[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Deer Drag #61379

Nice! And I like the ramp idea… ‘cept I have a jeep. It’s a bugger getting a decent size deer in it alone. Bought that jeep new in ’96, has over 300K on it.

My boy is 16 and getting his license in a few months. Thought I’d give him the jeep and get a toyota pickup. then I can get the deer in it better.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: My condolences Don #61371

I like that she set up a foundation to help the next generation of young scientists succeed. Now that’s a legacy!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Now that it's over #60618

J.Wesbrock wrote: Now that hunting seasons are over it’s time for the archery tournaments to begin. Our club’s indoor spot league starts tonight, and the IBO Indoor 3D World Championship is this weekend…

Good Luck! If I was there, I’d cheer for you. But with all that caterwauling you might miss 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Now that it's over #60612

R2 wrote: …Problem there is the hogs retreat into the river bottom at daytime and roam at night to feed and the river bottom is out of bounds to me…

Why is it out of bounds?

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Now that it's over #60609

tailfeather wrote:

I plan to hunt… some hog hunting with the longbow…

Need help?

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Deer Drag #60602

R2 wrote: I use some 5/8″ doweling and cord to make mine and I carry two. If it’s a buck I put one around each antler or if a doe put both around the neck. That way I have one in each hand and can vary how I’m pulling on them when I’m dragging…

Interesting. I’d like to see your setup. I made my first one out of a 1 1/4 poplar dowel but it broke dragging a bear out of the woods in Quebec. That’s when I upgraded to ash.

One of the nice things about the drags I have made is that if you happen to have a friend or onlooker around as you are getting ready to drag the deer out, you can offer them one side of the drag and ask kindly if they would like to help 8)

I find that is my favorite feature 😀

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Forrester Wood Shafts #56823

David Petersen wrote: Indeed, Kevin is an arrow-shaft artist. I have examined, handled and shot a variety of his shafts. Alas, if I’m going to shoot woods, they must be tapered, and at this point, last I checked, he sells only parallel. That’s the only thing keeping me away, and it’s a purely personal preference. I’ve been hoping he would add tapers to his offerings, at which point I’ll be on board…

Tapering the shafts yourself is a piece of cake. All you need is a simple jig which you can make if you own a board and a drill.

If this is the only thing standing in your way, you are home free now.

Two4hooking has a blog on which he shows how he tapers arrows:

http://traditionalknowhow.blogspot.com/2014/03/tail-tapering-wood-arrows.html (for myself, I use only one jig with 60 grit paper. The arrows get plenty smooth.

Here’s another page that shows a simple tapering jig and has links to build your own:

http://poorfolkbows.com/arrow3.htm

I added a little feature to my jig. I added a stop to the end so that when I push the arrows through, they all stop at the same depth.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Good Reads #56805

Smithhammer wrote: …I’m 47, and yeah, I just got carded the other day.

Yea, that happened to me the other day too. I handed over my ID and started to tell the teller that at 48 it feels good to still get carded once in a while. She responded that she was just verifying that I wasn’t using a stolen credit card 😳

Looking forward to reading your stuff!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Home page article #52356

The part I don’t get is that he heard the death rattle, but didn’t find the bear.

Not possible…

I’m not criticizing, I am just saying I wish he had come back to that in the story. I know I have heard and seen things after the shot that turned out not to be accurate. The rush is so intense that we just can’t count on our senses, or our sense. Keeping your wits about you after the shot is key to the desired outcome.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Let's See Your Fletching #52345

Duncan wrote: Steve,

That is neat. Do you feed a square blank into it?…

Duncan

Yes, 3/8″ square stock. I put a 3/8 socket extension in my corded drill with the female end out. I can then insert the arrow blank into the socket extension and spin it through the router jig.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Tapered Shaft Question #52343

I would say the answer is: yes, but…

If you add or remove material from the arrow it will change the spine. The problem is in how you measure that change. The technique we use to measure spine is to support the arrow by two points separated by a known distance. Then hang a weight between the two points and see how much the arrow bends.

By removing part of the arrow as we taper it, we have changed how the arrow will sit on the 2 points. It will naturally be lower now. In addition, where we choose to measure the arrow will affect the reading too. Measure closer to the back and the arrow will be weak. Measure closer to the front and the arrow will be stronger.

So the standard is to measure the spine before tapering. Taper the arrow, then shoot and see how it goes. When you buy tapered arrows, they are grouped and sold by the spine measured before tapering.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Let's See Your Fletching #51495

Duncan wrote: Thanks for the tips. I’d like to see your router set up some time…

Duncan

I made it from scraps.

In the Front View you can see the router hanging under the whole thing. The bit comes up between the first 2 blocks of wood.

In the Back view you can see the board screwed into the side of the base so I can use the clamp to hold it on the table. The wing nut/fender washer thing lets me adjust arrow diameter.

Before I make more arrows, I’m going to add more guide blocks. With just the three, the arrow can start to whip around some.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Let's See Your Fletching #49063

Duncan wrote: Thanks for the tips. I’d like to see your router set up some time.

Will the rabbit hunt be in the same place? Should I just check the website for the date and time?

Duncan

It’s January 24th and officially starts at 9am. But people start collecting by sunup it seems. I usually get there about 8:30 or so and the dogs are just about let out.

To get there, take a right onto 119 off of 86 north. After a few miles you’ll come to an intersection with a store on the left side. Intersection of 119 and 58. Go straight on 119 about a mile and the place is on the left. Look for an old metal hanger looking building off the road. That’s the meeting place. No address number. sorry.

Wear some blaze orange. No Broadheads. Lunch provided.

Rabbits Optional 🙄

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Last minute Arizona advice for Bruce and I #48446

Smithhammer wrote: Things I’m continuing to ponder in preparation for this trip:

Rye or straight bourbon?

.38 or .44?

Stetson or Stormy?

Should I stop at my favorite hole in the wall in south Tucson and get a big pot of menudo for the first morning in camp?

Finally, a picture that ain’t from the rear 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Back stops #47362

john dilts wrote: Would love to here what people are using for back stops right now i am using old carpet folded over and nailed to a would frame it works Ok but pulls the tips off when you are removing arrow

Well I had to look up Taloyoak Nunavut and see where the hell that was. Now that I know, I am expecting some good stories / pictures / etc.

Any good caribou hunting in your neck of the woods? Need help with that?

Welcome!

[Author]

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