Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:22:10 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/images/forum-image.jpg http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/ info@strictlybowhunting.com http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article285.phtml Chasing Big Hogs in the Mountains with Stick and String By Chuck Smick Does a late season bowhunt for big stinky critters excite you? With deer season over; and turkey season a month or two away; do you still have a hankering to pursue big game still? If the answer is a resounding “YES!” then chasing wild hogs in the mountains of East Tennessee is what you may be searching for this winter, for some extra excitement and fun this year. Getting eyeball-to-eyeball with a big tusker will get your adrenalin going… and maybe have you looking for a tree too! Another great attribute to this late season hunt is if you are successful, you’ll have a cooler full of fresh fixings for barbeque and some great breakfast meals too. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:22:10 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article284.phtml It was November 5th 2009 and I was looking out the window at work. Sheets of rain were coming down almost horizontal with the strong wind. Trees were bending to the breaking point. I wondered if my special 3 day local Metro hunt the next day would be postponed. I am a diehard bowhunter some say but even I was hesitant to climb a tree in this down pour. I decided to get a second opinion. I am just dumb enough to hunt regardless of the weather. This time we had 15 hunters participating so we had more responsibility than just us few running the special hunt. I got on the internet and navigated to a local weather stations web site. I contacted the head meteorologist by sending him a quick email hoping some how he would make the bad weather go away. My email said: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:57:33 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article283.phtml Blood Trailing a Deer Can Take a Dedicated Effort Written By Chuck Smick Ben called and said “Dad, I just stuck a six pointer; can you and Chuck come help me trail it?” I quickly told Carroll that I would gladly come help him and Ben trail the wounded buck. Three people trailing a deer can be more successful than one can, at times. Three people dragging a deer out is DEFINITELY a big plus. This is especially true, if you have to drag a deer very far. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:38:29 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article282.phtml Minnesota Archery Opener 2009 By Linda Kistler Burch, copyright September 2009 Having taken just enough college psychology to be dangerous and irritating, my favorite crash test dummy for armchair analysis is myself. Understanding people is a fascination of mine and trying to figure myself out is too. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:33:00 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article281.phtml Why You Should Consider Using Tapered Arrows This Season Written By Chuck Smick Tapered arrows, with the weight forward of center on the front end of a shaft offer bowhunters many advantages, which parallel shafts do not offer. Traditional bowhunters and archers should seriously consider always using tapered shafts, whether they shoot wooden arrows or carbon arrows. Tapered arrows offer the advantages of better arrow flight, improved consistency of shots, extreme forward of center shaft mid-point (when set up correctly) and better penetration capabilities on game, when the correct broadhead is used for hunting. Compound bow shooters should also give tapered arrows the same consideration of choice as traditional bowhunters, for the same reasons. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:45:05 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article280.phtml Written By Jon Nystrom All the planets aligned I was thinking. The bruin we had on camera was on his way into the bait. I could see him walk with confidence and without hesitation. It was clear he was the big bear on the bait. He was a good bear, too much of a bear to pass on. He walked to the bait and threw the logs aside. His head disappeared into the hole where the bait was. I came to full draw only to have the bear quickly swing around and quarter away from me. The stand off was on. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:25:44 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article279.phtml Written By Jon Nystrom 30 yards, 33 yards, 35 yards my hunting companion whispered to me. I can’t see him I whispered back. I came to full draw waiting for the buck to enter my shooting lane. The hot doe walked in first. I strained to see the buck following her. Then he appeared. Now the dilemma should I take him or wait for a bigger one. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:28:47 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article278.phtml Bear Season 2009 By Linda K Burch copyright September 2009 The walk out was dark, through high grass, swamps and deep mud sometimes up to my knees. This egress was a wormhole through thick cover with branches grabbing at my face net, hat, gun and backpack, pulling me off balance. A couple times, I nearly belly flopped in the quicksand-like guckum. I heard coyotes howling a few hundred yards away. I imagined… getting boogered down in mud up to my thighs, surrounded by coyotes who intended to make me their supper. My imagination is a good thing actually. Two hours before I thought I heard that familiar swooshing of forest understory, the only sound one hears when a bear is approaching, if one hears anything at all. I went to fever pitch adrenalin with my heart pounding in my ears in three seconds flat. Alas. It was only raccoons. Afterwards, I wilted from the lighting jolt of the excitement. Yes, I like my vivid imagination. And yes, I am a weekend adrenalin junkie. Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:40:19 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article277.phtml Year Round Preparation Will Help You Take Big Bucks Written by Chuck Smick Do you dream of taking a big trophy buck every year? Does your success match your desires? If not, read on and this article can help you achieve the success that you’ve been looking for this season. The advice contained herein, is gleaned from a couple whose property produces trophy quality bucks each year, along with a plentiful supply of boss gobblers. This information can help you learn to achieve the same results, if you are willing to do the work that is necessary to make this happen. Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:22:41 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article276.phtml Selecting a Quality Taxidermist for Your Next Trophy Written by Chuck Smick, with Doug Wynn The hunter was thoroughly disgusted when he finally received his mount from the taxidermist. The greatest buck that he’d ever taken, looked lifeless and without any character. The cape was poorly attached to the form, the horns were somewhat crooked and the eyes looked dead. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:46:26 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article275.phtml Use the Right Broadhead for the JobWritten by Chuck SmickI spotted the grizzled animal as it moved through the brush searching for a cool place to lie up during the hot day. When I moved to position myself for a clear shot with my longbow, the big wild boar busted out of the heavy brush and out of sight. Who said wild hogs don’t have good eyesight; along with their great hearing and an incredible sense of smell. Hunting wild hogs is extremely challenging and exciting…and is occasionally a dangerous critter to hunt. These animals can provide hunters with incredible off season hunting opportunities for bowhunters in at least 39 states. They also can provide successful hunters with some great eating o­n the barbeque during the summer months too. Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:04:38 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article272.phtml Written by Linda K Burch copyright July 2009 “Oh now isn’t that special”, I said to myself, staring through my reading glasses and into the coffee cup three inches from my face. If my daughter was here, she would have run away screaming like her panty hose were on fire. She is Metro Barbie and has zero tolerance for crawlies. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:41:42 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article271.phtml Hide from Your Quarry This Season! Written by Chuck Smick The big buck cautiously slipped towards the sound of two bucks fighting and the buck grunts coming from the same location. As he eased closer to the familiar sounds, the big buck spotted an unnatural-looking dark blob in the tree near the trail that lead him to the sound that he’d heard a few minutes before. His senses were on full alert as he quietly slipped down wind of the unnatural blob he saw in the tree. The wise old boy caught a whiff of human scent and quickly slipped away into the thick underbrush of the river bottom. The hunter never saw this trophy of a lifetime that came into his rattling and calling that day. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:21:47 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article270.phtml Exciting Year Round Action for Hardcore Bowhunters Would you like to experience some fast, exciting bowhunting action during the off season; and help landowners and area wildlife managers rid areas of destructive wild hogs in the process? Southeastern Missouri can provide you with this great hunting opportunity all year long. Missouri has areas with large wild hog populations; and the problem is increasing in many areas throughout the state. Wild hogs are starting to spread into areas of northern Missouri also. Mon, 04 May 2009 16:50:01 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article267.phtml Written by Marlene Odahlen-Hinz In my home state of Minnesota, only about 3,000 of our nearly 62,000 registered bowhunters are members of the Minnesota State Archery Association, the Minnesota Bowhunters or a local bowhunting club. I joined one of our local organizations right after I purchased my first bow, and I can give you SEVEN reasons why I feel it was a sound decision—a decision more bowhunters should consider! Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:41:59 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article266.phtml You Can Get the Optimum Performance from Your Bow too! By Chuck Smick A traditional bow needs to be “tuned” for optimum performance; just like a compound bow. A traditional archer/bowhunter that is just starting in the sport, using a “real bow” (no training wheels) should contact an experienced traditional archer; or archery shop that has a representative that is experienced with traditional bows and arrows. You can accomplish this by contacting your state’s bowhunting organization or the Professional Bowhunters Society. NOTE: You can view the United Bowhunters of Kentucky website at www.unitedbowhuntersofkentucky.org., and The Professional Bowhunters Society can be reached at www.bowsite2.com//pbs. Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:40:12 -0400 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article257.phtml Selecting an Outfitter That Will Help you realize Your Hunting Dream Writen by Chuck Smick “The big bull elk came into the call, with slobber dripping off his chin; and bugles in your face at 20 yards. As the bull turns broadside, you draw your bow and launch a heavy arrow, tipped with a sharp two blade broadhead into his chest. After a short wait, you and your guide take up the profuse blood trail. 100 yards from where you shot him, the bull of your dreams is down and on the ground!” Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:02:08 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article251.phtml Techniques That You Can Use All Year to Shoot Better Written By Chuck Smick Shooting any bow, whether traditional or compound takes strength, muscle memory and hand-eye coordination skills. You can improve your shooting skills with techniques that are outlined in this article. Many times, my work and travel schedule, family obligations, writing and photography obligations and weather do not allow me to shoot as often as I would like to shoot. I typically work 11-12.5 hours a day, 5-7 days a week, work out of town and live in motels and small apartments during the course of a year. Usually, there is no indoor range (or range period) in the area where I am staying. So, I’ve had to develop other methods to work on improving my shooting skills and improve my shooting form all year long. Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:08:18 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article249.phtml HUNTING TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN TUSKERS Chasing Wild Hogs in East Tennessee By Chuck Smick I spotted the wild boar while still-hunting along the old logging trail. I was easing along, scouting the hunting area and watching for wild hogs, when I spotted two. As I slowly attempted to stalk the boars, the animals quickly moved back into the heavy laurel thickets and blowdowns feeding. Bob and I still-hunted and scouted the area until darkness set in. Bob said that he had seen several hogs, but didn’t get a shot either. That evening, Bob and I discussed the situation with Lathern, and decided to use the dogs to try and locate more hogs. Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:25:56 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article248.phtml Written by Brooks Johnson 2008 Until the rut starts to kick in, hunting whitetails usually involves a lot of watching and waiting. That all changes when the boys start thinking about girls. Testosterone is on the rise, and its time to capitalize on the aggressive, and fiercely competitive attitude the deer are displaying this time of year. It's time to bring out the decoys. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:30:12 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article247.phtml By Linda K Burch, copyright October 2008 I stood in the near dark, sweating and perplexed. My knees felt wobbly from the residual adrenalin and I was tired from searching. An hour before I had made one of the best bow shots in my life, yet there was no blood trail, no arrow found, no dead deer and no daylight left to look further. It was a textbook scenario. I had done everything right. I felt cheated in a way. “God”, I said, “What is my lesson here?” I clicked on my brightest flashlight to look for a blood trail one last time. Deer approaching from the south spooked and scattered, something I had hoped to avoid. I finally gave up and went back to camp. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:24:03 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article246.phtml My favorite bear hunting spot, plenty of bait and a good weather forecast. What more can a bear hunter ask for? I arrived at camp mid afternoon and met some fellow bear hunters whom I will be spending the week hunting with. Some were staying nearby in town at a local motel. Others were camping out in tents and campers. I was fortunate enough to know the outfitters very well and a bed was offered to me and of course I grabbed the opportunity. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:18:34 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article245.phtml It is easy to stick to the same spots year after year. That applies even if you don't have a good year. The tree is trimmed and straight, shooting lanes are cut and you know exactly how to get their before first light. Not me! I like to pick one new spot every year. It is the challenge for me and it makes each new years hunt a little more exciting. The new spot can give a hunter a new perspective. It forces us to hone our hunting skills by looking for sign such as trails, rubs and scrapes. Camera's can add a new dimension to your arsenal of tools to find that next buck. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:13:51 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article244.phtml In the year 2000 I created a wish list of animals that I wanted to harvest with bow and arrow. The list included bear, turkey, whitetail, antelope, moose, elk, mule deer and wild boar. I called it the big eight. Now there is no rime or reason for what animals I put on the list. Some I had already harvested in the past but I thought I would start from scratch. So far I have harvested bear, whitetail, moose, elk, mule deer and wild boar. The turkey was next on my list and he turned out to be my nemesis. I hunted turkey 3 out of the last 4 years. 2 out of the 3 years I had shot opportunities only to blow the shot. The spring of 2008 something came up and I missed the season. So to make up for missing the spring hunt I picked up a fall license. I was hunting whitetail for a week on two different occasions and there were a lot of turkeys in the area. What I found was that hunting turkey while in a treestand is probably the most difficult hunt I have been on. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:03:01 -0500 http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Article243.phtml The beginning of September is a love hate relationship with me. This year I turned to Colorado for a chance to chase those wily elk. I love hunting Elk but I also have a real passion for bear hunting. Prime season although some might argue is the beginning of September for both species. I chased elk for a week with some great friends and had an outstanding time. I had several chances to harvest an elk and the hunt was pretty exciting. In the back of my mind though was how can I still fit in a bear hunt when I get back to Minnesota ? It didn't help that we had a bear cub come into camp a couple days and had a bear eating from one of our elk carcasses. With the elk hunt ended and driving a long 30 hours home I formulated a plan to squeeze in a short bear hunt. My goal, was to shoot any bear. Why you ask, because my kids, family and friends are crazy about the meat. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:33:48 -0500