So after some rigorous early morning testing in the driveway, the starting lineup is pretty much set for the opening of the deer archery season in mid-September. The ASL is, of course, my 66", 48#, Northern Mist Sprague TD with a 175gr Grizzly Bruin on a 45-50# wood arrow made from a footed shaft provided by Greenwood Arrows. The recurve is my Roberston Wolfer II takedown that is 60" and 50#. Have had very good flight characteristics and speed using a 50-55# arrow from Suzanne St. Charles at Northwest Archery mounted with a 150gr Grizzly Bruin. Finally, my Hybrid Longbow is a 62", 50# Bodnik Mohawk Chief with 600 spine Heavy Hunter carbon arrows and a 175gr German Jager broadhead. All 3 bows have already proven their worth as hunters, but which one I take to the field tends to depend on the type of hunting (stalk, natural blind, pop-up/fixed-blind, treed stand, tripod) I will be doing. Will be leading off with the Mohawk on Sep 18 from a pop-up ground blind I set up on a co-op farm property where my wife keeps a dozen bee hives. The trail cameras tell me the most likely shots will be 10-15 yards. Although we have only ever captured pictures of does, we have seen a decent buck on the adjacent property and expect he will find his way over to our farm during the rut. Almost forgot, JJ has my 19" Bob Lee Blackhawk handle and is fitting it with a pair of 60", 48# CobraCurve limbs as we speak. Expect to see it back in a week or two and then we'll see if I can figure it out in time for the September opener. Have some additional hunts already scheduled for later in the fall so the Blackhawk will make it to the field this year in any case.
The new Covert Hunter
Wow. Its gonna take years to come back
I had my Yellowstone Longbow all set up with some Surewood shafts tipped with 160gr Grizzly and Wolverine broadheads but all the fires in my home state California has shut them down a lot of the country that I have bowhunt for the last 40 years has burned up.
Covid has taken up ALL the hospital beds, so my surgery got cancelled. I will be hunting after all. I will use my yew NM Shelton with wooden arrows. It is 53# at 28", but I only pull 25 ". It is very smooth.
I will let you know...
I just received a tracking number from Border. It looks like the Morrison ILF will stay at home.
I’m starting off the season with a Kim Sha Traditional ASL with some classic Autumn Orange 2016s and Magnus Stingers and Muzzy Phantoms.
Doesn't anybody hunt with one bow anymore?
I don't either. Between my Bear TDs, and J.D. Berry and Jet longbows, I'll be fielding a rather large team. Can't decide between my B riser with short limbs or my A riser with long limbs so I'll probably hunt with each. Likewise, it's hard to favor my Vixen over my Valor over my Taipan so all three of those will likely see the woods at one time or another this fall. One of my Jets is on the heavy side for me anymore and will sit on the rack until I can go elk hunting again next year. The other two are vying for action and I'll do my best not to slight them.
Hmmm. Seven bows that want to see action. May take some doing, but there's stuff to hunt for the next four months.
Will probably start with a 47#/64" Chuck Jones, transition to a 52#/66" Wesley Special in midseason and finish up fall season with a 52#/58" Super Shrew as the foliage drops, game gets spookier and shots become longer. Ground hunting only unless the perfect cattletrail situation/climber tree setup is magically discovered...fat chance of that.
I’ll be using my Primal Tech takedown longbow, 46#@29”, Easton Full Metal Jacket .500 spine with 225gr up front. The broadhead will either be German Kinetic, Day Six, or Iron Will (all 150gr).
I‘m about to send my Primal Tech takedown recurve in for a little weight reduction surgery. When I get it back, it will be in the lineup also.
Bisch
Opening day will be a Northern mist Spraque. I have a Northern mist American comming soon that will be used often. Love all my mist. I hope to work in a Jeffery recurve and a Tom parsons asl also.
My starting line up is changing. Just before the trade deadline I added a star player to a already talented team. I already having star longbows from, Northern Mist, Howard Hill, Robertson, and Black Widow it must be hard to imagine what new comer could sneak in and get a starting job day one. Nate Steen text me this morning and said “Light out” will ship out Monday. Sunset Hill has a long list of hall of fame bows and I’am sure ”Lights out “will join that list soon enough.
same Ol stuff
I am using my Taipan II, for everything, unless i copy it and build one just a bit lighter draw. Been working hard on form for the last long time and it shows, but still have, and will likely always have, some shot control issues. Arrows...well .400 spine GT trads with a total of 250 grains up front fly really well. I also built some tapered woodies ready for Zwickey ( no mercy) heads for this year. Staying closer to home for a bit, but already have a pocket full of tags. Gonna chase skwerl this year too, as in, the target animal, not as a side to deer hunting. Also pheasant, geese, and maybe ducks. Remember my earlier challenge....skwerl !
Yeah Sam...hoping for the best...a good surgery and a quick recovery.
My entire team has been benched. My back surgery is still on schedule for August 19, which will likely take me out of the year's hunting season. If the resurgent Covid issue continues, it may be cancelled.