A New Generation of Avid Archery Hunters to Follow in 2020

 Casey Fairchild 

Age: 30 

From: Buhl, ID

Years Archery Hunting: 7

1. What was your go-to source & knowledge in your first few years of hunting?

- An older experienced hunter and magazines

2. What did you struggle with most before you became constantly successful?

-In my early years I would have to say finding quality game.

3. What were large contributing factors that has now helped you overcome the big game archery hunting odds?

- A great elk hunting mentor, persistence, and imagination.

 4. What “new age” tools and resources do you currently use that aid you to hunt? (Example: OnX, weather app, google earth, trail cams).

- OnX and Google Earth, and rarely rely on trail-cams.

 5. What is your favorite piece of equipment and or article of clothing you currently use / have recently adopted?

- I want to say my Sitka 6200 pack or a special knife I take out which signals the end of  successful hunt. I’d have to go with the Glide body stick and Saxx Underwear. You can’t hunt when you’re chaffed up and haven't had that problem since I started using that combo.

 6. What bow(s), arrows, and broadheads are you using and why?

I’ve always used carbon Hoyts for the reliability but for 2019 I’ll be trying the Mathews TX-5 because of its focus on performance at short draw lengths. Easton FMJ Deep Six arrows and Wac ‘em heads for their accuracy.

 7. What’s has been your most memorable hunt and why?

- That would probably be opening day of 2014. I called in a huge herd bull and shot him at 25 yards with my dad filming at my side. That was a special day.

 8. What’s your favorite animal and terrain to hunt?

- Elk easy. In high alpine country.

 9. What has been the most recent or memorable mistake you have made while archery hunting? (tell us the story).

- One I’ll never forget was back in 2012, my first-year archery elk hunting. I hit a massive herd bull at about 19 yards through some brush as he passed by to wind me. I didn’t take into account the dinner plate sized holes correlation in the brush wall to his body that I threaded the arrow through. I hit him low but fatal I’m sure. After he passed through some wallows his trail was undiscoverable and I lost possibly my biggest bull to date. I searched for days, and he was never recovered. That one hurt.

 10. What other big game animals have you harvested and with what weapons?

-  All elk have been archery. Various bucks with rifles and shotguns. Bears with rifle and bow. African game with rifle and bow and a BC Mountain Goat with a rifle.

 11. What was your best season of filling tags in one year (year and species (class))?

- Very tough choice for me but I’d have to say 2018. Not only because I harvested a decent bull, two mature OTC bucks, but also because I was healthier and felt more in-shape than I have in a long time.

 12. What advice do you give to those struggling and or new to bowhunting?

- Be persistent and observant. Bow hunting is hard, it’s why we do it. Learn to expect struggle and invest a lot of effort into it if you wan to become successful. 

Rick Palmer 

Age: 35

From: Star, ID

Years Archery Hunting: 20

1.  What was your go-to source and knowledge in your first few years of hunting?

-  I really didn't have any other than some basic bowhunting advice from my best-friends dad. Resources like Google Earth, podcasts and onX didn't exist yet.

2. What did you struggle with most before you became constantly successful?

- Making my shots count and controlling my nerves during crunch time

3. What were large contributing factors that has now helped you overcome the big game archery hunting odds?

- Ridiculous amounts of time and miles scouting, having patience, understanding thermals.

 4. What “new age” tools and resources do you currently use that aid you to hunt? (Example: OnX, weather app, google earth, trail cams).

- I use OnX and Google Earth fairly often. I've tried trail cams but haven't had any significant success with them.

 5. What is your favorite piece of equipment and or article of clothing you currently use / have recently adopted?

- Good optics, comfortable boots, and my Exo Mountain Gear Pack 3500.

 6. What bow(s), arrows, and broadheads are you using and why?

- Mathews Halon 32 70#, 455gr Easton Axis, 100gr Slick Trick standard. I've been pretty impressed with my Mathews and it definitely gets the job done. I've had a tone of success with my arrow setup although I'm sure there are more effective arrow/broadhead combinations available.

 7. What’s has been your most memorable hunt and why?

- I'd say my (two) 2015 archery mule deer. I put in a ton of time scouting and watching these bucks throughout the summer over 200 miles apart. I was fortunate enough to take them both with my bow. Both general season public land hunts on the first stalk, the first day! Both bucks gross over 180.

 8. What’s your favorite animal and terrain to hunt?

- Big muley's without question. High country, dessert, steep, flat, anything but dense timber.

 9. What has been the most recent or memorable mistake you have made while archery hunting? (tell us the story).

- Target panic for me has always been a struggle. I blew two opportunities on a 190+ inch typical due to severe target panic. After tracking and stalking all day I sent two arrows 2 feet under the buck at 43 yards. It still hurts to think about how much time and effort I put in for an opportunity like that, just to watch a 35" giant disappear forever.

 10. What other big game animals have you harvested and with what weapons?

-  I’ve taken Mule Deer, Whitetail, Antelope, and Elk all with my bow. Also Elk, Mule deer, Cougar, and Bear with my rifle.

 11. What was your best season of filling tags in one year (year and species (class))?

- 2015 was probably my best. I was lucky enough to harvest a buck Antelope, 181 Muley, 187 Muley, and 343 bull elk. All archery spot and stalk, OTC, public land. (Except the lope of course) Then in October I took another 181 OTC Muley with my rifle, it was quite an awesome and fortunate season!

 12. What advice do you give to those struggling and or new to bowhunting?

- Be willing to learn by trial and error. Check your wind again, have patience, and invest your time and serious effort because most of it can't be learned by listening to a podcast. Knowing what not to do and where not to hunt is just as important. You might be able to cheat social media but you definitely can't cheat the mountain. Every animal that survives a year is that much smarter, time to get educated because your about to learn a lot from them. Have respect and appreciation for the land and animals we hunt!

 Colter Ingram 

Age: 32 

From: St. Anthony, ID

Years Archery Hunting: 12

1. What was your go-to source and knowledge in your first few years of hunting?

- I learned everything from my grandpa and dad. They taught me how to shoot guns and bows early on. I was on most every hunt with them long before I was old enough to hunt. They showed me the way and how to field dress game and home butchering. From there it grew into something I did with friends and before you know it, it was a year round. There wasn’t much time that we weren’t out trying to find something to hunt or shoot. 

2. What did you struggle with most before you became constantly successful?

- Consistently being where the elk were. Spending too much time where the elk didn’t live.

3. What were large contributing factors that has now helped you overcome the big game archery hunting odds?

- Learning to get away from pressured areas.

 4. What “new age” tools and resources do you currently use that aid you to hunt? (Example: OnX, weather app, google earth, trail cams).

- Google Earth. Awesome resource for e scouting states you can’t pre-scout before season. GoHunt, States Fish and Game websites, OnX, Outfitters Websites and social media pages.

 5. What is your favorite piece of equipment and or article of clothing you currently use / have recently adopted?

- Seek Outside - Courthouse tent. Ultralight wall-tent for comfortable camps on horse hunts.

 6. What bow(s), arrows, and broadheads are you using and why?

- 70lb Hoyt Carbon Defiant, Victory VAP Gamer arrows, and Iron Will broad-heads.

 7. What’s has been your most memorable hunt and why?

- Probably my 2015 general season deer hunt in Idaho. Where I was able to take a 197 inch mule deer on a solo hunt. Found the deer the night before and found him the next morning and shot him at 100 yards.

 8. What’s your favorite animal and terrain to hunt?

- Elk and wherever they live I’ll go.

 9. What has been the most recent or memorable mistake you have made while archery hunting? (tell us the story).

- Holding to far forward on a large bull and hitting the shoulder blade. Did not recover the animal but heard from a friend he was still out chasing cow elk the next week. 

 10. What other big game animals have you harvested and with what weapons?

-  I’ve taken Mule Deer, Whitetail, Antelope, and Elk all with my bow. Elk, Mule Deer, Cougar, and Bear with my rifle.

 11. What was your best season of filling tags in one year (year and species (class))?

- 2013 I harvested a Boone and Crockett Mountain Lion, Black Bear, a 300” 6 point bull elk, and a 175” non-typical mule deer.       

 12. What advice do you give to those struggling and or new to bowhunting?

- Just get out there and hunt and quit worrying about social media.

Heath Curtis 

Age: 26 

From: Nampa Idaho

Years Archery Hunting: 14

What was your go-to source and knowledge in your first few years of hunting?

- My father taught me everything starting out, 14 years ago the social media side of things were still absent

2. What did you struggle with most before you became constantly successful?

- Having the knowledge to understand what a good stalk situation is versus a bad one. I would say that was my number one struggle early on. Rushing into stalks without proper wind thermals or cover didn’t even come to mind when I was younger.

3. What were large contributing factors that has now helped you overcome the big game archery hunting odds?

- Buying the best gear you can afford really improves your odds of success. Being able to ride out long storms and stay on the mountain instead of fleeing back to the truck. The longer I can stay on the mountain the better odds of punching a tag.

 4. What “new age” tools and resources do you currently use that aid you to hunt? (Example: OnX, weather app, google earth, trail cams).

- For communication, I prefer to use the Harmon inReach mini along with my cell phone to send two-way text and some waypoint marking. I also use On-X maps when it comes to needing higher quality mapping and landowner naming.

 5. What is your favorite piece of equipment and or article of clothing you currently use / have recently adopted?

- The Garmin inReach I just recently acquired last season and love the fact that I can Bluetooth the Garmin to my cellphone and send texts to anyone along with a waypoint map to let them know exactly where I am. It really gives you insurance even while hunting solo.

 6. What bow(s), arrows, and broadheads are you using and why?

- Currently am shooting an Elite Synergy with Easton Carbon Injexions topped with a Rad Rival125gr broadhead. The bow seems incredibly smooth and simplistic. The arrows I chose are heavier and more durable than most, with great penetration results. The RAD Rival heads are very sharp and durable with a great locking system to insure they stay together.

 7. What’s has been your most memorable hunt and why?

- My most memorable hunt has to be from 2014 calling in my wife’s first bull to 20 yards. Pretty awesome watching her shoot her first big game animal.

 8. What’s your favorite animal and terrain to hunt?

- My favorite animal to hunt would have to be mule deer, I would prefer to hunt this species in low desert rim rock. 

 9. What has been the most recent or memorable mistake you have made while archery hunting? (tell us the story).

- Most recent mistake was in 2016 shooting a nice 6x6 bull frontal at 20 yards. I apparently shot a little to low and didn’t retrieve the animal.

 10. What other big game animals have you harvested and with what weapons?

- I tend to hunt Antelope, Elk, and Mule deer with a bow every year. I have shoot a couple mule deer with a rifle back when I first started hunting. I have shot a spring black bear with archery equipment as well.

 11. What was your best season of filling tags in one year (year and species (class))?

- My best season would probably have to be 2011. I harvested a nice pronghorn buck in September and a nice four-point mule deer, both with archery equipment. I have not seemed to master harvesting deer, elk, and antelope in the same season yet.

 12. What advice do you give to those struggling and or new to bowhunting?

- Shoot your bow a lot. You can kill elk and be the worst caller in the world, but you cannot kill an animal if can’t execute a shot.

 Zack Owens  

Age: 29

From:  Nampa, Idaho

Years Archery Hunting: 16

1. What was your go-to source and knowledge in your first few years of hunting?

- Dad!! 100% as a kid.

2. What did you struggle with most before you became constantly successful?

- Patience! Honestly, I still struggle with it a little.

3. What were large contributing factors that has now helped you overcome the big game archery hunting odds?

- Learning from more successful hunters and time spent in the field.

 4. What “new age” tools and resources do you currently use that aid you to hunt? (Example: OnX, weather app, google earth, trail cams).

- Google Earth hands down!

 5. What is your favorite piece of equipment and or article of clothing you currently use / have recently adopted?

- My Sea to Summit Long Spoon for freeze dried meals.

 6. What bow(s), arrows, and broadheads are you using and why?

- PSE Bow, Black Eagle Arrows, and Dirt Nap broadheads! Because they have performed every single time I’ve used them!

 7. What’s has been your most memorable hunt and why?

- My 2018 recurve bull was definitely my most memorable and rewarding hunt just based on how hard traditional archery hunting is!

 8. What’s your favorite animal and terrain to hunt?

- Whatever the season is!

 9. What has been the most recent or memorable mistake you have made while archery hunting? (tell us the story).

- I make multiple mistakes every season! I seem to remember the mistakes as much as the success. Learning from your mistakes is what makes you a better bowhunter. 

 10. What other big game animals have you harvested and with what weapons?

- Elk, Mule deer, Antelope, Bear, Whitetail Deer, and Mountain Lion with a compound bow, Bear and Elk with a recurve. Moose, Elk, Mule Deer, Bear, Wolf, and Antelope with a rifle.

 11. What was your best season of filling tags in one year (year and species (class))?

- 2018 was probably one of my best years! I harvested a Mountain Lion and Idaho wolf with a gun. A bear and bull elk with my recurve. Also harvested a Whitetail and Mule deer buck with my compound!

 12. What advice do you give to those struggling and or new to bowhunting?

- Stay the course and keep grinding, it took me a lot years of unfilled tags before it all came together.

 Damon Stillwaugh  

AGE: 27

FROM:  Middleton Idaho

Years Archery Hunting: 7

1. What was your go-to source and knowledge in your first few years of hunting?

- In my early years it was passed down family knowledge and simply boots on the ground education. 

2. What did you struggle with most before you became constantly successful?

- Not enough patience behind glass. I always wanted to cover as much ground as I could but in doing so I would miss a lot of hidden animals or bump them.

3. What were large contributing factors that has now helped you overcome the big game archery hunting odds?

- Going back to the last question, learning how to use glass efficiently was a huge contributing factor. Second is increasing time in the woods. Archery is a game of opportunity, the more opportunities you get the higher chance of success. More days in the field equals higher success.    

 4. What “new age” tools and resources do you currently use that aid you to hunt? (Example: OnX, weather app, google earth, trail cams).

- I use Google Earth a lot. I just started using OnX and it is an incredible source of mapping tools. But I love being able to see the satellite aerial view. By the time I make it into a new spot it feels like I have already been there. Also, having the topo over-lay is money for seeing how big and steep the terrain is.  

 5. What is your favorite piece of equipment and or article of clothing you currently use / have recently adopted?

- Favorite equipment is a tough choice, but I'd say my boots because they are what carry me everywhere. I’m running Meindl and have used 4 or so different models and loved them all. Clothing is easy, in the last year I started using Prana Zion stretch pants and absolutely love them. In my opinion, they are the best pant on the market!   

 6. What bow(s), arrows, and broadheads are you using and why?

- I’m shooting the Hoyt Carbon Defiant 80lbs, Gold Tip pierce platinum 250 spine, Iron Will and Cutthroat broadheads at 125 grain. Mainly I am trying to shoot the best quality of what I can afford and the set up I have now is killer.  

 7. What’s has been your most memorable hunt and why?

- Most memorable hunt would have to be “The Engagement Buck.”  I found and killed the engagement buck in 2015. I took my now wife into the high country and planned on asking her to marry me. Just before I asked her we had first discovered the buck. A couple months later (after not laying eyes on him again) he appeared out of know where. My wife and I stalked into 80 yards where neither of us could get a shot. About a week later I put the perfect stalk on him and killed my best buck to date. A mid 190” gross buck.

 8. What’s your favorite animal and terrain to hunt?

- My favorite animal and terrain to hunt is whatever I have a tag for/ whatever season is open at that time. I just love and live to hunt. But if I had to pick one animal to hunt for the rest of my life it would be a toss between Mule Deer and Elk.

 9. What has been the most recent or memorable mistake you have made while archery hunting? (tell us the story).

- My most recent would have to be bulging in an elk and setting up on the low side. Elk almost always take the high ground if given the opportunity. When setting up for a call-in try and pick the high side. I have had a couple experiences of setting up in a straight line with a bull in a draw and they always come on the high side and bust you with no shot. 

 10. What other big game animals have you harvested and with what weapons?

- I have killed, Mule Deer, Elk, Bear, and a Javelina with my bow. Also harvested Mule Deer, Elk, Bear, Caribou, and a Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep, with a rifle.  

 11. What was your best season of filling tags in one year (year and species (class))?

- Best season is impossible to say, every year has been unreal with experiences, both in success and in failure. I have never had a year of filling all my tags. Although I could have multiple years but I choose to hold out for mature animals and doing that means you will have years with unfilled tags.    

 12. What advice do you give to those struggling and or new to bowhunting?

- Slow down and learn how to glass and I promise you will find a lot more animals. Also do your best to spend a lots of time in the mountains, best way to become a better hunter is by do just that, hunting and spending time doing it.