[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Treed Partridges and trail cams #31452

I can see trail cams being fun for simply getting a non-intrusive insight into wildlife, and possibly spy some cool animals that one doesn’t normally see otherwise (like cats). And I’ve really been enjoying Dave’s (and others’) trail cam pics posted here on the forum.

But when it comes to using them for hunting, I just don’t get how they are all that useful. Maybe it’s where I live, or the species I tend to focus on – it’s big country and the animals are highly mobile. Even if a nice bull came wandering by the trail cam, it wouldn’t necessarily mean anything several days later – he could be thirty miles away by then. Am I missing something?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: 2013 hunting rigs #28202

Duncan wrote: Smithy posted that Predator made me remember how good mine shoots. It is 50# @ 28 and it is heavier than my other bows but it does shoot good. I probably could use some weight lifting 😀

Yeah, they aren’t necessarily the lightest bow around, but they make up for it in every other way. A buddy shot mine the other day, and I didn’t tell him what the poundage was until after he shot it. He didn’t believe me.

And that’s a nice one you have there, Duncan!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #28196

dwcphoto wrote:

Ever hear Dear Abby?” dwc

Oh yeah – it’s a classic.

Here’s another one I like:

“I was brought up the best way that I could be brought up with what we had to do with. I could have had a better education, and I could have had better clothes to wear to school. I could have had a better chance, you know. But if I’d had the best education in the world, I might have not played music.”

– Bill Monroe

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #28183

dwcphoto wrote: Waits helps me smile at misery better than anyone. John Prine is right up there, too. thanks, dwc

Agreed on both counts. Have you listened to the song that Prine did recently with Iris Dement called, “In Spite of Ourselves?” That song cracks me up every time.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #28172

dwcphoto wrote:

“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn’t.” Tom Waits.

That gave me my first good laugh of the morning. 😀

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Noteable Quotes! #27715

“When hunters seek easier ways, focusing only on results and skipping the process (or, as Theodore Roosevelt put it, those who are “content to buy what they have not the skill to get by their own exertions”), they fail to gain the intimacy, knowledge, appreciation and respect for the prey, for the habitat, and for other wildlife that is gained through arduous pursuit. The connections are shattered. I suspect this growing disconnect is, in large part, why some hunters are either apathetic or outright opposed to policies that protect and enhance wildlife and wild places; they either ignore or never really came to understand our hunting and wildlife heritage.”

– Dave Stalling

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: 2013 hunting rigs #27280

shreffler wrote: [quote=Smithhammer]

Arrows:

Gt Trad 5575 cut to 28.5″

360 gr. head weight with single bevel Eclipse Werewolfs

650 gr. overall

28% FOC

4 x 2-1/4″ fletch

Smith, how well do those 4 x 2-1/4″ fletchings stabilize that arrow? I’m assuming pretty darned good considering they’re on your hunting rig 😆

Never seen someone do it that way, especially when chucking 360 gr. up front.

They fly great, and very stable. I’m convinced (based on first-hand experience, which always seems the best way…) that high EFOC creates a great deal of stability in and of itself, requiring less fletching to create that stability. It also creates the improved benefit of more of the stability and tracking happening at the front of the arrow (like a dart), rather than with low FOC setups, in which more of the steerage (and thus, drag) is happening at the rear, due to larger fletching combined with a lighter point. This reduced fletching, in turn, also creates less drag, leading to a more efficient flight…which again, when combined with EFOC, creates an arrow that recovers from paradox more quickly which further increases flight efficiency….I could go on…:D

But it might be better to check out more of Dr. Ashby’s extensive info (found on this site), and some of the threads in the FOC sub-forum. Suffice to say that the vast majority of negative assumptions I hear from folks regarding reduced fletching in combination with EFOC are simply not true in my experience, and usually a case of being exactly that – assumptions, rather than firsthand experience.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: From Master #27185

Doug –

Apologies, I was being a little sarcastic. Seems like you could very easily make something that does the same thing with a simple piece of flat, tubular webbing attached to a length of paracord. Make a loop with the webbing to create the sling (pad it as necessary). Then make a loop with the paracord of the appropriate length, girth-hitching one end to the sling, and the other end of the paracord to the bow string.

Total cost – about $1 at the local outdoor store. I’d feel bad taking your money. 😀

But Moe makes a valid point that there is value in proper instruction.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: From Master #27045

I’ll make you one for half that price….8)

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: My bow was dry fired twice #26443

Etter1 wrote: Most things I’ve read online say that a well made glass bow should have no issue handling a few dry fires but it still sticks in my head.

I’ve often (re-assuringly) heard the same. But I agree – knowing a bow has been dry fired can be a hard thing to forget. However, if it is shooting fine, and you aren’t hearing any weird noises when you draw it, then you probably got lucky. Maybe someone more experienced than me will chime in with some more specifics to check for.

And that’s why I’m very particular about letting anyone shoot my bows, and never if I’m not there.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: 2013 hunting rigs #26438

Some fantastic bows so far!

Clay’s bows are definitely something special. I sat in on a bow-building clinic he did @ the BHA Rendezvous this past spring, and was seriously impressed. What I particularly enjoyed was how organic and intuitive Clay’s approach to building is. Many people in the audience kept asking him questions about the exact specs of his limb tapers, whether or not he uses calipers, etc, etc, to which his response was usually, “nope, I just eyeball it till it looks right.” That’s the easygoing confidence of a true craftsman.

I’ve finally made my decision on my rig for the upcoming season – a #55 Predator Classic:

This bow never ceases to impress me with how smooth and accurate it is (despite my best efforts to the contrary 8)). If you blindfolded me, I would swear up and down that there is no way this is a #55 bow. It feels like drawing no more than #50 at most. And while I haven’t chrono’d it, it definitely throws a 650gr. arrow with surprising speed.

Arrows:

Gt Trad 5575 cut to 28.5″

360 gr. head weight with single bevel Eclipse Werewolfs

650 gr. overall

28% FOC

4 x 2-1/4″ fletch

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Great new blog #26169

Thanks for the heads-up Dave. I had wondered what had happened to him, and if he was still writing.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Four new bows for friends… #26162

Wow, Cameron – those look great! I can see why you’d have a hard time letting them go.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: 2013 hunting rigs #24378

AlexBugnon wrote:

Alex –

I really hope this is your next album cover…:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What is Traditional Archery? #24250

jonking wrote:

Now I don’t mean to say being a snob about anything is a admirable quality. But lowering the bar so people don’t get their feelings hurt because they aren’t trying hard enough is why this country is going to hell in a hand basket.:twisted:

Well said!!

[Author]

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