Lots of hunters I know use surveyor's tape to mark the last known sign when trailing a wounded animal, but there's a better alternative: toilet paper. TP has several advantages in this situation: It's easy to attach to leaves and branches, even if your fingers are too cold to tie a knot. Just [...]

There are lots of hypotheses on how to determine the sex of a deer or elk from its footprints. The following technique was shown to me by my tracking mentors, and I have tested it on hundreds of deer, elk, hog, and a few bighorn sheep trails. When I encountered the trail of [...]

Paraffin wax, generally found near the home canning supplies, is an excellent thread-lock and “anti-seize” lubricant for steel or aluminum threads that are in contact with aluminum or brass. Most carbon and aluminum arrows have aluminum or brass inserts to add weight. Steel target points, field points, broadheads, and even aluminum screw-in or [...]

I sharpen my broadheads until they can pass what I refer to as the “sticky” test. I balance the edge and weight of the broadhead on a fingernail and apply a small amount of force. If the edge sticks in place and does not move, it’s “sticky” sharp. If the broadhead scoots off [...]

I've been wearing "bike shorts" under my hunting clothes for many years now. These shorts are the kind you might wear to pad those "comfort" zones from the ungodly awful seats they are putting on bicycles these days. They have padding built up in the crotch and seat area, which also adds just [...]

As traditional bowhunters, most of us like to have a blunt- or Judo-tipped arrow with us when we go afield. Piggy Backers have a clip on both sides, so two of them can be used to attach an extra arrow to one of the arrows in the quiver. However, I have never liked [...]

Step 1: Marinate Meat Step 2: Dry meat with paper towel and cover in your favorite Blacken pepper mix. Step 3: Dip in Butter and place in very hot Cast Iron pan. Blacken and sear for about 5 min. per side. Blackened Powder; Chili powder, smokey paprika, garlic powder, oregano, Montreal Steak seasoning, [...]

I have a nice traditional bow and arrow rack in my office for off-season display. However, when the whitetail deer bowhunting season approaches, I want to have my hunting equipment out of harm’s way, but handy in the garage so I can easily step out the door and practice in my backyard archery [...]

I have found an easy and economical way to cut carbon arrow shafts using a hacksaw blade. To get the perfect cut, drag the blade backwards, but don't move it forward. That will give you a clean cut without destroying the arrow. I cut all my arrows that way and get a perfectly [...]

Late winter is a time when there isn't much going on if you're a hunter. The weather is breaking, and the toms are in pre-strut. It's time to get outside and do a little practice for the upcoming turkey season. Maybe it is time to rally the hunting clan together to discuss turkey [...]