Camping with Pope and Young

Saxton Pope and Arthur Young’s hunting adventures in the early part of the last century are well documented. In Pope’s book Hunting with the Bow & Arrow, published in 1923, the author devotes many pages to descriptions of days spent in the rugged California hills stalking deer, bear, and mountain lion. Pope tells [...]

Camping with Pope and Young2023-02-13T12:16:24-07:00

Rotating Fletching Table

After becoming determined to "mass produce" arrows for my own use, I created a rotating tabletop fletching station from a 14" lazy Susan,* which I picked up at a local thrift store for less than five bucks. It allows me to work on three arrows at a time, and the center is a [...]

Rotating Fletching Table2023-01-19T14:22:47-07:00

Venison Noodle Soup

The first thing my three-year-old daughter always asks for when I fill a tag, is “soup!” I was lucky enough to take two deer this past deer season and my daughter said, “Let’s make deer soup!” I’d never really used venison in soup before: stew and chili yes, but not soup. So, this [...]

Venison Noodle Soup2023-01-30T09:08:39-07:00

Be At the Ready

Just about any kind of game is easily spooked by motion. Even so much as a flick of an eyelid can send an edgy whitetail to the nearest exit in high gear, and anything but ultra slow motion will alert that elk you are stalking. This is why I cringe whenever I see [...]

Be At the Ready2023-01-19T13:38:00-07:00

Traditional Backcountry Navigation

As all my regular backcountry hunting partners know, I have never, ever been lost. However, I will admit that I’ve come close. Years ago, Lori and I were hunting hogs and turkeys in Florida with our old friend Don Davis. Late one afternoon, Don dropped me off on a road several miles from [...]

Traditional Backcountry Navigation2023-01-19T13:38:17-07:00

Using an Adjustable Nocking Point

With traditional archery, there’s a multitude of methods that can be employed to set up a bow and get it dialed in to meet your needs. But beyond personal preference, some methods just plain make sense. Case in point: adjustable nocking points. When initially setting up a bow, you’re dealing with a host [...]

Using an Adjustable Nocking Point2023-01-15T12:04:15-07:00

G. Fred Asbell

This is very hard for me, but I knew this day would come. Fred passed away peacefully Saturday night with Teresa by his side. Teresa wanted me to thank all you for your prayers, and know that Fred loved our community. He is, and always will be, a major influence on people from [...]

G. Fred Asbell2023-01-09T08:19:47-07:00

The Ground Game: Southern Hogs

The sea breeze was noisily rustling the palm fronds when I heard a slight splash from the freshwater slough just to my south. The water was hidden by thick palmetto ground cover. A trail ran parallel to the slough between prehistoric sand dunes covered by thick palmettos that grew head high in places. [...]

The Ground Game: Southern Hogs2022-12-19T15:21:47-07:00

Two Old Goats—Chasing Free-Range Tahr in New Zealand

I first met Phillip about 10 years ago in the Frank Church Wilderness of Idaho. He was packing a rifle and hunting elk, while I had my trusty recurve and was chasing bighorns. We both failed to connect on game, but we developed a lasting friendship. Under the tutelage of fellow traditionalists Mike [...]

Two Old Goats—Chasing Free-Range Tahr in New Zealand2022-12-01T16:31:30-07:00

Fluorescent Orange and the Trad Bowhunter

My wife, Linda, sat in her climbing tree stand on the edge of a pine thicket less than 10 yards from a forest service dirt road. The buck scrape to her left was hot with activity. I was across the road in a ground blind, guarding the last few fallen wild apples of [...]

Fluorescent Orange and the Trad Bowhunter2022-12-05T18:06:00-07:00
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