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in reply to: Going to Hunt Elk need some advice #30242

In my opinion, 41 lbs is way to light for elk, please reconsider your set up. I posted this comment back in January on a previous thread and I believe it to be true.

“I have bowhunted elk for the past 27 years. A lot of time with trial and error. What has always worked for me is 55lbs and up. I think that 46lbs is too light for elk. Now I know that there have been bowhunters like Connie Renfro who have taken elk with 45 lbs bows. That said, elk are extremely tough animals when that shot is not perfect. You have a 50% chance of hitting bone every time you shoot at an elk. I have seen wounded elk do some incredible feats of strength. I respect the accuracy argument yet I take it a step further with big game like elk. Accuracy is paramount, add in 55+lbs, heavy arrows (650g+), and single bladed broadheads. That will get the job done especially when that shot is just not right.”
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in reply to: whats everyone favorite BOW ? #12226

My all time favorite bow is my Black Widow PLX Longbow. Smooth and quiet and packs a punch!

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in reply to: Opinions – What would you guys do? #60695

I would communicate. I would express your concerns and I would stick to the plan especially if you truly want to have a wild and productive elk hunt, which it is easily clear that you do. Stick to your guns so to speak. If your partner is not in shape and is unwilling to help you if you do take an elk far from the road that I would consider mentioning that since he changed his initial commitment than you will also. Let him know now that he is backing off his commitment to you and the hunt and you are not willing to compromise and perhaps you might have to go at it solo. What a shame, he sounds out of shape and fearful of the challenge at hand.

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in reply to: New Member #58738

T Downing let me know when your ready to give it a try…
Jerry, I will…Once again, welcome. T

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in reply to: New Member #56960

Welcome Jerry. I believe you will find that the members of tradbow are experienced and respectful of each others opinions. There seems to be a growing sense of community and as iron sharpens iron, we do the same here. Ever since I read about Don Thomas hunting Molokai, I have wanted to travel there and bowhunt Axis deer. Good to have you around.
God Bless, T Downing:D:D

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in reply to: help with antelope hunt #55250

A little off topic but today is exactly one month until the start of my Pronghorn tag here in Colorado. Years ago, my father and I found a particular area that caters to spot and stalk bowhunting for Pronghorns. Sagebrush and oakbrush dominate the area and single bucks seem to wander the area frequently. My only concerns are cattle pressure and a drought that hit the area in the past five years. Well, with only a month to go, it is crunch time in regards to shooting the longbow. As Coach Wooden once wrote, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Good shooting to all of you who are fortunate to have an early season Pronghorn tag. God Bless, T Downing

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in reply to: Long bow #55236

“I tested the Black widow and it shot incredible. I think I have made my decision!” lhertel, Well done. I own two Black Widow Longbows, a 55lb autumn oak PLIII that Dave Petersen sold me and A 63lb PLX made out of Cocobolo that is simply the finest bow I have ever owned. It is 64 inches and it shoots smooth and quiet. Some consider these bows to be pricey but I have never regretted the money spent on either one of them. In addition, both bows are takedowns and having this option is an extra bonus to such a fine bow. Good shooting and hunting with your new upcoming Black Widow. God Bless, T Downing:D:D

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in reply to: Elk hunting tips #49768

Elk tip #1: Always trust the wind, don’t get caught in all the elk excitement and ignore the wind. I know other bowhunters who take gambles with the wind while hunting elk and it gets them every time. The old saying, “you can fool an elk’s eyes and ears, you can never fool its nose.” True words.
Elk tip #2: Brett is right on the mark with his comments concerning set ups when calling. I believe that where you set up is equally as important in so much as I try to set up in a location that would hide an elk. Elk are looking for other elk when they are coming in and I have seen plenty of bulls get suddenly nervous because they are looking at a meadow with a small tree that has cows calls coming from it. Shooting lanes and a timbered backdrop is the idea here.
Elk Tip#3: If you are fortunate enough to take the shot, I firmly believe that cow calling right after the shot will do wonders for you. The bull might stop immediately and provide a second shot. In addition, it can be a calming affect and the elk will walk away. I encourage a mouth diaphragm call or use your voice to replicate the cow call. This will allow your hands to remain free in case you get a second shot and you will have less movement.
Elk Tip#4: After the shot, if you don’t see the elk go down or you do not hear the loud crash associated with a falling animal, stay put right where you shot. Don’t get up and move at all. I have seen bulls over the years, mortally wounded that were standing right there or bedded down almost immediately. The last thing you want to do is move forward and get that wounded elk’s adrenaline going and now you are in for a long day.
Elk Tip#5: Last but not least and this one is dedicated to the beginning elk hunter, not you experienced bowhunters who know this one all to well. HUNT HARD! You can never go wrong with putting everything you have into your elk hunt. This is only one month out of the year and it will be over before you know it, so go all out, try not to miss a morning or evening hunt if possible. I firmly believe that the traditional archer needs more opportunities in the field and elk hunting has showed me that you have to be out there in it, studying the elk and their habitat. We are blessed to be able to even hunt these wonderful animals, try to give it the best in which you are capable. T

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in reply to: Bugling in June #38597

SDMFer, I have experienced similar events as you have a few times over the years. I don’t believe that the bugles we hear are actually a fired up bull, in other words, I believe that it is elk talk summer style, not the good old fashioned kind that occurs in Aug/Sept. About 30 years ago, I was out and about with my father in the mountains of New Mexico, we were doing some scouting/training and we witnessed a huge herd of cows and calves (75+) come across about a dozen velvet covered bulls. The elk talk was absolutely amazing, mews, chirps, bugles, and brief chuckles. That said, we were fortunate to be able to watch the whole encounter and the bulls did not act like rutting elk, it was really like a social gathering. Interesting… I have always wondered what Valerius Geist would think of these summer vocalizations. T8)8)

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in reply to: Broadhead of choice let's hear it #21360

I am currently using the Abowyer Brown Bear single bevel for elk and deer. I use several single blade broadheads for everything else which is usually turkey and small game. This broadhead collection consists of Magnus, Zwickey, and Stos. I have killed animals with all of them, that said, I believe that the Abowyers are head and shoulders superior than the others on truly big game, such as elk. I really like the Stos and how they fly… I love the history of the Zwickeys because I killed my first traditional elk with them and who can argue with Paul Schafer’s success with them? 😯

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in reply to: Leaving you with regret….. #14314

Steve, my family and I will lift you and yours up in prayer this evening. The coach in me must say to keep your head up, keep hope alive and ultimately, He will move mountains!
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13

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in reply to: Ladies, welcome to the campfire. #53099

I like seeing more and more women get involved in archery. I watched the Real History of Robin Hood the other night and I thought it was really cool that some of the stories of Maid Marian, she actually turned out to be a better archer than ol RH. I got my wife a recurve a few years back and she finally pulled it out and shot it on a camping trip last summer. She loved it, except for the arm slap that occurred! Ouch… I really enjoyed watching her shoot and I can’t wait to see her do more of it. Way to go ladies…

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in reply to: broadheads #53094

Kerry, I have experience with two of the four broadheads you mentioned and I have killed elk with them. I used for years a Magnus 140 grain single blade broadhead that was easy to sharpen and combined with heavy shafts,650+g, went right through a couple of bulls. That said, I also witnessed a few of them curl up at the tips when coming into contact with bone. They flew pretty well but I moved on to a 160g STOS single blade because they seemed to fly a little better than the Magnus. I used the STOS for a couple of years and I liked them. But I also witnessed several that curled up on me as well when I stump shot. I have since moved on to heavier single bevel broadheads for my elk hunting but I would use the STOS again if I was hunting mulies or pronghorn. God Bless, T

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in reply to: Technology Kills Tradition? #53067

Hiram, one of the wonderful things about this site is we can respectfully disagree, as I do with you. I believe that Recurve Bows do make cool! Even though I am currently in love with Longbows, I am definitely qualified to have my own thoughts and opinions concerning aluminum risers. As is every tradbow member. I understand and acknowledge your comments concerning the chronological order of technological materials. That said, I don’t believe that these metal bows reflect any romance or tradition that I alluded to in my earlier posts. You can call me hypocritical if you like, perhaps you have a point. But you know what, I don’t care, I have been called worse! I agree with you about the importance of traditional ethics and you misunderstood my comments about wood. Hopefully to clarify, technology in traditional archery is a very gray area and we all have the right to view it the way we want to. For me, wood bows (yes, with modern glue.etc) are far more traditional in nature than a aluminum, machined bow that resembles a modern day compound without the cables and cams. Lastly, I inspire to be as ethical as possible in this endeavor but I don’t believe that it is the defining principle. One of the definitions of tradition states: “the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.” While ethics are a part of this definition, so is history, experience, etc. We can respectfully agree to disagree. God Bless, T

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in reply to: Technology Kills Tradition? #52950

Limblover, I must clarify that I don’t shoot selfbows, never have. Like you, I shoot glass backed recurves and longbows now for 20 years. And my wood arrows have always been made for me. That said, I have a difficult time with some of the metal and machined riser bows that are being used today. This comment alone is somewhat of a slippery slope because like some of the excellent prior posts have talked about, it is difficult to define what really is traditional…
It has always been about wood bows for me, even if there is some modern day fiberglass in them. :D:D

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