Author: Ryan Fair

The wind was blowing just enough that it felt like a knife was cutting through any exposed skin, the temperature was about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. It was around 3 in the afternoon, and I had been in the blind for about an hour. I was sitting over a 2-acre soybean field that I had scouted the past few nights. The forecast was calling for a big snowstorm to roll in around 7 if I remember right around 6 plus inches of snow. As I sat watching the 2 sides of timber, I recall I contemplated my own sanity. In my…

One of the hottest debates among deer hunters is whether to use fixed-blade style or mechanical-type broadheads. While everyone has an opinion on the topic, each broadhead has its place and time in the hunting world. After all, several companies have been mass-producing each style of broadhead for many years and people keep buying them both. That should be enough to end the argument. I think it all comes down to personal preference. But of course, each style does have its pros and cons. For several years the only broadhead I would ever allow to tip the end of my…

When it comes to compound bows, I have been using the same Mathews Halon 32 since 2017. For me, like for most guys I know, once you fall in love with a bow, it’s hard to make a change. In 2017, I set this bow up with a four-pin site, some basic off-the-shelf arrows and a pack of Rage two-blade broad heads. The rest was history. I love that bow. It was accurate, it harvested many animals and it held up well. But with all the advancements in bow technology, I knew there were lighter and faster shooting bows on…

It’s 6:30 in the morning. The sun is just coming up over the ridge and casting its first light over my turkey decoys. I have been listening to toms gobble all around me for the last 40 minutes now. I drag my striker over the glass on my pot call and let out a few yelps. There’s a gobbler roosted in a tree about 20 yards behind me as he lets out a few gobbles. I let out a few more light yelps myself, and he can’t resist; he’s committed. He pitches down and starts to strut about 20 yards…

This year’s archery trade association show did not disappoint. It seems like there is never enough time to see all the new products and talk to all the vendors. From bows to broadheads, cameras to camo, below is a recap of some of the most noteworthy items seen from this year’s run-through. Crossbows Barnett has been a leader in the crossbow world for a while now and that’s for good reason; they always deliver state of the art quality products. For 2023 they are releasing the Hyper Raptor for $599. This crossbow is packed full of features. Let’s start with…

Photos by Jason Ashe As fall rolls around, every Whitetail deer hunter has one thing on the brain—the rut. I know that starting about in September, that’s all I can think about here in Ohio. I check off all my honey-do list projects so that I can focus all my time from October through December on Whitetail deer. The first week of October is when I make sure all my rut stands and spots are good to go for the upcoming rut. This is also the time I like to make my mock scrapes. I put them in specific spots,…

Imagine it is October 10. You have one week of vacation time left to schedule off at work. You are sitting at your job site trying to debate when to take the time off. Then you remember that your buddy told you about the MoonGuide app. You download it, unsure of what to expect. As you dive into the app, you notice that the last week of October is shown in red, unlike the rest. You figure out these are the red moon days. These are supposed to be the best days to hunt in October. On top of that,…

These Basic Suggestions Can Help Draw Bucks to Your Area When  fall  rolls  around,  I  think  every Whitetail deer hunter has one thing on the brain: the rut. I know that starting about September, that’s all I can think about here in Ohio. I check off all my “honey-do” list projects by then so that I can focus all my time from October through December on Whitetail deer. The first week of October is when I make sure all my rut stands and spots are good to go for the upcoming rut. This is also the time I like to…

Taking These Steps Now Can Help Achieve a More Successful Fall Hunt I once heard it said that deer season is never over. As time goes by, I realize that this is very true. The main part of deer season is in the fall, and nothing beats chasing a mature Whitetail in November. But there are lots of steps to take in the off-season, and especially in the spring, to help you capitalize in the fall. Here are some things to do when you’re not chasing those spawning bass or long beards this spring to better prepare you for the…