[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Out of Place Critters #36477

Archer38 wrote: Over the last few years, there seems to be a growing number of cougar sightings in our area. I personally have never seen one or even it’s track but I know a few who have actual photos of one. Not exactly a native species to Ontario Canada as far as I know !!

Im in Southern Ontario myself. Grand river terriortory. There has been a lot of sightings in my area too in the last couple years. Just as elusive as bigfoot around here though.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Spring Turkey Hunt #21942

Best of luck to you out there. You’re definitly in for some excitement.

Soft clucking with a mouth call + scratching in the leaves with the feathered end of an arrow seems to mimic a feeding bird quite well. Ive had curious birds come browsing unannounced on my set up doing that.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: pictures of animals #15458

Seen these today. Getting me excited for spring time around here. Love to see these birds fly like that.

Anyone guess at how many fletchings are in the vid? I can usually get 4 or 5 per primary wing.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Bows on the Big Screen #12897

When Russell Crowe shoots a duck out of the air in Robin Hood.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: proper treatment of new bow #57261

I left my bear Montana longbow locked in a safe strung for like 3 months while i was away. Didn’t mean to leave it strung the whole time, and i was a bit worried the bow would’ve lost some of its form or maybe mess up my brace height. Worries for nothing because when i returned to my bow it was fine. Brace height was fine and the bow didn’t settle into a different shape.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: TURKEYS #55505

That picture was taken up here in Ontario Canada last week. Seen them and got as close as I could for the pic. Close enough to hear them purring and clucking.

Come spring time, I’ll be using the roll up foam decoys. They are light weight and can be packed easy. Also quick to set up if you need to. Last year my set up was 1 jake decoy and 2 hens and me and my brother were successful all season.

It comes down to how well you can call too. Those are Eastern’s in the pic by the way. Probably -16 celsius or 3 degrees fahrenheit.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Cedar shaft availibility #41465

I shoot those arrows out of my 60# longbow. I’ve been using POC since I started tinkering with bows and arrows. It was a hell of a lot cheaper to buy up shafts and miscellaneous tools and components from a local archery supplier and build my own arrows, then it was to buy them already made.

For me bow hunting and craftsmanship go hand in hand. Anything I can make myself, I will.

To answer your question about the sinew. I have a bow that doesn’t have an arrow rest, so I wrap them so that when I’m shooting off my hand the fletching doesn’t tear into the skin. Natural turkey feathers when cut into fletchings can be as sharp as little daggers at the pointed end. Also the sinew adds a little extra weight to the end I believe is important.

I have had many successes with my “plain jane” arrows btw. It has been strictly wooden arrows for me. I have never bought or shot any kind of carbon or aluminum arrows.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Favorite AMO for hunting? #38985

62″ seems good for me. Longbow makes a great leaning post at that length.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Cedar shaft availibility #38938

Go with 3 rivers if you want quality shafts. I ordered a dozen over the holidays. 11/32″, 55-60 grains. I had them in under 2 weeks and the shafts were exactly what I ordered and not cracked or warped.

<img src="[IMG]http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy239/bradb171/091516A6-7A84-4A4A-9F0D-61E0DBA88757_zpsti0ohzzq.jpg” alt=”” />[/img]

<img src="[IMG]http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy239/bradb171/9483165A-ABC7-4657-A85F-CBD43265A93C_zpsbgcp5qpi.jpg” alt=”” />[/img]

That’s the before and after.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Arrow makers #63652

Veritas dowel maker

Dowel inserts for arrow makers

That is the same dowel maker I use to make Sitka spruce beauties. I had to buy a separate 11/32″ dowel insert to get the right diameter. If you’re willing to invest your own time and money into arrow smithing it really pays off. Think of how much a fully fletched set of woodies will run you today?

You’ll be needing a lot more equipment obviously to complete the process from 1/2″ x 1/2″ billet or arrow stave, all the way to finished product.

I’ll post pics of my operation sometime after hunting/Xmas season winds down. Haven’t turned out any arrows this month but I’ll have to soon.

Other items you’ll need to look into, weight grain scale, sanding jigs because the shafts are rough cut, dip tubes for staining, access to good shafting material and ability to mill it to size, and a bitzenberger fletching jig to tie it all together.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: WOODSMANSHIP ON TV? #62148

Look into the Fred Bear Hunting DVD collection. It’s grainy old timey footage but nobody to this day could hold a candle up to it.

If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and order the DVD collection if you want to see woodsman ship on tv.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: How long before your first harvest? #52369

Try to enjoy the little things when you’re out in the bush, in that animals turf. Success is not just dragging an animal out. The things that you teach yourself and learn about when you’re afield are just as rewarding. The first time I ever harvested a deer in my life was with a longbow, so as you could imagine I was shaking when deer approached. But now after a lot of trial and error and encounters with different animals while hunting, it has grown me more accustomed to what to expect out of that animal and myself.

Try running about 50 yards fast, then pick up your bow and dial in a shot, while in your hunting gear. For me that first time shooting at a deer sort of felt like that because of the adrenaline rush that came with the situation. Keep in mind shot placement and your ability to track game and then clean/ dress it and you’ll do fine work.

[TurkeyCommander]

in reply to: Rookie Mistakes #51349

Bending over while you have a back quiver filled with arrows on, then playing pick up sticks. As long as know ones around to see, you’re ok.

[Author]

Posts