[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #47077

Yeah, we had an uncharacteristically dry November as well, but there’s no shortage of white stuff now – and a new system just arrived. Winter storm warning in effect for the next several days, with another foot or two in the valley by Monday. The local ski resort has already had 160″ to date!

I’m enjoying it, but I’m also looking forward to Arizona and good, cheap Mexican food and chasing javelina is a couple weeks! 😉

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #46222

Nice pics, Cameron. Beautiful looking bow, and your wife’s form looks really good!

Nice boxer, too – I was just saying the other night that if I didn’t have a hunting dog, I’d very likely have a boxer. Every one of them I’ve been around has had a really nice temperment.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Custom Bow Makers #46108

Yeah, and I’m definitely bordering on talking out my @$$ here, but my understanding is that as with so many things, there are trade-offs with any bow design, and short bows are no exception. Obviously, by its very nature, a short bow will have short working limbs. Short limbs may have other advantages, like maneuverability in the woods, but high performance isn’t one of them, without also adding significant pre-load (D/R). The limbs are the spring – the shorter the range of the spring, the less ‘bounce’ you’re going to get. And so a short bow, with straight, short limbs, is by nature not going to have much of a ‘power stroke,’ making it pretty anemic.

This is also one of the reasons you will tend to see quite short risers on short bows – to maximize the length of the working limbs.

With all that said, a higher vs. lower brace height, and any resulting changes in performance, are really only relative to that particular bow. A 68″ D-shaped longbow may have a “low” brace height of 6-1/2″ while a “low” brace height on a 54″ Thunderchild might be 7-5/8.” Both are still at the “low” end of their particular brace height range, which will typically result in more power, but all things have their limits – if you put the low brace height of the Hill bow on the Thunderchild, you’re not increasing performance at that point.

So yes, a deflexed riser increases brace height on a short bow, in tandem with other design elements, but there can still be an “ideal” lower brace higher height which gives more power for that design.

I might be talking in circles at this point, but I hope that makes some sense?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Custom Bow Makers #46078

dwcphoto wrote: A question for you bowyer types. What purpose is served by the forward handle style on some of the javaman bows? Thanks. Dwc

I’ll be curious to hear what folks with more bow building experience say, but to me, the big thing it accomplishes is is creating a higher brace height. This, combined with other design elements like reflexed tips, can maximize performance (speed) out of a shorter bow.

Some also claim that a forward handle creates more “stability” in a shorter bow, but I’m not sure I’m convinced of that.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #45868

eidsvolling wrote:

I’ve been known to bring both many times. (It’s easier when there’s a dog or two available for pulk pulling duty on a camping trip.) I have an extraordinarily low tolerance for inefficiency when it comes to winter travel.

It really just depends on the terrain for me. XC skis are vastly more efficient for cruising in open terrain, for sure. But they wouldn’t be my choice for traveling in thicker forest and hunting with, which was largely my reason for buying these. That said, I’m going to get out for a ski this afternoon…:wink:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #44985

Fallguy wrote: …Then again the kid has hijacked a couple pair of mine maybe I am in the market?

Sounds like a ‘green light’ to me.

eidsvolling wrote: It’s a very good thing you’re 2000 miles away right now. Otherwise I’d come over there, steal your new ‘shoes and smack you upside the head for posting these pictures while I sit here looking at brown ground.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, that Santa of yours is a real catch! 😉

BTW, if you haven’t done so, you should send the pics to the folks in Bingham. I’d sure they’d get a lot of pleasure from seeing these.

Haha…believe me, I’m amazed everyday that she sticks around, especially given how well she knows me. 😉

Of course, she also went all the way up the valley and back on her xc skis, in the time it took me to hike about a 1/2 mile. And then, without a trace of irony, she asked me how I liked my new shoes. She’s a keeper.

That’s a good idea about sending pics to the folks in Bingham – will do.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: They are Really HERE!! #44976

grumpy wrote: And after you spend all of that time money, and risk… If you get one they smell like a goat!!

I think my mother-in-law had similar advice for my Better Half.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #43928

dwcphoto wrote: Trick is to measure across the shoulders of your favorite shirt/jacket and make sure it matches what you bid on. The listed sizes might or might not work for you. The measurements should work right. dwc

This. I never go off of the stated size, only the measurements. And if the measurements aren’t posted in the item description, then I will contact the seller and ask for them. Otherwise, there is just oo much variability in wool shirts/jackets.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #43840

No doubt due to my exceedingly good behavior this year , Santa brought me a pair of Maine Guide “Rabbit Hunter” shoes. This morning was the first chance I’ve had to get out and put a few miles on them, in the kind of conditions we’re known for – deep and light powder (which is why I went with the larger 11″ x 41″ size):

Bindings are a simple, two-strap webbing affair, with good metal buckles, and a heavy rubber heel strap. They are quite beefy and look like they’ll last a long time. They also seem like they’d be easy to repair in the field, if needed:

Lacing is top-notch:

I was watching three bull elk up near the ridgeline above me in this pic:

Open terrain, maneuvering in tight woods, climbing…they worked great. I’m very pleased with the high quality and design. And they are far quieter than the metal snowshoes I’ve had in the past.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Suggestions: History of Archery Books #43467

I’d love to find a good, objective account of the 100 Years’ War, if anyone has a recommendation.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: They are Really HERE!! #43463

eidsvolling wrote:

You wuz lucky. This didn’t turn out as well in 2010 for another guy…

Yeah, believe me, it was way too close for comfort. If I’d had another option to put a little more distance between us, I would have taken it!

eidsvolling wrote:

“It is an exercise which gives vigor health and appetite to a hunter to shoulder his rifle at day break on a clear cold morning and wind his way up a rugged mountain over rocks and crags at length killing a fat old Ewe and taking the meat to Camp on his back…during the day and often have I resolved never to risk myself again in such places and as often broken the resolution. The sight of danger is less hidious than the thought of it.“

Classic.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: They are Really HERE!! #42874

Iron Bull wrote:

Now.. If you are unfortunate enough to be a Non-Resident the tag was $2,152.00….There were 7 tags with a 1.03% chance of success….

Holy #&@%!!! :shock::shock::shock:

But yeah, native to these ranges are not, I just think mountain goats are a really cool animal.

I was on a sheer cliff trail in Glacier NP one time years ago, and here comes a billy up the trail, completely unconcerned about me. The trail wasn’t wide enough for both of us, so I had to flatten myself against the cliff wall to let him walk by. That was a close encounter! Of course, these things never happen when you’re hunting….:wink:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Custom Bow Makers #42856

R2 wrote: Just a thought, there are a bunch of very good bows out there that don’t cost $1000. 🙂

Definitely. There are some really good bows out there these days for significantly less.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Custom Bow Makers #42834

John –

I have had excellent experiences with the following custom bowmakers:

Dick Robertson (Robertson Styk Bow)

Dan Toelke (Montana Bows)

Jim Babcock (Big Jim’s Bow Co.)

Jason Kendall (Kanati Bows)

I wouldn’t hesitate to order from any of them again.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: A Holiday Rove #42352

Glad to see you got out as well, Cameron. Those look like nice hills to wander around in.

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