Petersen's Bowhunting Radio

Covert Optics recently rolled out an all-new lineup of thermal optics designed especially for bowhunters. Whether you hunt predators, hogs and gators or just need help searching for a wounded big-game animal in the dark, thermal optics can help! Covert's Lucas Johnson joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the company's innovative, new products.

The saddle-hunting boom continues among bowhunters, and Trophy Line continues to be at the forefront of the tree saddle movement. In this episode, Trophy Line's Shawn Ferguson and Nick Betts go over all in the innovations built into the company's all-new Venatic saddle and explain why a saddle needs to be part of every serious deer hunter's arsenal.

Trail cameras are very powerful scouting tools, and bowhunters can use them as much or as little as they like. In this episode, Field Editor Bill Winke joins us to discuss basic, intermediate and advanced trail-cam strategies that will help you locate and pattern a buck worth hunting this fall.

When the first buck you see for the season is a Booner, it can obviously catch you off guard. Not so with David Jones of Indiana, who made good on his chance at a giant 13-pointer last November. Jones joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to share the story behind the 182 4/8-inch buck, one of the largest taken in the Hoosier State last year.

Every bowhunter wants to make perfect shots in the field, but what happens when your arrow doesn't hit where you hoped? In this episode, Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo from Archer's Choice join us to discuss Ralph's botched attempt at a big Wyoming bull elk in the fall of 2021 and how several days of all-out effort led to a miraculous happy ending that defied the odds.

Known simply as the ‘Pigman,’ Brian Quaca has a big personality and a passion for all things bowhunting. Quaca joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss his interest in hunting feral swine, his love for bowhunting other species and his past and present bowhunting setups. Plus, he shares his hairiest hog-hunting moment ever.

Few topics generate more discussion in bowhunting circles than broadhead selection. In this episode, we provide a sneak peek at the results from our 2022 Fixed-Blade Broadhead Test, featuring 14 top models worth considering for your fall hunts. From sharpness and penetration to accuracy and durability, we've got the data you need to make an informed broadhead decision!

Last fall, Dustin Huff of Indiana arrowed a gigantic 12-pointer that ended up scoring 211 4/8, making it the largest typical whitetail ever taken in the United States and the second-largest of all time — only 2 1/8 inches off Milo Hanson’s world-record Saskatchewan buck that scored 213 5/8. Huff joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the fateful November hunt.

Last September, Ian Craig took Pennsylvania’s new state-record, non-typical archery elk — and the 400-inch bull was the first animal he ever shot with a bow! Craig joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to recap the hunt, which was anything but easy. After more than 65 miles of hiking, he tagged his incredible trophy on the eighth day of his hunt.

If you’re a bowhunter who likes to travel, few guided hunts offer the action, adventure and affordability of a Canadian black bear hunt. Mike Stroff, host of Savage Outdoors TV, joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the challenges and high success rates that make spring bruin hunting so exciting, as well as what to look for in a guide and a potential destination if you’re planning your first hunt north of the border.

There's no better bowhunting practice than 3D archery, from learning how to accurately estimate yardage and understand shot angles to becoming more familiar with game-animal anatomy and handling high-pressure shots. In this episode, Brandon Waddell from Mountain Archery Fest and John Keene from the Bowtreader 3D Tour of Georgia join Editor Christian Berg to discuss the many benefits of 3D and highlight some unique shooting opportunities.

These days, it seems public-land etiquette is a lost art. From bowhunters intentionally interfering in one another's hunts to stealing trail cameras and treestands, there is an epidemic of bad behavior on public hunting ground. In this episode, contributors Clint Casper and Jace Bauserman join Editor Christian Berg to discuss the problem and what we as bowhunters can do to solve it.

With all the mapping technology available today, finding "secret" public-land hotspots is nearly impossible. For some bowhunters, however, canoeing across a lake or boating across a river is the key to escaping the crowds. Accomplish buck slayers Travis Keith and Bob Schwalm join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss how you can paddle your way to success, what you need to plan for and the challenges that come with boat-in and paddle-in hunts.

Whitetails are North America's most accessible big-game species. Outdoor writers Will Brantley and Jace Bauserman join Editor Christian Berg to discuss their favorite DIY deer destinations across America, where blue-collar bowhunters can pursue big bucks for nothing more than the cost of a hunting license and the gas to get there.

Southern West Virginia isn’t the first place bowhunters look for trophy whitetails, but perhaps they should. The state’s four archery-only counties consistently produce Pope and Young-caliber bucks for hunters willing to put in the work in this rugged, mountainous region. Check out this episode for an overview of this sleeper destination, including its public lands and the secrets to unlocking its big-buck potential.

These days, more and more mobile bowhunters are converting vans into "rut rigs," living and hunting out of them for weeks on end. In this episode, rut rig creators Sam Soholt and Zach Owsley explain how they created one-of-a-kind deer camps on wheels. Find out how they found the perfect project vans, the challenges they faced in converting the vehicles and how you can build your own rut rig and spend more time hunting and less time traveling to and from the field.

As one third of the Bone Collector brotherhood, Travis "T-Bone" Turner is one of the most recognized names in bowhunting. Turner is also one of America's foremost experts on bow tuning, and in this episode, he joins Editor Christian Berg and Gear Testing Editor Jon Silks to discuss some of his top tuning tips and provide an update on his ongoing battle with cancer.

Easton is an iconic name name in archery, and this year the company celebrates its 100th anniversary. Easton Marketing Director Gary Cornum joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the company’s growth from a small, family-owned archery shop in to the world's leading arrow producer. Cornum also highlights the latest advances in arrow technology and how even Easton's development of world-class Olympic arrows has lead to better bowhunting.

Spring is near, which means gobbler season is here. Mark Hatfield and Peter Muller from the National Wild Turkey Federation join Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk turkey, including current population trends, what NWTF is doing to boost bird numbers and tips and tactics for bowhunting success.

The best bowhunters never settle, regardless of the challenges they encounter. In this episode, Ohio big buck killer Emily Schaad joins Editor Christian Berg to share her nearly five-month quest to fill her 2021-22 buck tag. Despite incredible obstacles and long odds, Schaad refused to give up, stuck with her plan through more than 70 days afield and finally punched her tag in early February on the second-to-last day of the season.