Pine Ridge Archery — archery
Post-Rut Deer Hunting Strategies for Late-Season Success
As the rut winds down, deer behavior shifts dramatically. Bucks that were bold, daylight-active, and constantly cruising begin to retreat into survival mode. For many hunters, this marks the toughest phase of the season—but it doesn’t have to be.
Unlocking Maximum Accuracy and Power
Archery accuracy doesn’t come down to your bow alone—it’s the entire system working together. If your arrows aren’t built to fly consistently, you’ll lose both accuracy and kinetic energy before they reach the target.
Two overlooked but critical components are arrow glue and vanes. With Pine Ridge Archery Instant Arrow Glue and Nitro Vanes, you gain a proven system that:
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Locks vanes securely in place
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Increases arrow stability and spin
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Reduces drag for more speed
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Maintains energy at longer ranges
This pairing means tighter groups, flatter trajectories, and deeper penetration—whether you’re shooting at foam targets or big game.
Bowhunting Spring Turkeys: Proven Tips to Beat Their Eyes and Make the Shot
Killing a turkey with a bow is one of the toughest challenges in bowhunting. Turkeys have incredible eyesight, they spook at the slightest movement, and they rarely travel alone. Drawing a bow unnoticed—let alone making a clean shot—can be extremely difficult. But with the right setup and strategy, you can drastically improve your chances this spring. For reliable bowhunting accessories to complete your setup, visit Pine Ridge Archery.
Before the season starts, practice shooting from a seated or kneeling position. Many bowhunters take shots from the ground or from inside a blind, where mobility is limited. Preparing ahead will help you feel confident during the real moment of truth.
Use Decoys—The Right Ones
Decoys are one of the best tools for bowhunting gobblers. Using two or three decoys helps draw attention away from you and onto your setup.
Many experienced hunters—including industry veteran Joel Maxfield of Mathews Archery—swear by using a strutter decoy with a real fan. “A strutter decoy with a real fan looks extremely realistic and does a great job of pulling in mature toms,” Maxfield says. Blinded by aggression, a tom focuses so intensely on the strutter that it gives you time to draw your bow.
Pair your decoy spread with accurate arrows equipped with NITRO Vanes from Pine Ridge Archery for better control in tricky shooting angles.
Perfect Decoy Placement
Shot opportunities improve when toms approach your decoy from the right direction. One easy trick: face your tom decoy toward you. When a real gobbler moves in to challenge the fake bird, he will circle around to square up—giving you a perfect broadside or quartering shot.
Place hen decoys far enough away so the real tom has room to strut and move. Crowded decoys can make him hesitant to commit.
For quick, adjustable bow support during setup, use a Kwik Stand from Pine Ridge Archery.
Use a Blind for Better Concealment
Pop-up blinds have long been a bowhunter’s best friend, but recent lightweight, three-sided blinds may be an even better option. They offer:
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Shoot-through mesh
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Wide visibility
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Portability
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Fast setup
These blinds hide your draw motion, which is often the most difficult part of turkey bowhunting. If you run mobile gear, keep accessories light and dependable—such as stabilizers, slings, and arrow wraps from Pine Ridge Archery.
Aim for the Drumsticks
Shot placement is critical. The most effective aiming point on a turkey is just above the drumsticks. This hits both the chest cavity and the legs, preventing the bird from flying or running off.
Turkeys have incredibly small vitals—about the size of a softball—so practice often and stay patient.
Choose a Large Expandable Broadhead
Because turkey vitals are small, a large-cutting-diameter mechanical broadhead (2 inches or more) increases forgiveness. Big blades help create massive internal damage, shorten recovery time, and make marginal shots more effective.
To help ensure your arrows fly true with large broadheads, tune them with the Arrow Inspector and other tools from Pine Ridge Archery.
Final Thoughts
Bowhunting turkeys is difficult—but that’s what makes it exciting. With realistic decoys, smart placement, a reliable blind, correct shot placement, and the right broadhead, you can dramatically increase your odds of success this spring.
For vanes, stands, arrow tools, and other bowhunting essentials, visit Pine Ridge Archery today.
Bowhunting the Whitetail Rut: Why Close-Range Encounters Make This Season Unforgettable
For most deer hunters, the whitetail rut is the most anticipated time of the entire season. Bucks begin cruising for does, chasing happens without warning, and that “buck of a lifetime” could step into view at any moment. Whether you hunt with a firearm or a bow, the rut brings unmatched action—but bowhunting makes the experience even more special because every opportunity requires close-range encounters that you simply don’t get with a rifle.
If you’re preparing for rut hunts this season, make sure your setup is tuned and reliable. Stabilizers, vanes, arrow wraps, and bow accessories from Pine Ridge Archery can help you stay ready when the moment happens.
A Morning That Defined the Rut
In early November, I had a hunt that reminded me why bowhunting during the rut keeps me coming back year after year. The morning was perfect: temperatures in the low 30s, a slight frost sparkling on the ground, and barely a whisper of wind. By daybreak, I could hear deer already moving nearby.
Not long after, a young eight-pointer cruised past at about thirty yards. It was the first sign that the woods would be alive—and I didn’t have to wait long.
Deer Everywhere—Classic Rut Chaos
Before I knew it, deer were moving in every direction. Does, yearlings, young bucks, and several mature bucks filtered in and out of view. Some were within fifty yards, and others passed directly beneath my stand. Several bucks grunted, pushed does, and chased throughout the morning. The rut was at full throttle.
My bow was ready, and with so much activity, I expected a shot opportunity at any moment. Having gear prepared—like a sturdy Kwik Stand from Pine Ridge Archery—keeps your bow upright and instantly accessible during times like this.
The Encounter I’ll Never Forget
A little after nine, I spotted movement in an overgrown field to my left. A big set of antlers swayed just above the cover. I grabbed my bow and softly grunted, hoping to pull him into range. He answered with a loud snort-wheeze but didn’t budge.
I grunted again. Same response—another aggressive snort-wheeze. He shredded a nearby tree with his antlers, but still wouldn’t commit. One more grunt, one more snort-wheeze—and then he vanished in the opposite direction.
I never released an arrow, but that close, raw interaction made the hunt unforgettable. These are the encounters that only bowhunters truly experience.
For moments like these, accuracy matters. Vanes, wraps, peeps, and arrow components from Pine Ridge Archery help ensure your setup performs when a buck hangs up just out of range.
Why the Rut Is Magical for Bowhunters
Bowhunting the rut offers something unique—you’re up close, listening to grunts, hearing hooves crunch leaves, and watching bucks posture and chase. It’s an intimate, thrilling experience that makes you appreciate these animals even more.
And when everything finally comes together—your scouting, practice, patience, and setup—harvesting a mature whitetail becomes even more meaningful.
To prepare for your rut adventures, build confidence with reliable gear from Pine Ridge Archery.
Written By: Tate Carter
