Bowhunter Magazine

Iowa resident Amber Stumpf was 8 ½ months pregnant when she took this 16-point whitetail on what would have been her last sit of the year. She was hunting with her dad and longtime hunting partner Mike Kral when she downed the trophy buck. (Photo courtesy of Mike Kral) Amber Stumpf and her dad, Mike Kral, had made plenty of memories while hunting together in the Iowa deer woods for the past 17 years. But nothing could have prepared them for the epic hunt that unfolded last fall.

Fourteen-year-old Samantha Bartlett of Oil City, Pa. poses with the 6x7 bull elk she harvested during last year’s Pennsylvania archery elk season. (Photo courtesy of Trophy Rack Lodge/John Prokop) Deer, turkeys and perhaps pronghorns are usually the game animals targeted when young hunters make their first forays into archery hunting. Fourteen-year-old Samantha Bartlett, however, set her sights on something much larger last September — a big bull elk that ended up scoring over 300 points.

The relocation will create a hub for innovation while positioning the company for long-term expansion. (Photo courtesy of Bowtech) Houston, TX. — Bowtech is entering a new chapter focused on long-term growth, operational investment, and an enhanced experience for consumers, dealers, and partners across the industry. As part of this continued evolution, Bowtech is relocating its operations, along with Diamond Archery, to Houston, Texas.

Discover how SEVR's latest broadhead enhances bowhunting accuracy. No matter how far the author moved from the target or the bow/arrow combo he used, SEVR’s Magneto heads produced unrivaled downrange accuracy. (Author photos) We read a lot about advancements in bowhunting technology, and that’s not a bad thing. All things archery have come a long way. From riser-mounted sights and rests to micro-diameter arrows to compounds with on-the-bow tuning, we are at the pinnacle of bowhunting technology.

Heritage & high-tech features combine in one powerful package. The Redeem — Bear’s flagship model for 2026 — is a feature-packed rig with lots of hunter-friendly features and a speed rating of 340 fps. Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

With tried-and-true features returning and one key enhancement, the SEVR Magneto has hit the sweet spot. A rare-earth magnet inserted into the bottom of the ferrule holds the blades secure in the quiver and in flight. No pre-deployment issues were detected during testing. (Author photos) I stopped shooting fixed-blade broadheads in 2015 for accuracy and tuning reasons.

3-D archery events are not only a blast to participate in, but they also boost your in-the-field success. The author drops the string on a 124-yard moose at the 2025 TAC Purgatory Resort event. (Author photos) The first animal I harvested with a compound bow was a 54-yard pronghorn. That fall, I made 57 spot-and-stalk attempts before cutting an arrow loose. I was elated. When word got out, the local bowhunting community came down hard on me. I was devastated.

A fast & feature-rich rig packed with precision. (Photos courtesy of TenPoint) TenPoint packs a lot of power, precision and accuracy into its new TX Ultra 29.5 — the company’s fastest forward-draw crossbow to date, with bolt speeds reaching 460 fps. Measuring a mere 6.5 inches between the axles when cocked, TenPoint says its highly maneuverable new creation is capable of shooting 3-inch groups at 100 yards.

Improve your existing plots or start a new one to boost fall hunting success. A healthy, well-maintained food plot can become a major attraction for local deer herds and a valuable tool for bowhunters once fall arrives. (Author photos) Whether it’s to create a new food plot, or to expand or improve an existing one, right now is certainly food plot season.

When you’re hunting alone, Location Sharing from onX Hunt lets friends and family easily track your movements. Should you wander out of cell range, Location Sharing will retain your last known position and provide a timestamp. (Author photo) Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases. I have a love/hate relationship with online digital mapping apps.