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in reply to: 2016 Whitetail Report …… #121322

I was fortunate enough to see a number of deer throughout the bow and firearms seasons here in Central NYS (about a 100 mile radius from Syracuse). I wasn’t as fortunate with the taking during bow season. Had one potential 30 yard shot but the deer never gave an angle and it would have been through brush anyway. So that wasn’t the time and place for me. I was successful with the taking during firearms season but that’s not a story for this forum.

To the original question, I saw a number of good deer this year and so did many of my neighbors.

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in reply to: Mountain Cuisine? #23852

Here’s a link to more information on planning your backcountry meals at home. A pretty simple strategy and can be easily altered for more variety…..

http://blog.nols.edu/2016/04/20/how-to-make-your-own-instant-backpacking-meals/

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in reply to: Deer photos #33145

robbin68, my property is similar in that both bedding and feeding areas are somewhere else nearby (and I have limited permission to hunt those properties at specific times of the season). But these kinds of corridor properties can be good hunting grounds if you can keep track of the travel lanes. I do most of my scouting in the winter when I can clearly see the paths in the snow. With very few exceptions, the deer in my area follow the same routes year after year. So I have set up ambush points in various places near enough to the trails to get good shots (if the deer cooperate). And with multiple locations, I can vary my sitting so that it is harder for the deer to pattern me.

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in reply to: Bear "Cub" restoration help requested #33098

Thanks again. I’ll be trying both approaches this weekend. One or the other should work to at least cut through the base grime. Then I can reassess the situation as I think there has been some repainting or overpainting in the past on this bow.

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in reply to: Bear "Cub" restoration help requested #23944

Thanks, Berniebac. I did a little searching on “Varsol” since I had never heard the term before. Turns out in the US it could be also known as one of several other products. “White spirit (UK) or mineral spirits (US), also known as mineral turpentine, turpentine substitute, petroleum spirits, solvent naphtha (petroleum), varsol, Stoddard solvent, or, generically, “paint thinner”, is a petroleum-derived clear liquid used as a common organic solvent in painting and decorating.” (Wikipedia) I had someone recommend a US product called “Goo Gone” to try as they had successfully used it to clean a bow. I know “Goo Gone” pretty well as I use it for other applications (not sure why it didn’t come to me for this – brain fade maybe). So now I have a few directions I can go in. Certainly will be proceeding slowly. May even try just plain hot water and Dawn dish detergent first. If Dawn is safe enough for animal cleanup after an oil spill, it’s probably OK for an old recurve. Thanks again.

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in reply to: Looking for a mentor Oregon. #56120

One more trad rendezvous (Trad Bow, April/May 2016, page 75). “Western States Traditional Rendezvous” sponsored by Traditional Archers of Oregon at Tygh Valley, OR. May 28, 29, 30, 2016. Contacts: Nancy Doran, 541-388-8400, scoutsmail@bendbroadband.com AND Kevin Thompason, 503-428-6744, kevin_necia@msm.com. Website: http://www.taoregon.com

Hope that helps.

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in reply to: Mountain Cuisine? #56612

Having been on a long trip with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), I can attest to the usefulness of their cookbook, “NOLS Cookery”. You can usually find a copy at a used bookstore. Has chapters on preparing your meals ahead and packing multi-use food items for some menu variety. A sample can be seen here:

http://www.nols.edu/alumni/leader/07summer/recipe_box.shtml

as well as their You-Tube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8805D4A15F0C4B2C

If you are creative, there’s alot of relatively inexpensive dried/quick prepare food available in large grocery stores. Pasta with sauce from canned concentrate, all kinds of noodle-and-sauce dishes, dried mashed potatoes (add real bacon bits – yumm!), dried soups, commercial bagels, tortillas, cheese, sausages, etc, etc.

If you go to a large backpacking store, they should have plastic squeeze tubes (like toothpaste tubes) that you can fill with peanut butter, honey (great food value and first aid uses, too), and other semi-liquid items.

One of my colder weather favorites is hot Jello. Mix it up as directed using all hot water and drink it in the evening before bed. Sugar and protein to help keep you warmer throughout the night via digestion. Not recommended for the “tiny bladder club” since it makes about a quart of liquid.

I am in the woods a ton and haven’t eaten commercial freeze dried in years. Too expensive, too much salt (as already pointed out), and not much variety. Usually for my first two days I’ll freeze some meat and tuck it inside extra clothes or sleeping bag. Fresh veggies lets you make a stew the first or second night and fresh fruit (apples or oranges) makes a nice dessert. Eat it up in the first two nights, then get into the more lightweight stuff.

Also, as recommended above, take two water filters. Never know when “Mr. Murphy” will make an appearance. I would also recommend taking some variety of commercial water treatment (iodine, chlorine, or UV). If you bring a metal cook pot, you have a fourth way to prep water as well.

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in reply to: Looking for a mentor Oregon. #56469

Welcome, Stadig. Lots of good advice so far. I’ll share that I have learned quite a bit just reading posts here.

You may want to check in with a couple of the local rod & gun clubs in your area. There may be a few trad archers there that can help you. Also look to see if there are any archery shops in your area. Folks there may be able to help connect you.

Not sure where you are located in Oregon, but there is at least one large traditional shoot. Eagle Cap Traditional Archers, “Rendezvous at the River”. Takes place June 11, 12, 13 (2016) at the LeGrande Rifle & Pistol Club, LeGrande, OR. Contact is Steve Campbell, 541-786-3497, email- campbes2@eou.edu, website- http://www.eagelcaptraditionalarchers/wordpress.com

A little further afield, there are two events in Washington by the Traditional Bowhunters of Washington. First is the “Sun Basin Archers Rock Shoot” on April 22, 23,24 (2016) at the TBW Club Range, Central, Wa. Contact is Mike Prior, 509-431-5552, email- ibuildbows@gmail.com, website- http://www.tbwonline.org

And second is August 6, 7 (2016), “must monitor website for location”. Contact is Mike Prior (above) and Rick Liebel, 206-824-6161.

There’s also at least one event in Idaho. Idaho Traditional Bowhunters “Fall Tune-Up” on August 6, 7 (2016) in Smith’s Ferry, Idaho. Contact is Lee Sisco, 208-377-5338, email- idtradbow@gmail.com, website- http://www.idahotraditionalbowhunters.com

Hope that helps you some.

[TMS]

in reply to: Buffalo Robes #21386

I don’t have one but a friend does. We’re both members of the American Mountain Men (1800’s historical reenactment group). The buff robe is very heavy to sleep under but very warm. Not quite as warm sleeping on top but gives a nice cushion. Hard to carry under primitive conditions without a horse or mule. If you’re not bound to following historical accuracy, you have no problem carrying it on an ATV or similar. Pretty spendy just to wear as a robe around the house. For alot less money you could be well served by a wool blanket (Pendleton or similar, not military surplus) if your only use is indoors.

Only special care is to keep it away from wool moths. They will eat holes through the fur. Like anything else, they can get dusty but a good shaking or tumble in the dryer (no heat) will solve that issue.

Best prices I have seen commercially are from Crazy Crow Trading Post in Texas. Or you might get lucky if you live near someone who raises buffalo commercially.

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in reply to: Apr/MayTBM editorial #20231

I have to agree with the editorial. Like Mr. Thomas, I grew up running the woods in Upstate NY (far from the “Big Apple”). Right behind my house was a very large (to me) chunk of woods that I roamed most of the time. It was about a mile and a half wide and maybe 10 miles long. It had been “landlocked” by the road I lived on and an abandoned railroad track that dated back to the 1910’s. There were a couple of ponds and a stream. If I wasn’t “wandering” & camping, fishing, or hunting (first with my BB gun, after with a .22), I was in school. I’m sure today’s helicopter parents and all the bleeding hearts would consider my life a case of abuse. But my parents really only had one rule, to know where I was and when I expected to be home. Most Saturdays my response was “in the woods, back for dinner” and everything was fine. My only lingering side effect of that abuse is a strong urge to loaf in the woods whenever I can. I would wish the same for today’s kids.

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in reply to: Seats vs The Ground #25300

When I use my homemade hammock seat, I have a 6ft X 6ft square of leafy-cut fabric that I drape over my legs. That seems to help disguise my form without impeding my movement. Weighs just a couple of ounces and packs tiny. For what it’s worth, I made my hammock seat with the camo pattern on both sides just in case.

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in reply to: How do you keep warm? #49021

I have a couple of “secrets” to staying out as long as possible in the cold (for me, “cold” is single digits Fahrenheit or below). First, I wear a “performance fabric” base layer. I have different weights for different temps. Second, no cotton anywhere. All of my fabric choices are either poly (warmer temps) or wool (colder temps). Third, at least two layers on my head and hands. Wool knit hat or fleece hat under a camo poly hood/facemask. Poly under gloves, bow glove, and covered by glomitts. Finally, a windproof nylon shell jacket over my insulation layers and under a camo long-sleeve t-shirt. I find I can draw a bow (or shoulder a flintlock) more easily with several light weight layers rather than one heavy layer.

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in reply to: New member saying hello! #58509

Welcome, ambush. I’m a fairly new member here as well. The amount of information freely shared here is fantastic. One of the first things I learned here is that if you treat everyone else as you want to be treated, you’ll do fine. Everyone has been very friendly to me (and I’m sure will be to you as well)and have shared their knowledge. Best wishes for the upcoming move. From Alberta to Florida is some distance but you may still find coyotes in the Southern US, just not mule deer (I don’t think so anyway).

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in reply to: Solo Hunt #35762

paleoman, if I were in your shoes, I would go. Like Wose, I have a background in search & rescue (and tons of camping, hiking, and solo hunting). My only advice would be to “go slow, think through the situation, take no foolish chances”. Yes, starting right out, a solo hunt is a chance. But there are lots of things you can do in the prep stage and in the hunting stage to reduce risk. Preparation is key. I’m sure you know all about having good survival gear with you and knowing how to use it.

Is there cell service in the area you plan to hunt? If so, set up a specific time each day to check in with someone. Make sure they have a good map of the area with your intended campsite and hunting location indicated. If you’re doing backpack hunting with a different campsite each night as the hunt dictates, point that out and give your best guesses if you know the area well. If there’s no cell service, you may want to look into one of the satellite locator beacon systems (like SPOT). Just remember, if you activate it you had best be in an emergency and not just hungry for a pizza!

Oh, yeah, and have a great time.

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in reply to: Hammock Seat Hedonism, Episode 1 #54185

Thanks for the info. Now I have “another” item on my list of neat stuff to acquire. But I can see uses for the hammock seat for bow & gun hunting as well as camping and general loafing. So I can justify it as multipurpose. Yeah, r-i-g-h-t.

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