P.J. Reilly
Bowhunting expert; Writer
P.J. Reilly has been hunting and fishing his way across North America for the past five decades, which is not too much longer than he’s been writing about those adventures. At his core, he is a dyed-in-the-Woolrich, Pennsylvania bowhunter—the toughest deer hunters in the world. “If you can kill a deer with a bow here, you can kill a deer anywhere.” When P.J. isn’t in the woods or on the water, he’s evaluating and experimenting with new archery and bowhunting gear as part of his job as Lancaster Archery Supply’s technical writer and video host.
Expertise:
Bowhunting, target archery, big game hunting, freshwater fishing, fly-fishing
Location:
Coatesville, PA
Articles by P.J. Reilly
Archery
2027 Mathews ARC Apex 32 Review: Smooth, Steady and Sweet-Shooting
The Mathews ARC Apex 32 pairs a steady, long-riser feel with a forgiving draw and easy tuning. After shooting it to 80 yards, P.J. Reilly explains where Mathews’ middle-length 2027 flagship shines.
Archery
PSE Odin Review: Is This the New King of Carbon?
PSE’s Odin is light, fast and surprisingly forgiving. After dozens of arrows and testing out to 60 yards, does this American-made carbon bow earn its flagship price?
Hunting
Whitetail Bowhunting Tips: Five Lessons from Pro Hunters
What separates consistently successful bowhunters from everyone else? Experienced hunters and archery pros share the habits, decisions and details that help them avoid costly mistakes.
Hunting
Why Bowhunters Miss: 5 Common Causes and How to Avoid Them
Every bowhunter misses eventually. Understanding the most common causes—from equipment problems and bad range estimates to rushed shots and unseen branches—can help make those misses the exception.
Hunting
Hunt the Hunters: How to Find Whitetails on Pressured Public Land
On pressured public land, finding deer often starts with finding other hunters—then going somewhere they won’t. Here’s how hunting pressure can reveal overlooked whitetail hotspots.
Hunting
Whitetail E-Scouting: Read New Ground Before You Hunt It
Whitetail e-scouting can reveal property boundaries, habitat edges, bedding cover, terrain funnels and access routes before you ever enter the woods. Here’s how to use satellite imagery, LiDAR and mapping apps to narrow down the places worth scouting on foot.
Archery
August Recon: What Late-Summer Deer Sign Can Tell You About Fall
Late-summer whitetail scouting is about more than hanging trail cameras. Learn how truck scouting, backtracking trails, map study and mock hunts can help turn August deer movement into useful fall hunting intel.
Archery
Speed Ain’t Free, So How Much Do Bowhunters Really Need?
Faster arrows fly flatter, but every extra foot per second comes with tradeoffs. P.J. Reilly explains how draw weight, brace height, cam design and arrow weight affect speed—and why a hunting bow you can shoot accurately beats one built simply to chase the chronograph.
Fishing
How to Fish a Frog for Summer Bass—and Why Crazy Topwaters Work
Learn how to work a frog across grass, pads and open water, avoid setting the hook too soon and choose the right tackle—plus see some of the strangest topwaters bass will attack.
Archery
Why a Three-Pin Slider Is the Best Bow Sight for Hunting
A three-pin slider may be the best bow sight for hunting because it gives bowhunters quick fixed-pin aiming references and the ability to dial precise yardage when time allows.
