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in reply to: Happy holidays to all #43493

Merry Christmas, and to all, a happy new year!

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in reply to: First Traditional Kill #37864

Congrats on your first trad kill! Cool to have your son there for that. Great job!

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in reply to: Group sizes? #37857

Awesome pics guys, thanks. There’s some good looking groups there, and some very nice looking arrows! Greatree, is that a frisbee? Lose many arrows shootin at it?

Might not shoot today, it -40 something, brrrr….

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in reply to: Group sizes? #34587

SteveMcD wrote: Rocks… I was taught many years ago. Look at the deer as a running back carrying a football (in the boiler room), focus on that only.. your job is to knock out the football by hitting that spot. Yes, pick the spot and focus. I have one of those giant 4 ft by 4ft block targets that I use at our club. My target is always a two inch piece of masking tape at all yardages. It reinforces Aim Small, Hit Small. I didn;t say MISS.. because MIISS should not even be in your mind.

Ah, I like that… I’ve heard the football thing before. I find when I just pick a spot I shoot pretty good. If I get thinking about form during the shot though, that’s when the flyers happen. So I work on form first standing right in front of the target, then just go have fun and shoot, picking a spot. Aim small, HIT small, right on!

Here’s a couple groups from today, one at 13 and one at 15 yards, and the Martin I’ve been shooting…

[Rocks]

in reply to: First Time Bowman #33966

Sotex – David has some good advice, read lots, and if there is an archery store nearby go in and get them to string up a few bows to pull, you’ll get an idea what draw weight feels good.

Like you I’m a long time hunter but new to trad bow hunting. The internet has been a great source of information for me, I’ve found answers to all my questions online. I did order TJ Conrads book and am looking forward to reading it.

I don’t know if your state has a minimum draw weight for a hunting bow, here in Alberta we do, it is 40#. I bought a 40# bow and it is nice to shoot, I can pull it for hours easily. I would say any bow in the low 40’s would be a good starter.

I don’t think there’s a big difference in longbows and recurves. For me it was just aesthetics, the longbows appealed to me more, and I have bought two in the last couple months.

You should be able to get a great bow for under $500. Don’t forget you are going to need some accesories – arrows, field points, broadheads, a tab or glove, quiver, stringer, target(s), string silencers, etc.

[Rocks]

in reply to: Five Favorite Non-Hunting Books #33515

Good thread, I don’t read a lot of books, but the last couple were:

People and Peaks of the Willmore Wilderness (written by a friend of mine), and
Mountain Trails by Jack Glenn

Both local history books about the area I live in.

[Rocks]

in reply to: Awesome Fly fishing video! #33500

Good clip, definately some gorgeous footage in there. I’ve used a deer hair mouse on my flyrod, but never caught anything with it.

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in reply to: Group sizes? #33467

Thanks guys.

Greatree, I’m usually getting pie plate size groups out to 15 yards, I’d be really happy to get a 6″ group! It’ll come, I’m sure.

Halfahun, that buck was taken with the rifle, and yes Alberta has some big deer! Some good comments, I work on form first every day to try and get it ingrained, then I just shoot, picking a spot, usually try to pick something very small on my target and for sure that works. I like the “aim small miss small” saying.

Snuff – I hope I get to the point of hitting where I’m looking, I’ll be working on it every day – I’m at work on a drilling rig in the bush for the next few weeks and my bow practice is my mental break every day. Gotta get ready for spring bear!

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in reply to: Help with Tip of the Week #31328

I love the TBM tip of the week!

Now carry on you tipsters…

[Rocks]

in reply to: Tail cams?? #30304

I use one sporadically. Usually around home, and not where I hunt, though. It’s nice to see what’s in the area, I’ve got great pics of a lot of animals. If I did get a picture of a buck or bull I wanted on it though for sure I would hunt the area I had it in harder.

I don’t see it as being lazy, i know guys who spend lots of time pre-season setting trail cams, time they probably wouldn’t spend out there otherwise. They have a good idea when the season opens what quality and numbers of animals are in their area.

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in reply to: Chasing Whitetails in the season's first snowfall! #30291

Great pictures, that’s nice looking country!

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in reply to: Winter's harvest #28740

Congratulations! I love sprucies.

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in reply to: A hunting season almost done. Some stories about bad luck and making good. #28021

Hope you heal up fine, Archer52.

Good reminder to be careful with those broadheads!

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in reply to: 40# Recurve and a Buffalo #26952

There’s somne good reading on 40# bows and EFOC arrows in Dr. Ashby’s 2008 Study upate, part 2. The results are pretty astonishing, I liked the results for the 620 gr arrow with 32% FOC.

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in reply to: newbie help #26675

I’m in the same boat as you CC, I purchased two longbows in the last month or so.

I looked around on the net and found a lot of info and pics of bows I liked the looks of, read reviews, and finally ordered one from a bowyer whose work I liked. The second bow I picked up at a sporting goods store nearby after looking through what they had and picked a lightwewight draw bow that was relatively cheap, to use as a practice bow and maybe for small game and deer.

Like Pothunter said, if you have an archery club nearby go meet some folks, the trad bow guys seem eager to help new guys out and I’m sure you could shoot a few bows. Otherwise find the nearest archery shop and look through everything they have you may find something you like.

Lots of great advice on this board and some very knowledgeable guys to help out!

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