[rayborbon]

in reply to: Nock left? #47432

The website looks like it is owned by O.L. Adcock

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Traditional Takedowns Question #47429

Fox Archery makes great bows.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: My neck of the woods. #46750

That’s a nice looking place you have Bruce. I am jealous. Fine looking harvest as well. Congratulations.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Nock left? #46421

This is my manual for arrows that fly strange.

http://www.bowmaker.net/tuning.htm

Take heed of the note

The detailed descriptions below are for a right-handed shooter. Up and down adjustments with the nock point is the same if you are right handed or left handed. Left or right adjustments however are reversed. For explanation purposes, all discussion will be for right handed shooters. If you are left handed just reverse all left/right indications.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Arts, crafts, and Beavers… #46369

Too cool 😀

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Hardwood Arrows #46349

Carbon arrows seem to penetrate quite well. I am convinced they have a slight advantage over cedar and spruce for example. I am not sure if they are any better than something like Tonkin Cane bamboo. Arrows being as equal as possible in weight when considering…

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Traditional Takedowns Question #46347

I got a St. Charles Takedown. It is very similar in design from what I have seen on their internet site. It’s is my go to bow. I think the simple design fits my shooting style quite well.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: pop-up ground blinds #45286

I suppose you could dispute my experience but I stand pretty firm that when deer get used to seeing people in a tree, they look up. I am sure that if you make noise or if they smell you, they will look up as well. Not sure on the 14ft deal. Seems like it is a general rule to avoid being detected but I am sure a deer can see higher than 14 feet.

At any rate I was just trying to be helpful for those who would consider the differences between a ground blind and a treestand and shared my experiences. Whether you find these experiences valuable, credible or whatever is certainly up to you to decide. I make no claim to using them often or taking much of a liking for using them. However they have their uses and merit in some conditions for me. Which is more of a rarity than anything else.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Appropriate discussion? #45220

I don’t think people should hide the fact that they failed to harvest an animal that was hit by a bow. However if they exhibit this with a consistent pattern then perhaps they should seek a mentorship or carefully examine and learn from any situation they have had. Some people are just not made for bowhunting and those people should have the sense to realize that if they are not willing to practice, learn the equipment and where and how to make a good shot, then track the game or otherwise finish the deal, then perhaps they should use a rifle.

In fact I have lost one black bear myself. I learned a lot from that experience. Where did I hit it and why? What was the wind doing? What could I have done better? Stalk closer, wait for a better shot opportunity (patience and concentration), etc. What happened after the shot? Did I pay attention to where the animal traveled to? Did I pay attention to where the arrow went? When I reflect on this experience I believe that I should have waited for a better shot angle.

On the makeup of the arrow – yes it might be a problem in the situation or it may not just as well. In each situation the hunter probably knows more about what happened than anyone else.

Another thing which I believe a hunter is obligated to do when an animal is hit but not immediately recovered, is make an attempt to recover that animal for a day or two. Especially when they know there is a good chance the animal was hit well enough to die. Yes, a judgement call… What I am concerned with is people who shoot and wound an animal and then search for an hour or two and call it a day. I’m not posting this to form an attack on anyone…

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Arrow quivers while hunting #45205

I use a quiver which is similar to a GFA and also another one which is called the Safari Tuff Duiker.

When it is brushy, snowy or rainy the Safari Tuff Duiker is what I will use for certain.

Otherwise if I am using carbon arrows and it is not one of those three conditions I might use the GFA styled quiver.

The bow quiver is just not something I like.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Hardwood Arrows #45198

I’ve experimented with the following woods over the past two years:

Tonkin Cane Bamboo, Port Orford Cedar, Hex Shafts, Sitka Spruce

All seemed to fly just fine out of all my bows when properly matched for spine. In fact they fly just as straight as any carbon I have ever shot.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Small Game Heads #45184

Where I hunt small game there is considerable foliage on the ground. Usually grouse or rabbits are what I am after. I have tried several different options and when it comes down to it I prefer the classic judo point. It seems to do the job well of keeping the arrow visible among the foliage when I either miss or when I shoot into a tree and the arrow passes through.

In fact I tried some of those ace heads and the performance on the game is good but I lost a couple of arrows in the foliage. You being from Arizona may not have this concern.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: Fletching glue #45140

Fletch tite platinum.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: pop-up ground blinds #45133

I’m not much of a treestand or ground blind hunter. Having limited experience in both I would have to say that I prefer the ground blind hands down.

When it’s cold I can throw a blanket over my legs. Also, I can get my bow ready (including nocking an arrow and start drawing) without the animal seeing any movement. Most ground blinds I have seen have black innner walls. I have heard some people prefer to wear black from the waist up to blend in. When using a ground blind I believe there is a rule some people follow. That is to only open up a maximum of 50% of the windows on ONE side so as to avoid detection of your silhouette. I think that is a good rule.

The few times I have used treestands the deer looked right up at me if I made any movement. It was very hard to draw without getting busted while hunting from a treestand. In those cases I believe the deer were used to seeing my friend in that treestand year after year. The old myth that deer do not look up is exactly that, a myth. On the treestand I noticed that some make more noise than others and that some were also a lot more comfortable than others. I would always use a hanging treestand as they seem more versatile around my parts.

Now on the ground blind you are exposing your scent a bit more. There is one other down side. Deer seem to be more wary of ground blinds which appear on the scene. The longer they are in place the more likely they will be to ignore it. However elk don’t seem to care about them. After about 2 days most deer seem to ignore ground blinds if they are placed among or next to some trees or other foliage so that the ground blind looks less obvious. In other words I wouldn’t personally place one in the middle of a clearing. However, it could work for you but I would avoid that.

[rayborbon]

in reply to: pop-up ground blinds #43130

Jesse has recommended a good blind. Lots of room.

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