment of truth. Suddenly, my breat ..read more

Instagram/@bowmarbowhunting In true reality star fashion, the Bowmars are yet again in the midst of a controversy. The couple ignited a firestorm of online criticism when Josh Bowmar posted photos of a slain crocodile to his Instagram account and claimed it was a "pending" record-breaking kill. "PENDING NEW WORLD RECORD CROC with a bow," the caption reads. "This monstrous crocodile measured in at an astounding 16' 3"! Making him the largest croc in history to ever be harvest with a bow and arrow. The best part is, he's a 100% wild & 100% free ranging croc in the wilds of Tanzania, which is ..read more

Instagram, Bowmar Bowhunting Earlier this year, online hunting influencers Sarah and Josh Bowmar were swept up in a legal case that was called 'the most extensive poaching sting in Nebraska history.' The case involved multiple people accused of a slew of violations with the Bowmars' being just one spoke of a larger wheel that centered on former big game and turkey guide Jacob Hueftle and his clients at Hidden Hills Outfitters. The Bowmars' plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge and had to pay a hefty fine. Nearly a year later, we checked out where the bowhunting influencers are now. The Previous ..read more

Lacrosse It's hard to forget the scene in Yellowstone where John and Kayce Dutton take Tate out on the child's first deer hunt. As the wise family patriarch, grandfather John has plenty of hunting advice for his young grandson. After Tate takes down his first deer, his father, Kayce, performs a tradition passed down from John, anointing Tate with the blood of the animal. Kayce says: "It's a big deal, taking a life. But everything on this earth has to do it to survive." Many hunting families have long-standing traditions surrounding how they introduce their children to the sport. Whether it's ..read more

Hoyt Learning to bowhunt as a beginner can be hard: In addition to mastering the basics of shooting a bow, in the field you have to stalk your target to within a few dozen yards, quietly knock an arrow, and take your shot. But this greater challenge can reap bigger rewards: One of the unique joys of bowhunting is the chance to get close to your target animal, says Matt Anderson, who oversees guided hunts as the senior director of operations and recreation at Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming. He tells Wide Open Spaces, "You get to see and witness many unique moments that otherwise would not be expe ..read more

Getty Images, Bjones27 As parents, one of the most rewarding things is to share experiences and traditions with your kids, and that often comes alongside teaching them new skills. For many bowhunters, teaching their children to bowhunt is high on the valuable list. Learning to bowhunt is about so much more than hunting wild turkey or deer: "Hunting is really about camaraderie," says Marilyn Bentz, executive director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation. Whether alongside a league or your family, hunting allows you to spend quality time with other people. Kids also learn about the cir ..read more

LaCrosse Bow season is the best time of the year for many hunters. In states with short firearm seasons, it offers a chance for eager hunters to get out into the woods even sooner—and provides an extreme challenge that requires them to get up close and personal with big bucks. But along with that challenge come some risks and dangers. Your bowhunting gear is tuned and ready—but before you get out in the field, it's important to remember a few keys to bowhunting safely. Though bows have a much shorter range than modern rifles, they are still extremely dangerous weapons. Hunting with a bow requi ..read more

Getty Images, splendens Thanksgiving may be about food, but for many hunting families, longstanding hunting traditions also take center stage. With the rut in full swing and deer and turkey openers kicking off in some states, Thanksgiving is easily one of the busiest holidays in the blind and backcountry. Unfortunately, that popularity has also brought tragic headlines every year, reporting entirely preventable hunting accidents and fatalities. These are mostly accidental but also sometimes lethal shootings of others along on the hunt, as well as people irresponsibly trying to unload firearms ..read more

Getty Images, Lbolton09 When it comes to hunting records, the storied Boone and Crockett Club has showcased some truly massive whitetails. Some records have stood the test of time, such as the Hanson buck, which remains the largest typical whitetail buck ever bagged for 30 years and counting. Other records seem to be shattered every few years, such as many of the non-typical buck world records. Throughout the years, an intriguing trend has emerged: Bucks, especially non-typical bucks, seem to be getting bigger. The racks on these whitetail deer are getting heavier; more points are being grown ..read more

Facebook.com/Bowhunter Twilight was near when a hunter in New Mexico harvested an enormous bull elk on his family's property, ending a two-year saga with one well-placed arrow. It was September 21. Bowhunter Ridge Crum, 27, was hunting over a waterhole on his family's cattle ranch near the massive Cibola National Forest. He was on his third day perched in an elevated blind waiting for a worthy elk to come into range when one finally did—and it was one he had a history with. "Two years ago, I had him at 40 yards, but just couldn't get a shot at him," Crum said. "Two days later I saw him at 250 ..read more