[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Squirrel State #12141

I think the best places to hunt squirrel is in public parks. I remember some real beautiful black squirrels on the canadian side of the Niagara Falls 😀

Not sure what the regulations are concerning hunting squirrels in public parks 😳

Aside from tip toeing around peoples picnic baskets to hunt the little tree rats, I think you can find them about anywhere.

The coolest story I read about squirrel hunting was about a couple guys canoeing down a river in VA and shooting black squirrels from trees overhanging the river. Didn’t even have to get up to retrieve them. Just paddle on over. If the arrow didn’t dispatch them right away, the river would…

Sorry not much help in your planning…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: tuning ? #12130

David Petersen wrote: I second Steve on the likelihood of form, esp. release issues. I sometimes wonder if it would be helpful to use a trigger release for bare shaft testing. Has anyone here tried that? I just ordered a dozen shafts in three spines and am looking at some bare shaft tuning myself.

When tuning an arrow to a bow, what you are mostly doing is compensating for the archers paradox that is introduced by your fingers letting go of the string.

If you used a mechanical release, there would be essentially no archers paradox to correct for.

When bare shaft tuning, it’s important to have the bow set up exactly as you intend to hunt with it (string silencers, quiver with arrows, etc), and to shoot it in exactly the way you intend to shoot it when hunting : in order to tune the arrows for best flight.

I know you know this Dave. You are just testing me 8)

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: tuning ? #11035

skinner biscuit wrote: Hello, been doing a little bare shaft tuning and I’m getting this result. At 10 yrds nock high right,15 yrds a little nock left, fairly level,20 yrds alot more nock left but level.Have I cut too much or keep cutting? If I cut to much, I’ll add more weight from 400grs to 425 and see what happens.

Now that’s some strange arrow flight. You sure that arrow ain’t possessed?

In my experience, a bare shaft will continue in whatever rotation it started in. Meaning if it comes off the bow nock high right, it stays that way, and gets more so. I can think of nothing that could explain how a bare shaft could go from high right to even left in 5 yards.

Are you watching the arrow in flight? Or observing how it rests in the target? If the latter, you may be getting a false reading.

It is best to get about 15 yards and watch the arrow in flight. When you get good flight at that distance, you can move back if you want. but being closer than 15 yards probably wont tell you much because there is not enough time to watch the arrow in flight.

Other folks simply draw (or tape) a vertical line on the target at which to shoot. If the arrow is left of the line, the shaft is stiff. Right of the line, weak.

If you get inconsistent results (sometimes right, sometimes left) that is usually a form issue. Make sure you are drawing the bow the same every time…

All of the above is based on assumption that you are right handed. Reverse for left handed. Thus if you are getting nock left at 20 yards, the arrow is still weak, and you can cut some more…

Hope this helps.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: nock high? #8755

I usually just take an arrow and hold it against the bow at the end of the riser. I hold the arrow such that my fingers mark the length. Then I move the arrow to the other end of the riser and repeat the process. This time I take note of the difference in length.

If you start with the upper limb, and then move to the lower limb, you will usually have a gap between your fingers and the string, indicating that the lower limb is closer to the string and stronger.

In the case of even tiller, the gap between your finger and the string on the lower limb will be very small / no gap.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: How does your Garden Grow? #8745

A big garden is the opposite of “too greedy”. Really any garden is the opposite. You invest your time, your money, and other resources, and if you are lucky enough to get a good harvest, you end up giving a lot of it away…

I lived in Florida for about 10 years, and was never able to get much to grow. Too many aphids and other sap sucking, leaf eating, fruit munching critters to grow without pesticides.

I never tried raised beds while in Florida though… I’m a big believer in them now. You can grow so much more densely in a bed, then in the ground. And it would give you the opportunity for better soil…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: How does your Garden Grow? #64070

ausjim wrote: Steve, that’s a super garden mate! Good to see you’ve employed some American labour there as well 😉 …

Kids ARE great! I figure I’ll get about 5 good years out of them before having to send them off to college. Problem is, by then I will be so used to their excellent help, I’ll be helpless when they are gone, and will have to learn how to do get by on my own again.

Now if only I could get my boy to stop making faces when the camera is out…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: nock high? #62972

As Troy says, it usually means the nock set is too high on the string. But it can also mean it is too low. If it is too low, the arrow will bounce off the shelf and give you a nock high flight.

I shoot 3 fingers under and have found that some bows will just shoot nock high no matter what. And most bows shoot a little nock high. According to the experts (book writing types) a little nock high is OK.

I also dabble in making bows. I have found that if the bow is close to even tillered (best for 3 under), they tend to shoot nock high.

So check your bow, and if it is even tillered, don’t worry about it too much, would be my humble advice.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: How does your Garden Grow? #61918

Wow. I starred at that picture and could swear that deer looks like a yearling…

Glad the strawberries are safe!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Trout Unlimited #61914

Thanks for the heads up. I’ve been watching this disaster unfold for the last few years, and it seems to be marching steadily on.

This situation exemplifies the classic Leopoldian conflict between nature and comfort.

Are we willing to destroy this last of the ancient pristine ecosystems for the cheap products that will come from this mining?

I think they are planning to build the largest earthen dam ever constructed to hold back the trailings and sludge produced by the mine and keep it from entering the rivers…

What could go wrong? 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Day Pack #61897

By definition, 6 liters of water weighs 6 kilograms. 6 kg X 2.2 lb/KG = 12lbs water.

Unless of course, you have lighter water, or less gravity in your neck of the woods 😀

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Solo River Trip #60741

Nice Pictures! For being so hot and dry, the river sure doesn’t look low…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: How does your Garden Grow? #60729

tailfeather wrote: If it isn’t too much trouble, could you explain your solar/gravity watering system?

I had a well drilled for irrigation and water for the animals. I have Solar Panels powering the water pump. During the day, it pumps water into a tank up on the hill. The overflow is directed into a pond.

The output from the tanks go’s to the sheep pasture and to the garden beds. I have a quick disconnect riser on every other bed to hook a hose to. When it’s time to water, I just hook up the hose, which has a shower head on it, and water the garden.

Actually, I get the kids to do it. I have a pretty good picture of the kids watering, I’ll attach it later.

Your chicken chaser is a cutie!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Into The Wild #59571

Nail on the head Ralph.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Little things that make us happy! #59565

Well if you have to go and hurt yourself, it’s good it was at least on the antler of a 200 lb mule deer. Good work! Glad to hear it’s getting better!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: New Limbs #55120

I agree with Mongo. Big bow good.

But I think bow’s are like women. Is there such a thing as a bad woman, big or small? No way. You just have to remember that if you pluck their string, they will slap you in a hurry, no matter their size.

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