[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Opinions on take down longbows II #61902

Yea, I shoot a 66 inch bow. So a 2 piece bow would be about 35″. I’ve been using a nice role around suitcase. Getting lazy. But I might be able to get a duffle that is long enough. But then it will probably be a really big bag…

I try to look as incognito as possible when traveling. So I don’t like duffles, I don’t wear any hunting close, and I try to act normal 😳

Maybe I should get a golf bag. I hear those get to go for free on the airplanes…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Dang Squirrels!!! #61392

What happened here is a classic example of what is known as “Murphy’s Law of Hunting”. It is basically a set of known game substitutions that occur naturally when hunting. For example:
– When deer hunting, the squirrel population explodes
– When squirrel hunting, the deer population explodes
– When turkey hunting the deer population explodes
– When rabbit hunting the grouse population explodes
– etc…

For myself, when I am squirrel hunting I have found that the average deer population expands to about 250 deer per square mile. Of which 200 are big bucks.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: 1 finger over vs. 3 fingers under #61383

I too am a fan of 3 fingers under. I too like to call it comanche style. It seems more accurate and comfortable for me. And I don’t have any arrow pinch issues. But I have observed that those of us who shoot better at longer ranges use split finger.

But I don’t care about no stinking longer ranges. If some critter comes in to 20 yds or less, he’s going to find out how well 3 fingers under works! (Like my big talkin?)

3 fingers under is quick and clean. If you can shed a lifetime of crappy movie preconceptions of how to hold the string, you will be happy.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: A trophy "dear". My first! #61372

You can now take her hunting for her birthday present! Congrats.

I too am confused by the guy in the picture. It’s the same feeling I get when I see a doe and I can’t tell right away if she’s mature enough to shoot. I always go by the length of her nose. Whichever Steve it is looks like his spots just faded out. I’l let him walk this season…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: My first deer…..EVER!!! #58937

And you shot her on one of the very best days we’ve had here in NC this year. Beautiful weather raises the spirits even higher!

Good Job. Good Shot.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: fast flight and selfbows #53408

David Petersen wrote: It seems that to get the most from this topic we should start at the beginning with the question: What force is it, precisely, that causes FF string to be harder on limb tips than, say, the ubiquitous B50?

Velocity is the first derivative of position. Acceleration is the first derivative of velocity. Jerk is the first derivative of Acceleration. Jerk is also known as jolt or lurch…

The rate at which the string decelerates causes increased stress on the limb tips. The jerk can be minimized in several ways. One of which is to use a stretchy string. The other is to use a heavy arrow. Any remaining jerk can be compensated for with fat string loops.

I hate skinny strings. So I would use a fat string and a heavy arrow and padded loops. But in the end, the arrow wouldn’t go any faster than what you already have. Such is the nature of self bows.

If you can’t have the one you want, love the one you’re with. Don’t ask more than it can give, and joyously you will live!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Help with instinctive shooting #52307

Dave – I think your wife spiked your nightcap with happy juice. Kumbayah!

I think one small detail is missing. As a relative newby to traditional archery with just 6 seasons of experience, counting this one (I don’t count my 20 some years with compound before that), I can say that however you look at shooting a bare bow, one thing is true. Your ability to shoot accurately with a barebow will increase slowly with time and practice. And your effective range will be much less than it was when using a site or siting methods.

And I hate to bring up that word talent. But I do think each of us is talented in different ways. My wife will tell you I have a talent for being irritating 😳 . I think we must all remain honest about our abilities when shooting at critters. It will reduce frustration and increase happiness to slightly under estimate our talent for making a good shot…

I know a guy that seems to be able to whip his bow up and hit a dot at any yardage out to as far as I can see. I feel like poking him in the eye every time he does it… But I just have to make peace with myself that I can’t do that,… just yet.

The last truth I think we can all agree on is that shooting a barebow is a joy incomparable to a gadget bow. And the joy increases as our conscious dependence on an aiming system decreases.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Kentucky doe #51613

Very nice!

Good looking bow too. Who made it?

My boy, now 12, has been helping me blood trail since he was six. Last year he followed his own blood trail for the first time (on his 12th birthday). And… He pulled the deer out by himself.

He thought he was real proud of that, till I observed that now I had a good measure of his real strength and that he wasn’t going to get out of chores so easily anymore…

My boy and girl eagerly await my return every morning to see if they need to help me find a deer. I think they are somewhat disappointed with my poor performance most days…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: fast flight and selfbows #51230

I haven’t used it on a self bow. But I have used it on 2 bamboo backed bows. One has nock overlays one does not. But both bows seem to be holding up just fine.

I padded the loops with 2 strands of b50 to make them much thicker than they would have been otherwise. I think this is all that is needed.

I have since stopped using b50 to pad the loops. Now I use 6 strands of fastflight instead. Reason being that the b50 doesn’t hold up as well as the fastflight. So the loops start looking raggedy long before the string does. I’ve done a couple strings this way, and it seems better…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: moose hunt, not for the faint of heart #47997

Having a big bull standing that close… I’m not sure I could have resisted the urge to send an arrow straight into the front of his chest…

How was the weather?

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Help with inserts popping out #38435

Most folks use super glue to put inserts in because it is fast and easy. They usually get the results you have experienced.

Wrap 40 or 60 grit sandpaper around a small screwdriver. Put it in the end of your arrow and twist around to roughen up the surface. Then clean with alcohol.

do the same with the inserts. Then get some good epoxy, or bohning insert glue (24 hour kind). Glue them up.

Should fix your problem.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: What are you reading in Elk camp? #34639

George, I have said this before I think, but I must say it again. You are a hoot!

I have burned a few holes in my socks around the campfire laughing like a fool about something Mr. McManus wrote. I have a yearly hunting tradition with a friend that involves about a week in camp. The best part is that we alternate bringing the funniest book we can find to read aloud around the fire at night. McManus has had the post more than once.

A few shots of Dickel, Laugh till your sides hurt. Sleep and hunt. Good medicine.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: poor groups #31761

Weak arrows will fly right. stiff arrows will fly left. Only way to tell is bareshaft tuning. (rh shooter)

If its you, move way up. start 2 yds from target. move back slowly over time.

don’t despair, keep at it. It happens to everyone. It can be the best learning tool. Nobody ever learned anything from getting it right.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Oh crap. Please help if you can… #30072

I think the biggest problem is not the bow, it’s the release. I have had two bouts with tensor tendonitis in my string hand. It’s a b*tch.

I haven’t been able to find a release that lets me get the string close enough to my face to allow a decent shot picture including the arrow.

So I take vitamin I (ibuprofen), use cold packs during the day, and a hot pack at night. And I am taking glucosamine 3 times a day help the tendon heal.

And I limit my shots to just 1 a day. And it hurts real good at that.

Last time it took about 6 months to pass. This time I figured out what caused the flair up, so hopefully it won’t happen again…

So again I say, it is the release that is the trick, not the bow.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Arrow rest question – need advice #25728

If your bear rest is in good shape, I would leave it alone. The beaver tail won’t hold up nearly as well.

Part of the joy of traditional archery is that you can easily customize your stuff to suit your tastes and needs. size the beaver tail however you like, so long as it does the job.

If your arrow shelf is crowned, you will want to make sure the rest lays on the shelf where the arrow will. If your grip is a locator grip, you will want the rest centered over the lowest part of the grip.

Barge cement is popular because it won’t mar the finish. So when you decide to pull the old one off, do just that pull it off. Rub the shelf with your thumb to clear the old adhesive away. And apply your new rest with the barge cement.

If the beaver tail is thin and flexible, you can place a narrow piece of scrap leather underneath the beaver tail on the shelf and side plate. This will help minimize the contact between the arrow and the bow.

Have Fun!

[Author]

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