Stuck in the Rut

• Meet Miss November! http://bit.ly/9oK5Cn #
• The podcast with Martin Archery's Laura Francese is back online here. http://tiny.cc/bowradio #
• just posted the latest episode of Petersen's Bowhunting Radio. It's "A Close-Up With the Martin Girl." You know… http://bit.ly/aq2ie7 #
• Had a little problem with the podcast file. Will be back up soon. #
• A Close-Up with the Martin Girl http://www.bowhuntingmag.com/blog/?p=816 #
• just posted a new episode of Petersen's Bowhunting Radio! It's an interview with Laura Francese, aka The Martin… http://bit.ly/ddpubG #
• A Close-Up with the Martin Girl http://www.bowhuntingmag.com/blog/?p=810 #

Tink’s, which is best known for its #69 Doe-in-Rut Buck Lure and other attractant scents, has significantly expanded its product line for 2010 with the new Vanish scent-elimination system and Miss November, a lightweight, inflatable doe decoy that is portable enough for backcountry hunts yet realistic enough to fool bucks. Compared to other deer decoys on the market, it’s also extremely affordable.

Miss November weighs 2 pounds and can be inflated in the field in 5 minutes using just your mouth. Because each leg has a separate air valve, the decoy can easily be set up standing or in a bedded position. The exterior features a high-definition, photo realistic printing process on the fabric. There’s also a fabric tail that easily moves in the breeze to add a bit of movement and added realism to your setup. There are also four included stakes to secure the decoy.

Miss November will retail for $50. For more information, visit the Tink’s Web site HERE.

We just posted a new episode of Bowhunting Radio on iTunes. It’s an interview with Laura Francese, aka The Martin Archery Girl. Hear the story behind Laura’s success!

Listen to the podcast HERE. (You must have iTunes on your computer to listen. It’s free.)

• has just posted several exclusive videos from this year's ATA Show. Check out the new BowTech Destroyer, Diamond… http://bit.ly/avetPd #
• just posted Associate Editor Dan Beraldo's exclusive review of hot new bowhunting products from this year's ATA… http://bit.ly/ddrW3T #
• Pennsylvania to expand archery bear season. http://bit.ly/d3rt48 #
• wants you to check out our 2010 New Gear Issue, which hits newsstands Feb. 2. 175+ new bowhunting products, plus… http://bit.ly/d09n7l #
• wants to see you best trophy photos from this season. Post them here on our fan page! http://bit.ly/bpNujj #
• just posted a bonus slideshow from Editor Christian Berg's Quebec caribou hunt. Check it out! http://bit.ly/9QCmgW #
• just hit 900 Facebook fans. Thank you to everyone who is a part of the community! http://bit.ly/7Yi3qe #

By Dale Voice, VP of Marketing, Bohning Archery

My trip to Iowa this year actually began back in 2007.  I had talked to several people about Iowa and while everyone had high opinions of the hunting out there, they all indicated it was tough to draw a non-resident tag without some preference points.  So in 2007 and 2008 I applied for Iowa preference points even though I didn’t have a specific hunt in mind.  That changed late in 2008 when I spoke to Walt Seville, a long time friend that happened to also be Bohning sales rep.  Walt had been to Iowa a few years before and suggested we set something up together for 2009.  When everything finally came together, we had Johnny Grace and Guy Rowzie of Parker Bows along with Walt and myself all with enough points to get drawn in 2009.

Walt and I met out in Troy, Iowa on Nov. 5^th and after talking to our outfitter, Paul Fountain, (Fountain Outfitters) we got busy scouting and hanging stands.   Guy and Johnny came in Saturday, Nov. 7^th and finished up the stands for us.

The weather was unseasonably warm but the rut was on and we all saw bucks from the get go.  In some cases we saw good shooter bucks but as with bow hunting, there was always some thing preventing the shot.  Too far, too much brush, bad angle, etc.  Finally on Weds, Nov. 11^th, guy scored with a big 8 pt and Johnny scored Thursday morning with a nice 9 pt. 

I had made the decision to hunt all day on Thursday, Nov. 12^th which was also my youngest son’s birthday.  I felt that would be a good day to take an Iowa buck but the morning proved dead.  After a short break for lunch, I was sitting in my tree trying to stay awake in the warm sun when some movement off to my left caught my eye.  I rose to my feet slowly and focused my binoculars on a nice 8 pt. with a tall rack glistening in the sun.  He appeared to be headed down a runway that would bring him within 15 yds of my stand.  As I stood there waiting, in typical buck fashion he suddenly stopped and was trying to wind me.  He was standing behind two trees and took forever to decide his next move.  As I waited, he started to turn back up the ridge, quartering away from me.  I came to full draw, stopped him with a “baaa” and sent a Rage Broadhead through his heart at 28 yds. Since I had figured him at just a little over 20 yds., I was lucky to catch the heart as I almost shot under him!  He ran about 40 yds up the hill and I watched him fall just short of the corn field.  What a thrill.

 We ended up with 3 bucks for 4 guys and if Walt was not so particular, it could easily have been 4 for 4.  It was a great trip with great guys and enough good memories to last until I can acquire another 2 or 3 Iowa preference points.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission voted this week to create a new, five-day, statewide archery season for black bears. The season, which received preliminary approval, must be voted on a second time at the agency’s April business meeting. If given final approval at that time, the archery bear season will be held from Nov. 15-19. Pennsylvania allows anyone – both residents and non-residents – to hunt bears. To participate in the season, a valid hunting license, archery stamp and bear stamp are required. No baiting is allowed in Pennsylvania.

A five-day, statewide archery bear season would mark a major expansion of bear-hunting opportunity in the Keystone State. The state held its first archery-only bear season in 2006, and last year, the archery season was limited to two days and just nine of the state’s 22 Wildlife Management Units.

However, the agency recently said the state’s bear population may be significantly larger than the 15,000 estimate routinely given in recent years, and a longer and wider archery hunt, plus shifting the opening day of the firearms season from a Monday to a Saturday, are part of changes designed to help reduce bear numbers and bear/human conflict. Pennsylvania bear hunters killed 3,458 bears in 2008, the latest season for which final harvest results are available.

For more information, visit the Game Commission website HERE.

• SHOT Show Update: Cool new pocket survival kit http://bit.ly/920LGe #
• SHOT Show Update: New rangefinding binos and trail camera from Bushnell http://bit.ly/6lsYlW #
• SHOT Show Update: New rangefinding binos and trail camera from Bushnell http://bit.ly/7XB9B2 #
• SHOT Show Update: New Mudsox from Rocky http://bit.ly/4QmE2D #
• SHOT Show Update: Columbia's new Omni-Heat gear http://bit.ly/6oWUEZ #
• SHOT Show Update: New bow-mounted rangefinder from Leupold http://bit.ly/8WNHkA #
• SHOT Show Update: New Gore-Tex membrane featured in Rocky's new Silent Stalker boot. http://bit.ly/7uR55A #
• SHOT Show Update: Scent-Lok's new Vertigo camo patterns. http://bit.ly/7w0xYJ #
• SHOT Show Update: Awesome new headlamp http://bit.ly/4ugVCA #
• SHOT Show Update: A new era in scent-control clothing? http://bit.ly/8KUSc0 #
• is enjoying the beautiful sunrise over Vegas! http://bit.ly/7d2R5s #
• got an awesome night of sleep and is ready to rock the SHOT Show. Took advantage of the three hours I gained on my… http://bit.ly/7OuBMn #
• made it to Vegas. SHOT Show starts tomorrow, and I'll be on the lookout for cool new products. Depending on the… http://bit.ly/7UOv13 #

One key item that I always carry on bowhunting adventures is first aid/survival gear, and this past year I started using products from Adventure Medical Kits. For 2010, the company has introduced a beefed up Pocket Survival Pak PLUS – an ultralight, ultracompact unit that has a surprising number of items that could help save your bacon if something goes wrong on a backcountry hunt.

“The PSP PLUS is designed for the serious hunter, hiker or backpacker who recognizes the full spectrum of dangers and contingencies that the outdoors poses and wants to be prepared to face them head on,” says AMK marketing director Frank Meyer.

The Pocket Survival Pak PLUS weighs 5.6 ounces and comes in a fist-sized RF welded water-resistant case that also includes a stash pocket on the back. It will be available starting this spring at a retail price of $80.

Here’s a rundown on the PSP PLUS components:

CRKT RSK Mk5™ Knife – Doug Ritter designed the knife produced by Columbia River & Tool. Made of stainless cutlery steel, the knife is a compact, lightweight, but robust, fixed blade designed specifically to fit into a small survival kit tin or pouch. It offers multiple uses in the outdoors, including gathering food, building shelter and repairing gear.

Essential Gear eGEAR PICO™ Lite LED Flashlight – Doug Ritter designed this super bright micro-sized LED light specifically for reliable emergency use. It is ideal for navigating or working at night or in low-light conditions. It projects a powerful 10 lumen beam up to 30 feet from tough cylindrical 6061 anodized aluminum body– not plastic –weighing just two-tenths of an ounce. The knurled on/off bezel switch ensures it cannot be turned on inadvertently in storage and makes it easier for a user to grip if their hands are cold.

Katadyn Micropur MP1 Chlorine Dioxide Tablets (6) – Recognized as the industry standard in water purification.

Nasco Whirl-Pak® Water Bag — A lab-quality, sterile, collapsible 1 liter water bag with roll-top closure that features custom-printed instructions and fill line.

Doug Ritter Enhanced Survival Instructions – Building on the waterproof kit-specific Illustrated Survival Instructions he wrote for the original PSP, Ritter expanded on multiple uses for  the additional components in the PSP PLUS with additional detailed, easy to understand, practical information.

Bushnell held a media event today at the SHOT Show and unveiled a number of new products for 2010, many of which will be of interest to bowhunters. Two of the products I found most interesting were the new Fusion 1600 rangefinding binoculars and the Trophy Cam Bone Collector model.

The Fusion 1600 is a 10×42 binocular with an integrated laser rangefinder capable of measuring distances from 10-1,600 yards, including angle compensation modes that measure true “shoot for” distances for both archers and rifle hunters. The Fusion has fully coated ED glass, a waterproof housing and weighs 31 ounces with batteries installed. Bushnell particularly touted the unit’s Vivid Display Technology, which is a new alternative to traditional internal LED displays. Bushnell claims the VDT offers extra bright images, better sharpness, higher contrast colors and a more legible ranging readout. Users can select four display intensity settings to suit their personal preferences and field conditions.

The Fusion 1600s will retail for $899.99.

Also new this year is a complete upgrade of Bushnell’s popular Trophy Cam lineup, which turned heads last year with it small form factor and amazing battery life, which can reach up to a full year when loaded with a set of eight AA lithium batteries. For 2010, Bushnell has increased the photo resolution captured by Trophy Cams, as well as boosted the SD card capacity and the number of infrared LEDs used for night photos.

The Trophy Cam Bone collector can capture imags at 3, 5 or 8 MP and can accept SD cards up to 16 GB, which will hold up to 10,000 images. The unit features 32 infrared LEDs, up from 24 last year, and has a range of 45 feet. The unit, which features a Realtree AP camo finish, will retail for $229.

The old rubber boot has more or less become a thing of the past in recent years as companies have introduced a host of high-tech designs that retain the waterproof and scent-control qualities of rubber with a lot more comfort. One of the latest signs of this continuing trend is Rocky’s new Mudsox boots, which feature full neoprene socks for comfort, along with a self-cleaning rubber outsole and the ability to roll the neoprene down for added breathability during long treks across dry ground. Neoprene is also buoyant and weighs considerably less than traditional rubber boots.

Mudsox also feature easy-grip handles at the top to help get them on easily. They also feature Rocky’s SIQ Atomic scent-control system, an antimicrobial treatment.

Mudsox will be available this fall in 10- and 16-inch versions in forest green, Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity and Realtree AP. They will retail in a range of $110-$130.