[heydeerman]

in reply to: Your Maximum Yardage #26218

Steve, well said.

I used to regularly shoot at 2 bails that were 50 yards apart. I would stand by one and shoot, pull arrows and shoot back. I I know at that time I could kill a deer at 50 yards if everything was right…but that is a big “if”. I dont know what my effective yardage is. I think I am shooting 30 yards right now. I like to get em closer than that.

One of the things I teach folks coming from the compound is when you go traditional you will become a better hunter because you have to. You have to get closer to what you are hunting. Last year I missed 4 or 5 deer ( who’s counting besides me 😀 ) and I have not missed that many deer since I went traditional in the late 90’s. I have killed around 20-25 deer and a few rabbits, skwirls, coons and a couple possums with trad equipment. The longest was about 20 yards and most around 10.

I wont knock someone who can take the long shot. That is a part of hunting ethics I believe belongs to the individual and can be decided by them alone. I have deep respect for the one who saw a big boy just out of the comfort zone and let him walk rather than try to “stick em” tho.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Why are small game hunter #'s falling? #25164

Pothunter wrote: Top Man, Steve Sr.
You have hit the nail on the head but don’t think it’s just the US where this is happening it’s the same in Europe and Africa people are losing touch with nature and where their food comes from, and because of the middle class anti hunting types that teach our kids they are discourage from even discussing hunting or fishing. Like you when I was a kid three of us would take off in the holidays with a BB gun (one between three) a few cans of beans and pockets full of candy, three days was a long adventure and our folks knew where we were along a disused railway track but we learnt so much. Kids now just don’t have that freedom unless they are very lucky.

Mark,

I am counting on the turn around as they get older. My oldest son (23 years old) is in the Army and just before he went in for basic he expressed interest in hunting. He only went one time with me and missed a doe. My youngest son who is 13 used to shoot his bow with me. I used to have a trad archery shop and sell bows for several bowyers. Bruce from Chapparall Archery became attached to my son and made him a longbow as a gift. It’s hanging on the wall waiting for him.

You are also right about greedy developers the only way to keep land safe for generations to come is to have title to it.

Heydeerman
Don’t despair of your kids not being interested I have noticed how hunting is appealing to people in their late twenties and thirties often when they have kids of their own and they see the horror of computer games, just keep the door open.
Mentoring is an excellent way to go and talking as kids do it won’t be long before they find friends that want to try hunting or fishing.

Mark.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: need advice on delaminating robertson stykbow #23575

I would call the Robertsons and see about sending the bow back for a refinish.

If that doesn’t work you can check here.

http://droptinetraditions.com/php/

or here…

http://www.belcherbows.com/

For a last resort you can have it camo-dipped which it basically permanent.

http://www.camodip.net/

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Why are small game hunter #'s falling? #22761

Steve tells allot of truth here.I think that hunting is almost in the twilight and the only way to keep it from becoming a memory is to get young folks involved. I tried with my kids but they have no interest. I am mentoring a young man now who’s dad did not hunt and wants to learn to hunt. I have had several inquiries for folks looking for mentors over the last few years. A couple from single moms whose kids have dead beat dads. It has me thinking about starting a mentoring program in my area.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Defining "Traditional" Bowhunting #15067

Well said Jesse.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Defining "Traditional" Bowhunting #14330

Traditional bowhunting didn’t become traditional bowhunting until the compound came on the scene. Before that everything was just bowhunting. A lot of things you might be thinking of shunning might have been acceptable in that day. In fact a lot of pre-compound bowhunters used sights.

We are trying to define what we are by shunning technology in some areas but we will accept it in others. The use of man-made materials such as carbon, phenolic, fiberglass, aluminum and such in our bows and arrows for instance.

I have no problem with the lighted nock if it will help a bowhunter judge his shot placement and aid him in recovering his game. I have no problem with anything within reason that will aid a hunter and help them take game ethically. In my mind what we call traditional is relativistically modern and very technological.

The guys who make their own bows and arrows, knapp their arrowheads, pound out sinew for strings and such…their the ones who are primitive and have the right to call themselves such. But even most of them rely on some modern tool of form of technology somewhere along the line.

It sounds good to call ourselves traditional and shun the modern compound. I am one who does. But we are just as modern in a lot of other ways.

One could also throw in the is camo traditional question into this mix.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: newbie: books? #13222

http://www.davidpetersenbooks.com/

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Can't Wait #7756

The only quivers I will put on my bows are Great Northern. I have tried every single bow quiver made and after I would try them I would sell them except for the GN.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Can't Wait #7755

The only quivers I will put on my bows are Great Northern. I have tried every single bow quiver made and after I would try them I would sell them except for the GN.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Why are small game hunter #'s falling? #51848

Greattreearcher, I checked out you web link. Man that is some awesome video. You have talent my friend.

Region and dates does play a part. In Ohio skwirl ends with deer and wabbit goes till the end of February. I wish our tree rat season went to the end of Feb. as well. It is hard to set aside time to hunt rats when your after a deer.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Why are small game hunter #'s falling? #50780

I’ll rant a little on this one. I think it’s because chicken is so readily available at every store and restaurant you go to. Make chicken illegal and then folks will want to go out and kill something small and eat it.:D

Big game hunting is the norm. I invite you to read my letter on the first page of the Great Ohio Rabbit Hunt website.

http://www.greatohiorabbithunt.net

We had a great response last year. So much that Mike Ballash decided to do a Great Ohio Squirrel Hunt this year. GORH is every other year on the odd years. He is planning on doing GOSH on the even years.

I don’t think small game hunting is compound-ish. It is really a trad thing. I know there are compounders who will shoot small game but to purposely hunt that way is almost nill. This is one thing that we trad folks kinda keep for ourselves. It’s old-school and doesn’t really interest any compounder I know.

[heydeerman]

in reply to: Nirk nock issues #36728

Nirk nocks are not fast flight friendly. They cost me a Quillian Bamboo Longhunter years ago. Switch your arrows to the Bohning classic and your problem will go away.

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