[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Strap-on tree steps #63286

Dave.. I tried them and have to agree with DWCPHOTO. They can be cumbersome to the point of being UNSAFE. Which I believe is why AmeriStep and other manufacturers are not making them anymore.

Also since they tend to be strap on or rope on you cannot leave them out long otherwise they will wear and rot.

I attempted to try the strap ones a year after my climbing treestand platform collapsed on me 12 ft up!

Needless to say.. I stuck to the ground ever since. I prefer the ground anyway.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Personal Philosophies #63285

I started with a Traditional Longbow in the Pre Compound Era. I always loved Longbows, as works of art and beauty. To me.. Traditional Bowhunting is hunting in it’s purest form. And to me epitomizes skill, strength, solitude and peace.

Traditional Bowhunting IS Fair Chase at it’s finest.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Effective Range/Max effective range #56746

J.Wesbrock wrote: Th reality is that an arrow is lethal at distances far exceeding what most anyone would consider responsible for attempting to kill a healthy animal. As I recall, Hill once wrote about killing an elk at 185 yards with a straight-limbed longbow and a wood arrow.

I am not caught up in the EFOC thing. But I do prefer a heavy arrow, as stated simple physics.

I like your answer Jason. For me, it keeps it all in perspective.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: College #56739

Get yourself one of those “BowFit” exercise kits. Certainly go a long ways in keeping your muscles, muscle memory and form in shape.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: My 2011 Early Archery Elk season #52543

Thanks for posting,AMoose! Very well written and a great adventure story! All the Best for next year! 8)

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Improving accuracy #43565

brennanherr wrote: So what is the standard for accuracy say at 20 yards? I know we all want our arrows touching but what is the average, typical grouping for average shooters? I know its is a hard one to answer but if you are willing to share it might help others that have no one to shoot with gauge their progress.

for me usually 8 inches but it ranges from 10 inches on bad days and 6 inches on those rare exceptional days.

Question is.. what is acceptable to you. Can you put a 2 inch dot on the target and hit consistently at 20 yards? 18 yards? 15 yards? What is your personal range of confidence that you can hit consistently and use as your limit for hunting. I don’t like groups because they lead to false impressions. Shoot one arrow at a a time and go get it.

If you ask any target archer, their focus is always the center of the center. In these terms for example, if they are on a 3D course, they are not focused on the ten or 12 ring, they are focused on the last hole inside the 10 or 12 ring. On an NFAA 20 yard 5 ring, your focus would not be on the 5 spot, but the X inside the 5 spot.

The 8 inch pie plate terminology as hunting acceptable maybe ok for many, you have to known where you are mostly hitting. But if you’re aiming for the vitals 8 to 10 inches could make all the difference, between a clean quick kill or a long tracking/recovery job.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: How Many Over 55 #43224

Troy Breeding wrote: Ah Joe your being hard on yourself. You gonna let a little ol’ thin like age stop you from living your dream are you?

I shot a tournament several years ago with a fellow that was in his earlie 80’s (atleast he said he was) that could walk up and down the hills without huffin and puffin as bad as I did.

Troy

Thanks, everyone! Appreciate the feedback. I will be 56 in April and was wondering what everyone else shoots as the norm. All my bows are between 50-55 and I’ve liked that range. I just made a deal on another Northwind Reverse Handle longbow that pulls 54# @ 28 so there it is – decision made.8) Thanks, everyone.

😀

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Improving accuracy #43209

snitkerb wrote: Hey all,

I began shooting traditional 4 years ago and never tried a compound as I really like my osage longbow. Generally I practice at 20 yards at least once a week. On good nights I can keep my grouping at about a foot and a half diameter. Ive tried adjusting shooting styles/variations of arrows but still fail to tighten my grouping. Does anyone have suggestions on ways to improve as so I can narrow it down. Oh and I have been shooting the same bow the past four years, 62# at 28″, so I am very familiar with my gear. Thanks

Good points. 1) at a 18 inch grouping, there might very well be some tuning issues. But, 62# is a LOT of bow. I think the main concern is that you are over-bowed. I would recommend finding a much lighter weight bow for starters. Keep the beautiful bow you have, just find a 45# one on eBay or somewhere to work on your shooting first. 2) Having said that it is hard to say but there are two parts to shooting, the first being FORM, when the form is there then the focus should be on accuracy. Shooting once a week is not really enough practice, however, it is more important to have a lot of good practice with fewer shots, than a lot of shots and a lousy practice. An archer can only be as good as their practice. Flinging a lot of arrows is not good practice, and is really bad, as it only engrains bad form habits. Practice is focus and concentration. Archery is 95% Mental and 5% Physical. There are two components to practice and each is separate, first being Form and Second being accuracy. Have practice sessions for both. But the two are never combined.

I would also recommend – Masters of The Barebow DVD. Another great book is – Instinctive Archery Insights by Jay Kidwell; and also Al Henderson’s — Understanding Winning Archery.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Arrows for 2012 #42418

Wayne… I’d love to see what your Ash looks like stained!

TB… If you you like to shoot an arrow heavier than cedar… Ash, Hickory, Birch, Doug Fir are good choices. All have qualities that are both pro and con. Chundo (Lodgepole Pine is only slightly heavier than cedar, but very straight grained and stonger than cedar. I’d would even say although not as heavy as Doug Fir, they are heartier than Doug Fir.. meaning comparing the two stumping Chundoo will out last Doug Fir.

Doug Fir was the preferrred wood of Art Young, when Howard Hill spoke the praises of Cedar. Everyone jumped on that band wagon. However, keep in mind, the old growth cedar of Howard Hill’s time was better quality than the second growth stuff we see today.

Doug Fir is my preferred Hunting Arrow for it’s penetrating qualities if I shot a heavier bow, I would use Laminated Birch. But for being in the lower to mid 50’s in poundage, Doug Fir & Chundoo suite me fine.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: How Many Over 55 #38256

Troy, Bruc… thanks for your reply. I will be 56 in April. I am about ready to order a new bow and I really like the 55# @ 28 range myself. I see some folks dropping in poudage as they get older, but I don’t know, 50# and under seem too light for my liking.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Trad VS. Compound #32182

[quote=”gidaddy911 I let them go first becuase I knew they would go faster than I would.

Really!!! That’s amazing. Most shoots I go to, I can shoot 15 arrows before the wheel crowd lets go of one!!! 😆

All the best with your Trad Gear and plans! I am preferential to Bamboo myself!

P.S. get out and do some stumping, you be surprised at how many 25 and 30 yard shots you’ll be proficient at. The main thing is letting your brain calculate for unknown yardages.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: A REMINDER OF WHY WE HUNT TRADITIONALLY #10010

SH.. Agreed. Hence the underlying concern in this thread being ethical behavior. And there are definitely outstanding huners out there. Regardless of what they choose as their preferred hunting implement.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: A REMINDER OF WHY WE HUNT TRADITIONALLY #9992

SH.. I understand. I do a lot of hunting in “Bow Only” Areas that are open through all of my state’s seasons. However, come Gun Season, you almost never see a Compound hunter in these woods either. They have foresaken their Mechanical Arrow Launchers for the Rifle or Shotgun. And that’s pretty much the way it is with them. Not all, but I’d say 99% of them.

In my opinion, the Compound is not a Bow either. It’s a machine. And that’s not a derogatory statement. It’s a statement of fact.

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Are we forgetting our roots? #9870

donthomas wrote: There are a lot of bowhunters in America now, but for most of them bowhunting as it is now known didn’t begin until the invention of the compound. Glenn St. Who? We at the magazine are aware of the problem, and that’s why we run a “Traditional Archives” column in every issue. The subject matter varies widely, but every column tries to cover something from the “old days”, whether that was 50 years ago or 5,000. We hope you all are reading it. Don

That is a factual sad statement, most compound hunters think everything started with the compound bow! 🙄 Which amazes me to no end! 😯 But, I love the Traditional Archives, iimmensely – great stuff! 8)

[SteveMcD]

in reply to: Deer Calls? Or Just Blowing Hot Air! #9867

Interesting thread. I’ve had the opportunity to try to grunt a few bucks during the season so far, with no re-action at all. Being from New York, I guess the deer expect the call to have a “Brooklyn” accent. “Hey, use guys ova here-a!!, I’m walkin’ here, I’m walkin’ here!”. 😆

I will keep them as we all know deer are individuals and all react differently. But like George’s experience for the most part, they don’t work. At least not for me.

[Author]

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