Pine Ridge Archery — Blog
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.
Public Land Hunting Whitetails
There are hundreds of millions of acres of huntable public land nationwide. Yes, a lot lies in the western part of the country, however, there is still plenty of land throughout the rest of the country to be used for general public use. With that being said there are many myths about public hunting areas, leaving it with a stigma. For many years I avoided even attempting to hunt public land due to the stories that surrounded it. Here are a few pieces of personal insight I've discovered over the last 3 years of hunting public ground to help guide you to success.Top 3 Archery Christmas Gifts for 2022: Gear Every Bowhunter Will Love
Christmas is almost here, and you may be looking for that gift for your archer to find under the tree for that next time they head out to the woods or range. Most Bowhunters have the latest & greatest gear as it gets released throughout the year. However there are a few items we offer here at Pine Ridge Archery that may be missing from their arsenal of gear to help them be a little more efficient the next time they hit the field.Antelope on a Budget: Why This Affordable Bowhunt Offers Big Rewards
When most bowhunters dream about an out-of-state hunt, their minds go straight to chasing whitetails. Whitetails are the most popular big-game animal in North America, and it’s no surprise that many hunters want a shot at a trophy buck. But what most people don’t realize is that bowhunting whitetails with an outfitter only has about a 30% success rate. If you want an adventure that offers a higher chance of success and doesn’t drain your wallet, hunting antelope should be at the top of your list.
Before your next hunt, it’s always smart to fine-tune your setup with quality gear from Pine Ridge Archery.
Why Antelope Are a Budget-Friendly Bowhunt
Antelope hunts are surprisingly affordable compared to other guided hunts. Many outfitters out west offer opportunities that cost $2,000 or less, making them accessible for most bowhunters who want a big adventure without breaking the bank.
Success rates are also much higher. Most bowhunters who book an antelope hunt—especially one sitting over a waterhole—will get a shot opportunity. That alone makes an antelope trip more exciting and rewarding than many traditional guided hunts.
To prepare your bow for longer shots, explore tuning accessories such as peep sights and stabilizers at Pine Ridge Archery.
My Colorado Antelope Experience
This past fall, I hunted with Trujillo Creek Outfitters in Southern Colorado. They offer a “trespass hunt,” which means you hunt private land each day but do so without a full guide. You’re dropped off, set up in a ground blind near a waterhole, and hunt comfortably on your own. It’s simple, effective, and the success rate is extremely high.
The best part? I brought my family along. While I hunted, they explored small mountain towns, enjoyed the hotel pool, and soaked in the western scenery. It turned the hunt into a family vacation—something that’s much harder to do on a whitetail hunt unless everyone participates.
And when you bring home antelope meat, you’ll discover that it makes fantastic ground burger and table fare. Affordable, fun, and delicious—hard to beat.
If you want to personalize your bow for your next hunt, check out color-matched accessories from Pine Ridge Archery.
Long-Range Practice Is Essential
Antelope are small, fast, and alert animals. Their vitals are smaller than a whitetail’s, and long shots are common if the waterhole setup doesn’t pan out. In preparation for my hunt, I practiced regularly at 60 and 70 yards. Shooting this far requires a well-tuned bow.
For my setup, I used a Pine Ridge Archery NITRO Peep and a NITRO Stabilizer—both of which helped keep my groups tight at long range. You can find these accessories and more at Pine Ridge Archery.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a bowhunting adventure that’s affordable, family-friendly, and full of opportunity, an antelope hunt is a fantastic choice. The landscape is breathtaking, the animals are beautiful, and the success rates make the experience even more enjoyable.
Give antelope hunting a try next fall—and make sure your setup is dialed in with high-quality gear from Pine Ridge Archery.
BY TRACY BREEN
About the author: Tracy Breen is a full time outdoor writer, consultant and game dinner speaker who often discuss how he overcomes cerebral palsy. Learn more about him at www.tracybreen.com
Just Relax: How Loosening Your Grip Can Improve Accuracy and Tighten Groups
Whether you’re brand new to archery or a seasoned bowhunter, one thing many shooters struggle with is learning how to relax—before, during, and after the shot. It’s natural to want to hold the bow tightly. Many archers believe that gripping the bow harder will help keep it steady. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. A tight, tense grip often leads to poor shots. For high-quality accessories that support proper form, visit Pine Ridge Archery.
Why a Tight Grip Hurts Your Accuracy
When you choke the bow handle with a firm grip, your bow tends to react the moment the arrow is released. This movement—especially in the bow arm—throws off your shot. Even a slight flinch can cause the arrow to miss the target entirely. Poor follow-through is one of the biggest causes of inaccuracy.
A relaxed grip, on the other hand, allows the bow to move naturally. The shot breaks cleanly, the bow stays in line, and your arrows hit much closer to the center. Professional archers always shoot with a soft, relaxed bow hand for this exact reason. To help achieve that relaxed hold, many hunters rely on support accessories from Pine Ridge Archery.
The Wrist Sling: A Simple Tool That Makes a Big Difference
If you want to shoot with a loose bow hand, you need a wrist sling. A wrist sling keeps the bow secure in your hand without requiring pressure or tension. It allows you to hold the bow lightly while still keeping full control.
Pine Ridge Archery offers several great options, including the Nitro Wrist Sling and the Kwik Sling. Both are designed to keep your hand in the proper position so the bow can settle naturally during the shot. When adjusting your sling, make sure it fits snugly around your wrist to support your bow during the release.
Adding a wrist sling to your setup is a simple upgrade that can shrink your groups at both close and long ranges. You can browse sling options at Pine Ridge Archery.
Relaxing Your Trigger Hand Matters Too
Your bow hand isn’t the only part of your form that needs to relax—your trigger hand does too. Many bowhunters, especially in high-pressure situations, tend to rush the shot and punch the trigger. This jerking motion sends arrows off target.
Instead, you want a smooth, steady trigger pull. Snipers and top-level archers all rely on the same rule: squeeze—don’t punch. The best shot breaks almost by surprise.
Choosing a release with an adjustable trigger helps you dial in the perfect feel. With a softer, smoother trigger, you can train yourself to squeeze slowly until the arrow launches. Practicing this technique consistently will tighten your groups dramatically.
To complement your form improvements, explore precision accessories like stabilizers, peep sights, and loops at Pine Ridge Archery.
Final Thoughts
Good shooting starts with good form, and good form starts with a relaxed body. By learning to soften your bow grip, trust your wrist sling, and squeeze the trigger gently, you’ll see tighter groups and more consistent accuracy.
If you want to upgrade your setup with accessories that support better shooting techniques, check out Pine Ridge Archery today.
BY TRACY BREEN
About the author: Tracy Breen is a full time outdoor writer, consultant and game dinner speaker who often discuss how he overcomes cerebral palsy. Learn more about him at www.tracybreen.com
BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES
If you are into long range shooting one way to ensure you can split hairs at 60 yards and beyond is to shoot an arrow equipped with Nitro Vanes and a compact broadhead. A small broadhead coupled with a Nitro Vane is a deadly combination that can put more meat in the freezer and antlers on the wall. below are a few of the compact broadheads on the market that fly great and bring down bucks quickly.FALL TURKEY HUNTING WITH STICK AND STRING
When people think about hunting turkeys, most people think about hunting them in the spring. If you are a hardcore bowhunter, you should also think about hunting them in the fall. There are a many reasons to hunt them in the fall. For starters, very few hunters hunt deer all day.BUILDING AN EDGE - FOOD PLOT SECRETS
Food Plots are more popular than ever before. Almost every serious land owner in America who hunts deer plants food plots. There are a variety of reasons hunters love planting food plots. For starters, food plots provide deer with a quality food source. Providing a quality food source on a piece of property keeps the deer on a piece of property and gives them the nutrition they need in the spring and summer when bucks are growing antlers and the does are lactating. Some food plots provide food into the fall and winter. As fall turns to winter, it is especially important to give deer a quality food source like a food plot because during the winter, finding food can be difficult for deer. If built right, food plots can provide more than just food for wildlife like deer. They can also provide cover. I recently interviewed Jason Lupardus, the NWTF Field Supervisor for the Midwest. He says research shows that food plots that offer field borders are even more attractive to deer and other wildlife than fields that go from a food source to hardwoods. “Food plots that have a transition that goes from food to cover to hardwoods is extremely attractive to wildlife and easy to create,” said Lupardus. “Instead of planting a crop all the way to the edge of a field, you stop a few rows shy of the woods. When this small area around a field or food plot doesn’t get planted with crops, it will return to native grasses. These grasses will often grow fairly tall which will provide cover for wildlife including deer, turkeys and other upland birds.” This buffer zone around a food plot gives does a place to have their fawns that is close to a food source yet gives the doe enough cover to hide her newborn. It is also a place for turkeys to nest and raise their poults. “Turkeys love to nest in the high borders around the edges of fields because they can nest without being seen by predators. When the eggs hatch, the high grasses offer security cover for the small poults. As spring turns to summer, this cover will be full of grasshoppers and other insects which provide the small turkeys with a high protein meal,” Lupardus noted. According to Lupardus, the first year that a field border is allowed to grow, wildlife, will quickly find it and use it. The second and third year the edge is provided becomes extremely beneficial to wildlife. “The second year, the border is often taller and thicker, providing even more cover for deer, turkeys and other game animals, giving them more security and in some cases, more food. For instance, ragweed often takes root and provides turkeys and other birds with plenty of food in the late summer and early fall.” Best of all, building a field border is free. Most food plot projects require time and money. Creating a field border doesn’t take much of either. You lose a few rows of crops which is the only drawback. Leave an edge this year and see what happens this fall.
BY TRACY BREEN www.tracybreen.com
