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Ask Bowhunter (August/September 2008)
Questions answered include are pronghorn good to eat, Bear Archery's The Truth vs. The Truth 2 for elk, minimum arrow, arrow placement on a kicking deer, shooting and arrow with an attached quiver, and cold weather effects on bow tuning.
Question: On Bowhunter Magazine TV, your staff members were hunting pronghorn antelope in Wyoming. After one of the kills, the hunter said he needed to get the animal to the cooler. I've heard that antelope aren't worth eating -- don't make good dog food, according to locals. Is this true or false? -- Roy Fields, via e-mail
Answer: My wife and I greatly enjoyed the antelope I shot on that hunt. Editor Dwight Schuh killed two antelope in 2007 (watch Bowhunter Mag-azine TV in early July on Outdoor Chan-nel), and he reports that both were "absolutely delicious." It is true that opinions vary greatly on the table quality of antelope. Without question, proper field care of any game is critical for good flavor, and hunters who do a sloppy job in the field experience bad results. I always remove the guts and cool the meat as soon as possible. When skinning, I take my time to keep hair and dirt off the meat. I like to bone-out the meat because bones can contribute to a wild flavor. All wild game meat -- including antelope -- is tasty when it's field-dressed and cooked properly. -- Larry D. Jones, Videographer
QuestionWhich bow would be better for elk -- Bear Archery's The Truth or The Truth 2? -- Tyler Zimmerman, St. Maries, ID, via e-mail
Answer: The new The Truth 2 is one awesome bow that will get the job done on elk or anything else you would want to hunt. That's not to take anything away from the original The Truth bow, but The Truth 2 would be my choice. -- Jeff Frey, Online Equipment Adviser
Question: What is the minimum arrow weight -- with broadhead -- for hunting elk, moose, and other similarly big animals? -- Ricky Mansfield, Oakfield, TN, via e-mail
Answer: Arrow weight alone is not the only factor to be considered. If you shoot a 425-grain arrow at 280 fps, the kinetic energy will be about 74 foot-pounds (fp), more than enough for all North American game. Now, if you shoot a lighter arrow, say 375 grains, at 300 fps, the kinetic energy will be -- surprise! -- about 74 fp. The arrows in both of these examples will easily pass completely through elk and moose to produce quick, clean kills -- provided shot placement is accurate. Many experienced bowhunters consider 60 fp of kinetic energy more than enough for all North American game, and many ladies and youths enjoy excellent success with less than that -- as long as they hold out for close, broadside shots. -- Curt Wells, Equipment Editor
Question: If a deer kicks its hind legs way up high when hit with an arrow, where was it most likely hit? -- Harlan Uecker, via e-mail
Answer: A deer that "bucks" when hit is almost always shot a little far back. It can also mean a lower hit as well. When you see a deer buck when hit, sneak out of the woods without alerting the deer to your presence. Then wait at least six hours, even if snow and rain are falling. The deer will often go just 100-150 yards and lie down, and that is where you will find him. -- Dr. Dave Samuel, Conservation Editor
Question: What are the positives and negatives regarding shooting my bow with the quiver attached versus unattached? -- Gary Purdy, via e-mail
Answer: Hunters have debated this for years. Reasons for leaving the quiver attached include:
- With your quiver and arrows solidly on the bow all of the time, your bow will always weigh the same (which it won't if you sometimes shoot with the quiver on, sometimes off).
- Quivers designed to be attached 100 percent of the time are generally built stronger than their detachable counterparts.
- You always have arrows right at your fingertips.
- You don't have to mess with buying or screwing a quiver holder into the tree above your treestand.
Cons include:
- An attached quiver can throw off the balance of the bow, which some folks say degrades accuracy.
- Some bowhunters maintain it's easier to crawl and slip through brush quieter with a hip quiver than a bow quiver.
- Some bowhunters prefer to detach the quiver to avoid hitting arrows against something that might make noise in a treestand or ground blind.
- A quiver full of arrows deflects a lot of wind, making it harder to hold a bow steady in a strong wind.
There is no right or wrong way. Your confidence is the only thing that matters, not my opinion or anyone else's. I suggest you shoot your bow with the quiver and without, and then decide for yourself which approach works best for you. -- Jeff Frey, Online Equipment Adviser
Question: Will a bow tuned in 60-degree weather shoot different when the weather drops to -10 degrees? -- David Carlson, via e-mail
Answer: Living in North Dakota, I've had some experience with extremes in temperatures. You might find a difference in point of impact if you set your bow up in the summer and then hunt in December when the temperature drops below zero. Limbs get stiff, strings and cables might creep, and arrows might act as though they are a bit stiffer.
Perhaps more significant is your clothing. Your grip on the bow -- especially on one with a brace height lower than seven inches -- is really critical. By adding heavy clothing and gloves, you're bound to change your grip. If you grip the bow differently and then anchor against a facemask, things are going to change. The only recourse is to get dressed up, throw a target out in the yard, and do some shooting in cold weather. You may have to adjust your sights slightly. Also, limit the range of your shots. I can almost guarantee your groups won't be as tight in subzero weather as they were in September. -- Curt Wells, Equipment Editor
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