Q
I am 6′ 4″ tall and shoot a 62-inch recurve. I’m looking to buy a Primos Double Bull blind. Will I be able to shoot comfortably from it without my limbs hitting the top of the blind or the ground.
–Levi, via e-mail

A
I stand 5′ 10″ tall and shoot a 66-inch recurve. I am able to shoot on my knees from my Primos Double Bull blind without hitting my limb tips on the ceiling or ground. To do so, I stay near the back of the blind so the bow is near the center of the blind where clearance is greatest. On slanted ground, I place dirt or rocks under the corners to raise the blind a little. A flap of material on the bottom of the blind will cover the raised area to keep the interior dark. Good luck!
–Larry D. Jones, TV Videographer

Q
I know that physical conditioning is important, but what can a person do to overcome the shortness of breath associated with elk hunting at high altitudes in the Colorado Rockies?
–Royce, via e-mail

A
Having hunted in Colorado numerous times, as high as 13,500 feet for bighorn sheep, and above 12,000 numerous times for elk, I have no magic answers to your question. You will always experience some “shortness of breath” at those elevations. The goal is to function at a high level, regardless. You can do two things to minimize problems at elevation.

One, as you have said, good physical condition is key. If you go into a hunt in peak condition, your body can process oxygen at maximum efficiency. Also, if you’re in peak condition, you will be slim and carrying no extra body weight. Every pound of unneeded body weight (fat) is just another useless pound you have to push up the mountain. My goal is always to maximize my strength and endurance, while minimizing my body weight.

Two, you must acclimate to altitude. Try to spend at least three to four days at altitude before really pushing yourself. And if you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness, go to a lower elevation to recover before continuing your high-country adventure.

For greater detail, get a book called “Going Higher,” by Dr. Charles S. Houston. It’s 260 pages on nothing but altitude and its effects on man. It’s available through amazon.com.
–Dwight Schuh, Editor

Q
Can you recommend an exercise and diet plan to get me in shape for my upcoming elk hunt?
–Brett, via e-mail

A
When I was guiding for elk, I gave my clients this advice:

Walk up and down hills with a loaded pack to condition your legs for climbing elk hills.

If you live in flat country, climb stadium stairs. Equipment Editor Curt Wells, who lives in flat North Dakota, climbs the “mountain” on a highway interchange.

Start with a light pack and walk a couple of miles. As the hunt nears, add weight to your pack and walk up to four miles every other day, always on hills, until you can comfortably hike with 40 to 60 pounds. Doing squats with weight on your back also helps build strong legs.

If you are overweight, lose the fat. Cut out desserts and fast foods. My usual dinner consists of salad with low-fat or no dressing, wild game meat or fish, a vegetable, and a potato or rice.
–Larry D. Jones, TV Videographer

Q
Does anyone make a great low-light rangefinder for bowhunting?
–Kevin Thomas, via e-mail

A
I have played with the Swarovski Laser Guide (www.swarovskioptik.us), a very bright glass that can be used in place of binoculars in some situations, such as treestand hunting, although the 8X magnification is a bit much for that application.

The new Zeiss Victory (www.zeiss.com) includes technology that compensates for rifle ballistics. The strong 8X magnification can make it difficult to hold steady on a small target such as an antler or branch.

Another high-end option is the Leica Rangemaster (http://us.leica-camera.com).

Magnification is 7X. I like the vertical design, because it’s easy to hold steady against my face when ranging, and it slips quickly into a shirt pocket. As you would expect from Leica, the high-quality glass is bright in low light. This unit does not have angle compensation.

Nikon’s Archer’s Choice (www.nikonsportoptics.com) has a convenient vertical design, angle compensation, 6X optics, plus a well-designed case and strap. Bushnell’s (www.bushnell.com) new Chuck Adams Edition has 4X magnification and angle compensation from 4-99 yards. I do not know about low-light performance. Leupold’s RX-II rangefinder (www.leupold.com) with angle compensation combines a 26mm objective lens with 6X magnification, which should yield decent low-light performance.

One final thought on low-light efficiency: If the light is so poor I can’t read my rangefinder readout, I figure it’s too dark for an ethical shot.
–Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I’m bowhunting for elk on public land in western Washington this year. What should I look for when scouting?
–Jerry Weeks, Fargo, ND

A
Walk as much as possible of the area you plan to hunt, looking for tracks, droppings, rubbed trees, and wallows. Elk tracks look similar to cattle tracks, although they’re generally more pointed and smaller. Droppings often look like dark olives. As herd animals, elk will be concentrated in certain spots, not scattered evenly throughout the area, so in particular try to identify these concentration points.

Elk generally are grazers. To find their feed areas, glass meadows, fields, brushy clearcuts, and avalanche chutes early and late in the day for feeding elk. Elk will bed on finger ridges and other flat spots high on mountainsides. If you can identify feeding and bedding areas, you may be able to ambush the elk as they travel from one to the other.
–Larry D. Jones, TV Videographer