Table of contents for June 2025 - Gear Special in Bowhunter

I IN LATE 2024, I got my hands on Hoyt’s new carbon kingpin, the RX-9 Ultra. One of the most expensive compound bows ever created, I was keen on the rig’s 33.5-inch axle-to-axle length, 4.3-pound fighting weight and all-new HBX Gen 4 cams. The bow is undoubtedly a marvel of modern engineering. However, without top-tier accessories, it’s nothing. Don’t tar and feather me. I’m not calling Hoyt’s baby ugly. In fact, quite the opposite; it’s sexy, smooth, quiet, light and fast. Yet it’s still just a glorified paperweight without a quality bowsight, arrow rest, stabilizer, quiver, arrows, etc. I didn’t get the bow set up and ready to hunt until January 2025, just in time for me to hopefully use the rig and attached accessories to punch my first tag…

BOWHUNTING THE WEST demands gear that can handle the grind. Long miles, unforgiving terrain and unpredictable weather will test you at every turn, and the last thing you need is an equipment failure when it matters most. Whether boots that keep your feet in the game, a pack that hauls heavy loads without breaking you down or optics that help you find more animals, every piece of gear you carry plays a vital role. Choosing the right equipment for Western adventures isn’t just about keeping up with the latest trends; it’s about selecting items that improve your efficiency, comfort and effectiveness in the field. Maybe you’ve been pushing an aging setup to its limits and know it’s time for an upgrade, or perhaps you’ve been eyeing a new piece of…

ONLINE EXTRA: 2025’s BEST BUDGET BOWS Visit bowhunter.com for a rundown of 12 value-packed hunting rigs. BOWHUNTING IS A LOW-ODDS proposition by its very nature, and failure is an unavoidable part of the game. Given that, it’s always good to maintain a handy list of excuses to help explain to family and friends why you’ve come home empty handed yet again. The problem is — at least when it comes to today’s top compound bows — coming up with believable excuses is getting harder all the time! More’s the pity, especially for those among us who like to keep up appearances and maintain a semblance of pride regarding our killer instinct. Simply put, the top new hunting rigs of 2025 are lighter, faster and more forgiving than ever. Mass weights under…

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL bowhunters know that mobility is key to success. The habits and patterns of deer and other big-game animals change over the course of the season, and that means a smart bowhunter must change as well. Gone are the days of simply prepping a handful of trees before opening day and committing to those locations for the duration. Instead, scouting efforts must continue throughout the season and — combined with daily observations in the field — be used to pivot as needed to remain in the thick of the action from opening day all the way until the last day of the late season, if that’s what it takes to punch your tag. Consistent mobile bowhunting success requires gear that’s lightweight, efficient and built to handle the demands…

THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH of crossbow hunting over the past 25 years is nothing short of remarkable, resulting in countless opportunities for new and existing hunters alike. Did you know there were only two states — Ohio and Arkansas — that allowed the use of crossbows in the year 2000? Today, that number has exploded, with 31 states now allowing crossbow use in archery seasons and even more that allow them in firearms seasons. As a hunter recruitment and retention tool, crossbows are making entry into archery seasons easier for youth while at the same time adding precious seasons of additional opportunity for injured, disabled and elderly bowhunters with decades of field experience under their belts. There are also many instances of crossbows adding or extending seasons for current hunters, giving…

BOWHUNTING whitetails looks different depending on where you hunt. Some spot and stalk whitetails on the Western plains and prairies, while others hunt over feeders in the Deep South. Some hunters do hang-and-hunt outings on public land with mobile tree gear, while others sit in the same stand or blind 200 yards behind their home every time they hunt. Some bow-hunters carry their old, reliable stickbow, while others demand the latest archery tackle and the most advanced accessories. Regardless of your deer-hunting style, having the right gear undoubtedly boosts your effectiveness. Whether it’s planting a food plot this spring or summer so that your hunting property has greater appeal or buying warmer apparel so you can withstand frigid late-season hunts, I’m sure we’d all love to make some additions or…