Oakleaf said:
As a shooter, it is with a wry smile that I see the relative perception of the 'public' when viewing bows v firearms. Given the general grief and PR struggles of the shooters, I would urge archers to maintain their 'wholesome' image at all costs!
Stump shooting - there is a special tip - semi blunt with a sprung claw. It flys similiar to a broad head, will stick in wood, but not deeply. Cant for the life of me recall the name - will look it up and revert. Not sure if DG Quick stock it. Quicks are a big UK archery outfit - they do a very good catalogue, which I would recommend to anyone interested in the topic.
Bows etc aside, they stock a big range of components. They also carry a good range of books - ancient and modern technique.
I deer stalk and confess that the idea of bow hunting has crossed my mind ( understand - taking any game in the UK with a bow is illegal ). Commonly, the arrow kills by bleeding out the quarry - hence the razor sharp broad heads. Not every bullet kills immediately - though that is always the goal. But it would seem ( and I speak from no hands on experience ) that on deer size quarry and above, the time from impact to loss of consciousness/ death will be longer.
Hunting to survive is one thing. Choosing a method that potentially increases quarry discomfort when alternatives exist is a concern for me.
I raise this as a talking point. As I say, I have no direct experience of arrow impact effect on game. Equally, other factors - balance with nature, respect for quarry etc all come into play. So please do not read anything here as judgemental - it is not. I would be interested to hear the experiences and views of others - in a constructive discussion.
The late James Douglas ( who was killed in a bow accident ) dealt with bow hunting stories in 'With Gun, rifle and bow'. You often see the book at Gamefairs etc.
I have followed the comments regards weight ( ie draw weight ). I think 25-35 lb is about right to start. Many training bows are too light - which can make release harder. Much depends on the person. But getting the technique right is the bedrock of all that follows.
Moving away from self constructed bows, but the compound is something to consider. In modern compound bows, eccentric cams give a let-off - commonly 50-60% of the peak draw weight. So you may have a 75lb bow, but the holding weight is 40lb. That make any sense? Many compounds tend to be quite short - so the string angle at draw may require the use of a release aid.
I have seen pictures of Native American compound bows - consisting of two traditional recurve bows bound back to back. The effect was similiar to the cammed bows. Anyone had experience with these?
I agree. Anyone that uses any weapon to take game should live to the highest standards and should hold others to that same standard, no matter who they are and what they do with their lives.
The roving tip you are thining of is the Zwickey Judo Point. They are designed to be a small game head and because of their design, are perfect for roving because it can't snake under the ground cover. You are quite right that arrows are a bear to get out of trunks and stumps, which is why I avoid them. Not to mention that I look at a tree the same as I do a deer. I won't wound a tree if I can help it.
I have seen a lot of animals die from gun and bow. Speaking on deer, I have seen them knocked down by a 30-06 round, get back up and run 40 meters with a broken shoulder and then expire. A bow shot deer will run as well. The longest tracking job I've had after putting an arrow through both lungs was about 35 paces. The average distance of a rifle shot here in the open country is around 150 yards, but can extend out to 300 yards or so. My average shot distance is 15 paces. The longest was about 45 paces on a ground squirrel and the shortest distance was point blank on a Mule Deer. Many hunters sit in a tree and ambush their quarry. I hunt exclusively from the ground on the animals terms. Either weapon is fine, as is any hunting technique.
One thing I can guarantee is, you will not end the life of an animal without causing it pain. Nor will you take an animals life without affecting your own. I find the taking of life to be a spiritual matter and I treat it and the animal with the reverence they deserve and I offer ceremony before, during and after the hunt to cleanse and prepare myself, show respect to, honor and thank my quarry that has given it's all so that my family can live another day and offering thanks to my CREATOR for bringing the animal and myself together in such a good way. Of course, not many people understand why I do what I do, but that's ok, because it's all in how we view ourselves as part of the whole that makes us who and what we are in life.
To offer a comparison, cut yourself with a sharp knife, then smash your hand with a sledge hammer, shattering bones as you do. Now, imagine both hitting you in the chest. That is the difference between the arrow and the bullet. Neither is painless and neither is going to kill you right away.
I agree that a lesser weight is a good thing when starting out. But like you say, too little weight makes the release a problem. Go overly heavy in weight and problems like target panic, short drawing the bow, etc., can and do happen. Then it's very difficult to get back on track and fix those problems.
I used to shoot an older compound, but don't have much experience with the newer compounds other than to say, they were originally designed to make flinging arrows easier so that those who couldn't normally partake in archery, because of physical limitations, could enjoy the sport. Now, because of man's need to do things as quickly as possible and in the easiest possible way, the compound has become the main tool used for archery. Nothing wrong with them, just not my brand of tea. They will make it much easier to become proficient in the sport. Within a relatively short time, you would be hitting consistently, which at first makes for a happy archer. But being perfect is a very dull life in my opinion. I am happiest and gain the most satisfaction when I have to work hard for something and succeed because of my skill and not because of the weapons ease of use.
I have no experience with the NA bow you speak of. I've been to a few tournaments held by Native Americans and most of them use compounds now-a-days. However, there seems to be some traditionalists left that still use the primitive weapons of their ancestors.
My bows are made by bowyers both here in the US and in Canada. I have a 40# 64" Shakespeare Trident recurve, a 45# 62" Martin Hunter recurve (wifes), a 51# 60" Chek-Mate Hunter II 3 piece takedown recurve, a 46# 60" Tim Meigs reflex/deflex Duo-flex longbow (wifes), a 54# 66" Chek-Mate Crusader r/d 2 piece takedown longbow and a 47# 72" Don Brown Woodsman English style longbow. My favorite for both pleasure shooting and hunting being the Crusader.
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