Know Your Limits!

by
posted on August 5, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
mehall_ah2015_fs.jpg (41)

undefinedWith high-country archery mule deer and elk seasons in mind, I headed for Yakima, Wash., last week to attend Magpul Dynamics’ inaugural Backcountry Hunter’s Course. The five-day program involved two days on the range followed by three days of pushing my limits in the backcountry on a do-it-yourself backpack trip in the wilderness. While the range portion covered precision-rifle hunting, the instructor Caylen Wojcik’s underlying message applies to all hunting methods. His bottom line: Know your limitations.

Whether you’re shooting a gun or bow, have you tested the limits of your effective range? Is a given bowshooting scenario realistic based on your shooting ability? Have you practiced enough with your equipment? Are you stable and confident when drawing back and shooting from different positions? Can you maintain your strength and stamina if it’s suddenly windy or you’re in a downpour?

Know these answers before the hunt. For me, a great way to prepare, for starters, is to spend time shooting at 3-D targets from different positions and shooting angles like the whitetail target pictured here from Delta McKenzie. Making your training scenario as realistic as possible prepares you all the more for opening day.

As for the backcountry portion of the course, next time I'll share some great tips I learned that will benefit any big-game hunter heading for a wilderness backpack hunt this fall.

Latest

LEDE John&Jim
LEDE John&Jim

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Oklahoma Wildlife Commission Passes Rules for Nonresident Hunters, Public Hunting Lands

New emergency rules and resolutions for public hunting lands were approved last month by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.

First Look: Premium and Premium Deluxe Die Sets From Redding Reloading Equipment

Redding Reloading Equipment has expanded its Premium Die Set and Premium Deluxe Die Set product lines, including over seventy of the most popular cartridges in the industry today.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.