[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: How Forgewood shafts were made #17312

Very nice, thanks!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: ASH #14372

I have never made a bow from Ash, but I have heard and read that it works just fine, as has already been said.

If I was going to all the trouble to make a bow that way, I’d back it with rawhide, or sinew or something. Much more spirit in that than glass. Though I prefer glass bows for durability. If you go with glass, you have to go all the way. Face and back.

Putting glass on one side only is a recipe for failure. Just saying…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: 2014 Hunting #14359

Bear tag you say? Sounds like the bear needs to be extra vigilant 8)

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Bear Takedown #59110

I have a bear takedown. I had a bunch of trouble with it when I got it (new). Suffice to say the factory limbs failed after 50 shots or so. But that’s not a fault in the bow design, it’s a fault in manufacture.

So assuming the bow doesn’t blow up on you, I’d say go for it. I ended up getting some custom limbs made for it and I’ve killed a bunch of deer and a pig with it. I really like it for it’s history as well as it’s function.

The B riser is just a longer riser. I have the 64 inch version of the bow as I like longer bows.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Best Natural Cover Scents #59097

R2 wrote: [quote=Smithhammer][quote=AlexBugnon]My own body-produced wind. If I can’t smell it, it tells me I’m hunting in the right direction! 😛

We have a winner…

But for today’s high-tech hunting world, it really needs a catchy name if you want it to become popular…how about something like, “Tootzonic Flatulax 5000 by Mossy Oak?”

“As more and more hunters take to the woods, I need a cover scent that not only tells me which way the wind is blowing, but also ensures that there are no other hunters downwind of me. The Tootzonic Flatulax 5000™ does both, and now has a permanent place in my hunting kit.”

– Traditional bowhunter, pianist and occasional dabbler in wind instruments, Alex Bugnon

So that is why we find so many empty cans of beenie weenies out in the field?

See, now that’s why I like this site so much. You just never know what you will learn!

I consider myself a pretty good player of the aforementioned wind instrument. But in my limited way of thinking, I just used it as a call… Wait till things get really quiet, you know, when you can hear a hair move on the back of your neck, and then play a nice long soulful note, just to see what happens 8)

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Best Natural Cover Scents #59090

wojo14 wrote: http://www.cedarcreekcamo.com/products/cedar-oil/16-oz

Anyone ever use this?

Repels bugs and covers sent.

There is a cheaper solution to cedar oil. Buy the oil, and mix your own spray. 1oz oil, a touch of soap, and 12 oz of water or so. Mix to your own taste as they say…

There are many sources of the oil, here’s one:

http://www.100pureessentialoils.com/cedarwood-oil.html

I have used the cedar oil for several years now. It works as well, or maybe better, than the rest of the stuff you can buy.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Meatheads and carbon arrow sleeves #55801

Gold tip 55/75 traditional arrows. I’ll have to check on the aluminum sleeve. Made from some old aluminum arrows that fit nicely over it. I’ll find out the arrow size and update.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: B and C #55794

It seemed like a well thought out statement, and was written well. I’m glad to see an organization like this take such a position.

While I agree that spelling distances out might be nice, I think they hit the nail when they observed that if the animal has no chance to detect you, you really can’t call it hunting. And I liked the way they touched on the relationship between hunter and hunted : “This is an intrinsic, irrefutable and intimate connection that cannot be compromised if the hunter is to maintain the sanctity of this relationship and any credible claim that hunting is challenging, rewarding, respectful of wild creatures, and in service to wildlife conservation. This connection is built upon many complex components that differentiate hunting from simply shooting or killing.”

We have lots of guys taking 4 and 5 hundred yard shots at deer in bean fields. In fact, I think some of the newer long range rifle designs came from the guys in our eastern bean fields. But those guys are not hunters. They are sharpshooters. And I get the feeling they would be happier shooting at people 😯

Thanks for the link!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Come on Feather Joe. Tell us a story #55051

dwcphoto wrote: Nice story, Tailfeather. I love to hear it done with real, real, traditional gear!

Steve, I’d love to read that dragonfly story, too. dwc

Well OK then…

Back in my NASA days, I was fishing for bluefish off playlinda national seashore which is a preserved area north of Pad 39 (where they used to launch the shuttles) at the Kennedy Space Center. It was a windless day with almost no surf. It was like fishing in a giant pond.

I was catching bluefish like crazy and hadn’t noticed the sun dip below the dunes. But as soon as it did, I began to hear this high pitched whine, sort of like a biplane sounds. I looked around for the source and watched a cloud of skeeters come flying over the dunes down to the beach and all over me. I could hardly breath they were so thick. I got out of the water as fast as I could, grabbed my stuff and was running down the beach in a bit of a panic.

Then I heard another odd sound, this time it sounded like a c130 way off in the distance coming my way. Again, it was coming over the dunes. This time when I looked, it was a cloud of dragonflies coming in and the air battle was on. Within minutes, the skeeters were gone… And I went back to fishing 😀

That was my best day ever fishing for blues in the surf. I had a freeze full.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Food for a Backpack Hunt #54714

Well now Mr. Hammer and Mr. Eidsvolling, I am not usually a fan of processed food, but for me a trip like that is a once every 3 or 4 years kind of thing. So I appreciate the quick and easy and light nature of the freeze dried stuff. I am sure if I did it more, I’d be finding a better way. I may have to get that cookbook and see what it’s all about…

But come on now, have you tried the lasagna? I bet if you did you’d be singing another song 😆

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Bowhunting Alaska #54711

Since it’s out of print, the internet machine is your best bet. It can take a long time, but watch links like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Bowhunting-Alaskas-wild-rivers-Massey/dp/B0006FAOK0

It takes about a year, usually, to find one at a fair price.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Food for a Backpack Hunt #54157

I like the idea of having each day’s food in a separate container. Keeping a backpack organized is tough enough. Being able to just reach in and pull out a bag is sweet!

Maybe instead of burning the bag, he can just cr%$^p in it. Pack out everything you pack in and leave only footprints, right? 😳 🙄 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Meatheads and carbon arrow sleeves #53527

I had a problem with getting a sleeved arrow into the back of the meathead. The broadhead is designed to come over the end of the shaft and protect it, which is great. But the problem is that the inserts go way down into the broadhead. When you tighten the shaft onto the insert, you need to make sure it bottoms out on the insert, and not the inner wall of the broadhead. Hopefully that makes sense…

I ended up having to ditch the aluminum sleeves to insure contact between the insert and the arrow.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Food for a Backpack Hunt #53521

Yep those mountain house freeze dried meals are good. My favorite is the lasagna. Yum!

I was a little disappointed to hear him say he burns his plastic bags in the fire. Burning plastic is about as nasty a thing as you can personally do to the planet. Not only that, the stink travels for miles.

Case in point: Our neighbor, who I have been working on for years to clean up his act, burns his own garbage. He lives about a mile from us. When he burns plastic I can smell it while sitting in the house. I call him up and say, “Hay Willie, you’re burning plastic again. What did I tell you about that?!” He never remembers what I tell him, but he can’t figure out how I know he’s burning plastic, even after I tell him I can smell his stink.

A quick tutorial on burning plastic, if interested:

http://www.wecf.eu/cms/download/2004-2005/homeburning_plastics.pdf

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: The way to practice a perfect shot #51404

I like that one too!

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