[handirifle]

in reply to: "scary sharp" – a how to video #45541

After watching the video several times, and re reading my book on sharpening, it finally hit me, AS THEY MENTION (caps for my benefit) the key is getting that little burr along the entire edge. If the coarse stone isn’t doing that then it would be one of two causes, based on personal experience.

One, and this is probably the most common, is NOT keeping the angle of the blade in constant contact with the stone. The entire surface of the bevel MUST contact the stone. If not you are recreating the angle each time. Once you get that right then number two comes into play. If the correct angle is being kept at all times, then the stone may not be hard enough.

I started finding that was my issue (well that AND number one) and ended up using my flat file with the blade or head, whichever you are working on, and using that till I got the “burr”. Once you have the burr along the entire edge, then you can proceed to the next step.

By the way, I usually do mine in this order.

File till a burr shows,

Then run file slowly along the back side flat with the flat side, to remover burr,

Then run edge slowly over medium stone, bevel only,

Then I run mine over a granite counter top I have (don’t have glass), slowly, both directions,

then finally strop it over a polishing paste covered leather. On MOST things I have sharpened this works with excellent results. my wife is flat amazed at how sharp her cooking knives and scissors are now.

IMPORTANT insure that same angle is maintained always! Put some ink on the bevel to make sure its all being cleaned off.

If you cannot do it free hand, then by all means get a sharpening system.

[handirifle]

in reply to: Balance #45305

I guess I can makee my last statement of, to each his own.

Nuff said, by me anyway.

[handirifle]

in reply to: Balance #44065

Having hunted most of my life, I have never felt over booted, in the dept of sole protection. I have no desire to go bare footed, but I do have a desire to go lighter, for sure. Since my last pair has just separated the soles from the uppers, it’s time.

I will go more towards the sneaker type hunting boot, but hunting here in central coast region of CA, I need more of a warm weather boot, but also one that keeps out the foxtails. For those not familiar with them, they are a weed seed that is more like a blowgun dart than a seed. It has about a 1″ long and hard, and barbed pointy section on one end, with the “tail” fanning out the back. They will easily get between the tight weaves of most jeans and fabric shoes, and bury them selves in your socks or where ever they get to.

Most of the light weight boots are some sort of woven fabric so it will be tough for me to find something suitable. Snakes are also a serious threat as out bow seasons in this area start in August :shock:, yea bowhunting in 90deg weather, fun huh?

Lighter and thinner will be my motto for next season!

I think we can prepare our selves and we can use all the good technique in the world, but there will be times when we plant our foot on a rock that slips out from under, and all the good intentions in the world will not help that sprained ankle.

I have a set of mucks, and they are great for certain areas, but as mentioned above, climbing in rock covered hills, in my opinion, is not a Muck boot area.

By the way, those same folks that crossed into new lands thousands of years ago, most of them never lived past 40 either. SOME of the good ole days/way are not all good.

Just my humble opinion.

[handirifle]

in reply to: OK it finally happened and I need to vent #44048

SDMFer wrote: I had the opportunity to talk with a former chief of the forest service this morning and I was very pleased to hear the issue of ATV/OHV abuse is actually making it to the top. They can hear us, he acknowledged the abuse and the need to conserve backcountry habitats. An interesting point he brought up, there are enough roads on USFS property to make it to the moon (maybe back).

Back to the topic, with a united voice via BHA its easier for those in a management role to hear the desires of those prefering quiet muscle powered recreational opportunites.

I was concerned where this would end till I read that they had plenty of other roads to ride, let me explain why.

I do not own or use an ATV. Would I if i had one? Not sure, probably, but only where legal, they have a legit use. I say all this cause I do not want to be one that starts up something that cuts out someone else using the great outdoors, just so I can.

At the same time, I know first hand how infuriating SOME ATV riders can be and sympathize with the either sex tag idea. I say keep them to specified sections or designated areas, and let them have at it.

Some years back on my only elk hunt, ever, I was hunting in NM with two co-workers. We had an area scouted out, and had hiked to it well before dawn. Actually heard bugles just before dawn and we were all getting really excited, till 3 guys came roaring by on ATV’s, REALLY?

Never saw that bull, but did hear him again about a mile away. We saw the tracks and there was a good number of elk with him, probably a satellite bull too.

If you form a BHA, my suggestion is to approach the state folks with the intent of preserving certain areas for all to use equally, otherwise we that use the outdoors are at odds with other factions that also want the same rights we want.

Remember also, that the more the government is involved in our sport, the less we will get out of it. After almost 60 years of living, I have found every time they get involved, we all lose something.

[handirifle]

in reply to: Which brand recurve for beginner? #42152

Here’s my 2cents worth. I’ve been shooting bows since I was about 8 years old, am 59 now. No way am I an expert, but I have hunted with bows, built bows and owned more types and brands than I can remember.

I have also taught a lot of people how to shoot a bow, starting from scratch, and I will tell you the one WORST thing to do is buy a hunting weight bow to learn archery on.

Instead of learning proper form and stance, and release, etc, you’ll be learning to pull and hold the bow, the rest will be secondary.

With that said, if I were starting someone out today, I would say buy something like the Sammick bows I see on Ebay (no affiliation at all) but I say a bow like theirs because you can pick a bow model and size (I agree with the 62″ minimum, by the way) and buy limbs in the 35-40lb range, and later move up to 45-55lb weight to hunt with.

Sure, you buy 2 sets of arrows and 2 sets of limbs, but the end result is you will be a better bow shooter, and a more satisfied one.

I would not plan on hunting this season, since you are totally new to archery, there just isn’t enough time to learn.

For the first set of limbs, I would just get target arrows and not worry about broadheads. That way you focus on one thing, learning to shoot properly and accurately.

How important is form?

As an example, let me talk about the South Koreans, you know those guys that have more gold medals in Olympic Archery, than any other nation? Well they train their archers in form, for YEARS, before they ever get to pick up a bow and shoot it. Form is THAT important, and as such, not being over bowed to start is every bit as important. Target bows are seldom over 40lbs draw weight, most recurve target bows are in the 35lb range. They are also long bows (not a longbow style, but long in length) being at least 66″. The reason is, as mentioned, a longer bow is more forgiving. Keep in mind, they shoot at 90 meters too.

So, I’d say get a takedown bow, in the 35-40lb range, preferably one that has higher pound limbs available, you might buy both at the same time, to make sure you have them later. I would say to go up no more than 10lbs in draw with the hunting limbs.

Get a bow in the 62-66″ length as well.

Good luck and good shooting!

[handirifle]

in reply to: Homemade Broadhead Targets #39848

Wonder what they would charge to fill 4 or 5 normal sized boxes with foam? I’d like more than one to vary my ranges from one arrow to the next.

Less chance of hitting arrows, and tearing up targets.

[handirifle]

in reply to: "Don't look back – something might be gaining on you." #38586

lyagooshka wrote: Very true. It’s funny you mentioned the 600 yard shooting. I had another example in another post using that example. I don’t know many people who start off like that. I can respect a hunter that takes (and makes) a 600 yard shot after practicing years to get out to that range over a hunter who picks up a scoped X-Bow in the morning and is “attempting” 100 yard shots that afternoon. To be honest, I am all for something else as well. I have read about the “pains” that people go through in Germany to get a hunting license. It is not a 1-day powerpoint presentation and multiple choice quiz. They have to spend months proving they understand game laws, can identify game, and they have to prove proficiency. Imagine if we could do that here. I know it would never fly, but imagine how strong hunting would be. A side-effect would also be that the antis would never have a leg to stand on in their arguments. They wouldn’t have the gut-shot, wounded and ignored animals. Sure, there would be less-than perfect shots, but I wager the person who took 0.00000001 seconds to practice before hunting will also be the person who takes 0.00000001 seconds to look for wounded game instead of trying to find somehting else to shoot; whereas the person who took 6 months to a year to simply get permission to even hunt would probably take more time. Sorry if my generalization offends anyone. That is not what it is meant to do. But as it says on the bottle: “Das ist des Jägers Ehrenschild…”. Be well.

Alex

😀

No but like Germany, what you would have is some tree hugger that became the Forestmeister, telling you what you can and cannot shoot. I want no part of Europe’s laws game or otherwise. I will take my chances against the Anti’s.

[handirifle]

in reply to: Homemade Broadhead Targets #38219

I need to figure something out too. i have a foam target that I bought a few years back, and it had huge holes in it where repeated hits cut through. So just the other day, I took all the pieces of foam out of it, and tore it apart. I then put together a smaller cardboard box, about 2’x3′ and filled it tightly with the larger pieces and taped it all shut.

I then made a wood base that stuck out about 8 inches front and back for stability. It stops the arrow fine, but the single bevel heads HAVE to be pushed through and unscrewed every time because they WILL NOT pull back out the way they came in. It’s that twisting thing. Anyone else encounter this issue?

I wonder about the multi-layer cardboard target, that be easier to pull back out of?

I haven’t tried the 3 blade heads I shoot.

I, too, only shoot a couple heads for target practice. No sense buggering them all up.

[handirifle]

in reply to: E. Donnall Thomas #38201

My heart goes out to you. Lost my father in 2006, and I know how bad it hurts, there is no replacement!

Cherish those memories, and pass them on to your kids, as I am sure you have done.

[handirifle]

in reply to: "Don't look back – something might be gaining on you." #36642

Yea I agree, it’s a mentality in many ways. As goofy as CA is, some of their game laws do make sense. For example, crossbows ARE legal, but only during general season, as you mentioned. During primitive seasons, they allow muzzle loading rifles 45 cal and above, but iron sights only, but compound bows are allowed. No crossbows though.

I would have no objections to a straight limb type crossbow during a primitive season, personally. I would never hunt with one, but the straight limb cross bow goes back a LONG way, so if it’s a “primitive” season….but that’s me.

I know guys that say no tree stands, no range finders, so where does it end. I say it ends with the hunter like that saying, I will not use any of those things, and I will limit myself.

Heck there are guys that rifle shoot deer at 600yds. I cannot and would not. To me a “traditional” hunter is one that matches his wit and skills against that of the animal he is after.

To me it’s important to have the love of the sport, more than the love of the weapon. Kinda like I tell tree huggers around here, I worship the Creator, not the creation.

[handirifle]

in reply to: "Don't look back – something might be gaining on you." #36189

As always there are many sides to stories like these. Is it more ethical for someone to take a 15yd shot on a deer, after, any hours of practice and gut shoot it duebto nerves, or to take a 25yd shot in the lungs with a compound?

Not saying this is concrete, but just a what if? Personally I would rather a hunter shoot thatwhich they are nost profecient with.

My brother used to hunt with a scoped xbow (Ohio) but he has a inoperable cataract that impairs his vision dead center of his eye, so he has to kind of imagine where the crosshzirs bisect.

I could never criticize him for his choice. My dad used one his last few years of hunting. Crossbows are almost as primative as long bows, and maybe older than recurves. Certainly older than fiberglass laminated bows and the carbon arrows we primative archers use.

I am not judgin anyone based on what they shoot, but I will judge them on how ethical they are in the field.

[handirifle]

in reply to: My Spot This Evening #36162

Sorry for the typos above, phone keyboards are tiny:roll:

[handirifle]

in reply to: My Spot This Evening #36143

Roger Norris wrote:

No deer, but a couple trespassers never saw me…

Its a good thing too, you look like the Grim Reaper sittn there. Would have scared them half to death.

I was once bowhunting in the mountains of Southern Ca, during archery only season. Now bear in mind, I am clad in full camo, including a misquito net to keep the black flies at bay. I am sitting on a tree stump about 10ft from one trail and about 30ft from another, more frequently used trail.

I hear leaves rustling and slowly turn, my head to see some Hispanic fellow walking along, RIFLE over his shoulder, swatting flies. He passes right in front of me on the 30ft trail. Never saw me. No brush around me at all. 5 min later here comes his buddy, but he takes the 10ft traiil. Same as the other guy. Rifle over his shoulder and he too is swatting flies. But unlike his buddy, he is actually looking around, a little. He keeps walking till he is literally right in front of me and casually looks my way. I look him dead in the eyes. He blooks away for a fraction of a second, then I thought he would jump out of his skin.

he stuttered out a “hello” and I asked what he was hunting….after much thought, he finally muttered a nervous “robbit” or I guess he meant rabbit, but his accent was so thick thats what I assumed he said.

feasible story right except his japenese wwII rifle is not an ideal rabbit gun, and we are over 7000ft up and in 20years of hunting those mountains I have never seen a rabbit that high up. I just nodded and looked at him like really?

Off he goes, looking over his shoulder like hes getting away from a ghost. Of course I followed him and watched his and his buddy get into a mercedes and one of them pops his head and rifle out the ssun roof and away they go.

The game warden got a chuckle out of my story when I called them. No way would he catch them, since I was unable to read the license plate and the closest warden was over an hour away.

Like I said, good thing they didnt see you!

[handirifle]

in reply to: The funniest archery story ever? #36134

That was funnier than watching Tim Conway and Harvey Korman together, great story.

[handirifle]

in reply to: Your Dream Hunt #34732

My dream hunt would be a guided, 2 week hunt for Rocky Mtn elk. Someone else footin the bill. Hey if you’re gonna dream, dream big, right?

[Author]

Posts