Q
Recently I got the chance to bowhunt a large apple orchard in Pennsylvania, but the owner will not allow me on the property until the apples are harvested. With no time to scout ahead of the season, I have questions. Will the deer bed in the orchards? Would a ground blind work, or should I hang a treestand? Any advice would be appreciated.
– Rhett Smith, Mercersburg, PA

A
In this situation, you will need to scout during the season. My guess is that the deer will not bed in the orchard, but rather in adjacent wooded and brushy tracts. Scout for trails, rub lines, and scrapes to determine where deer enter the orchard. Backtrack from those entry points 100-200 yards and place your stands or blinds downwind of the access routes. If good stand trees are available, go with treestands. If not, brush-in a ground blind or two and hunt with confidence. Check with the landowner to see if he’ll let you put out some scouting cameras ahead of the season. That’s one good way to assess the deer and their movement patterns. Good luck.
– Dr. Dave Samuel, Conservation Editor

Q
I live in northern Ontario, Can-ada. Recently I bought a new bow with a peak weight of 60 pounds. Is this enough draw weight for moose and other big game I might hunt in my area?
– Tom Cashmore, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

A
Any modern compound bow of 60-pounds draw weight will be more than adequate for moose. I personally have shot several moose with bows set at 55-60 pounds draw weight and have never had any problems with arrow penetration. However, at those “light” draw weights, I do recommend that you shoot fixed-blade heads rather than open-on-impact heads. I believe the fixed-blade heads will maximize penetration. I have had excellent results with Rocky Mountain Ti-100s, Muzzys, NAP Thunderheads, and other similar broadheads. They will all do the job well if you put the arrow in the right place – through the lungs or heart.
– Dwight Schuh, Editor

Q
I have been using a deer decoy for about two years now and have had pretty good success with it. My only complaint is that my decoy’s paint is a lighter brown than I typically see on live deer in my area. Would doctoring my decoy help my cause? Thanks much for your advice.
– Kenton Unruh, Newton, KS

A
Having used decoys with good success over the years, I would caution you of one thing – don’t give deer too much credit for thinking. I seriously doubt a buck can look at a decoy and judge whether the color is just right. Carry-Lite recently put out a new decoy, Bucky Jr., which is grayer than previous models. Maybe the company got some complaints, but I think the color matters more to hunters than to deer. Besides, deer are mostly colorblind. Studies have shown they can see shades of blue and yellow, but they probably cannot distinguish between light gray and light brown. Besides, in any given area, deer themselves will vary greatly in shades of color.

Now, if you’re a perfectionist and insist on fine-tuning your decoy, I recommend that you use an outdoor latex paint that dries with little odor. Paint the decoy well before the season, and store it outside to cure and air out. It will be interesting to see if the color change makes the decoy more effective. Let me know how it goes.
– Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I developed tendonitis in my left elbow due to overuse during some practice sessions with my bow. My physical therapist gave me some exercises to do, but I’m seeking additional advice from someone in archery.
– Rudy, via e-mail

A
Most likely you have tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, one of several overuse injuries that can affect the elbow. As you might guess, archery is one cause of tennis elbow – the pain occurs primarily where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony prominence on the outside of your elbow (lateral epicondyle). Pain can also spread into your forearm and wrist. Initial treatment usually involves resting the arm, icing the area, and taking an over-the-counter drug, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen, Advil, or Motrin.

If you still have pain and limited motion, exercise is the next step. Follow your physical therapist’s suggestions. The exercises he prescribes can gradually stretch and strengthen your muscles, especially in the forearm. He also may prescribe a strap or brace to reduce stress on the injured tissue. In worst cases, he might suggest an injection of a corticosteroid medication, which helps to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Whatever the case, I encourage you to stay after it and work through it. With diligence, your elbow will heal.

Incidentally, Editor Dwight Schuh tells me he has had excellent success following the book, A Doctor’s Answer to Tennis Elbow: How to Cure It, How to Prevent It, by M. Beckett Howroth, M.D. (this and similar books are available through amazon.com).
– Dan Staton MS, CSCS, Contributor

Q
I have been hunting with a compound bow for years, and I am trying to get into traditional archery. I need a tough, durable stickbow for hunting whitetails. I am looking at the Martin Howatt Hunter and the Bear Super Kodiak. How do these two compare, and what poundage would you recommend?
– Charlie May, Richmond, TX

A
Either bow will work fine — the choice really comes down to which feels better to you. Above all, do not “overbow” yourself. You will shoot most accurately, more quickly, with a lighter-poundage bow. A 40-pound bow, shooting correctly spined arrows tipped with razor-sharp broadheads, will do the job nicely on whitetails. Honestly, I wouldn’t suggest over 50 pounds for deer. Most critical is to shoot arrows with the proper spine weight for your draw weight and draw length. So get help from your local pro shop or an experienced traditional archer.
– Larry Jones, TV Videographer

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