[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Got snow? #62173

And here we are in the tropics of NW Montana with no snow. Frosty this morn but sunny and should be close to 50 this afternoon. I’ve seen nightcrawlers, bugs, and the grass is starting to green up. Tulips and daffodils are coming up.

Dave, what is your annual snowfall?
Chad

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Arrow Wood Characteristics #46560

Useful list Steve. I’ve shot all of those woods and made shaft from scratch for most of them.

For those who have not had the experience of attempting to make shafts from scratch or do not have experience with wood it is important to remember that wood varies a great deal even within the same species. Trees that grow in harsh conditions will exhibit different characteristics than those that grow in ideal conditions. This affects spine, durability, workability, etc.

I agree with your assessment on all but the weight of hickory, I think it is quite heavy not moderately heavy.

When I make fir shafts there is a lot of waste and wood selection is very important. Apparantly Surewood is using some quality wood and good manufacturing techniques. I have not seen a Surewood shaft but they sound like good stuff.

Chad

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Tamarack Shafts? #41926

HI Steve,
I’ve had some experience with Tamarack or Larch as it is commonly called around here, NW MT. First there are two major species of Tamarack, the Eastern and Western Larch.

Eastern grows across a part of the NE US and a large area of Canada. It grows in “peaty soils of bogs and swamps and in drier upland soils”, 1′-2′ dia, 40-80′ high. Indians used the roots to sew their birch canoes. It is used for houses, railroad ties, poles and pulpwood. I have no experience with Eastern Larch.

Western Larch grows in a small portion of WA, ID, OR, MT and southern BC. It can be up to 3′ dia and 150′ high. It grows in the valleys and the mountains here and is highly prized as firewood and the saw logs normally bring good prices at the mills. It burns very hot and requires caution in the wood stove. It is not as common as Doug Fir in this area.

Larch is heavy, quite a bit heavier than Doug Fir. It is very straight grained and splits easily. It makes good arrow shafts but they will be heavy compared to POC. I’ve found it to be a tough shaft but if it gets too dry it can become brittle and will not be durable.

I have several blocks of dry Larch (and pine and fir) in my woodshed that I plan to cut to square stock and mill shafts with. I will post here and let you know how they turn out. My project list is long but I hope to get to it by spring.

Chad

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Most Trouble Free Wood Shaft #40935

I’m sure you will find POC easier to find but the other woods are available. This is not a recommendation as I have not purchased shafts from these folks but have heard good reports on spruce from Hildebrand?, I think he is in W. Washington. For fir I think the name of the outfit is Surewood?

If you are just starting with wood you will be fine with POC but there are a few other options. I recommend you buy the smallest diameter shaft that will accomadate your draw weight for the best arrow flight. With that said, the less strong woods will of course be less durable in smaller diameter. That is why I usually shoot hardwoods shafts of small dia., or footed shafts.

POC, fir, or spruce. Pick one, all have shot game and will do it again.

Chad

HI Reg, How ya doin?

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Moving target plans #40913

Dave, good to be here. I’m just getting started here but do plan to review all the forums.

Sounds like Milt can offer some insight, I will give him a call. Interesting he uses rope, that would help slow the target some due to the friction of rope compared to cable. I do plan to use a stuffed burlap bag.

I have 15 burlap targets that I will place around the property, the aerial disc thrower and a couple of moving targets. Should make for a fun summer, I can go play in the woods for hours.

Chad

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Most Trouble Free Wood Shaft #40770

I’ve tried most woods over the years. Of the three you picked I think POC is a good choice to start with. Doug fir can make a good shaft but is prone to grain runout.

Comparing POC and hickory is like comparing bowling balls and tennis balls. I have 5/16 28″ hickory shafts that weigh over 700 grains.

The following comments are assuming the shafts are well made.
POC is relatively light, straight and reasonably durable.
Doug fir is medium weight, somewhat tougher than POC.
Hickory is heavy and can be difficult to straighten. I have some hickory shafts that came straight but the surface is not as smooth as most other arrow woods. Hickory is unbelievably tough and durable and I have never had one break.

A couple others to consider are ash and spruce. Ash is heavy and very tough and can be made straight. Sitka Spruce is light, similar to POC or lighter, but is really tough and durable, much tougher than POC. I once shot a buck with a SS shaft and when he when down he fell on the shaft but it did not break, it bent slightly and straightened to be used again.

Happy Trails,
Chad

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Moving target plans #40748

Well crap, this darn software just timed out and I lost my entire reply. I will try again.

I’ve been thinking about this project for a while but am just now getting down to the details and changing plans already.

The run distance is too far, at least for the first attempt at building this thing. I am going to shorten the run to 30-50 yards and move it in to the woods where I have plenty of big trees to choose from. That will offer the additional fun of shooting through and around trees.

The 100 yards shooting distance was just a comment to show the amount of space available. 200 yards is possible but not likely we would shoot a moving target at much more than 60 or so. I routinely shoot targets at long distances, it is fun and good practice for the short shots.

I like the bike idea and will give it a try. A few years ago at the PBS Odd Year in Idaho they had a conveyor of some sort set up with a line of gophers? that popped up. I can’t remember the details but anything that moves either back and forth or around a repetitive path could be used. I’ve shot flying geese and carp that used a simple pulley and cable that worked well.

Thanks for the comments.

Jesse, I’m between T.Falls and Trout Crick. You should consider the Libby Trad shoot in May.

[Chad Sivertsen]

in reply to: Question #23552

I use burlap bags stuffed with plastic bags, food wrappers, bread sacks. Dog and cat good bags work good too, they should be wadded up not folded and stuffed in the burlap. I have about 15 burlap bags that I hang in the woods around my place. I cut out cardboard animal silhouettes, deer,bear, small game, lay them on the burlap and paint the outlines. I paint a target on both sides so I can shoot going any direction around the target. In the woods they look lifelike enough to be good practice and they are inexpensive. The burlap last a year or so in the weather.

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