Nice looking set up Jim. I hope you great success in all your hunting endeavors this season.:D

Unfortunately my full hunting set up isn’t 100% complete as of today, but as soon as I get my new bow tuned- probably 2 weeks away yet- I’ll get some pics to post. 🙂

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s set up! 😀

Troy

This is my everything arrow. It hasn’t changed in 3 years. 680gr Beman MFX 340 with abowyer brown bear broadhead:

And I will be shooting my new Elkheart:

If I kill an elk, I will hunt throughout the NY deer season with my self bow, Plains quiver and these lodgepole arrows, tipped with 160gr grizzly bheads:

I haven’t used my self bow since the successful and cold 2006 season when I hunted 3 months with this bow, with a 15 yards shot limit. I killed this doe in december, on the last day, last hour of daylight!!!

This will be my 6th season with the same bow, and 13th with the same arrow setup. If it’s not broke… 🙂

TradTech Titan riser with Winex limbs pulling 56# @ 32″.

Great Northern Quick Detach quiver.

Beman ICS Camo Hunter arrows tipped with 125-grain Ace Standards.

Good looking rigs, gentlemen. Alex, I really like those lodgepole arrows, and the artwork on the crests.

J.Wesbrock wrote: This will be my 6th season with the same bow, and 13th with the same arrow setup. If it’s not broke… 🙂

TradTech Titan riser with Winex limbs pulling 56# @ 32″.

Great Northern Quick Detach quiver.

Beman ICS Camo Hunter arrows tipped with 125-grain Ace Standards.

Jason, I love the Ace standards. I killed my buck last year with it. I either have abowyers or Aces in my quiver!

Proof 😀 :

Nice! I especially like the photos of your self bow.

AlexBugnon wrote:

Alex –

I really hope this is your next album cover…:D

Smithhammer wrote: [quote=AlexBugnon]

Alex –

I really hope this is your next album cover…:D

In a perfect world, it could be!! Especially since my next album’s title is:” Moment of Truth” !! 😀

Alex — Why isn’t this pic in the “dirty old hats” thread? 😛

I’m calling this year’s elk rig the “Tradbow combo,” since it’s composed of parts and knowledge from several members. I love to barter, especially with overly generous folks who let me come out way on top. 😆 To wit:

Osage selfbow by Clay Hayes, 54# draw and seemingly very fast (I will get it chronographed this week). Zero stack at 28″, quiet and no hand shock. (If you ever get a chance to attend one of Clay’s selfbowyer workshops you’ll be learning from the best.)

Arrows are Sitka spruce, self-knocked with spline inserts as explained in Steve Graf’s Tip of the Week and wrapped with deer leg sinew collected by Smiley1. Shafts finished with Tung oil and fletched 4×3 with wild turkey feathers collected and processed by Steve Graf. Tipped with 300 grain Tuffheads (please forgive the foggy photo) and 20 grain, 2″ aluminum sleeves from 2413 shafts for a total weight of 662 grains and 26.72% EFOC (the best by far I’ve been able to get with woodies).

Knife (sticking in tree) by Sinawalli, with sheath currently being made by Duncan.

Now if I can only find an elk to help me blood and honor all this special gear!

That sure is a pretty bow, Dave and Clay. The deep cut arrow rest is impressive. A neat suggestion that was going around at MO-JAM was to put a decal on a fresh osage bow and set it in the sun (or a tanning bed). The light causes to wood to darken everywhere but under the decal. When the decal is removed its shape remains. In this way, folks were marking their bows without actually writing on them. It looked so cool.

I don’t have my homemade gear ready yet, and if I’m not confident with it I’ll be hunting with my regular setup. Northstar recurve, 55# @ 28″. Zwickey deltas on hickory shafts. Pictured next to my son’s Ragim, 22# @ 24″. Zwickey eskimos on poplar shafts. He’ll hunt whitetails with me this year, but won’t be shooting at any with that setup. He needs a few more years yet.

Alex, great story with that selfbow. Amazing timing!

Some fantastic bows so far!

Clay’s bows are definitely something special. I sat in on a bow-building clinic he did @ the BHA Rendezvous this past spring, and was seriously impressed. What I particularly enjoyed was how organic and intuitive Clay’s approach to building is. Many people in the audience kept asking him questions about the exact specs of his limb tapers, whether or not he uses calipers, etc, etc, to which his response was usually, “nope, I just eyeball it till it looks right.” That’s the easygoing confidence of a true craftsman.

I’ve finally made my decision on my rig for the upcoming season – a #55 Predator Classic:

This bow never ceases to impress me with how smooth and accurate it is (despite my best efforts to the contrary 8)). If you blindfolded me, I would swear up and down that there is no way this is a #55 bow. It feels like drawing no more than #50 at most. And while I haven’t chrono’d it, it definitely throws a 650gr. arrow with surprising speed.

Arrows:

Gt Trad 5575 cut to 28.5″

360 gr. head weight with single bevel Eclipse Werewolfs

650 gr. overall

28% FOC

4 x 2-1/4″ fletch

Smithhammer wrote:

Arrows:

Gt Trad 5575 cut to 28.5″

360 gr. head weight with single bevel Eclipse Werewolfs

650 gr. overall

28% FOC

4 x 2-1/4″ fletch

Smith, how well do those 4 x 2-1/4″ fletchings stabilize that arrow? I’m assuming pretty darned good considering they’re on your hunting rig 😆

Never seen someone do it that way, especially when chucking 360 gr. up front.

shreffler wrote: [quote=Smithhammer]

Arrows:

Gt Trad 5575 cut to 28.5″

360 gr. head weight with single bevel Eclipse Werewolfs

650 gr. overall

28% FOC

4 x 2-1/4″ fletch

Smith, how well do those 4 x 2-1/4″ fletchings stabilize that arrow? I’m assuming pretty darned good considering they’re on your hunting rig 😆

Never seen someone do it that way, especially when chucking 360 gr. up front.

They fly great, and very stable. I’m convinced (based on first-hand experience, which always seems the best way…) that high EFOC creates a great deal of stability in and of itself, requiring less fletching to create that stability. It also creates the improved benefit of more of the stability and tracking happening at the front of the arrow (like a dart), rather than with low FOC setups, in which more of the steerage (and thus, drag) is happening at the rear, due to larger fletching combined with a lighter point. This reduced fletching, in turn, also creates less drag, leading to a more efficient flight…which again, when combined with EFOC, creates an arrow that recovers from paradox more quickly which further increases flight efficiency….I could go on…:D

But it might be better to check out more of Dr. Ashby’s extensive info (found on this site), and some of the threads in the FOC sub-forum. Suffice to say that the vast majority of negative assumptions I hear from folks regarding reduced fletching in combination with EFOC are simply not true in my experience, and usually a case of being exactly that – assumptions, rather than firsthand experience.

I have tinkered with the subject of EFOC as well as how to achieve/measure it in the forums but this is the first real life instance I’ve seen someones rig using it all set up.

I really like the concept and it’s more reassuring seeing someone confidently using a hunting rig set up this way.

It just may be time to do some tinkering 😆

Smithy posted that Predator made me remember how good mine shoots. It is 50# @ 28 and it is heavier than my other bows but it does shoot good. I probably could use some weight lifting 😀

I used my old 50# Grizzly last year with these woodies made up with 145 gr Ace 2 blade. No reason not to use it some this year.

I have been shooting the Super Shrew a lot lately. I uploaded a pic of that but it disappeared into the cyber abyss that is my laptop. Well I’m done messing with photobucket for tonight. There are some cool rigs on here. Good luck everybody!

Duncan wrote: Smithy posted that Predator made me remember how good mine shoots. It is 50# @ 28 and it is heavier than my other bows but it does shoot good. I probably could use some weight lifting 😀

Yeah, they aren’t necessarily the lightest bow around, but they make up for it in every other way. A buddy shot mine the other day, and I didn’t tell him what the poundage was until after he shot it. He didn’t believe me.

And that’s a nice one you have there, Duncan!

Here is my Whitetail rig

made and put assembled all of it except for the bow and the glove

64″ Bama hunter longbow 45#@27″

Surewood shafts arrow, STOS 130gn broadhead (546 total Grains)

Chek Mate Beaver Creek long bow, #58, Gold Tip Traditional arrows, Arrow bush boots, Predator camo.

Sinawalli,

Is that a cat paw print by your foot?

Certainly not a house cat….:shock:

Wolfshead wrote: Sinawalli,

Is that a cat paw print by your foot?

Certainly not a house cat….:shock:

Wolf track, next to a elk track!

Good looking rigs. Mines almost finished.

I’ll post a picture when I can.

2009 black widow PAII recurve. 60″. 57 pounds at 29″.

28″ 5575 arrows with 300 grains up front tipped with tree sharks.

45# @ 28″ Jim Reynolds Hunter longbow. Carbon Express 150s with a 125 gr Magnus broad head. I hope the pic posts because I’m still no good at resizing.

Here’s my two for the year:

Apex Predator 66″ longbow, 51@28

GT3555 traditionals with Magnus 1 (245 up front)

Next is my selfbow that’s almost finished (gotta oil and poly, lace on a grip and she’s done):

62″……50@27

Cane arrows with stone points or above GT3555/Magnus combo

One note about the diamondback skins….no snakes were harmed in the making of this bow.:D They are roadkills picked up by friends of mine. I don’t kill snakes, especially E. Diamondbacks which are declining throughout their range.

This my Osage 47#, 60″ Yellowjacket. My bow quiver is parts and pieces of a couple different types put together to my liking. Cain’t do w/o my haversack. The staff in the rear is not completed yet. Is part of an Osage stave given to me and when I opened it up it was full of worm holes. It’s making and interesting walking stick.

can’t wait:

Scouting is promising….here is a nice velvet 6 point a snuck within 15 yards of today. The thick veg works both ways:twisted:

Tailfeather,

That is a great job on your selfbow. Love the snake skins, recognized them as EDB right away. Its too bad they are declining. It’s the same here in NC along with the cottonmouth, timber rattler and the pygmy rattler. Encroaching development and more and more chemicals in the ecosystem.

Beautiful Hill bows there two4hooking.

Ugh – I fear I’m back to the drawing board. I’ve been enjoying shooting my hybrids so much lately, and how quiet and light they are, that I can’t make up my mind…

Smithhammer wrote: Ugh – I fear I’m back to the drawing board. I’ve been enjoying shooting my hybrids so much lately, and how quiet and light they are, that I can’t make up my mind…

I get all messed up when I have too many options. More than 1 or 2 bows I can’t process it:lol:

Me too, messes me up. Was gonna hunt w/47# and back up w/46#. Now going with/50# Osage and back up w/47# Osage. Same wood arrow so that’s easy. I been seeing pigs and a little more umpf make me happier. Besides it’s my favorite bow!!!!

paleoman wrote:

I get all messed up when I have too many options. More than 1 or 2 bows I can’t process it:lol:

Tell me about it. My name is Smithhammer, and I’m a bowaholic….

I know what you mean. I just start shooting one and if I feel the harmony I hunt with it. If I don’t I go to the next one. I think the Shrew is going to be the one this year. I’ve also been messing around with a new squirrel bow. Its a Kustom King Black Forest. I think I finally got it tuned yesterday evening. It came with a FF string and I didn’t like it so I made up one of B-50. It will take some more shooting to break it in to get the brace height to stay put. I’ll post some pics maybe tomorrow.

paleoman wrote:

I get all messed up when I have too many options. More than 1 or 2 bows I can’t process it:lol:

Paleo, maan, I get all messed up with more than just one bow!! Above, I listed my new bow as my 2013 rig…. Well, after practicing again and again with it, I became pretty good with it. After all it is almost identical in form and specs as my Shrew CH. but i still had that annoying feeling of unease shooting it, so I went back to my shrew just out of curiosity, and man, what a difference!!! With my shrew, I just KNOW I’m gonna hit whatever I’m aiming at… Almost every time! My level of confidence shooting that bow is IT! 99% baby! and when hitting the woods trying to kill animals, I won’t settle for less than that. So I’m back to my beloved shrew, the only bow I’ve shot for 3 years! :D:D

I’m a little late jumping into this thread. Been busy whittlin’. I recently finished my 2013 bow. I’d been shooting 62lbs@28 but decided to drop down in weight. This one’s 52@28 but I’m drawing a little farther. It’s probably pulling 54 or so at 29. My 75lb shafts are showing a little stiff even with 260 gr up front. Just ordered some 300 gr. tuffheads and field tips which should fix that. This bow is cut nearly to center in the shelf. shoots sweet with a high foc arrow. In the first pick the bottom limb looks a little weak but it’s just the camera angle. Can’t wait till opener..

ch

Everyone please note the deep channel where arrow shelf meets limb, to provide both minimal surface contact with the arrow and also allow for free passage of the 5 o’clock feather. This is such a logical design that I’m surprised bowyers didn’t lock onto it centuries ago. I have a special interest in this bow because I have its twin from the same part of the same tree, though upside down to this one insofar as the snake is on the bottom rather than top limb. Smooth, quiet as a Shrew, sweet bow. Alas, just when I finally am shooting quite well with new bow and arrows I’ve been experimenting on all summer, I learned today that I’m going to have to change arrows and abandon Sitka spruce. But more on that in the proper thread. Okay Clay, let’s get some blood on these twin beauties this fall!

Another beautiful piece of craftsmanship, Clay. May it serve you well in the coming season.

AlexBugnon wrote:

Above, I listed my new bow as my 2013 rig…. Well, after practicing again and again with it, I became pretty good with it. After all it is almost identical in form and specs as my Shrew CH. but i still had that annoying feeling of unease shooting it, so I went back to my shrew just out of curiosity, and man, what a difference!!!

Isn’t that so true? I mean, there are all the objective factors that can be identified, like grip style, shelf cut, weight, etc. that we can cite as reasons why we like one bow over another, but then it seems that there is often also that hard to define, other “something” that just clicks and makes us feel more confident and comfortable with a particular bow. And those psychological factors should never be underestimated in aiding our ability to shoot well.

Maybe that’s what we define as the “soul” of an object, whether it be a handmade bow or a musical instrument or…?

Same hunting rig as last year. 1970 58″ Bear take down. 54# @ 30″. Easton Axis Nano 340 shafts with 75 gr brass inserts. 300gr Tuffheads with 125 gr steel adaptors. total arrow weight 720 gr for 32% UEFOC. Season out here in Western SD doesn’t open up for white tails until the 3rd week in September:( we’ve had lots of rain this month and all is green. The deer look happy and healthy and I get to hunt river bottom with cotton woods and alfalfa. I can’t wait!

Jans

Smithhammer wrote: Another beautiful piece of craftsmanship, Clay. May it serve you well in the coming season.

Maybe that’s what we define as the “soul” of an object, whether it be a handmade bow or a musical instrument or…?

Yes, Clay!! And hell yes, Bruce!!:D

Not entirely sure if this is what I’m going to go with, but this morning’s setup was:

400 gr. head (300gr. Werewolf & 100 gr. insert)

29% EFOC

695 gr. total

#53 Kanati

Need to shoot it some more. 10 more days…

ausjim wrote: I had a suspicion we’d see more than one curvy girl from your harem on this thread Bruce 😉

😀 It’s taken me a while to “grow into” that little Kanati, and at times in the past, I never thought I’d be able to shoot it well enough to seriously hunt with it. But the more I’ve stuck with it, I believe this bow has really made me a better archer in the end (not masking my form shortcomings the way my recurves tend to), forcing me to always be spot-on and consistent. And at 56″ AMO, it’s a joy to carry around in the field and hunt in thicker stuff with. I’d buy another bow from JK in a heartbeat.

ausjim wrote: How much mojo is in Dave P’s rig?

On a scale of 1 to 10?

12-1/2.

Down to the wire, and I think I’ve finally settled on my rig:

#57 Tomahawk Legacy

w/

GT Trad 5575 shafts, 28.5″

100 gr. inserts

225 gr. single bevel Steel Force Traditionals

Total weight – 620 gr.

FOC – 26%

and, in a major departure for me, I’ve decided to leave the bow quiver behind for the first time (well, almost…). This is in conjunction with deciding to carry a smaller pack this season, as I’ve never liked carrying a back quiver with a full-size daypack. My elk hunting is generally no more than a few miles from my house, and it’s become too tempting to carry a bigger pack and then fill it with more than what I really, truly need. So I’ve gone back to my Bison Gear ‘Outfitter’ pack, which allows for comfortable carry of my Safari Tuff back quiver as well. And then I’ll be using a Kanati Solo on the bow, for keeping just one arrow at the ready.

Less than 48 hrs. to go….

Same as last year for me. Howatt recurve (46# @ my draw) with Carbon Maxx shafts and Bear Razorheads up front. About 500 total grains.I know that’s lighter than a lot of you like (me too) but I’m working on that. Worked well for me last year in bear season !

Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself (well, a lot of the time, actually…). Got out for a hunt this morning, and remembered why back quivers drive me crazy. It’s back to the bow quiver for me…:D

2013 Bear Super Kodiak 45# @ 28 My draw length is 30.75”

Easton Legacy 2216 full length shafts

Ace Standard 125 ( scaled they are 130 gr.)

125 steel adapters

standard aluminum insert

180 grain , .30 cal. bullet behing alum. insert

total arrow weight =877.5 grain .

hardware up front =469 grains

FOC = 24.8%

138 FPS

Arrows carried on the bow in a Fred Bear Custom quiver , with improved gripper and leather covered hood .

For me, same set-up as last year. Yep, same ol’ boring thing, except that I think I’m shooting it better. I’m pretty convinced I’m a one-bow guy for quite a while anyway.

Leon Stewart Slammer Special R/D Longbow, 46# @ 28. Beman ICS Bowhunter 400s, cut just under 30″ with 50 grain brass inserts, 75 grain steel adapters and 225 grain Tuffheads for a total of 625 grain. I’m using 2 1/2 x 4 straight fletch and I’m getting about 28% FOC.

I have 300 grain field tips and built up stumpers with 100 grain inserts and 100 grain adapters and 135 grain (give or take) Judos.

Waiting, waiting… dwc

dwcphoto wrote:

Leon Stewart Slammer Special R/D Longbow, 46# @ 28. Beman ICS Bowhunter 400s, cut just under 30″ with 50 grain brass inserts, 75 grain steel adapters and 225 grain Tuffheads for a total of 625 grain. I’m using 2 1/2 x 4 straight fletch and I’m getting about 28% FOC.

Your arrow setup is very similar, in terms of weight and FOC, to what I have finally settled on:

GT Trad 5575 (400) cut to 28.5″

50 gr. brass insert w/ 5gr. collar

300 Eclipse Werewolf

2-1/4″ x 4 straight fletch

643 gr. total weight

29% FOC

Flies great out of both my #53 Kanati and my #57 Tomahawk Legacy. One of these days I need to shoot a Slammer. Or wait- maybe that’s a bad idea…:lol:

Yes, it is. You took it a little further crossing that 650 mark. I’m only hunting whitetails. If I were hunting some of the fat bear here in the area or moving a bit west to hunt elk, I think I’d add in that 100 grain insert.

I love the slammer. It’s a real joy to shoot. I don’t know anything about the Kanati, but I’ve heard and read good things about the Tomahawks. If you get out East, I can arrange a shoot with a slammer for you.

Happy hunting, dwc

Thanks! I will definitely take you up on that when the winds blow me East. 😀

What length is your Slammer? I’m intrigued by the 56″ model.

Smithhammer wrote: Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself (well, a lot of the time, actually…). Got out for a hunt this morning, and remembered why back quivers drive me crazy. It’s back to the bow quiver for me…:D

Take a look at this backpack quiver.

I haven’t had a chance to use mine yet. It’s first class craftsmanship:

http://northarchery.com/quiver.html

Yes Jim, it is slick. My French homeboy and hunting buddy Virgil Vosse makes these. He’s also an incredibly talented bowyer!

AlexBugnon wrote: [quote=Smithhammer]Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself (well, a lot of the time, actually…). Got out for a hunt this morning, and remembered why back quivers drive me crazy. It’s back to the bow quiver for me…:D

Take a look at this backpack quiver.

I haven’t had a chance to use mine yet. It’s first class craftsmanship:

http://northarchery.com/quiver.html

Beautiful products, and a slick website. I like those bow cases as well!

Smithy, I have a 62″ bow. I talked to Leon and he suggested a longer bow to get started with, as it should be smoother and more accurate. I shot one of his shorter bows a few years ago and it was really nice. As long as the bow is, I have not had any issues with length being a problem. ( I had to rephrase that…) I shoot out of tree stands and ladder stands and shoot kneeing and sitting. I got started with a 56″ Browning Wasp though and liked that a lot. I’m pretty much a one bow guy, but if I was going to get another, it would probably be one of Leon’s short bows. dwc

Finally finished this up, posted a few unfinished pics earlier. Will be carrying it a good bit this fall.

Absolutely beautiful TF. Great looking bows and setups guys!

Looking good, tailfeather!

Yes, the skins are beautiful, but I’m really drawn to the wood in the riser. Very nice. dwc

Fantastic work, Tailfeather!

And thanks for the info, DWC. I’m enjoying short hybrids more and more, and the Slammer, in a 56″ or 58″ looks like a sweet design. Not that I need another bow, by any means…:roll::D

Once I get this bow figured out to my satisfaction, I might try to save up for one of the short ones. I’m planning to try a little more ground hunting this year, especially if I get lucky to put a little meat in the freezer early. I’ll see how much of an impediment my 62″ length is. dwc

Tailfeather,

That is beautiful work! It looks great. Good luck with it this year.

Here’s my 2013 rig. 58 inch R/D longbow. 55 pounds at 28″. Ziricote riser, foam cores, black and white ebony veneers. CX heritage 250 with 175 vpa’s cruising at 191 fps. Should be leathal as long as I do my part.

Finish is still wet. Just finished stippling the grip and spraying it.

Wow – gorgeous work! Those ebony veneers are amazing, and great natural bow camo as well. I like the stippling too. Well done!

Thanks Bud. I just love black and white ebony. It’s one of my favorites. Yes I need a new target. But here’s three at 30 yards this is good for me. The average shot here in Florida is about 8-10 yards.

coastalbendbows wrote: Yes I need a new target.

What? Plenty of life left in that one!

Looks like the one on the bottom doesn’t have the heart to tell the other one its head is missing… dwc

My first year with my Elkheart. Shooting 3 rivers trad only arrows and grizzly broadheads 260 grains with 50 grain inserts. I am going to try out a bow quiver this year. We will see how it goes.

Fine looking bow, Brennan!! Greg sure builds some beauties. What’s the poundage?

Classy quiver, too.

It is 50# at 28 inches and a delight to shoot. The quiver is a EFA Mesa. Coffee is a hell of an artist!

Thats a good looking rig you got there. Best of luck with her. Thats a fine looking quiver too.

Shawn

Great looking setup, Brennan!! I love that 3arrows quiver! I used to have one similar that I bought from Alsaka Bowhunting co. years ago. Good luck, bruh!

My faithful Northern Mist Reverse Handle Whisper Longbow – 51#@28 64 in length

New 2013 Hunting Arrows – Western Larch, spine 55-60, 130 gr STOS 2 Blades –

Hey Jim , is the Samick the bow you used to shoot your milk jug and knot in the ‘COLD SHOTS’ thread ?

Good looking rig and judging by the pic on the other thread ,,FINE SHOOTIN’

SWEET!

Jim, I like the toys in the background. Adds a sense of place. 🙂