Author: Brad Fenson

Tackling dangerous game with archery equipment can be an exciting pursuit. However, this is a situation where you had better know all aspects of your gear before heading afield. Arrow speed, trajectory, and penetration must be fine-tuned for a clean kill. Wounding an animal capable of flattening you to a pancake or shredding you to pieces is a definite reality if you go into that scenario unprepared. Hunting in different parts of South Africa for two weeks with Mike Birch and Hunt the Sun was an incredible experience. It also was one having a steep learning curve. It would be…

Reverse draw crossbow vs forward draw crossbow—it’s a debate many hunters face when choosing the right tool for their hunt. After weeks in the woods, I found myself behind the scope of a TenPoint Flatline 460, watching a massive buck emerge on the trail. One shot, and the hunt was over. But that success wasn’t just about aim—it was about technology. Reverse-draw innovation gave me the edge with better balance, increased power stroke, and reduced noise. Yet on another hunt, weight restrictions led me to a forward-draw Wicked Ridge, which performed flawlessly on a black bear in Saskatchewan. Each crossbow…

I arrived in bear camp shortly after lunch. Shooting my crossbow and organizing clothes and gear didn’t take long. The rest of my hunting crew was running late. When they finally showed up, I was heading out the door to sit in a tree for the night. They came back with a little ribbing about me being overly competitive, but that didn’t bother me a bit. I barked back some teasing as well and reminded them, “The early bird gets the worm.” It was a beautiful May evening. The warm sun was a welcome shot of vitamin D. The best…

The Burris Oracle X Crossbow Scope I had been eyeing up a new range-finding optic for my bow, and the Burris Oracle X offered tried and tested technology. The Burris Oracle X is a vertical bow sight that ranges targets, provides a precise aiming point, and calibrates angles into the equation. Burris introduced its Eliminator range finding riflescope over a decade ago. Popular with hunters and long-range shooters, the proven technology has been integrated into archery sights and scopes with positive results. Making arrangements for a hunt in South Africa with Mike Birch at Hunt the Sun, he encouraged me…

The first time I caught sight of this buck, it appeared to have something wrong. Its body was oversized and bulky, and it looked like a weightlifter with rippling, overgrown muscles. Its antlers were tall and mature, sporting four points on each side. I dubbed him “The Big Eight.” That buck immediately went on the fall hit list. Big, old bucks seldom cooperate, making it seem like one strange year in the deer woods. Like most deer hunters, I had lots of excuses: Warm temperatures, drought conditions, poor feed, deer staying in heavy cover as challenges. I am fortunate to…