[David Petersen]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #9674

Well, this thread sure has worked out great for me, so thanks for starting it, Bruce. After admiring a knife made by Sinawalli (Bill Brushey, among our most active Canuck brothers) we started a pm correspondence that led to working out a barter that netted me the gorgeous new knife below. While it’s fairly easy to get a truly custom bow built according to our specs, not so common with knives. In this case Bill and I talked back and forth about various options and here’s the result … not just gorgeous but highly functional in that it meets all my demands for a first-line elk skinner, including quality steel, drop-point blade with thick back edge (for prying heavy bone joints apart, etc.), a substantial wood handle about the size of the blade (for max leverage) and a finger groove at the bottom back of the blade. It’s my first truly custom knife and I could not be more pleased both with the design and functionality, as well as the artful workmanship. My old trusty Helle, still my vote for the best commercial knife made (certainly not the prettiest) alas, is now semi-retired as “first backup” blade relegated to the bottom of the hunting pack. Thanks, Bill. I think I skinned you on this deal! 😛 And somewhere out there right this minute, there’s an elk that’s destined to be skint with the Brushey Blade in Sept.! Happy camper, here.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #9633

Durn Ralph that’s a gorgeous bow! I’ve built a dumpster full of boo-backed-osage bows and some pretty ones and even a few r/d’s … but nothing that pretty and nothing that lived so long. Likely because I used osage boards rather than staves. I figure if I’m going to shape a stave it might as well be a selfbow. I must however forewarn you that it is bound to break someday. But to save you that heartbreak I’m willing to take it off your hands … just a nice guy, me. :P:lol:

[David Petersen]

in reply to: state big game license costs chart #9627

Bill — Right at $40. :D:lol::shock::roll:

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Your first trad kill… #9454

Ralph, obviously your friend had never seen a bear climb a tree–a blur of speed, almost like a leap or rocket launch. A tree is the last place I’d want to be with a naughty bear around. They pretty much treat us as other bears, and a bear bio friend of mine said he’d seen several bears in his career that had the entire pads ripped of their back feet where they’d gone up a tree to escape a bigger bear. That’s the same treatment they give a treed human.

But in reality of course black bears are nothing to be feared, merely respected by not tempting them with food or smellies in your tent or reachable in camp. Or garbage at your house, etc. I could almost write a book about times I’ve been just a few yards from black bears of every size and shape including females with cubs, and the closest I’ve ever come to a “problem” bear was having to clap my hands twice rather than once to get them to run away bawling. That’s their evolution. But in a way, it’s rather nice to have something to be afraid of in the dark in the woods. Sort of brings out the kids in us. Said it before: I worry a lot about a tree falling on me and yellowjackets, but never a thought to bears in daylight and only due caution at night. I did have one try to slap me through the cabin bedroom window screen a few years ago, but that was totally my own fault and I don’t blame him. 😆 Dave

[David Petersen]

in reply to: The Challenge – Video #9225

Steve, I agree with you absolutely about the overall exceptional high quality–ethical, thoughtful, respectful–of an easy majority of tradbow members. Types attract types so most who follow us for a while in silence and then join, or start participating, are of the same high quality and wouldn’t be here otherwise. Our Beloved Webmother has worked long and hard and patiently to create this special and perhaps unique atmosphere for adults. Salute to all (well, most all) 😆

[David Petersen]

in reply to: of bucks and logging #9218

What has hurt hunting most around here are the endless noisy parades of ATVs that invariably show up after new roads are gouged in for logging, ranching, mining, energy development … like maggots on a fresh dead corpse. And for elk there is no gain whatsoever from logging, unlike deer and bears which do use the cuts … unless, which is typical, cattle are put in and bring weed seeds with them and now we have nice big slashes filled with thistles and other noxious weeds of little to no use as wildlife forage and which displace native plants. Progress, jobs, economy …

[David Petersen]

in reply to: The Challenge – Video #8551

Well shucks, I’m overdue for a visit to the eye doc 😯 (I plan to make an appointment tomorrow) and judging by the way the deer jumped I assumed a hit that I couldn’t see in the vid. However, I have to politely depart from my friend Steve’s view that “a miss doesn’t matter.” It matters a lot, insofar as had the miss–maybe not this particular one, since I can’t see it on the small screen, but certainly in most cases–been in another direction, it could have been a nonlethal wound. I am speaking here from the tragic experience of too many Mea culpas in the early days, meaning about half of my hunting life. Misses should not be taken as a signal of failure or incompetence, but neither should they be kissed off as insignificant and in need of no thought or redress. A miss is a learning opportunity–“What did I do wrong this time, baby, and what do I need to do going forward to assure that particular screw-up never happens again?” Taken as important learning opportunities, misses are essential and inescapable life lessons. Dismissed as inconsequential, as with the popular expression “Well at least I missed instead of wounding,” which I know I’ve said myself at some point, and we learn nothing and actually lose ground. Misses are inevitable, but not dismissible. I know that Steve knows and believes this, but it’s worth reminding ourselves from time to time, IMO.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Your first trad kill… #8053

Ben– By golly now that’s a real hunt, the genuine no-BS pure outdoor adventure stuff of many hunters’ dreams, whether first kill or as an old veteran. I don’t have access to boat or island hunting but for years I made a point at least once during every hunting season (elk here in CO) to spend a night out “among ’em” with only my hunting pack. No fire, cold food, put on all my clothes and rain suit and lie down beneath a tree. I always was careful to pick dry weather for the adventure, however. But I learned it was backfiring to be so close to the game, which is very active at night. Anyhow congrats on your first kill. The more we put into anything the more well-deserved pride we get out of it.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: shaft sleeve fit problem with Tuffheads #62783

Handi– Good idea, at least the compressed shaft part. But here is how it works for me: the 2413 aluminum sleeve fits over an 11/32 wood shaft so snugly that no glue is necessary–I just warm the sleeve a little and tap it on with a block of wood, then use either a field point or broadhead to tap it down enough for a tight fight against the back of the head. I have no idea how it would work out with other heads, but with the Tuffheads I use the broadheads are a bit bigger than the shaft where they attach–that is, the back of the ferrule has a tiny space between it and the wood (which would likely be a perfect fit with 23/64 shafts. The alum sleeve fits perfectly into that space so that in penetrating tissue or bone there is no “step up” in diameter, which is to be avoided. Similarly, the step-down from the back of the alum sleeve to wood is minimal and step-downs are fine for penetration. So there’s really no need to inset the sleeve into the wood. With the big brass Tuffhead “artillery shell” field points, the back of the head and the sleeve are pretty much identical in O.D., so it’s like an extension of the head itself. Your concept might well be beneficial for other heads and/or 23/64, but unnecessary for my setup. Thanks for the good idea.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: SpineDeflection, Wood vs. Carbons #62779

S. Tex — The problem with all spine ratings, then and now, is that they presuppose a given head weight. That was fine when almost everyone in the universe shot 125, but now that we’re (a growing number of us) are liberated from that antique model, spine means little to nothing … unless we have one of the charts that annoy Steve. 😛 Rather like Ashby’s FOC calculation chart, the ideal spine chart for every shaft model and brand would include bow poundage (which also means less and less these days), arrow length and head weight, to offer a spine or code-number range. I have found out by trial and error that, say, CE Heritage 350s at my draw length will shoot nicely with anything from around 225 to at least 450 up front. Wood shafts for the same 52# longbow with 225-300 up front need 85# spine! While it would not be easy, I’d love to see a standardized method for spinning carbons, so that a meaningful spine chart could be used. I don’t know that there’s any hope for woods … I just spent $60 for a dozen spruce shafts in three different spine rates to determine what I needed for my selfbow, then had to spend that much again for a dozen more shafts once I got it figured out. I guess we should look at it as part of the fun. 😀

[David Petersen]

in reply to: The Challenge – Video #62772

Bruce — Yessir, this is another good example of the new breed of hunting video that is struggling to make a good show since Primal Dreams kicked it off. My favorite line in the vid is “To … stack the odds in their (the game’s) favor” as a primary6 justification for trad bowhunting. The slow-mo gets a bit tedious (good tricks work better in small doses) and I personally prefer no kill shots … but the way they did this one, where you see the arrow leave the bow and you see the buck jump and know he’s hit solid, yet you can’t see the arrow in the animal and no blood on the snow …well heck, it’s just really well done and should offend no one. I am one who, with every word I write about hunting or speak in public and with the upcoming film, always think primarily of my reader or viewer as reasonable nonhunting viewers who can be turned pro or anti by what they read or see, and also the ethical hunting viewer–the same things seem to please and displease both and to hell with those who are disappointed by the lack of gore and bravado. I’d love to think that someday this sort of hunting video, to be further represented I’m sure by Clay’s forthcoming film, will substantially displace the typical Outhouse Channel filth. But hey, artful and sensitive TV doesn’t sell product, and without product sponsorship you have no program. But frankly it’s enough for me to have this quality of video just to share between us, and knowing it will find its way on occasion to thoughtful nonhunters as well (like spouses who aren’t sure if they like what we’re doing or not). Sitka should be congratulated not only for the sensitivity and quality of the video, but for keeping it commercial free. I am left with a far more charitable feeling for Sitka products than any amount of advertising could ever buy. Thanks for posting.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: state big game license costs chart #62753

In general, no. But there are exceptions here in CO so I must presume it’s similar in other states as well, two wit: If you turn in your tag before the season starts, no reason necessary, you get your money back, but if you invested preference points in the tag, you lose those (as I once did with a resident tag). After day one, you’re out of luck for a refund.

Along a related trail of thought, I’ve come to believe that there is viable no “meat” justification for the cost of nonresident elk hunting and in most cases for deer. For the price of a nonresident elk tag in any state I can buy half an organic grass-fed steer of at least the same weight. Rather we are paying for the experience, and meat is a bonus. If a hunter lives in a state with multiple whitetail doe tags, and in a few states unlimited tags, now that’s a great deal on meat price! But traveling never is. A Coues tag in AZ, for instance, is about $360 … for some 40 pounds of meat! This fact puts a bit of a kink in our justification of hunting primarily for meat, which is the one justification most nonhunters will go along with–at home it’s easy, but at nonresident rates it’s ludicrous. We understand the “for the experience” part but it’s hard to explain it to nonhunters who tend to group out of state (or out of country) hunting as trophy hunting (and in the latter case it almost always is, if not for antlers or horns, then for exotics). The psychology of how people think about hunting–justify or attack it–increasingly interests me as a hobby in itself aside from hunting. It’s all so gloriously complex and controversial. 😆

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Broad head advice #60561

Etter, have you ever experienced a full-on scapula hit with one, better yet from an angle? Not a challenge, just a curiosity. The heavy concavity of the blades leads to a long narrow front end, which means a weak front end. What we’re trying to do working with the Ashby research is shoot broadheads that are basically armor-piercing and will not break or bend under any circumstances. The Simmons also lack a smooth straight cutting edge, and have a flared back end, again due to the concavity, which Ashby’s testing showed to greatly slow penetration. With a heavy arrow and “good shot placement,” meaning you get it in the lungs and are lucky and don’t hit any heavy bone, most broadheads on the market today will do a good job on deer. I’m sure Simmons are among them.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Replacing grip #60472

Codger — there are better ways and more traditional ways, but for a fast cheap way that works, Kustom King sells a set including handle grip, shelf pad and riser pad with stick-on backs so all you have to do is slap ’em on. About $7 if I recall. But cutting a piece of leather and lacing it on is easy too, though it often loosens up with time and use. If you do that, be sure to soak it in water for a while and stretch it out before cutting to size and lacing tight. When it dries it will shrink for a tighter fit.

[David Petersen]

in reply to: Copperheads! #60466

Absolutely gorgeous work, Duncan, on bow and quiver. Where do you buy that heavy leather? I’m about to make a knife sheath and will need a square foot or less of heavy leather and haven’t a clue where to look. You got those skins on so smooth and flat that they look like, in that respect, fake tape skins … which I trust you understand is a complement! 😀

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