[Charles Ek]

in reply to: More wildlife pics #25991

Between these and the shots that T Downing just posted, I’ve almost forgotten about the hot weather here. Thanks!

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: Elk Season is only 36 days away! #25985

Now I know who to ask for advice! 🙂 Thanks for posting the great pictures and captions.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: scent masking #23417

rnorris wrote:
When I had walked in, I was wearing chest waders so that I could cross a swamp…the only thing not encased in rubber was my arms, upper shoulders and head….that 1 minute (maybe) pause had somehow deposited enough scent to spook that deer. No flippin way would some cover scent made a difference.

When you paused you probably were breathing, right? 🙂 Your exhalations carry scent. Avalanche dogs will frequently locate a buried victim’s head end first, from following the exhaled air that passes through the snow and rises to the surface. Dogs often get to know each other by sniffing their respective exhalations (and other “stuff”, of course . . .)

This is one of the reasons I’ve always doubted the efficacy of clothing as a way of defeating a deer or other animal. Unless you’re using a closed-loop rebreather, you’re constantly giving off an indication of your presence and your species.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: scent masking #22386

The first test of alleged scent-eliminating/reducing clothing with a trained dog that I know of was run back in 1994 by a fellow SAR dog handler in Minnesota. We all knew what the result was going to be, and it was not a surprise.

I’ve seen my own (air-scenting) dog make a find on a human from a half mile downwind through the trees. From what I know of bears, that sort of scent work is child’s play for them. There are records of polar bears detecting prey and other food sources from ten miles, admittedly out on the ice.

As for reactions to odors by deer and bears, I think it has a great deal to do with their respective strategies for survival and their habituation to humans. A deer does not live long by blindly running off before it knows what plan is being executed against it by a group of predators. Lots of time they’ll hold tight while they figure out what the next move is going to be from the other side, be it a human or wild predator. (I’ve seen amazing nighttime footage of a leopard deliberately stamping its foot to get a group of antelope to break.)

And for bears, there are just two rules:
1. There are no rules for predicting bear behavior.
2. If you need a rule for bears, refer to Rule No. 1.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: Roosevelt Elk vs. Rocky Mountain Elk #22086

When you guys have figured out elk hunting on the wet side of the Cascades, I invite you to try your hand on whitetails here in the jungles of NH. 😉 At least you can occasionally traverse some ground by walking on the downed Doug fir trees, as I used to do over there.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: APPRAISAL HELP?68 BEAR SUPER GRIZZLY(PER PATRICK) #16573

eBay is the single largest market for used bows on the planet. Lots of people gripe about its role in inflating prices . . . except the sellers. 🙄

When you do an Advanced search, you can specify under “Search including” for “Completed listings”. This will return results for what bows actually sold for.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: High Camp #12526

I’ve been using these Idahoan brand instant potatoes for some time, both in camp and at home. They’re very good in all flavors and relatively light to carry at just over four ounces per package.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: A few pics… #12212

wildschwein wrote: Sorry eidsvolling thats my first aid kit. My compass is sitting in my right chest pocket :D.

Aha! Now I see the telltale red cord.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: A few pics… #11557

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

(Is that a compass case I see on the belt, opposite the bear sticker? 😉 )

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: Good Buck(s) Sighting….. #11131

rnorris wrote: 2 huge bucks, in a spot I can never hunt them….oh well. Beats watching rabbits.:D

They don’t get big by being stupid. 🙂 Biggest buck I’ve seen in NH was walking down our driveway, here in the yard I call the Evergreen Valley Road Deer Sanctuary.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: More moose activity #11128

Excellent pics — thanks for posting! That calf is looking very good for condition.

Apparently the deerflies and horseflies have yet to make much of an appearance in your vicinity this season. The former have been active here for a couple of weeks. Luckily we don’t see much of the latter at all here in the Granite Headed State.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: High Camp #8138

Here’s the other thread: backpack hunts

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: Our Predecessors: 1946 Bows and Hunting, Etc. #63502

1946 — three years after the bow in my avatar was made for my father. 😀 (But still seven years before I was born. 😛 )

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: TBM Aug/Sept 2011 issue #56394

Thanks for the PDF! Seeing Nathan Andersohn and his caribou on a 27 inch screen was a treat. And I now realize I’ve got to pay closer attention to your advertisers’ offerings — I was missing a fair bit of detail while reading the paper version.

[Charles Ek]

in reply to: Info on tuning your bow #55552

David Petersen wrote: The most complete guide to tuning I’ve seen–provided here a few months ago by a fellow tradbow member–is O.L. Adcock’s “Tuning Longbows and Recurves.” I restudy it every time a tuning issue comes up. It’s long, and some of the info is beyond the tech and interest levels of the average shooter like me. But it’s crammed with pearls and highly recommended. It’s available online for free at http://www.bowmaker.net/tuning.htm. Let us know if it helps. Dave

That right there is worth the price of admission to these forums, and a whole lot more. Thanks!

[Author]

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