Hunting and Fishing Thread - With Poll

[Carl Keller]

It is raining ducks in South Jersey.

I had an excellent opening day and my buddies limited out (6 each) by 10:00 am last Saturday (I was in Chicago on business. BUMMER!)

Plenty of Teal and Mallards.

Crossbow huh? Cool, unfortunately Illegal in NJ.

I am considering buying a Longbow to use for next Fall bow season (I will need practice time). I have been using a compound almost 20 years now, it would be nice to get back to basics.

Carl-

 

[Wes Bucey]

It's been a long time since I had ANY bow in my hands. I do remember that a compound bow had a lot more stopping power for "pull strength" (draw weight) than a comparable long bow. I still have my long bow (single piece of wood, no laminates) stashed somewhere, but long ago gave away the compound bow to a relative. I once had a crossbow, but never found myself willing to hunt with it.

The long bow is certainly a lot easier to carry and maintain than a compound bow. I did like the recurved bows, but I broke two in two years (at the string nocks.)

I did a quick lookup of current prices. WOW!

 

[Carl Keller]

Yeah,

Longbows cost WAY more than my first compound bow, and more than many current models.

Must be a supply/demand thing.

I am thinking of making my own over the summer.

Carl-

 

[Craig H.]

I have seen some of the laminated long bows, and know a few who shoot them. They are a challenge, and I would consider any game taken with one to be a trophy. Some of those bows are beautiful, but they can cost more than a new compound bow.

I am glad to hear about the duck hunt. Do you have any pictures you would be willing to share?

Fortunately crossbows became legal for general use in GA a few years ago. I said I would never consider one, but my shoulder does not allow me to use a regular bow anymore. I was more confident with my compound bow than I am/was with a rifle, too. Oh, well.

I am sure Wes is right about a longbow being easier to handle in the woods. I think my crossbow has been designed for range use ONLY, compared even to a compound bow. It catches on every branch, briar, and twig it comes within a few yards of. It is fast, but loud, as well. Better than a slingshot, I guess, but that deer I missed almost certainly moved at the sound of the shot - the bolt went where it was pointed, but when it got there, no deer.

I am going to try again Wednesday night, but with the rifle.

 

[Wes Bucey]

Yeah,

Longbows cost WAY more than my first compound bow, and more than many current models.

Must be a supply/demand thing.

I am thinking of making my own over the summer.

Carl-

What wood will you use? Yew? Lemonwood? other?
Where will you get it? One piece or laminate?

 

[Carl Keller]

I did take some pictures, but I am having problems downloading. I'll forward as soon as I correct the problem.

I am thinking a one piece/stick. There are several sources for Yew staves and instructionals on the web, but some of them are very involved. I find it hard to beleive that native americans and thousands of Saxons cured staves for bows for three or four years before turning them into bows. There are a few "affordable" (under $300) longbows on the market, but it would definitely be an accomplishment to make your own capable of taking large game such as a deer.

Many of the longbows on the market actually have an arrow shelf built into the riser, but if I build my own I am definitely going "purist". No shelf, no recurve, Leather handle and wood arrows with feather fletching (another challenge to make!)

I think the crossbow deal is way cool. I used to have an Astro-Daco Hornet. 150 lb recurve limb crossbow. I certainly would not have wanted to get hit with a bolt coming out of it!

Carl-

 

[Kevin H]

Sources - info on self-bows

Wes, if you're interested in reading about (or making) a self-bow a good resource is Bois d'Arc Press, PO Box 87 Goldwaite, TX 76844 website www.boisdarcpress.com, telephone 325-938-5316. They have a 3 volume set called "Traditional Bowyer's Bible" Volumes 1 through 3 all about design and making self bows.

Other North American woods being used for bows include ash, hickory, and osage orange. I've got a friend making them out of ash, and just getting into trying osage orange.

There are also a couple of interesting magazines - if memory serves one is Tradional Bowhunter Magazine and the other is Primitive Archer.

 

[Craig H.]

I did take some pictures, but I am having problems downloading. I'll forward as soon as I correct the problem.

I am thinking a one piece/stick. There are several sources for Yew staves and instructionals on the web, but some of them are very involved. I find it hard to beleive that native americans and thousands of Saxons cured staves for bows for three or four years before turning them into bows. There are a few "affordable" (under $300) longbows on the market, but it would definitely be an accomplishment to make your own capable of taking large game such as a deer.

Many of the longbows on the market actually have an arrow shelf built into the riser, but if I build my own I am definitely going "purist". No shelf, no recurve, Leather handle and wood arrows with feather fletching (another challenge to make!)

I think the crossbow deal is way cool. I used to have an Astro-Daco Hornet. 150 lb recurve limb crossbow. I certainly would not have wanted to get hit with a bolt coming out of it!

Carl-

Carl:

I'd love to see the pictures. Please do keep us up on how you go about building your bow.

The problem I have with compound bows (shoulder) may not be so bad with a longbow, although every time that I have seen one shot the archer pulled back and released in one motion. This might just be worth a try...

It would be interesting making the arrows as well, but you might consider "cheating" a little and making a couple with plastic fletching. Feathers don't do so well when it's wet. Then again, that would be a valid excuse to get out of the rain and sit by the fire.

My crossbow (Revolution) is fun to shoot, and the expandable broadheads on it would make a nasty wound, indeed. Now, if I could just hit something with the confounded thing!

 

[Carl Keller]

As indicated above by Kevin, Osage Orange is an excellent wood also.

I am going to stick with the feathers, but will definitely be using modern expanding broadheads (vs.the old Bear or Browning sharpen yourself affairs) as I feel they are the most humane.

How hard can it be? A stick with a string on it, right? Hahahaha!

I have been bowhunting a long time and definitely feel I am ready for the challenge.

Anybody know what the heck "tillering" is? (just kidding)

Carl-

 

[Carl Keller]

Armed and dangerous

CNN has a story today about 5 hunters that were killed in Wisconson over a treestand dispute.

Geez! Camden was just named the most dangerous city in the U.S. today, who would have thought that some whacko in the woods would take out 5 guys over nothing?

NJ Deer season starts on December 6, do I need to carry my .45 as a backup?

Carl-