Hook & Barrel's Bow Season Blueprint
Hook & Barrel’s seven-part Bow Season Blueprint series helps hunters sharpen the skills, gear and strategies that matter before opening day. From realistic practice and shot preparation to field-ready equipment and smarter preseason planning, each installment delivers practical advice designed to help bowhunters enter the season confident, prepared and ready to perform.
In partnership with
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.
Archery
Bowhunting Practice That Prepares You for Real-World Shots
Standing on flat ground and shooting a block target at 20 yards has its place, but real deer rarely follow that script. Here’s how to make your bowhunting practice more realistic before opening day.
Archery
Long-Range Archery: 4 Ways to Get More Distance From Your Bow
These long-range archery tweaks will help you flatten trajectory, gain sight clearance and make distant targets fun instead of impossible.
Hunting
8 Ways to Beat Buck Fever Before It Costs You a Wallhanger
Every deer hunter gets excited. These eight field-tested tips can help you stay calm when it matters most.
