Q
My nine-year-old daughter will be hunting deer with me this year in North Dakota. She shoots a Mission Menace set at 35 pounds with a 21-inch draw. Her arrows are 24 inches long, weighing 7.3 grains per inch. I hope to have her pulling 40 pounds by the season opener. What weight and type of broadhead would you recommend for her setup, and, is her current arrow weight adequate? Her shots will be limited to a maximum of 20 yards. Thank you.
--Tom L., Jamestown, ND

A
Your daughter will be dealing with relatively low kinetic energy, but it's plenty to kill a deer (draw weight in North Dakota must be at least 35 pounds for compounds and arrows must be at least 24 inches long). Of course, our goal is always two-hole penetration, and once that is accomplished it doesn't matter how far in the dirt the arrow goes, the job is done.

To ensure your daughter's arrow makes two holes for better blood trails, I would suggest a Magnus Stinger. A 100-grain Stinger comes razor sharp and is a two-blade broadhead that will penetrate with very little energy. Another option is the new Rage 40KE, a two-blade mechanical with a 1.5-inch cut diameter. It doesn't require much energy to deploy the blades, and the cut size is reduced from the original Rage's two-inch cut, so there is less drag.

As long as your daughter uses a cut-on-contact, two-blade broadhead that is really sharp and hits where she's aiming, she should be fine. A dead broadside shot would be her best bet as well.
--Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I'm a high school student looking to pursue a career in wildlife management, particularly of whitetail deer. What pointers can you give me to get me headed in the right direction?
--D.J., via e-mail

A
Of all the questions I receive on deer, this has to be one of the most commonly asked. My best advice is to take all the math and science courses you can in high school. Even if you don't do well, when you go to college this will give you a big advantage. If you are a "deer-a-holic," universities such as Mississippi State, Georgia, or Texas A&M (Kingsville) would be good choices.

Because of the intense competition within the profession, plan on going for a Master's degree in Wildlife Management/Biology. Sure, you can get a job with a four-year degree, but nowadays most folks are looking for advanced degrees. You should know that the wildlife profession does NOT pay very well. In fact, you can plan on eating pinto beans and cornbread for years.

But, if you want it, and I mean really want it, the job as a wildlife biologist has many benefits. Once you get a job, your next challenge is convincing your spouse that your work is not only your hobby, but your hobby is your work! Good luck and keep the fire burning!
--C.J. Winand, Contributor

Q
I'm going to New Mexico in 10 weeks on a guided hunt for elk. I'm 48 years old and am in decent shape. I do calisthenics a few days a week as well as some jump-roping, and I just started biking and jogging. My current exercise routine consists of a half-hour of biking and jogging on alternate days with sit-ups, squats, and pushups mixed in. Is there anything else you recommend to help me be in the best shape possible, given the short time left before my hunt? Thanks.
--Dave, via e-mail