[David Petersen]

in reply to: Now I understand story #17616

Welcome, Tom! Some of us learn from our experiences, win or lose–which necessitates admitting, if to no one but ourselves, that we took a wrong trail. Others of us (and all of us at times) invent justifications to keep doing what we’re doing whether it works or not (and this obviously extends WAY beyond just bowhunting).

The single biggest lapse in logic we see so often in hunting “psychology” is attempting to project what works for little deer most of the time, to thinking the same will work for giant animals all the time. This is the single most consistent error in “compound” thinking today. The right tool for the right task–that’s it! It’s not in the least intellectually challenging and it leaves one (certainly this one) to wonder why so many hunters just can never seem to get it. “If it works for 150-pound A, it will work for 700-pound Z” is the illlogic of self-defeating optimism.

Thanks for sharing.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Fire Kit #16597

Hammer — I always carry a small propane blowtorch … no such thing as overkill when it comes to survival fire. 😛

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Difference between low and high quality bow #16593

Welcome here, Bandit. Good advice up there, especially Larry’s not to get in a hurry but rather, enjoy the search (same for hunting and life). First, you should check out the Sage thread currently active here and the advice to replace the factory string with a fast flight to increase performance.

Beyond that, the differences I’ve found fairly consistent in factory vs. custom bows only can be detected by shooting lots of bows. And oddly, some older factory bows, like Bear and Wing and many others, tend to be better than newer factory bows.

Anyhow, I’ve noticed that factory bows are more likely to stack, tend to have more hand shock, tend to be louder than good custom bows (there are, definitely, some lame customs). And often, if you’re willing to wait a bit, you can get a great custom bow for about the same price or even less than many factory products. I had one factory bow limb break in my life, and one custom limb break, so they’re equal there.

This is personal preference but I’ve never like the large-handled, heavy three-piece takedown recurves. Custom bowyer make take-downs with smaller handle sections and lower weight that look indistinguishable from one-piece. Mostly these are deflex-reflex “longbows,” but two-piece recurves are also available. I personally don’t believe that any of the highest-price custom bows are worth their price, while some of the best are remarkably economical for the quality ($700 plus and minus). Too bad you missed Kalamazoo, the best place I know to shoot zillions of great custom bows. IMHO …

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Man Eaters of Kumaon #16585

Etter–thanks for reminding us of “The Tiger.” Among all these great life-and-death tales, I’d be hard-pressed to say which I rate 1#, The Tiger, or The Year-Long Day. I think “The Tiger” because it has many interesting characters, some of whom get ‘et, while Ruud miraculously survives all his endless challenges. But if you’re into heart-pounding suspense I reckon, for me Year-Long Day has a slight edge on Tiger. You just can’t lose with any of these books. My daily reading is far less exciting, but necessary to satisfy my curiosities about life and death. When a book like one of these comes along it’s like going on vacation. There are parts of Doug Peacock’s “The Grizzly Years,” like the story of the black grizzly, that almost put it in the class with these others. Close but no donut, as he is not being actively hunted like these other fellers. All IMHO, as always.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Bows on the Big Screen #15471

‘Fraid I can’t join all you Costner-Robin Hood fans, as the bum once winked at my wife. 👿 On the other hand, it shows he has good tastes in womens. 😉

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Man Eaters of Kumaon #13311

Mike, I sure appreciate your offer to provide a bottle of good Scotch for our next campfire! 😆

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Man Eaters of Kumaon #13281

Here you go, PT http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-Long-Day-Mans-Arctic/dp/0397011318 $35.04 used good condition. This book ran several editions in various languages following the original in Norwegian. Clearly it’s a collector’s item and a bargain in hardback for $35 smackers. Just hard to imagine anyone sharing our common interests wouldn’t feel it a worthwhile investment and lifetime keeper … just as I plan to keep Mike’s copy, unless and until he comes here and pries it from my cold dead hands.

Yes, the Norsky is spending a winter alone on an arctic island to trap fox to sell the skins in order to finance yet another winter there (the book is a collation of his first four winters, but he did 10 in all). But once the ice comes in and the seals are accessible, he also hunts polar bears for their valuable hides, though as noted he usually doesn’t have to go looking for them as they do their best to come inside his plywood shack with him! Damn, now I have to go read it again. First page and you’re happily hooked.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Man Eaters of Kumaon #13205

Shhhh! Don’t let ColMike hear that or he’ll demand back the hardcover first edition he “loaned” me. 😛 I’m thinking you should be able to find a reasonably priced used copy via the amazon network of booksellers, where I buy most of my books these days. I hadn’t checked on that one. Hurry before others here beat you to it. 😛

[David Petersen]

in reply to: pictures of animals #13202

Man, that’s first pic is a dandy. And such tropical scenery, which I didn’t know even NorCal had, and in winter no less. Sure as heck wish I was there right now! While I didn’t take this pic, it should resonate with a California boy like you.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Bows on the Big Screen #12901

“War of the Arrows,” neck shots.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Man Eaters of Kumaon #11905

Yep, I’m overdue to reread that classic, which I first found in junior high and have revisited several times since. Thanks for the reminder Jim.

Other nonfiction books in the same category–extremely well-written accounts of life-r-death hunting adventures lived and written not by wealthy sports on cushy safari, but by real people just trying to survive, include Patterson’s Lions of Tsavo (even better than the film) and Maxwell and Ruud’s The Year-Long Day (polar bear hunting and winter survival on an island off Norway, set in the 1970s). The latter is so amazingly well written that I more than once had to put the book down and go do something else for a while in order to get my BP back down enough to continue reading. Pretty much a gripping survival drama on every page.

God bless books, eh?

[David Petersen]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #11024

Jim, that’s gorgeous scenery. But where’s the snow? 😛

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Pounds #9981

Red, while I sure can’t add anything to the above, I can say “Welcome” and glad you’re here asking good questions that can benefit others as well as you. Hang in and one of these days you may be here answering questions. 😀

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Thunderchild! #9977

“Thunderchild” … man am I relieved. I thought it might be about a kid in the bathroom with tummy trouble! That’s some mighty purdy wood grain, indeed. Although I’ve never been a practitioner myself, I sure do understand the worldview that says “We can never own enough bows! Or knives, eh Bruce? 😀

[David Petersen]

in reply to: BHA expands again #9520

What? Canuks? As in Sinawalli et al here? Wow, next thing you know Ausjim will be firing one up on OZ.

Seriously that’s great news, both for BHA and for Canada. Since a handful of members tend to carry the load, it doesn’t take many go-getters to start a viable chapter as new members come in.

No other group works so hard or so effectively or precisely for the interests of trad bowhunters than BHA. It’s been a natural fit from the start.

[Author]

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