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Even after all these years, I still get pumped up before archery deer season opens here in my home state of Michigan on October 1st. I have spent the last few weeks finalizing my preparations so that once Opening Day arrives, I will be ready. One crucial tip for all you bow hunters is to check your tree stand or blind BEFORE you hunt. Be safe out there and shoot straight!
-Tom Nelson
By Casey Christman, Co-Host of American Archer®
The sun’s setting rays slowly crept down the ridge line high above me, dancing through the treetops as the light breeze blew through barren branches. Suddenly, the serenity and calm of that evening’s sit was shattered by violent crashing and the sounds of breaking branches coming down the ridge in my direction.
As I frantically searched the brush with my binoculars, I could make out a large rutting whitetail buck, hot on the heels of a doe. The doe quickly turned right and paralleled my stand on the side of the ridge at a mere 60 yards.
The buck had other plans and stopped momentarily to assess the situation. Panting, with tongue hanging out, the 300-plus pound cow of a whitetail elected to get a drink from the pond my stand was perched high above. He began slowly meandering his way down the ridge, weaving his way through the thick undergrowth.
Eventually, he popped out of the tree line within 35 yards of my set and began drinking. Unfortunately for me, he was positioned at the pond directly facing my tree stand. After watering at the pond for over 15 minutes, the giant-bodied buck turned and began walking straight away from me.
I made one last distance check with the rangefinder at a tree I knew he would have to turn left or right at in the next few seconds -- 47 yards. As the buck approached the tree, he turned right to go back up the ridge and provided a quartering-away shot opportunity. Anchoring at full draw, I let out a low, “meeeeeeeh” which stopped him in his tracks. I settled my pin and slowly touched off.
The shot placement was perfect, and the buck went crashing back up a small hill into the woods. Just over the top of that hill, I could hear him fall. The mega-bodied, 155” 10-point made it a short 50-60 yards after arrow impact.
Shot distance for this hunt is a key part of the story. Many bow hunters I know practice all year or at least throughout the entire summer to prepare themselves for fall archery season. While shooting, I’ve noticed many friends and others I’ve spoken with only practice out to the distance they would be comfortable executing a shot on whatever game animal it is they’re after.
Personally, I like to practice shooting at long distances as much as possible and continually push my shooting distance limits each year. The reason for this is because like so many other sports and life endeavors, archery and shot placement is just as much mental as it is physical ability.
Rolling into spring turkey season, I typically spend time shooting anywhere from 10-70 yards. By the end of summer and leading into fall, I’m letting arrows rip at anywhere from 20-100 yards and sometimes out to 120 yards depending how much time I’ve spent shooting.
I want to make it clear I do not condone or believe a 100+ yard archery shot at a whitetail would be considered ethical, nor would I ever attempt one on any of the game animals I typically pursue. The point is, if I can confidently shoot an 8–10-inch group at 100, 110 or 120 yards during practice, then a 50-yard shot in the woods feels easy in comparison.
By practicing long-range shots, you’re mentally preparing yourself and building confidence for the shot that is likely half the practice distance or even less. Long-range shooting also helps point out the flaws in your form and will make you a better shooter.
To all our readers, followers, and show-viewers, thank you for your support. Shoot straight, shoot often and best of luck this fall!
And remember…practice long to make 50 yards and closer seem short!
-Casey
By Joe Thomas, American Archer® Co-host
I know that that opening day of white-tailed deer season is still a ways off in most states, but this is a great time to build an inventory of the bucks on your hunting property!
The best way I know to get decent trail cam photos this time of year is by using minerals and/or attractants. My favorite deer attractant Is definitely Big & J, BB2. By using this granular blend, I can not only get great photos, but it also helps with the overall health and quality of my local deer herd. The BB2 blend can be effective any time of year, but I find that the deer in my home area, especially the bucks, really hit it quickly when I put it out in late summer/early September.
One of my favorite places to put out minerals and attractants is in front of my trail cams placed on the edge of well established food plots. This is where there is typically the most deer traffic. Another top choice is along any major deer trail leading between their preferred food sources and bedding areas.
Be sure to check your state and local hunting regulations regarding feed and attractants.
Good luck this deer season and be safe!
-Joe
By Joe Thomas
Co-Host, American Archer®
I tend to get a lot of questions from viewers about hunting dangerous game with a bow. I think nearly every bow hunter has, at one time or another, dreamed of stalking into bow range of a giant Brown Bear or Cape Buffalo, but there are definitely some obstacles one has to overcome to turn that dream into reality. My goal here is not to address outfitter selection, hunt costs or gear. All of those are vitally important in making it happen, but what I want to address in this post is the mental and emotional aspects of closing the deal at close range on an animal that could possibly end your life if things were to go south.
Hunting dangerous game can even be risky with a rifle, but most of the time the shot distances are substantial which reduces not only the risk, but your emotion in the moment.
Here are couple of things that have helped me prepare to control my emotions and fear when I get down to the moment of truth…
1) Set a minimum and maximum distance that you are willing and able to shoot. You have to take into consideration, not only the anatomy of that animal, but also their wariness, speed, typical temperament, etc. Based on this information and discussions with your outfitter, decide on a minimum and max shot distance and DO NOT VARY FROM IT! This will help not only in your practice sessions, but also in your visualization of possible shot scenarios. For example, when I hunted Cape Buffalo in Africa I set my shot zone from 20-35 yards. With the tough anatomy of a Cape and the heavy bow / arrow / broad head set up was only going to give me adequate penetration out out to 35 yards. We also felt like anything less than 20 wouldn’t allow my PH adequate time to stop him with the .500 Nitro if the buffalo charged us.
2) Decide on acceptable shot angles based on the specific animal species and do not deviate from it for any reason. Study the animals anatomy in detail and only take the shot when the odds are in you favor.
3) Remember that you are hunting them! There will undoubtedly be that moment when when you are making that final leg of your stalk when you will get that sick feeling in your gut. Your feet might feel like they are stuck in concrete. Those are normal feelings that we all experience in that moment. But… the bow hunter who is able to channel their emotions and focus only on the details of the task at hand will succeed. Keep reminding yourself that you have the advantage of the wind, concealment and surprise. Remind yourself that, YOU ARE HUNTING HIM!
For me, in that moment… fear turns to focus. The birds quit chirping. It’s like I’m in a tunnel and the that giant Brown Bear is at the end. Ya just gotta finish!
Finally… Always have a guide you can trust over your shoulder with an adequate back up gun and trust his judgement on when to use it. After all, in that moment you’re both in it together!
-Joe
Our very own Tom Nelson recently attended the Archery Hall Of Fame and Museum’s 50th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony held at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, MO.
Tom was elected to the Board in 2020, and was elected as Vice President at this year’s Board of Directors meeting.
By Tom Nelson
Host-American Archer
“I should have put on some bug repellent,” I thought to myself as I swatted at another pesky insect. It was mid-summer and while most of my friends were spending their free time bass fishing or enjoying Michigan’s lakes and beaches, I was in the deer woods getting ready for bow season. Sure, opening day was still many weeks from now, but I for one wanted to be ready.
Earlier in the day I had perused through my hand written notes from last fall regarding needed changes and chores that would benefit my deer hunting come the following fall. At the end of each Michigan deer season, I take a bit of time and write down items that need to happen before the following season begins. Many of these noted changes are minor, such as trim a few more branches from a certain tree stand. Or perhaps a major issue, like moving a ladder stand 50 yards to the south where most of the deer seemed to be moving instead of where it was currently located.
By taking the time to write down all the needed changes and ideas while fresh in my memory right after season closes, I am far less likely to forget to implement them before next season rolls around. I have a notebook that I have utilized for several years now that I write in detail changes that need to happen. Come spring or summer I review these notes and begin to address them.
Taking the time to review and tackle the noted items well in advance of opening day greatly benefits my bow hunting experience. Most noticeably is the fact that I am not out in the deer woods days before season tromping around trimming shooting lanes, placing stands…basically alerting the local whitetail population to the fact that humans are intruding upon their turf. Mature whitetails do not take this trespassing lightly and many will vacate the area for days, if not weeks. Whether they smell you or see you, whitetails will respond negatively to your presence within their core living area. Taking the time to get out weeks, or even months ahead of opening day, I give those crafty old whitetails time to calm back down and return to their home turf after being disturbed.
One of my most recent items that I had scratched onto my note pad was to move the “Hillside Stand” farther up the hill, closer to the top. Many times while I was hunting from the “Hillside Stand” over the last several years, bucks would cruise by out of my bow range, higher up the hill above my stand site. This became more common, especially during the pre-rut phase when the bucks were seeking receptive does. More times than I care to remember, a buck traveled past me without coming within effective bow range. Heeding my written notes, I took the time in the spring and scouted out a suitable tree stand site farther up the slope. I spent time clearing shooting lanes and trimming out the tree as to make setting a stand in place at a later date an easy task.
Just after Halloween, I was up in the new stand located in a cluster of maples. The stand site offered a good view, excellent concealment and ample shooting lanes. As the sun began to settle behind the western skyline I heard the unmistakable sound of deer hooves crunching dry leaves. Within seconds, a group of several antlerless deer appeared and walked right past my stand a mere 15 yards away. The fact they kept stopping and looking back told me that something was following them. I already had my bow in my grasp when a nice buck appeared traveling down the same trail as the others. As he passed by, I came to full draw and then stopped him with a soft bleat. At the shot, the buck bolted downhill some 40 yards before abruptly coming to a halt. He stood there for a heartbeat, then tipped over.
Later as I stood over the buck giving thanks, I looked further down the slope at my old stand site. Had I not changed the stand location per my notes, I would had never had an opportunity at this deer. Instead I was placing my Michigan tag on him.
Not all the preseason prepping involves outside work. Preparing for season also means maintaining your archery tackle. New strings and/or cables are items that need to be checked on regularly. Taking your bow to your local pro shop for a quick check up may save you problems down the road. Now is also the time to replace any damaged components or try out any new accessories such as new bow sights, broad heads, arrows, All the items that may increase your archery accuracy. Now is the time to try them out, not the week before season.
I like to take a bit of time and look over my tree stands and blinds. Are there any straps that need replacing or holes that need patching? Taking charge now, well in advance if bow season can save you headaches later when the season is open and you should be focused on the hunt. In my experience, advance preparation often makes the difference between success and failure come the fall.
-Tom
Tom’s buck
By Adam Eller
You will hear these words come out of my mouth in many conversations, as well as in my social media posts. The reason you will hear these words a lot is because I believe in this statement wholeheartedly. So many people will often say “man, it must be nice to shoot big bucks like you do year after year.” This is a statement that resonates in my mind every year. Yes, they are right- it is nice! What they don’t see is all the hours I spend every spring and summer working dirt and making sure my soil is right, and looking over my plots from the previous year, thinking of ways I can do things better. I strategize how to make my prey travel to food sources, following paths that I create for them. Deer naturally seek to follow the path of least resistance which is exactly what they desire. Food plots are so much more than just feeding hungry deer. They are the very basis for your success as a conservator and hunter.
The picture above is the view from my tree stand. By simply using glyphosate to kill my plot barrier in this small area, the deer now filter to the food source through this gap giving me a perfect 18 yard quartering away shot.
Deer are much like us in the sense that they will always take the path of least resistance, in this case to get from bed to food. All you have to do is make this a reality for them and use it to your advantage. I like to plant clover paths around the perimeter of my wood lines for several reasons. Clover is a great source of protein that deer love and will feed in it as late as December. I like these paths to also access my stands as 95% of my stands are on the perimeters of my woods. Walking these paths keeps me inside of my plot barrier that borders my other food sources (such as brassicas) to keep me secluded from animals that are in the plots. This strategy can often help you get out of your tree stand at night when your food plots are full of deer, spooking less animals that are then more likely to keep coming out to the food sources in the daylight, as pressure is much less. Whitetail Institute has great blends for these clover paths that will continue to produce for several years before having to replant. With today’s technology, it's also really cool being able to spray clover plots and keep them clean of any unwanted grasses or broad leafs that can choke out your clover plots, starving them of the proper nutrients they need.
Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover can be sprayed with Arrest Max or Slay Herbicide, keeping it clean and lush. The plot barrier I use is a blend of grain sorghum, Sudan grass and Egyptian Wheat. Each component of this blend has its use as either structural or as a food source, even for turkeys and pheasants. As I mentioned above, it provides great concealment for you when leaving your stand in the evening.
Having a good variety is also a key component to be a good food plotter. Remember that much like us humans, deer don’t want to eat the same things day in and day out if they have a choice. Also, certain times of the year deer prefer one type of food over the other. Again, if they have this option that just gives you one more advantage and one more reason to keep them home. Food plots aren’t just about feeding hungry mouths, they are the key to keeping your deer home and keeping them alive. Many people ask me why I waste my time planting corn and soybeans when literally every farmer in the area grows these crops for you. My answer is simple. When it's most important to the deer for those particular crops to still be in the ground, they’ve already been harvested in the AG world. I plant several acres of corn and soy beans every year and when the AG crops are all gone where are the deer going to be? You guessed it, they come to my farm. Having them move to my farm helps in many ways during deer season. Maybe they are residents on my farm already, but now I can keep them alive as my shooter bucks and even the up and coming bucks rarely have to leave my property to feed or breed. Sure, genetics play a big part in having quality deer but the number one challenge we have here in Michigan is getting them to the proper age to even become a mature animal. By putting the hard work in during those hot summer days when most are enjoying other things, you can find me in the woods and in the fields solidifying my hunting success for the upcoming fall.
In the picture above you see one of my larger plots. This is a brassica blend in the center with the plot barrier on the left and corn on the right. This particular plot is one of our most hunted plots for targeting our doe population. It’s important to keep our buck to doe ratios in check the best we can for a healthier and more productive breeding environment.
In closing, just remember that hard work always pays dividends but sometimes it can also make you have to pay out dividends in the way of a taxidermy bill. We have been planting food plots for over 20 years now, and I’m still learning every year. Don’t ever limit yourself to the “same old, same old” way of thinking. Think outside of the box. Think like your prey. Think how you can use your hard work in the off season to enhance your chances for success. I assure you from my own personal experience that by doing this, people will start saying to you “man it must be nice!” Get out there and start building your paradise for the fall. Use food plots to put them where and when you want them. I’m telling you, the next place you will be putting them is in your freezer and on your wall! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be glad to help out with any advice I can. Now, get to work out there and good luck this upcoming season!
-Adam
Co-host of “American Archer®”
By far, the most popular videos we have ever put on the web are Adam Eller’s video series on deer processing.
With deer seasons now in full swing, it is a good time to learn how to do prepare your deer for the freezer or to brush up your skills.
You can find the video series on our YouTube Channel here as well as on our American Archer® Facebook page here.
The entire American Archer® Team uses Outdoor Edge Knives and you find more info on their game processing kits here.
Best of luck to all you bow hunters this season!
-Tom Nelson
On this week’s episode of American Archer® airing on Outdoor Channel, we feature my hunt from last fall in Arizona for a bull elk. Having hunted this unit before, I knew that seeing bulls wouldn’t be an issue.
In November 2020, I returned to Arizona for a late season, post-rut archery hunt. I was right, finding bulls wasn’t the hard part! Hunting with my buddy Tyler Newby, who could not only run camera for me but also knows the country like the back of his hand, I was confident I would get at least within bow range of a quality bull. But man, it was as tough of a hunt as any I can ever remember.
Joe glassing for elk in Arizona.
This part of Arizona is particularly rough country and the high elevation can really kick your butt. Typically is takes me a couple days to get my lungs acclimated, but by then my legs are really feeling the burn. I’m not sure how many miles we hiked those mountains each day, but it was a bunch.
In this episode I share my advice on glassing strategy, which is pretty simple. Number one, buy the best glass you can afford. I have been using Burris optics for years and in my opinion they offer really solid performance at a reasonable price. Number two, give your eyes a rest every few minutes. I find that regular periods of rest really helps me, especially when glassing timber, in low-light conditions or where there is major contrast and harsh shadows.
Another bit of advice I would offer is to look into taking Sniper Sharp. It’s the leading, all-natural supplement for shooters and hunters. While I may not understand the science, I know that the product was developed by experts in the field of macular health and if you look at the ingredient list you won’t find any dangerous chemicals. In the episode, I share the story of my dear old grandma who eventually lost her vision in one eye due to age related macular degeneration. When I found out Sniper Sharp had partnered with our team at American Archer®, I began taking the product daily, usually when I have lunch. I think of my grandma every time I grab my bottle of Sniper Sharp.
For a limited time, our friends at Sniper Sharp are offering a 20% discount on your first order by using our promo code AMERICANARCHER20.
Click here to learn more about Sniper Sharp and to order
That’s all for now. As always, thanks for watching our show and for your support of American Archer®!
-Joe Thomas
Where does the time go? It seems like it was just yesterday that the guys at Wolf Creek Productions approached me about hosting an all-archery television series for Outdoor Channel.
Here we are, twenty-five years and over 420 episodes later. I’m humbled that so many people continue to watch our show and thankful that I am still able to chase critters with my bow and share archery info with our loyal fans.
There’s plenty of exciting things in the works for the American Archer® crew, so stay tuned for some announcements coming soon.
I get asked a lot about where people can watch our episodes on a streaming service. We have twelve seasons available exclusively on MyOutdoorTV. There are a lot of great shows on MOTV in addition to ours, and you can even get a free 7 or 30 day trial, depending on the supscription plan you are interested in.
CLICK HERE TO START YOUR FREE TRIAL OF MY OUTDOOR TV
As always, thank you for your support.
Tom Nelson
American Archer® co-host Joe Thomas was scheduled to travel to Greenland this year, but the trip fell victim to COVID-19. Since we won’t be able to share this year’s Greenland hunt with you on a future episode, Joe has a story about the first time he hunted there.
My Greenland Muskox Adventure
By Joe Thomas
“So where the heck exactly is Greenland?” That was the first words out of my mouth last March, after watching a show on Outdoor Channel about a group of hunters who had traveled to what is the world’s largest island situated far to the northeast of Canada, to take advantage of the recent legalization of archery hunting for Muskox and Caribou. I was so intrigued, that paused the DVR to make sure I took note of the Outfitter, Frank Feldmann and his Bowhunting Greenland web site. Thirty minutes later I was browsing the web site and emailing questions to Frank.
Now, I’ve always wanted to hunt Muskox with my bow, and it is one of the animals needed to complete my North American 29. Even though I am getting very close to that goal, the thought of hunting them in temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees did not thrill me at all, which is why I had always kept it on the back burner. Until now that is. From the video I watched, to the photos on his web site, it looked like a true adventure. The deal closer was when Frank said we can hunt them in the Summer when average daytime temps in Southern Greenland average nearly 60 degrees. I was in!
Fast forward to the first week in August and I’m stepping off a plane in Narsarsuak Greenland where Frank loaded me and the rest of the hunters and all our gear into his custom 26 foot inflatable boat with an enclosed cab and 300hp diesel engine, for the 4 hour ride to base camp. The scenery was absolutely spectacular! From its crystal blue ocean covered in giant icebergs, to the lush green mountain slopes, this place was breathtaking. Even better, the Muskox were everywhere!
Each hunting day, Frank, his native guide Knut and our hunting party worked as a team to spot the Muskox from the boat, judge the size, strategize the stalks and pack the giant animals off the slopes once they were down. It was teamwork at its best.
After getting to watch two great stalks in which giant Muskox hit the ground, the morning of day three, I was at bat. It was around 10 AM and we had looked over several very respectable bulls, when I spotted one high above the fjord, feeding in the shadow of a large cliff. Even at the distance of nearly half a mile, Frank judged him to be a definite shooter. Even better, he was in a perfect position to stalk in for a bow shot. Frank, Knut and I made a wide sweeping stalk to make sure the wind would be in our favor and used a large ravine to remain hidden while we gained the elevation necessary to get above him for the shot. If it worked out, it was gonna be a close shot. Most likely it would be inside 20 yards.
The stalk took over an hour but everything went according to plan. When I finally peeked over the cliff, there he was, standing broadside and relaxed. The rangefinder said 15 yards! I have to admit that being that close such an amazing animal took me off my game for a minute. I was just kinda frozen there, taking it all in, when Frank whispered to make sure to stay back off the shoulder with my shot. His advice quickly snapped me back to reality and I knew it was time to do what I had traveled so far for. I drew and anchored the Mathews Creed, settled the pin, and planted the arrow right where it needed to be. A full pass through!
Upon impact the big bull ran about 20 yards and stopped. I waited for him to buckle, but he showed no sign of falling. He then simply turned and trotted across the valley and climbed to a flat bench, where he stood motionless looking like nothing ever happened. At this point I’m thinking, “No way this is happening…” I had center punched him and he took it like the Terminator! Finally, through my binos I could start to see some significant blood beginning to appear on his white front legs, at which point he bedded down.
We watched the old bull lay nearly motionless for about 45 minutes before deciding to slip in to make a finishing shot if necessary. As we approached from below him he was completely obscured by the lip of the bench he was bedded on. Frank and I knew it was going to be scary close before we would actually be able to see him. Once we knew we were within 30 yards, Frank dropped two 12-gauge slugs into his double barrel and gently closed the action. It was starting to get very real to me at this point. All wounded animals can be dangerous and something as large as a Muskox could definitely do serious damage with those sharp horn tips, so my I had total respect for the situation we were in. Just then, as we began to crest the ridge the bull jumped from his bed and charged to within 10 yards, snorting, shaking his horns and pawing the ground. In that same instant, I heard the safety click on the double gun, and could see the barrel tip off to my left in my peripheral vision. We held our ground!
Now, I have taken dangerous game from the ground with my bow at close range before, including a Cape Buffalo, but I had never had an animal get the drop on me. This one had! As a hunter, you always wonder how you will handle something like this, and a lot of thoughts were definitely running through my mind. The thought that spoke loudest to me, was “CALM” remain calm, and that’s exactly what I did! Since he was face on with his head low I had no shot. So we waited. It seemed like forever as we watched him continue his display his dominance. Finally, without warning he turned and made a break for it. At that same moment, I drew my bow and followed him. He was fully broadside at 30 yards when he paused to navigate a large boulder and I hit the trigger on the release. The arrow flew like it had eyes and it planted to the fletch perfectly behind the shoulder. The old warrior continued on for about 60 yards before tipping over in a patch of thick green brush.
We had done it! Frank and I were both shaking as we exchanged hugs and sat down to reflect on what had just happened and the amazing animal we had just taken in such a pristine place.
In skinning the Muskox we found that the first shot, taken at that downward angle had glanced off his massive ribcage and slid around the body cavity without ever entering it. The thick hair had given the appearance of a mortal shot, when in fact it was really only a flesh wound. We were very, very fortunate to stalk in and get that anchoring shot without having to use the gun, or even worse him getting us.
Of the four hunters in our group, all killed Muskox that far exceeded the minimum for Pope & Young and most likely all will make the B&C record book as well!
Many thanks to Frank Feldmann, Knut and everyone at Bowhunting Greenland for making this adventure possible and to God for giving me the physical ability and resources to chase my hunting dreams!
Joe Thomas with his musk ox in Greenland
Where Can I Even Hunt Anymore?
By Tom Nelson
This is a common question I hear among my bowhunting buddies, and it’s a very real concern for all of us these days. In a recent survey conducted by the National Deer Alliance, hunters were asked what they perceived as the biggest obstacles facing them today. Not surprising, having access to property they can hunt was one of the main issues. Urban sprawl with its subdivisions and shopping malls are sprouting up in areas that once grew soybeans and corn. Small farmers are selling out as the price of property skyrockets. Moving out into the country seems to be the rage these days as more and more people want a piece of the country life.
One of my favorite bowhunting spots as a young novice bowhunter back in the mid 1970’s is unrecognizable today. Once rural farmland and woods, now there are large homes with extensive yards that stretch as far as the eye can see. The woodlot I arrowed my first buck in is now full of homes, black top roads and streetlights. The field I used to hunt pheasants with my dog is now a grocery store. Times have changed for sure and as a bowhunter I have had to make some changes also.
Forty years ago I had access to hundreds of acres of good hunting ground. Seldom was I turned down when I knocked on a door and requested permission to bowhunt. Perhaps it was the fact I was bowhunting and most landowners likely thought I was crazy and would be of no real threat to the local deer population with my 45-pound recurve and feather fletched cedar arrows. More than once I had a landowner or farmer help me gain access to another acreage without me even asking. They just did it. Looking back, I realize now just how blessed to have that kind of access. It was more land than I could personally hunt in a season. My life as a bowhunter couldn’t have been better.
Things began to change In 1980. First, one of my favorite small farms sold out to a big corporate farm that allowed no hunting, period. Only a few short years later, another great piece of my hunting access was sold to a developer. That property soon became a subdivision as did most of the adjoining farmland. I was slowly but surely being squeezed out of my hunting areas. Life as a bowhunter was changing forever, and not in a good way.
These days I have access to a few small local parcels, one as little as 7 acres, but I am still bowhunting and tagging whitetails every fall. I just adapted to the times, learned to hunt smaller parcels and hunt smarter. The same can be said regarding our local whitetail population. They too had to adapt and change as their habitat was altered and adapt, they did. With little effort whitetails quickly learned to live right alongside humans in what had become by far, a more confined area.
Gaining access to these small parcels of land that are often surrounded by homes and businesses takes a bit of time and some different techniques when asking permission to hunt. I have found that many of these small landowners are on the fence as far as hunting is concerned. They do not hunt and they do not know much, if anything, about hunting. In my opinion, it is far easier to get permission to bowhunt than to gun hunt. To the landowner it is perceived as far less intrusive having someone bowhunt on their property than gun hunting. I always try and keep a low profile and be sure to not be any sort of burden to the landowner.
When seeking permission to hunt, I generally have my wife come along. I do not wear any camo clothing or attire that marks me as a hunter. I wear normal street clothes and present myself as a normal, respectful guy. Having my wife along has always helped as I explain that the two of us bowhunt together. Honestly, I believe that its harder to turn down our request to hunt when you have your wife with you. The same can be said for children. Bring along your kids when asking for permission. Let the landowner see that you’re a good family man.
Gaining access is one thing and maintaining it is quite another. Keep in mind that the land you may have permission to hunt right now is being sought after by others. One landowner who granted my wife and I permission to bowhunt has told me that he is approached at least 2-3 times a year for permission to hunt his small woodlot. I make sure that every Christmas I take him and his wife a gift of some sort to thank them and to let them know how appreciative we are to hunt their property. Be sure and take the time to do this every year. Never take it for granted that you will have access next year.
I have found that it is best to not wait until the week before deer season to seek permission, so start knocking on doors in the spring or early summer. If you don’t have much luck, do get discouraged and keep searching for other potential spots. Personal, face-to-face meetings are best as it is far harder to turn someone down in person than over the phone. Even the smallest parcels of land can be gold mines for bowhunting if it is the right piece of land. Many parcels are overlooked as they appear small and yet they can be productive when it comes to hunting. Because these small parcels are often overlooked, they can be perfect for gaining access to.
Most important is that you are always respectful of the landowner and that you care for the land he allows you to hunt. Never cut trees or limbs without first seeking permission. If you are fortunate to tag a whitetail, extract it without the landowner having to witness the gory details.
Even though it’s mid-September, you might still find a decent spot to hunt if you stick with the game plan and keep a friendly and positive attitude. Take some time from your schedule and seek out some new hunting spots. One just never knows how long permission to hunt will last. Having multiple sites to hunt, albeit small ones, guarantees hunting access in the future.
Good luck this season and let’s be safe out there.
-Tom
Tom Nelson sets up a stand on a new hunting spot.
Muster together any group of whitetail fanatics and ask them when is their preferred time to bowhunt whitetails and chances are the November rut will be their choice. More articles, Outdoor T.V, shows, videos, etc. are aimed at hunting elusive whitetails during this period of time. Rut crazed bucks are running about in a frenzy, almost asking to be shot at by archers savvy enough to exploit this weakness in the whitetails armor. But in this authors opinion there is another period of bow season that draws far less attention but can and is just as deadly a time to tag your whitetail. The time period I am referring to is the first week to 10 days of bowseason.
As September wanes, whitetails are still in their summer patterns. It is a lazy and good time of year to be a deer. Food is abundant, winter is still months away and for the most part, the fields and forests of Michigan are relatively undisturbed by humans. A whitetail’s day is basically comprised of eating and sleeping. Whitetail bucks have shed their velvet and testosterone levels are beginning to slowly increase. Core living areas for both bucks and does are still relatively small, perhaps no more than 2-300 acres.
Whitetails are a creature of habit and it is never more apparent than in the late summer and early fall. Find an appealing food source such as a bean or cornfield and most likely you will find deer feeding in them at dusk and dawn. However, do not overlook mast crops such as beechnuts, oaks and fruit bearing trees. I specifically target these food sources above any crop fields or food plots planted by humans. Natural food sources are a whitetails favorite early season food source. Mature whitetails, both bucks and does, that normally only enter a crop field just at or before dark, commonly show up under acorn laden red and white oaks just about any time of the day. Falling acorns are a dinner bell for hungry whitetails seeking to put a layer of fat on before winter.
Take the time before season to seek out the trees that contain these mast crops. Locate the trees that have mast crops growing from their branches and stow that knowledge away until bow season. There is a narrow window that you can take advantage of this food source. Normally, acorns, and beechnuts begin to fall in late September. White oaks tend to drop their fruit first followed by red oaks. When acorns are abundant they may drop their nuts right up until November. Other years when acorns are lean, the acorns may be completely dropped and eaten by mid- October. Keep in mind that besides whitetails, turkeys, squirrels and other critters seek out and consume acorns and other nuts and fruits.
Last year I was perched some 20 feet up a giant white oak on a sunny and a too warm, early October day. I was clad in a camo t-shirt and light weight camo pants. I had taken my time walking to my stand this afternoon as to not to get overheated. This particular oak was the only tree dropping any amount of acorns that I had been able to find. The acorns that were falling were but a meager amount. However, the deer sign littering the ground below me was encouraging to say the least. It appeared as if a family of hogs had been under me rooting about. Within the first half an hour, whitetails began to show up under my stand crunching on the fallen acorns.
For a better part of an hour a button buck and his sister entertained me with their squabbling as they kicked and head butted each other as both vied for the best acorn area. It was still some time before sunset when the sound of footfalls on leaves grabbed my attention. Turning my head slowly in the direction of the approaching sound, I was delighted to spot a nice buck approaching. As he walked under my stand, I came to full draw and send a carbon arrow through his boiler room. I watched as he crashed to the forest floor after a mere 50 yard run. I had the deer dressed and in the bed of my pickup before dark. As I sat in my pickup with the air conditioner running, I was once again reminded of the drawing power of acorns.
Hunting over a water source is another often overlooked but very productive bowhunting method to utilize during the early season. Whitetail deer must drink every day. Oftentimes twice when the weather is warm which it is much of the time in early October. Secluded watering holes are a great place to hang your stand of place your ground blind. Creeks, rivers, ponds and even lakes can be good spots to wait out a thirsty whitetail. Deer tend to water shortly after they rise from the daytime bed, normally before beginning to feed. Then again in the morning before the retire to their daytime bedding area. Look for runways and tracks around water sources. The more secluded the watering hole the better chance of having daytime activity. Hang or place your stand or blind downwind of a trail leading to and from the water source and you have an excellent spot to bag your early season whitetail.
I have always stated that Michigan has the most hunter savvy whitetails of any state I have bowhunted. With this said, it is no small wonder that after the first week or two of the season, most mature deer are beginning to change as far as their patterns and core living area. Bucks begin to expand their core area, doubling and more the size of their living area. Bucks will also venture out 2 or three miles on excursions well beyond their normal core area. Mature does take notice of the influx of small and big game hunters that are now intruding into their living space. Daytime movement ceases and summer patterns are disrupted and abandoned. Some call this approaching period the October lull.
Take advantage of the first couple weeks of the season. Spend as much time as you can locating mast crops and water sources and hunting near them. This is the best part of October to fill your tag. Bow hunt mostly undisturbed and uneducated deer while you can.
Be proactive and do not let the warm weather and mosquitoes deter you from filling your deer tag and freezer early. Pay heed to the above mentioned techniques and enjoy some early season success.
-Tom Nelson
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As I grow older, I am finding that I have changed up my practice routine quite a lot. When I was a much younger man, I would shoot dozens of arrows and often during the hottest part of the day. Now, I often shoot just one or two arrows each session and almost always in the early light of morning or evening. I started doing this several years ago to help simulate a real world hunting scenario.
Having said that, whenever I am preparing for a western spot-and-stalk hunt or pronghorn hunt over a water hole, I switch my shooting routine to more closely simulate those scenarios. I still usually shoot one arrow, but I will do so after a run or mowing the lawn and practice under the hot sun.
One thing that I found myself struggling with in recent years is the glare of harsh sunlight. Here is an interesting article from our friends at Sniper Sharp.
Stay cool this summer. Archery seasons open up soon in several states, so good luck this year to all my fellow bow hunters!
-Tom Nelson
Update from Team Member Casey Christman:
“Feeling incredibly blessed to finally harvest a Michigan gobbler... this season has been one of the most difficult, annoying turkeys seasons I can remember. This guy and one other tom worked perfectly this AM, strutting into my decoys and right up to 12 yds. This is the first animal I have taken with my new PSE Carbon Air Stealth and I’m seriously pumped about this coming fall! You’ll be able to catch this hunt on a future season of The American Archer on the Outdoor Channel. Good luck afield and on the water all!”
“Watching my Grandmother lose her eyesight to macular degeneration made me very conscious of the importance of eye health. Taking Sniper Sharp makes me confident that I am taking the proper steps to preserve the health of my eyes. It also has made a noticeable improvement in my low light vision and speed of focus when it counts!”
-Joe Thomas, co-host of “American Archer”
For more information on eye health, visit Sniper Sharp's webpage here.
The episode airing this week features my buddies Joe Thomas and Gerry Addison hunting Asian Water Buffalo in Australia. While I haven’t crossed that hunt off my Bucket List, I have been blessed to travel to New Zealand twice for Red Stag. My first trip was in 2003 and it ended up becoming one of my all time favorite episodes. It was a hard hunt, as physically demanding as any I have been on, but I can’t remember a trip where I laughed as much as I did on that one. Wally and Jason were hilarious AND excellent hunters, and what a beautiful part of the world it was!
Fan Subscribers of the American Archer Facebook page have exclusive access to this classic episode from the archives, updated with clips of me telling the story about how it all came together.
Head over to our Facebook page and click the “Become A Supporter” button and get exclusive access to this and other classic episodes as well as discounts on AA gear.
-Tom Nelson
Hey bowhunters,
Have you ever had a long beard come in so close you couldn’t shoot?! That is exactly what happened to my buddy Casey Christman last spring in Michigan. Here is a bonus clip that didn’t make the cut in an episode, but worth watching if you have a couple minutes.
Be safe out there!
-Tom Nelson
February 26, 2020
Author-American Archer Editorial Staff
As the old saying goes “work smarter, not harder.” Once you’ve got your deer, hog or other animal down the work has only just begun. Wrestling that critter into the back of your UTV can be a challenge and is a good way to ruin your back!
The Ox Rack is the first winch-assisted front loader and rack basket that is designed to lift your deer (or other game) onto your UTV with the press of a button.
For more information click the link below.
http://www.theoxrack.com/online-order-1