[jpcarlson]

in reply to: Made an archery glove #34972

Thanks for the support Doc. I too have always liked the Cordovan style gloves. This one feels pretty thick in the fingers, but I have only put 2 dozen arrows through it just today. I imagine it will break in quite a bit with some sweat and use:) I appreciate the compliment. The stitching isn’t so hard. I used to make a lot of knives and sheaths so it is good carry over.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #27106

Dang it guys! I just got done with a burning workout, on duty, and am starving. All I have with me is a PBJ, and all I want are whitetail ribs grilled over open coals!:) Thanks for the ideas.

J

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #27041

I would love to learn how to use them/cook them properly as I usually don’t. Any ideas? Marinades? Do guys usually leave more of the fat and flank meat on them, or clean them up so they are just the ribs with the meat between?

They do look good don’t they:)

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: Hand made Arm Gaurd #27003

Guys, as soon as my sick, teething, entering the terrible 2’s twin toddler girls give me a moment to breathe, I will try to do a build along:) I was going to make a couple more for friends anyway. Thanks for the positive reviews!

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #26978

Entry whole through the right side of the ribcage.

Exit whole out the left side ribcage.

It appears I did not hit enough bone to classify as a “heavy bone impact”:) There is some minor bone breakage on a rib as the arrow exited the left side of the chest. Most of the damage from the Tuffhead was soft tissue damage. Both lungs and the top of the heart were hit. The arrow did graze the left front knee after it exited and there was minor soft tissue/tendon damage on it. Thank you all for following along and sharing interest. Yes, the corn fed doe is very, very tasty:)

Good hunting,

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: Post EHD Hunts #22802

Troy, Yes we have been spoiled with large populations of deer out here until this year! What is really strange to see is how big of a difference there is in which areas where affected. The places I hunt around West Central SD have a much lower population this year out on the prairies, yet you can go up into the Black Hills and the populations seem stable. North of here there seems to be an overabundance of deer. I just have to drive a bit further for more critters.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: Bow weight and FOC #22786

I shot the old Bear today with my heavy arrows. 810gr, 34%FOC, 52#@29″. Then I shot my setup for my Bob Lee. Those are about a 750gr, 32%FOC. The lighter FOC arrows flew fairly good out of the Bear which they are not tuned to, with fairly good penetration. I didn’t notice any large speed increase. I think I will keep shooting those heavier arrows for now because they are tuned to the Bear and fly really well. I also love how quiet they are, and how much penetration I get! I may play with a lighter setup by using the 190gr Meatheads at some point and see how they do.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #22717

Doc,Great info here! I really like to learn about why things work the way they do. Now I see even more reason to keep my broadheads scary sharp! Thanks for sharing.

Here is a picture of the heart.

I wish I would have not been in such a hurry to get this deer out of the woods and taken more time to look at the damaged soft tissues in the gut pile. I noticed this small cut in the top of the heart. I don’t believe it was from my broadhead passing through it, but rather one of those spider web cuts you have spoke off. I did notice other damage at the very top of the heart in the visceral tissue gathered there and around the bag it sits in.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #21557

These are the first set of pictures as I started to butcher today. The doe has hung four days upside down in my garage. There are good entry and exit wounds visible along with fairly heavy bleeding around the sites.

This is the entry wound, front right shoulder

This is the bleeding in the tissue around it.

Exit wound, front left shoulder.

The bleeding around the exit wound.

More to come as I finish up tomorrow.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #21475

Thank you all for the kind support, it really is great to be part of a group of such high quality hunters and people!

I keep reflecting; If I knew then what I know now…..:) I remember being a young lad about 12 years old and shooting with my Dad in the back yard getting ready for my first season in NoDakistan. He was shooting his Dad’s 1970ish Bear Kodiak magnum. I was shooting my first wheelie bow, an old Darton. I thought he was so “old fashioned” and didn’t know what he was missing by not shooting a modern compound. Like most young boys, I thought I knew more than my father. Now that I am older and am a father, I realize I didn’t know what I was missing out on. I guess it’s better late than never, and I could hear a smile on my Dad’s face over the phone as I told him of my first trad kill. He has heard me lament over the past couple of seasons as I have tried to find the shot and understands even without saying much. I get the same feeling from folks here; you understand without having to say much.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: Bow weight and FOC #21455

Yes, I too am waiting for the “experts” to chime in here:) I think part of the “problem” may be my old 1971 Bear take down. These old bows did not have very efficient limb designs. I’m sure this bow would really spit out one of my heavy arrows if the limbs were built by a modern bowyer at this draw weight and I wouldn’t be here asking questions. I’m considering taking the 300 TuffHead off and trying the 190gr MeatHeads on this setup for white tails, along with a double footing up front to strengthen the shaft. I worry about deer jumping the string on this one. I had no problems with my 65# Bob Lee recurve, but that is a whole different beast. I like the ease and comfort of shooting the old Bear at around 51-52#s and would really like to fill one of my other tags this fall with that bow. It was passed down to me from my grandfather who was an avid trad hunter and who corresponded with ol’Pappa Bear a bit.

I definitely notice much more of a parabolic curve in the arrow trajectory with this lighter bow vs. my heavier bow, and I want an efficient arrow to reach my target quickly. I’m still going to try and keep my arrow weight up around 650gr as that is the magic bone breaking number for FOC arrows. I will most likely hunt with my 720gr arrows with the 300 Tuffy up front at 32% FOC with the old Bear and see how it goes.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #20549

I am a craftsman artist at heart, and through many years of training so it is a natural desire to learn to make all of my own equipment including flint heads:) Don’t worry, I’ll keep some tuffies around as my go to Joe:) I just find it very interesting to see what was created and used pre contact by the indigenous peoples and find if so darn neat to see how effective a cutting edge flint makes! I read an article by Billy Berger where he was testing some of his flint heads on a fresh killed doe and was amazed at the penetration by stone points. I think it would be a great skill to have in my book in case I am stranded on an island or the world ends:) Thanks for producing a great product Joe, they do their job very well! I can’t wait to shoot more with my Deer Spears.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: Water and the A&A fletch #19431

I have found this to be true in the field too. The A&A fletch holds up very well to wet conditions. I have observed though that the quality of the feathers one uses seems to play a large role in how well they stand up. The last batch of arrows I fletched with feathers from Gateway; they were all I could find locally under time constraints. Needless to say, I will not buy or use feathers from them again. Not only were they poor quality in full length feathers causing me to discard most of the feather, various thicknesses of the quill, etc., they also matted down something fierce when wet. I use a 2 3/4″ 3 fletch A&A. I think True Flights are the way to go for high quality feathers, if not making them myself form turkey or goose feathers.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: 300 Tuffhead testimony #19393

Folks, I appreciate the feedback and questions raised. This is why I shared my whole hunt, good and bad, with the good hunters here. I know there is still much more for me to learn from those with far more experience, and good ideas which come from anyone with experiences I haven’t had. I have learned one lesson the hard way; approach a downed animal with skepticism and an arrow ready for a follow up shot. I will not repeat this mistake. I have the recovered doe hanging in the garage to age. It is perfect weather and temps for such, only reaching the mid 40s during the day, and I will butcher on Saturday and clean off the bones for pics.

I am still elated after this hunt and the recovery. I have never had so many deer around me, and this was my first “trad kill” after forsaking the training wheels a couple of years ago. I vowed to only hunt with my trad gear at that point and to learn to tune my arrows and set up an FOC arrow. I have worked hard for this first, and have eaten several tag sandwiches in the past couple of years getting here:) What keeps hitting me with the whole experience is how natural the whole process felt. No gizmos, no range finder. Just my recurve and a lethal heavy arrow with a dangerous broadhead dubbed “The Deer Spear” by hunting friends. I have shot hundreds of arrows practicing often. I have read time and again how hunters have not been terribly conscious of the shot, yet felt themselves find that Zen place where they hit their anchor after focusing on a spot, releasing, and watching the fletching disappear where they were looking. I had this experience, and the success only reinforced the practice. I find this Trad hunting to be a wonderful slippery slope and find myself itching to keep simplifying my equipment for the field. I would love to get to the point of making a selfbow, arrows, and flint heads. I feel the hunt would take on even greater meaning. I just love the darn curves of a recurve though:) I guess I will just have to try them all. The older I become, the more the manner in which I hunt and the equipment I use plays the largest role in the experience I have.

Again, thanks to all for the shared ideas and insights.

Jans

[jpcarlson]

in reply to: How many times per week do you hunt? #18369

Ben,

Same boat, different paddle:) I’m 37, have 1.5 year old twin girls, work full time with shift work as a patrol officer on a different shift than my wife who is the same with different days off. On top of that, she didn’t come from a family with a hunting tradition, where as I came from one where the fall was hunting, every weekend until December. I’m lucky, as my wife has come to realize a bit more each year (going on 4), just how much the hunt means to me and how recharged I am when I come home. I am really glad to see how many here have prioritized their family before the hunt; that is the way it should be. Our kids are only young and growing up once, we only get one chance to guide them through each phase and to enjoy it and make memories before they are all grown up and gone. Hunt when you can where you can, but don’t stress about it. I have only been out 5 times this archery season since it opened in the end of September. No worries, I will go when I can and when it works with my family. I would rather be out in the stand or stalking around when I know I have taken the time needed for them and I can be there with a clear mind to truly enjoy it and soak it all up. I used to hunt 5 days a week BC, then birds every weekend (my griffon pup has about had it with me since we haven’t been out yet). I take it all in stride as I know there will come a time for more hunting at some point. I will end with this; there is a priority which should exist IMO. God, then your spouse, then your kids, then everything else. After you take care of those, hunt hard.

Jans

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