Petersen's Bowhunting Radio

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.

Now is prime time for shed antler hunting across most of the whitetail range. Shane Indrebo, co-owner of the North American Shed Hunters Club, joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss his passion for shed hunting, his organization’s scoring and record-keeping system for shed antlers and tips for finding more bone!

Saddle hunting is all the rage among bowhunters, and no saddle-hunting tactic is hotter than "one sticking." In this episode, Greg Staggs from the Staggs in the Wild YouTube channel joins Editor Christian Berg for an in-depth, how-to discussion of one sticking and how this climbing method can help you be more efficient and effective in the field.

Working Class Bowhunter is the biggest podcast in bowhunting. In this episode, Curt Geier and Clint Casper from the Working Class crew join us to discuss their meteoric rise within the bowhunting community and how they've managed to create a digital community for blue-collar bowhunters across America.

Michigan bowhunter Mike Callas traveled to Iowa this past fall for a DIY, public-land hunt, taking a 200-plus inch, 21-point bruiser on his very first sit. Callas joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about how he planned for the hunt, scouted and tagged a true whitetail giant! He also shares his tips to help other bowhunters tag out-of-state trophies.

After chasing a giant Ohio 8-pointer for parts of five months and more than 70 hunting days, contributor Clint Casper finally dropped the string and tagged his trophy! Casper joins Editor Christian Berg to recount the epic hunt for this monster 8 and shares the secrets to his hard-earned success.

It's Christmas Eve, and Contributor Clint Casper joins Editor Christian Berg to recap their fall hunts and share lessons learned along the way. Berg recounts his trifecta of whitetail success in Kansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, while Casper reflects on grinding for 47 days in the Utah backcountry without punching a tag.

One of the best ways to improve your shooting accuracy is to increase the distance of your practice sessions. Getting comfortable with long-range shooting over the summer will make shorter shots on game this fall feel like a breeze. In this episode, Spot Hogg's Cabe Johnson joins Editor Christian Berg with tips for increasing your bow's maximum shooting range and touches on important long-range shooting considerations from sight selection and adjustment to peep sight configuration, anchor point, bow grip, broadhead practice and more.

Bowhunting the West is awesome, but securing coveted tags for elk, mule deer, antelope and other big-game species can be a real challenge. In this episode, Eric Pawlak, director of the TAGS program at Worldwide Trophy Adventures, joins Editor Christian Berg to explain how Western big-game license draws work and offer advice for how you can be more successful at obtaining permits for some great backcountry adventures!