[David Petersen]

in reply to: In the Elk Woods: the strange & unreal. #21968

jg — that’s a good presumption about a bull circling upwind of a cow in order for her to smell him … I’ve never considered that possibility before and think it’s entirely possible. In my experience elk just don’t pay as much attention to wind as deer, esp. during rut. I’ve had both genders come in upwind when calling. But with a decoy, it makes some sense. Welcome here.

Etter — I too quit using turkey dekes for trad bowhunting long ago, for exactly the reason you suggest. (Likewise, I haven’t owned an elk bugle in more years than I can remember.) When in doubt, remain silent.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Bison and bunnies #21008

Etter, thank you. Indeed the same is true out West. This is very old science, yet fact has never thwarted ignorance and wishful thinking. To have a chance to hunt wild bison with a self-made selfbow, I would forego ever eating beef again. But then (I admit) I’m old so it’s not that great a sacrifice, and what beef I do buy–very little when elk hunting goes well, which it generally does–is local organic grass-fed and raised entirely on private land. Years ago, I saw stats that said more beef is raised annually in FL alone, than on all the western public lands together! I doubt it has changed. And I’m betting it’s better beef to boot. In a current hunter-conservation project I’m researching–as has been the case since I first determined to try and defend what I love most, ethical traditional-values hunting–it’s clear that agriculture remains a, if not the, primary threat to good public hunting of publicly owned game on public lands. This arises largely from the oversized political clout ag–the overt enemy of wildlife, which they see as competition–due to what I think of as a John Wayne cultural hangover that allows private businessmen in pointy boots to feel they own America’s commonwealth. It’s a tremendously twisted take on “patriotism.” While pressing issues like ORV abuse and overuse, the Fat Cat push to transfer fed public lands to states so the states can sell it off to profiteers who will destroy habitat and lock you and me out … while these issues occupy our current attention as they should, among the greatest threats to the N.A. Model of democratic hunting, which is predicated wholly on public lands and equitable access … is welfare grazing. Finally, while we tend to think and talk about overgrazing damage to wildlife habitat (including aquatic) as a future threat … can you imagine the far greater quality of hunting we would enjoy today if private grazing had never happened?

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Bison and bunnies #20963

As we carve our steaks and bite our burgers for dinner, here’s the back story on the bison and bunnies drama (I’m having elk tenderloin, fried taters and onions … still trying to learn to cook).

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2015/grazing-01-28-2015.html

[David Petersen]

in reply to: New KME knife sharpener #19969

Bruce — what do you mean by “new” knife sharpener? Is there a new design? Sounds like I’m overdue checking in with Sharpster. Like Doc, I originally had both knife and broadhead sharpener. But these days I shoot only single-bevels, and found the knife sharpener easier to use for that, and it does knives as well. So I passed the broadhead sharpener along to someone in need. As Doc says, keeping oil on the stones is not an issue, as you don’t need to use enough that it would drop off … I smear on mineral oil with a finger … it’s more an issue with water for the steel “stones,” but who cares? The KME is easily the best sharpener I’ve owned, and I’ve had a great many. The only flaw I’ve found is that the gripping jaws can wobble or move a little under a lot of pressure, which would alter the set sharpening angle … so I just hold onto the head or knife to avoid that. But knowing Ron, I’m sure he’s aware of it and determined to fix it … and probably already has. Ron … gimme a call for re-education! 😀

[David Petersen]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #19908

Hey Ralph– While I haven’t paged back through months and years of threads to confirm it (that’s Mom’s arena), I’m guessing this is the most popular and long-running thread ever … and all from one simple open-ended question. It’s almost like a forum of it’s own. I hope you are appropriately proud … or shamed, depending. 😀

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Lars Andersen–a great Dane! #19902

Thanks, Patrick. I’m amazed how fast the fact-checking websites get on new issues. While they too are fallible, they tend to do a lot more research than we do here in expressing gut opinions. Do us, and truth, a favor and become the unofficial Tradbow fact checker, any time we’re discussing something that Snopes, etc. has commented on. In this case I never doubted that there were a lot of tries for every success recorded on camera. So what? Only if they claimed otherwise would it matter. It’s still mind-boggling and I’ll likely never shoot another bullseye without thinking about Andersen and feeling humbled.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Ragg bag filling #18849

Bruce– No need to transfer the stuffing to a new bag when the original bag gets shot-out … just slip a new burlap over the old one, like a sock. I usually insert the original bag’s laced-up top (I use baling wire) upside-down for further integrity. This way, even with heavy plastic (I would never use light plastic) that gradually deteriorates, you can refurbish the target without completely restuffing … though this is a good time to add a bit more if needed. Coffee bean bags come with a large variety of writing and graphics on them, and when I’m going through what’s available at the coffee shop I look first for more fine-woven burlap, which lasts longer, and secondly for interesting graphics that serve as target points. I did this for years with great success. Before and during hunting season, I would stash a few of them around the woods in my “yard,” some vertical and some horizontal, for sort of an at-home roving range. Don’t know why I quit using burlap and started buying foam targets; laziness I think. But none of the commercial foam targets I’ve bought lasted anywhere nearly as long as burlap bags stuffed tight with heavy postal plastic. I reiterate that keeping them out of wet weather is mandatory for maximum life. And not shooting broadheads, of course.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Our Arizona Javi Hunt #16659

Bruce … yes and no. I’ve witnessed nonstop manic wailing on a pred call make pigs appear out of nowhere, like magic … but it doesn’t necessarily bring them in to tradbow range. But my experience there is limited to one hunt, though I was with a native lifelong very successful pig hunter and retired AZ wildlife officer and his experience, and my one experience, goes opposite what you heard. I never endorse hitting the field or woods with a call in your mouth. But when days go by with no action nowhere, perhaps some experimentation is in order.

Like most hunting (and I must differ with your “quail hunters make no difference,” Etter), so much comes down to hunting pressure. If the piggies haven’t been harassed or called at recently, and if they are there, calling works as well or better than other tactics. But where to find that relaxed, natural place and time on public lands, esp. where ATVs are allowed? Not to mention illegals and smugglers, drones and migras, and one year I had a whole damn company of soldiers swarming around day and night, allegedly “training.” I did not like awaking in my tent late in the night and peeking out to see by moonlight a Humvee a couple dozen yards away with no visible lights and a guy in the turret with night-vision goggles and a machinegun pointed at me. Just another magical natural place substantially ruined by too many people trying to get “what’s theirs.”

I’m betting that with all hunting seasons long done with when I get down there next month, I’ll see more game than ever before. I’ll be camera hunting, having no other choice.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Coursera site access #16645

I’m with the Grumpster on this. I “got in” but didn’t get nowhere fast. It’s an unnecessarily complex site. Namely, they ask you to pin yourself on a map, but that link goes nowhere, and etc. I just want to click “go to class” and start reading the lessons. People who live and work with complex confuser stuff just don’t have a clue how to communicate with the rest of us Neanderthals. I’ll try again, as I’m really interested in what these academics have to say … but there’s a limit to patience, as I have a very busy life these days. 🙄

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Coursera site access #16296

I don’t have time right now to thoroughly explore it, but I used the “first time” link as instructed, signed in successfully, then wound up at a page that said it was not currently available. If this is similar to your problem, I’d say it’s on their end. I’ll look into it more later today … have to walk the dying dog first.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Lars Andersen–a great Dane! #15537

Yes Grumpy, believe Audrey! And do your best to prove her right. Coincidentally, my only grandchild (a well-kept secret)calls me Grumps.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Our Arizona Javi Hunt #15531

Yes, it’s all about the trip. Due to lots of rain this year and other factors, the deer hunting was slow, and maybe weather had some affect on pigs too, as I’ve mostly seen them coming to water. And the Mearn’s qual was good so the place gets overrun with fat-cat bird hunters with outfitters and trailers full of dogs … bang-bang everywhere allatime. So I didn’t try to hunt down there this year. But I do hope to be there in three weeks or so to visit friends in Tucson and elsewhere, and camp and hike in the places I usually hunt, when I’ll have it all to myself.

Did you try predator calling? That’s the absolute best way to see and kill pigs. But once they bust you while calling, research has shown it will be at least 10 days before they’ll even think about responding to a wounded rabbit call again.

I hope you enjoyed some authentic Mex chow while there.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Rattlesnake skin camouflage… #13305

Fun stuff … our unreasonable fears are always great sources of laughter.

But responding to the thread title, which I misinterpreted as “Does rattler skin make good camo for a bow?” (yes, a slightly sly slip-slide of subject) … it depends. As I and many of you have witnessed for ourselves in the field, what we often see when we spot another hunter from a distance, aside from gross movement in the open, is flash. So in general “yes” nature’s snake camo makes great bow camo … unless you top-finish it with something shiny. A “camo” pattern with shine is still a mirror, while a solid color that’s flat and unreflective will not often be noticed by game, no matter the color.

But I like the self-deprecating (funny) way this thread is going, so please ignore my perhaps overly serious take and keep the funnies coming. Being able to honestly laugh at ourselves in particular, and life in general gets my vote for “enlightenment.”

Makes me recall the skunk under the cabin long ago …

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Ragg bag filling #10994

Another vote for recycled plastic. I get mine from the local post office, which, as mentioned above, gets pallets of mail wrapped in very heavy-duty plastic, which really holds up compared to flimsier plastic. What I did was call the PO and tell them I wanted a large quantity of plastic wrap, which they were happy to save up (didn’t take long) and call me to come collect. I stomp it down into double-layer burlap bags I get for 50 cents each at a local yuppie coffee place where they buy beans in bulk and roast themselves. Total cost for a great target that stops target points efficiently and can easily be picked up and moved around: one buck. It’s important, however, that you not leave ’em out in the weather, or the burlap will rot and the plastic–shredded by man arrow shots–will start leaking out and make a great mess. You can’t use such a target for broadheads, as pulling them out quickly shred both plastic and burlap. For broadheads I prefer dirt or sand piles.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: January hog with a few pics #9479

Good work, Tail! Looks like a feral pig and wild boar cross? I know nothing about the porkers except they are delicious and smart. How great to be able to hunt in January with no snow. I remember my time in GA fondly in that regard.

[Author]

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