[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: New Bow…but not THE bow… #29425

And here is the handle mostly sanded. Just a little more work on the arrow shelf and overlays to go…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: New Bow…but not THE bow… #29422

Here are some pictures of the nocks. They are about 60 percent sanded. I will post new pictures after they are finished. I used black and tan phenolic overlays to match the copperhead skins that I probably won’t be using now. But I ordered some snakeskin fabric off the internet and am awaiting delivery. Hopefully it will look good. If not…maybe the skins will get used…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: New Bow…but not THE bow… #29389

And here are some of the riser overlay’s being added and the profile of the bow being cut out. More to come…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: New Bow…but not THE bow… #29386

OK, here goes…I am posting the first of hopefully many pictures. Problem is, that many of my initial pictures got lost off the camera chip. Kids? Me? Don’t know. But I will get more. Here are 2 pictures of the bow in the form:

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Need help with shooting issue. #28477

Move the nock set on your string up a bit, and/or move your bow hand down:oops:

I am guessing you are shooting a long bow. Thus using my (not so) amazing powers of deduction, if this is happening with several bows, then it most likely is a form problem. Thus, you may need to cant the bow more.

Thats all I’ve got.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Bare Shaft Tuning – Glue? #26069

Assuming you are using parallel shafts, then I would recommend:
1. that you glue your inserts in using an epoxy or Bohnings insert glue.
2. Cut the shaft from the tail end to obtain correct spine. It is easy to remove and reinstall the nock.

Doing this allows you to not risk losing your insert in the target, and gives you a better glue joint with the point insert (since you are not removing/replacing it multiple times)

Rough up and clean the inside of the shaft before gluing. Clean the insert with IPA as well.

Note – Carbon shaft manufacturers warn against using any type of hot glue.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Bear Kodiak Magnum-a good choice? #22663

If it was me, I would buy it (not too expensive mind you) because it is a Bear bow made in Grayling, but thats because I’m a Fred Bear Fan. Some people have good luck shooting short bows. Some don’t. If you have a longer draw length you may not like it.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: how to hunt mature does? #22653

In my humble opinion, harvesting an old doe is the toughest challenge there is. A big old buck is shy and thus hard to connect with. But a doe has spent her whole life looking out for the welfare of others and thus is wise to the evils that lurk.
I have found that old does are very tuned in to “evil intent”. So when I am hunting I try not to dwell on the intended outcome in my mind. Happy thoughts make for non threatening body language and vibes. And the deer respond in kind.
Still in all, to harvest an old doe with a traditional bow is a rare accomplishment, at least for me.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Brace height question. #19810

keep twisting.:)

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: A Confession and an Oath #18255

“Confession and an Oath”. What a great title. I was expecting something juicy,… oh well.

I can’t make that commitment because I am always finding ways to “improve” my setup. I also like to see what happens when I try something different. Not talking about spending a bunch of money on grizzly sticks. Talking about fooling around with the string, the arrow shelf, feathers, nocks, etc.

I think if I got to the point where I thought I had all my problems licked and didn’t need to change my setup and would just hunt with the same stuff from then on,….I’d quit.

But, in the spirit of not changing things, I think you should put your other “hat picture” back up. I, liked it.:D

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Get off me! #18245

Look at that non-typical rack!

Other bucks PAIL by comparison!

I hope he doesn’t kick the BUCKET before someone gets to harvest him!

OK, I’m done.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Five Favorite Non-Hunting Books #12653

Michael Pollen wrote a series of 3 books about what we eat. I know, sounds boring. But they were really good and opened my eyes to the industrial food complex and what it means to really enjoy eating and life. He even has a section on pig hunting in California.

Botany of Desire
Omnivores dilemma
In defense of food

I found them enjoyable and informative. Best nonfiction books I’ve read lately.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Bear T/D Limbs,Help #11449

Bear archery still makes their take down bow. Maybe they have the limbs you need.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Bow tuning, ????? #9307

My first suggestion would be to look through the 3Rivers catalog book section. There are a bunch of good books on learning to shoot the bow. These books go into much greater detail than you can get here on such a broad question.

All of the items you mentioned in your list are important to getting good arrow flight. If you look in the Ashby forum there is always a lot of talk about EFOC which means extreme front of center.

It is kind of hard to just write about the items you mentioned. Maybe if you had a specific question about one of them it would be easier to address. Or if you were having a specific problem relating to one of them…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Your first whitetail? #50091

It took me 3 years. First year I shot over 3 deer backs. The next year I cut hair, heart shot a limb, and shot high again. The third year I harvested 3 doe and a buck. For me it was a hard transition from compound to longbow. I had 25 years of habits that had to change. I also wasn’t used to not getting a deer. I had gone about 20 years in a row filling my freezer during bow season.

But you are in good company. Fred Bear took 5 years to harvest his first deer with a bow.

For me, it was worth the aggravation and effort. Compound bows were my bread and butter (literally and figuratively). And I can’t say anything negative about them as I made my living from them. But the joy of archery has returned to my life with the longbow. I just don’t get as many deer. But that is ok with me (and the deer too I suppose:oops:)

Above all, archery and hunting for that matter are elective sports intended to enrich our lives and make us happier people. So relax and do what makes you the happiest. You can always pick up the muzzle loader or rifle later in the year…

[Author]

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