Author

Mike Fitzgerald

Mike Fitzgerald
A Full-Time Marketing Manager at Bowhunting.com and Rhino Group, Mike is an avid outdoorsman, videographer, and photographer living in Northern Minnesota on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with his wife and son.
Latest Articles
A whitetail buck standing in an autumn field next to a translucent white map of South Dakota.
South Dakota Offers Deer Tag Refunds Following EHD Outbreaks

South Dakota wildlife officials are pulling back on hunting pressure after localized EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) outbreaks hit the state’s deer population. While the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department notes that overall EHD reports are fairly in line with what they typically see this time of year, the localized impact on certain […]

The Best "do All" Bowhunting Jackets To Get You Through The Rut
The Best “Do-All” Bowhunting Jackets to Get You Through the Rut

Of all my hunting apparel, I ask the most of my “go-to” hunting jacket. It’s the workhorse of my kit. The one item that’s tasked with a variety of responsibilities through many seasons.   What makes the “perfect” bowhunting jacket? It needs to be light enough to pack in for an early-season evening, yet heavy enough […]

View through a camouflage ground blind window showing an archer inside holding a compound bow with a nocked arrow.
Michigan Bowhunter Takes Bullet to the Chest

A 38-year-old bowhunter sitting in a hard-sided ground blind in Clinton County, Michigan, was critically injured Saturday evening when a stray bullet from nearby target practice struck him in the chest. Deputies with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on Lowe Road in Essex Township, roughly 30 miles north of Lansing, at […]

Grizzly bear standing in autumn timber with a translucent Montana state map overlay marking the site of a bowhunter attack near Augusta.
20-Year-Old Bowhunter Survives Grizzly Bear Attack

Taken to Hospital After Driving Himself Home An early-season archery hunt along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front turned into a fight for survival when a grizzly bear attacked a 20-year-old bowhunter south of Augusta. The hunter was pursuing big game on state land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte on the morning of September 14 when […]

Close-up photograph of a hunter wearing camouflage holding an expanded black B7 Outdoors XP3 Pocket Stick climbing stick. The image highlights the folding metal scissor-linkage mechanism, offset steps, and attached Amsteel rope against a sunlit forest floor covered in autumn leaves.
A Climbing Stick That Fits in Your Cargo Pocket?

Every year, we see gear get lighter, smaller, and sleeker. But every once in a while, a product pops up that makes you pause, smile, and appreciate the sheer creativity of bowhunters trying to solve everyday problems. Enter the XP3 Pocket Stick from B7 Outdoors. See Todd & Justin reaction to the Pocket Stick on […]

Overhead view of a fishing kayak deck at night showing emergency personnel treating an angler whose foot is pinned to the floorboard by a thin arrow shaft.
Kayak Fisherman Impaled by Arrow

A peaceful night of walleye fishing took a bizarre and terrifying turn on Fish Lake near Fredenberg Township, Minnesota, when an arrow rained down from the darkness and pinned an angler to his kayak hull. Cory Hendrickson was kayak fishing on the lake when he noticed a group launching fireworks from the shoreline. Moments later, […]

Low angle photograph looking straight up a heavily textured tree trunk as a hunter climbs upward. The sharp focus captures a camo-patterned mobile climbing stick strapped tightly to the bark, with a hunter's muddy rubber boot firmly planted on the top step. The background opens up to a dense canopy of green and yellow autumn leaves illuminated by sunlight, with glimpses of a clear blue sky visible through the branches.
New Climbing Sticks for 2026

If you think about it, we’ve gotten pretty spoiled when it comes to options for getting in and out of a tree in pursuit of whitetails.  Ladders, climbing sticks, aiders; aluminum, composites, carbon fiber; 4 sticks, 1 stick, no stick! Long gone are the days of having to rely on screw-in steps, or even worse, […]

Composite image showcasing a hunter leaning back under tension in the olive drab Tethrd Phantom XP tree saddle on the right, paired with a Tethrd trade show display board on the left. The background display board highlights the product's features with visible text quotes including "Introducing Hybrid Expansion", "RAD Ready", "Lace Lock Tensioner", "Lay Flat Loops", "Refined Quad Lock Bridge", and "Reduced Weight & Bulk".
New Saddles & Platforms for 2026

Saddle hunting continues to be one of the fastest growing segments in the hunting industry. As its popularity soars, the amount of innovation and exploration in this space has reached an all-time high. It’s a good time to be a mobile hunter. This year we were able to get our hands on a bunch of […]

The fly that lays the eggs that turn into a new world screw worm.
The Return of the New World Screwworm

Why resurgence of this flesh-eating fly matters to bowhunters. A steril New World screwworm fly. Photo courtesy of USDA I remember growing up and hearing warnings about killer bees invading from the south. Let’s not forget the unstoppable march of army ants devouring everything in their path.  My adolescent brain was convinced we were in […]

Father's Day Gg
The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide for Bowhunters | 2026

Great gift ideas for the Bowhunting Dad on your list Gear he actually wants without breaking the bank Father’s Day is right around the corner. Skip the generic ties and “World’s Best Dad” mugs this year and get him something highly functional that he will actually use in the timber or rep his passion year […]

Inside The Doi’s Proposed Hunting And Fishing Expansion
Inside the Feds’ Proposed Hunting and Fishing Expansion

Unpacking the Access Wins and the Deeper Policy Risks The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) made headlines this week by announcing the largest proposed expansion of hunting and sport fishing access in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Driven by Secretarial Order 3447, which was signed by Interior Secretary Doug […]

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Montana Knife Company Launches First Folding Knife

After nearly six years of building a reputation on premium, American-made fixed blades, Montana Knife Company (MKC) is stepping into the folding knife market. The Missoula-based manufacturer has officially announced the upcoming release of its first-ever folder, named THE MONTANA. The knife represents a five-year manufacturing expansion aimed at bringing a high-tolerance pocket knife into […]

Over Half Of Wisconsin Deer Ticks Carry Lyme Disease
Over Half of Wisconsin Deer Ticks Carry Lyme Disease

What the Marshfield Tick Data Means for Hunters A newly released study from the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute has delivered a clear look at the specific pathogen risks facing anyone stepping into the upper Midwestern woods. Data from the institute’s Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS) project reveals that just over half of all deer […]

The Rising Heat Over Thermal Drones
The Rising Heat Over Thermal Drones

Increasing recovery without losing the soul of fair chase Simulated thermal image of a bedded deer Modern hunting technology continues to move faster than our regulations can keep up with. As new products and high-tech tools hit the market and make their way into the timber, we find ourselves in increasingly grey and controversial territory. […]

Michigan Approves One Buck Rule For Lower Peninsula
Michigan Approves One-Buck Rule for Lower Peninsula

Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) voted 4-3 to approve a new one-buck limit for the Lower Peninsula on Wednesday. The decision concludes months of debate and intense public feedback, signaling a major shift in how deer are managed in Michigan. While reform groups pushed for the rule to take effect this fall, the commission confirmed […]

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Stealth Cam Announces Velvet Whitetail Hunt Giveaway

Stealth Cam has partnered with Salt Creek Outfitters in Kentucky for a massive “Velvet Whitetail Giveaway.” The campaign encourages hunters to shift gears into deer mode as turkey seasons wrap up and summer scouting begins. One grand prize winner will receive a velvet whitetail hunt with Salt Creek Outfitters and a premier hunting gear package. […]

Pope & Young Announces Online Auction For Bowhunting Conservation
Pope & Young Announces Online Auction for Bowhunting Conservation

Pre-Bidding for the Pope & Young Online Auction is Live now! Pope & Young will host a special online auction next Friday, May 15, at 8:00 PM CST. This event supports the organization’s mission to preserve and protect the future of bowhunting. The auction features exclusive tags, world-class hunts, and historic items from the Pope […]

Idaho Just Reset The Clock On Public Land Scouting
Idaho Just Reset the Clock on Public Land Scouting

New ban on cell cameras and other tech-base hunting aids HB 939 bans cell cams on Idaho public land | Photo by NorthwestWildImages – stock.adobe.com Idaho hunters are facing a new reality this fall. Governor Brad Little has officially signed House Bill 939 into law, placing a strict seasonal ban on cellular trail cameras and […]

One Buck, Two Buck, Big Buck, New Buck. Can Michigan Save Its Herd?
One Buck, Two Buck, Big Buck, New Buck

Can Michigan Save Its Deer Herd? There’s a big debate going on in Michigan, as they look to drop from a two-buck, to a one-buck state. A hunter sitting with two buck tags in their pocket behaves differently than a hunter with one. This “second tag” psychology has defined Michigan hunting for decades, often leading […]

How Far Is Too Far: Why Your "max Range" Is A Moving Target
How Far Is Too Far for Whitetails?

Understand why your “Maximum Range” is a moving target. How far are you willing to shoot at a whitetail? Modern compound bows are engineering marvels, with high-speed cams, precision machining, and adjustable sights making 80-yard shots more achievable than ever. However, just because the equipment is capable of that distance does not mean we should […]