[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Dry Fired bow #12823

Sounds like your bow is ok. Dry fires can ruin a bow but it is common for modern laminated bows to survive a dry fire. One winter I was shooting one of my Robertson longbows and had two dry fires in the span of a few shots. It was below 0 and the nocks broke, but the bow is fine.

Last summer at the NALS I loaned a Northwind longbow to a recurve shooting friend for the shoot and he had a dry fire because of a broken nock, the bow is fine.

Often if delamination is occuring the sound or pitch of the bow when shot will change. If you hear a change in pitch or a vibration check it carefully.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Fawn Creek Campground, Libby MT #16435

Hi guys,
I got lost in cyberspace but found my way back.

Darn it Dave, I was looking forward to your visit. I do understand though as we also have too much to do keeping up our house and property.

Fawn Cr. is just over the mountains so I will be there to help set up, see old friends, make some new ones and shoot a few arrows. I will also be helping at the Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers booth.

NALS is longbows, wood arrows with broadheads only for most targets. Bow birds and running deer use field points I think. John Strunk will have his bow building class before the event. THis is an old time event, if Dave was going I might call it primitive.

Entry is by pre-registration which closed in May but there might be exceptions. I’m not in charge so that is not official.

Michael and Cottonwood, There will be 100s of years of bowhunting experience there and a lot of homemade equipment, some will be primitve weapons that are works of art.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Happy Birthday, David Petersen! #53761

Well, I’m a few days late and a dollar short as my Dad used to say. Sounds like you had a good day, wishing you many more.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: bow strings #57729

Yup, “Doin the Twist” is a very good string making DVD.

When I camp for extended periods of time I take a small tackle box with everything I need to make strings. Great way to spend some time on one of those days when the weather says it is time to take a break from hunting.

BTW, I use D97 and am a big believer in the modern string materials, especially on my self bows.

Have fun and

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Moving target plans #39691

I’ve made some progress with this project and will post some pictures soon. I have a working running deer and disc thrower.

Any ideas for targets that pop up suddenly?

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Let's build a selfbow #39684

Good job Clay. I thought I had a nice shop but mine pales in comparison to yours, carpet, a full kitchen, I’m impressed.

Chad, That is a nice bunch of bows, some look like they have a few years on them judging by the dark color.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Holmegaard #39672

I’m going to add a Holmegaard elm bow to my list of things to do. Is it possible to find elm in the States that would work? Dutch Elm diasease killed most of them I think.

Sounds like a fun project. I’m half Danish, does that give me a genetic advantage?

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Please introduce yourselves, I'll start #39665

I’ve been visiting here for a short time and should say hi to all. I’m an old hermit and live in the mountains of NW Montana, my social graces are limited but I’m cute.

I’ve been playing with bows and arrows for over 40 years and I still feel like a kid……most of the time. It will be sunny and 60 here this afternoon and I will be playing in the woods. Have fun.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Shooting left? #33496

There are a few things that could cause this but my first guess would be that your arrows are too stiff of spine. Put some heavier field points on to lower the arrow spine…or try lighter spined arrows. The biggest challenge with selfbows for me is arrow spine, they sometimes have a very narrow spine requirement, just a couple of pounds can make a difference. By comparison my center shot recurves will shoot a 20# range of spine.

You could be torqueing the bow, brace height might be too low, but again I’d bet arrow spine is the culprit. Have fun.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Long bow #33468

Lots of possibilities and options here. If there is a shoot or expo of some sort in your area it is a great place to shoot many different bows.

There are some good used custom bows at great prices. Most of them are excellent bows but are for sale because: it’s too heavy, it’s too light, too short, too long, my wife’s gonna kick my butt if I don’t sell this thing now. There are many reasons good bows get sold. There are a few dealers that sell used bows, I think Footed Shaft is one. I’m sure there are others.

If you are shooting a 55# recurve now something about the same weight should work. I think you will find most longbows “pull harder” than recurves of the same weight.

64″ is a good LB length but it could be 60″-70″ long. I see Dave and I posted at the same time and he mentions a 54″ longbow, that’s not an LB it is an SLB (ShortLongbow).

I shot RC for several years before I tried a LB. With a RC I shot straight arm and used a stretched out draw, kind of target style, my DL was 29″. When I started with the LB I changed my style to bent arm longbow style and shortened my draw length to 26″. That allowed me to shoot LB, RC and selfbow interchangeably.

You can modify the grip with a rasp if necessary.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Eclipse Broadheads #32351

Hmmm, I guess just the picture alone could give a wrong impression. The bear was wounded, I tracked it in thick cover and made this shot when it came at me from very close range. The broadhead penetrated to the center of the brain cavity (center punched the brain), so yes it was quite lethal.

That shot would never be a first shot but under the circumstances it was a legitimate target and might have saved me a good thrashing.

The story was in the Dec/Jan 2007 TBM.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Eclipse Broadheads #32334

That is an Ash shaft with a 125 grain Eclipse on the other end, imbedded well past the ferrule. The bow was a low 60s# Osage selfbow.

I’ve shot several critters with Eclipse, they are a good head.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Backpack Hunting Questions #25981

Some good advice and information here. I’ve had the pleasure of removing large animals from the back country.

Every circumstance is different, size of the animal, size of the guy trying to carry the animal, where it drops, weather, terrain, etc.

If you backpacked in you will most likely be packing out the meat on your back also. You will need to allow for one extra trip to get your gear out unless you go very light. A couple of years ago I shot a good buck and it took one trip to get my gear out and get my meat pack frame. Then two trips with meat, hide and head. I boned the carcass and took the legs with bones in. The last trip I loaded the pack and also drug/carried a game bag with the last of the meat.

Backpacking and bowhunting make a perfect combination and is the way I started both…..together.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Cascade Bows #17013

I have a Golden Hawk Magnum, 52″, Yew limbs. Beautiful bow and good shooter.

I still remember Steve on the cover of the old BH mag, he was tracking antelope.
Chad

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: TBM Arrived Yesterday! #16881

For the TBM staff and those of you that had articles in the latest TBM. A friend down the road said he thinks it is one of the best ever.

I think the last several issues are about as good as it gets for variety and content.

Tough to please everyone of course but it comes close because of the variety of backgrounds and experience the writers have.
I’m impressed that TBM accepts so much material from amatuer writers like myself and believe that is why it has wide appeal to us regular Joe hunters.

Happy Trails,
Chad

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