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in reply to: Enough for Elk?????? #33487

I have hunted elk for over 25 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. T

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in reply to: Mail order source for tungsten wire? #32484

Dave, the footed shafts from Raptor Archery that I killed my elk with last year had tungsten built into the footing. Perhaps Ted has access to some tungsten rod. T

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in reply to: Wintercamp / Pics #24943

Daniel, Some of the coolest camp pics I have ever seen. Adventure and solitude, doesn’t get much better than that. Thanks for the inspiration! As soon as I am able, I going to set up a winter camp and bowhunt some tasty cottontails. T

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in reply to: WHATS EVERYONE SHOOTING? #22227

I primarily shoot a 63lb Black Widow PLX, easily the finest bow I have ever shot. My other go to bows are a 55lb BW PL III and a sweet shooting 50.5lb Matlock Longbow. I love them all.

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in reply to: Heavy Bows – Are they now a part of our past #57891

A very interesting topic. Thanks everyone for their previous posts! I have tremendous respect for those archers who hunt with 75-100lb bows. There is not as many of them as there used to be. That’s for sure. It takes a special breed of archer to practice most of the year and hunt with heavy bows. Nowadays, a 65lb bow is considered heavy. I also applaud those bowhunters who have embraced “lighter” bows. It all boils down to accuracy and individuality. I shoot a sweet 50.5lb Matlock longbow for turkey. Most of the year, I am shooting a 65lb BW for everything else. Personally, I shoot the 65lb bow better. For some reason, the heavier bow’s weight provides me a better release. My fingers never pluck the string. Interesting. Have any of you heavy bow shooters (70-100) seen similar results? I recently pulled back an 80lb Stotler Longbow, it was so smooth and easy, it was difficut to believe it was an 80lb pull. I have heard of other bowyers who make heavy bows that are smooth to draw and shoot. Ultimately, heavy bows and lighter bows are all wonderful in their own way and both kill game very effectively. T

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in reply to: For those of you that hunt with wood arrows #50645

Every now and then I briefly consider switching over to carbon arrows. The reasoning behind switching over is because out of a dozen wood arrows, usually half of them fly really well. That said, I stick to my wood arrows because they continually remind me that the name of the game is to get really close to the quarry and don’t over complicate this wonderful world of traditional archery. I have a difficult time believing that wood arrows of today are inferior to wood arrows used by our Native predecessors. I understand the argument for carbon arrows as far as EFOC and straightness. But in the end, I really struggle with any metal touching my beautiful wood riser. It just doesn’t feel right to me. In the end, if you have a yearning to hunt with wood arrows, GO FOR IT!

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in reply to: New Mexico Mulies #49527

Congrats on the NM mule deer tag. I am from NM originally and I have hunted the southern units of the state in the past during Jan. Personally, I would be out at first light glassing and I would remain in the field all day. Rutting mulies are out and about all day long. I would find a good glassing area and use my binos/spotting scope to locate the deer. Rutting mulies are simply a little insane right now, if you locate does, there will be a buck near by. Still hunting work excellent right now as well. You can get incredibly close to these wonderful animals by staying patient and being as quiet as you can be. In my experience, you have to pay more attention to the does, the bucks are so much easier to get close to. Good hunting to you and hopefully, shoot straight! T

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in reply to: Beautiful last day of the season in NY #48900

Alex, wonderful photos, I never knew how beautiful NY really is, simply awesome. Good hunting the rest of the season. Shoot straight, T

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in reply to: AZ Coues hunters? #48028

Merry Christmas to you as well Alex. We missed you this past year, looking foward to your next visit to our sacred elk hunting grounds. Hope all is well with you and yours, Thomas

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in reply to: AZ Coues hunters? #47574

Dave, I didn’t realize that you had already left for your AZ hunt. Good hunting my friend, talk to you after Christmas. T

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in reply to: Five Favorite Non-Hunting Books #37192

Here are five of my favorites, in no particular order:
The Genghis Series, Lords of the Bow(3 Books) by Conn Iggulden
Happiness Is A Choice by Barry Neil Kaufman
Bruce Lee Artist of Life by John Little
Wooden A Lifetime Of Observations and Reflections On And Off The Court by Coach John Wooden with Steve Jamison
The Bible, goes with me everywhere…

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