[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: BHA Get-Together > Boise #47658

Wahoo –

Summer shoot in southeastern ID is happening. Stay tuned for details soon…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #45820

I came across this little video recently, and thought it would be a worthy addition to the ‘trad knife’ thread. How to make a folding flint and bone pocket knife. Stick with it – the end result is pretty awesome:

http://youtu.be/hZUQ1kfZY5k

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Happy BD Dr. Ed! #45329

I hope it’s been a great one, Dr. Ed!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Update on Larry Fischer vs The Bastard #44697

“The good part of this treatment is that The Bastard is laying on his pancreatic beach soaking up rays while pole dancing on my portal vein. Little does he know we are frying his ass! No SPF50 for that bastard!”

Quote worthy.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: You might be a traditional bowhunter if … #44159

R2 wrote: The shot takes very little time. The sight of the arrow passing over his back lasts forever.

Haha…so true.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: recurve bows #43795

eidsvolling wrote: I am quite surprised that an Aussie would have thought of a Winnebago and not one of these.

Germans love those things. I’ve seen them in some pretty far flung places. Why travel lightly when you can launch a high-profile assault to every new and wondrous land you visit? 🙄

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Latest Issue of TBM #43513

Larry O. Fischer wrote: Thanks Bruce, was good to see you last weekend at the BHA gathering.

Likewise, Larry. A very fun and productive weekend. Every time I get together with my BHA compatriots, I get re-energized.

Crush the bastard!!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: CO BHA shoots down drones! #42609

Jim –

I think you hit on a really important point. I think it’s going to be essential going forward that wildlife agency language surrounding regulation of this issue mirrors FAA language to the letter. And that we make sure that FAA language is appropriate and inclusive, and not drawing arbitrary/obscure distinctions based merely on usage, as you mention.

As we all know and have seen time and time again, language with room for interpretation is opportunity for any special-interest group and a savvy lawyer.

That said, I think the FAA has an absolute nightmare on their hands right now, with trying to figure out how they are going to oversee and regulate the myriad proposed and future applications for UAV’s within US airspace. The potential for accidents, the privacy issues, the ethical issues (such as the one discussed here) and more, are nothing short of massive, and without serious foresight and restraint, it isn’t hard to imagine a not-too-distant future where UAV’s are literally everywhere.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: recurve bows #42603

RJS –

Since no one else has responded yet, I’ll take a stab – I’m afraid it’s not really possible to answer your question in any simple way.

There are so MANY excellent bowyers out there producing what would be considered “top of the line” bows that I could easily come up with a list of 50 producers of “top of the line” recurves without even really thinking about it. Whittling down that list in any useful way for you would require that you shoot all of those bows.

The problem of listing the “best bows” on the market is the unavoidable number of personal and subjective factors involved in defining what a “best” or “top of the line” bow actually is. One of the realities about getting into traditional archery is that you simply have to try a lot of bows out to find what you like/want, from which to come up with your own definition of “best.”

I’ve shot really well-made, “top of the line” bows that didn’t work for me at all, due to grip shape, amount of hand shock, overall weight, and/or a host of other factors. Other people obviously love these particular bows, however, because they are widely well-regarded.

So, for example, I could tell you that I think the Robertson Fatal Styk is one of the “best” bows on the market, but what does that really mean? Sure, it is a well-made bow by a really well-regarded bowyer, but beyond that it only means that I like the way that bow shoots based on my preferences, which may not be yours at all.

I’m guessing that’s probably not all that helpful, but I’m just trying to be honest. Notwithstanding, here are some excellent bowyers to get you started in your quest, though by no means is this the least bit comprehensive:

Predator

Robertson

Wapiti

Black Widow

Stalker

Foley

Sasquatch

Wes Wallace

Bob Lee

Fox

Acadian Woods

Shafer

and I’m sure others here would add many more to that initial list…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Pulling my hair out over quivers. #41427

I will say that when I do use a bow quiver, Eagle’s Flight are the lightest, least obtrusive bow quivers I’ve ever used. Even on a light longbow, I don’t feel that they affect the balance negatively at all.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Favorite AMO for hunting? #40517

My Kanatis are 56″ and 58″ and neither stacks nor pinches in the slightest at my draw length – 27-1/2″

I also have a 64″ Robertson Quick Styk, and it’s a beautiful longbow and a joy to shoot, but the truth is that I have no need for a bow that long, and it offers no advantage for hunting over a shorter bow at all.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: CO BHA shoots down drones! #38752

This is a topic that continues to amaze (and disgust) me that it is even worthy of conversation, let alone an issue requiring action. But as Dave points out, it is also a very real and growing threat right now and it’s critical that we get ahead of it, rather than trying to do something about it after it has already been authorized.

I even heard on good authority that representatives from a group called “Hunters for Drones” turned out to testify in CO in favor of making them legal for hunting and scouting… 🙄

BHA is working hard in a number of states right now to get the use of drones (UAVs) for hunting/scouting banned, to get regulatory language surrounding this issue clarified in state regs, and more. If you feel the same way, and you don’t want to see a bunch of UAV’s flying over and around you during hunting season, and harassing game, please help support these efforts.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: String silencer placement #38580

I’ve used otter or beaver fur strips for years, but recently put some mini-woolies on my new Kanati. One thing I really like about these is that after you place them in between the string strands and tie them down, they are very secure and won’t move around while shooting, but you can still slide them up and down a bit for fine tuning. Not as easy to do with fur strips, which need to be removed completely and then re-installed.

As a side note, I much prefer the size of “mini” Wooly Whispers, but the only place I can find them is through Kustom King. Not sure why. I like them a lot more than the standard Woolies, which are usually way too big for my needs.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Pulling my hair out over quivers. #38571

Steve Graf wrote:

The only issue I haven’t resolved with the back quiver yet is what to do on longer hunts where a back pack is required. I didn’t do any of that sort of hunting this past season. But I am sure I will some time in the next season or two.

This has always been my question for folks who are big fans of back quivers for hunting – how do you carry the rest of your stuff? Or are you just not carrying much else?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Favorite AMO for hunting? #37870

56″ – 60″ is my usual ‘sweet spot’ for bow length. But it depends a lot on the bow.

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