[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: With A Heavy, Heavy Heart #49339

Very sorry to hear of your loss, Ed. As an avid rider myself, these tragic stories always weigh heavy on me.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: NEW TO TRADITIONAL #49332

Welcome! Sweet looking bow. In addition to the great book mentioned above, I would also check out “A Beginner’s Guide to Traditional Archery” by Sorrells, and “Traditional Archery (2nd Edition is the one to get) by Sam Fadala, which has lots of good equipment and tuning guidance. Other than that, get out and shoot and have fun and undoubtedly more questions will come as you stick with it (pun intended…:roll:)

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Short Bows #47370

I won’t go longer than 58″ any more, and my next will be 56.” I also shoot a 52″ K-Mag occasionally.

But my draw is only 27″ on a good day, which helps with short bow options.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #47366

jmsmithy wrote: “…This is it…it’s the big one…I’m comin’ Weezy…”

F. Sanford

😆

Bahaa….nice.

Another favorite Fred G. quote – “Grady, you so ugly, I could roll your face in dough and make gorilla cookies.”

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Feather???? What Feathers!!!! #45040

David Petersen wrote:

So here’s a question in the shape of a monkey wrench: The wheelie boys have been shooting little plastic vanes forever. The plastic/feather difference aside, what is it, what force or law of physics allows tiny flethching with 75- and 100-grain points? Is it speed? The lightness of the overall arrows? This question has nothing to do with penetration or other serious hunting concerns, but is mere curiosity about what allows this seeming anomaly, while we trad folks need EFOC in order to reduce fletching size. ???

x2. I’ve been pondering the same thing. All I can come up with for an explanation is speed.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: The Proverbial Soapbox #43339

Without knowing any specifics, all I can say is that I would seek out like-minded hunters who are willing to speak up, and schedule meetings with the agency to let them know your point of view. Cite good examples from other states that demonstrate what you’re advocating for. Research whether there are any sportsman’s groups already working on these issues, in your state or elsewhere.

That may take some effort and be time-intensive, but it sure beats not hunting in your own state.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Mother Earth News #42551

David Petersen wrote: Ironically, this past weekend, I received (through the magazine) several letters from disgruntled vegan MEN readers who think I’m evil for praising hunting as an honorable way to feed ourselves … and at the same time I’m writing responses to TBM readers who think I’m a liberal elitist because I set high standards for hunting and wildlife management.

As an old Forest Service employee once told me – “if both sides are pissed off at you, you’re probably doing something right.”

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: who carrys a backup gun #41596

Jeez, this thread makes me glad that all I have to worry about are bears and cougar.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #41319

“We think of hunting and fishing as escape, and they are. They are escape from a society of escapism: from pervasive complacency, from media pitched to the lowest common denominator, from trivialization of thought, from the politics of blandness, from gladiators, celebrities, entertainment, scandals, the life synthetic…”

– Datus Proper

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #41317

“…it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds…”

– Samuel Adams

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: A long look at fletching and EFOC #41259

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: A long look at fletching and EFOC #41083

I really fail to see how any of this is “overly technical” or representative of a “compound mentality” – two common detractions that these sorts of discussions have been accused of.

I mean, how exactly is a two-blade, single-bevel head any more “technical” than a double-bevel three blade?

How is 3″ of fletching any more “technical” than 5″?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: New DVD from Mana'o Productions #40194

A mere 4 days after I ordered it, the DVD arrived, and I just had a chance to watch it:

All trad bowhunting on the Hawaiian Islands, as seen through the eyes of two locals. And it’s really well done. It keeps the action going, and paints a really good picture of what the hunting is like, and what sort of logistics are involved, in hunting Hawaii. If you’re thinking about a bowhunting trip to Hawaii (as I’ve been dreaming about for a while now…), you can pick up a lot of info from this vid, yet it never feels like a “how-to” type of video at all. It just feels like you’re following along with two guys on various hunts. And it still retains that “homegrown” feel, vs. being too slick and produced. I like that – it keeps it real. And some great shooting, too!

I also really like that this video just has a very different “feel” to it than most other trad hunting videos that I’ve seen. No disrespect to the old masters, by any means, but you can tell this is produced by younger people, and it has a fun vibe to it. In my opinion, this is exactly what is needed to attract more young people to trad bowhunting.

Well done, guys.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: who carrys a backup gun #40017

Prior to the beginning of last hunting season, Idaho Fish and Game sent out the results of a study that looked at the stats of those who were seriously injured/killed when using bear spray vs. a firearm in bear encounters. As I recall, the stats spanned at least a decade, and this was for the entire state, which has abundant populations of both black and grizzly.

The conclusion was pretty obvious – the rates of serious injury/death were significantly higher in the incidents in which a firearm was used.

FWIW.

Not taking a position on it, or telling anyone else what to do, but I found this study pretty interesting.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What Have You Forgotten? #40013

Just a few:

On a 5-day fishing trip in the southern Sierras a few years ago, we got camp entirely set up on the first night before I discovered I didn’t have a sleeping bag. Spent a cold night wrapped up in a tarp and bought a blanket at a tack store the following day. Spent the rest of the trip in it.

One day elk hunting last fall I climbed the mountain behind my house before I realized I’d left my glove in the truck.

On a 30-day kayaking trip in Alaska, I realized I didn’t bring a toothbrush. I “toughed” it out for about 4 or 5 days before my mouth felt like an abused shag carpet. A buddy offered to let me borrow his, as long as I sterilized afterward. After using it, I put it in boiled, sterile water for a few minutes. Over the next several days, all the bristles fell off…

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