[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #9679

Very nice, Dave! And fine work, Bill! That looks like a very practical design.

The mosaic pins are a nice touch, and is that cocobolo on the handle? I’ve got a pretty good idea of size from the ‘in hand’ pic, but can you share the specs, Dave? And steel?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #9442

Just ‘stretchin’ out’ on a hot afternoon…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: cover your fletchings? #63459

Shane –

I played around with a fletching cover on my bow quiver for a season. It’s the one made by Rod Jenkins/Safari Tuff, in a Predator camo pattern. All in all, I think it does what it’s supposed to, and if you’re someone who prefers really bright fletching, wraps, etc. it probably helps at close range.

But for me, it ended up just being one more thing to keep track of, and I’m trying to minimize that as much as possible when I’m in the field. So instead, I just went to small yellow fletching and no wraps, which I think blends in pretty well with the yellow aspen leaves we have in the fall.

If you’re interested in trying out the fletching cover, PM me your address and I’ll send it to you to play around with.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: The Challenge – Video #62805

Yep – they did a pretty good job on this one. I agree about the slight overuse of slo-mo, but otherwise, it’s about the best cinematography I’ve seen in a trad vid. Hopefully, there’s more on the way – dare I dream of a trad resurgence, in which people leave all, or at least most, of that needless technology behind?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Arizona E Z Fletch #62719

I don’t have an EZ Fletch, but have you thought about switching to tape? After they’re fletched with tape, I put a little drop of Gold Tip at the front and back of each feather. That’s all I use anymore, and it works great. No messy glue clean-up.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #62562

Been thinking about scouting a new area lately, and it was cool enough this morning to get me off my butt and go check it out.

Great looking country, with promise, but much of the stuff down low is really thick, and up high I couldn’t find any springs or water sources. Still, it could be a really good place to pack farther in to, and install and spend a few days. Decisions, decisions…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Fletching color #62558

I’m a fan of all yellow. Especially now that I’ve switched to much smaller fletching and ditched the wraps.

But I’ve been know to dabble in orange as well.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Your first trad kill… #61842

colmike wrote: Bruce

Wow what a story–Don Thomas, Dave Petersen watch out this guy tells it like is. Darn near fell off the edge of my camp stool. I’m not a trophy guy but that spread must be a P&Y record. Can’t wait to hear about the pack out–what pack frame did you use?

Semper Fi

Mike

I used an old external frame I had for the pack-out. Even then, it still took several trips. And as luck would have it, I was pretty deep in the backcountry – at least 15 or 20 minutes from truck. I’d probably hunt a lot closer to the road next time, for just that reason…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Your first trad kill… #61575

I remember it like it was yesterday…

Countless stalks blown, just as I closed to within shooting range. Fruitless days spent searching for any kind of sign. Fighting off discouragement as yet another season ended with nothing to show for it, except tag soup and having to endure the teasing from friends…

And then one day, as I sat still on the edge of a clearing, struggling to maintain a shred of optimism about my chosen quarry, I heard a faint sound. And then another, getting closer…

And then suddenly there it was – the object of my years-long pursuit, and this time I was ready. I didn’t have time to reflect on my luck of being in the right place at the right time – I acted purely on instinct, as I had rehearsed in my mind many times before…

And as my hand relaxed from my anchor point and I watched the arrow fly, it was as if all time had stopped completely.

I watched the arrow sail over the ruffed grouse’s back and smack into a branch. Surely, this would have been the end of my fortuitous, though ill-fated encounter. But no – the majestic timber chicken simply stared over at me for a second before turning away again, not moving from its perch.

My fourth arrow connected, and all hell broke loose as the animal exploded. I told myself to keep still, despite my impulse to bolt after it. I held tight for what seemed like eternity, and 10 seconds later it was all over.

The flood of emotions that swept over me as I stood above the object of my obsessive pursuit is something I’ll never forget.

I called a friend to help me pack it out, and that night we had the most delicious, hard-won meat I had ever tasted.

I’ll never forget my first trad kill.

😀

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Picking a bow for 2013 hunting #61401

Good luck with the process – sounds like you’ve got it pared down to two solid choices.

It’s been an interesting process for me this summer deciding what bow I plan to hunt with in the upcoming season. Rather than starting with choosing the bow, I started with choosing the arrow. Or rather, the minimum weight and FOC that I wanted in an arrow, and then it was a matter of figuring out which of my bows shot that arrow the most accurately and consistently (with a little further fine-tuning, of course). I think I’ve finally settled on my Robertson #54 recurve.

Now I’m deciding whether to continue shooting with a glove, or go back to a tab. Leaning toward the latter, as I feel that I get a noticeably cleaner and quieter release, and a little more speed when shooting with a tab. Plus, I like the versatility of a tab for different weather conditions – being able to wear it over a glove if its cold out, etc.

I still have 5 weeks to make the final decision/s, but I’m feeling pretty good about it right now…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #60705

Why is it that those first few arrows in a fresh target feel especially good? 😀

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Bow to heavy? #59342

Proper back tension becomes key, imo – let your back muscles do real the work, rather than your arms, and you might be able to hold more than you would think.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: SE Idaho Shoot! #59330

David Petersen wrote: Wahoo, you got any pics of Smithy showing his face? We now know what his wife and tent look like, and many of his thousands if knives, but in his long and glorious history here he acts like he’s on the lamb and refuses to show his mug.

As much as I’d like to oblige you Dave, doing so could put my lucrative career as an international diamond thief in jeopardy. 8)

David Petersen wrote: Wish I could have been there, to steal that pup if nothing else. Is it American, English, or Welsh springer?

Rio is a Springer. And yeah, that pup had a great temperment. If only my 5-year old shorthair acted that mature…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Bow to heavy? #59139

While comparisons to what one can hold with a compound bow with 80% letoff are unrealistic, I do believe that there is an advantage to being able to hold a hunting bow at full draw, even if it is only for 10 seconds or so. Being limited to only being able to draw and shoot immediately will likely eliminate some shot opportunities.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: SE Idaho Shoot! #59100

wahoo wrote:

Smith sorry for the long shots,I just didn’t think 20 yds was that far. Must be loosing me mind

Haha….when’s your birthday? I’m buying you a range finder!

[Author]

Posts