Agree with both the previous posts. Judged by numbers at trad only shoots and membership in our state trad organization, we seem to be holding steady in this state. Regardless, we still make up less than 10% of "bowhunters" in the state. Well, that needs qualification. Used to be that the other 90% were wheel bow shooters. However, since Wisconsin allowed crossguns, I believe 3 years ago, at least 60% of the compound shooters have switched to cross guns. With access to hunting land becoming more problematic and the price of entry going up, even for trad equipment, and the never-ending onslaught of electronic diversions, I don't expect the proportion of trad bowhunters to increase much in the future.

Yep. That's the one I was thinking of.

A precursor to that "compound" model that is still in existence today. Can't remember the name of it. Same principle, the latter version just has recurved limbs rather than straight limbs. Maybe a cam in there somewhere as well.

Early morning, watching and listening to the world wake up, is my favorite time of day. You might try to strengthen the bamboo skewers with liquid wood/rot hardener. Overall though, I don't think bamboo soaks up liquids very well. Maybe from the ends through osmosis, but not through the harder material on the outside. Might also consider pouring epoxy into the holes/channels in the shafts. Perhaps not as biodegradable as bamboo though.

That one must have come and gone very quickly. I've been at this more than 65 years and have never seen it or an ad for it.

First, given your description, I don't think the arrows bounced off. They just hit low and glanced downward, or maybe just ended up a bit on the other side of the bird. They may even have gone through some flesh/breast in doing so, but it seems to me like they were just low shots. There's a saying regarding shot placement on turkeys. "Hit them low, with them go. Hit them high, watch them die." Arrow flight can be affected a lot at that distance. All arrows are flexing as they leave the bow. If the arrow is mismatched to the bow, it flexes more or less than it should, throwing it off to the left or right, and it may not be straight on the target at impact. Too, if you're shooting through netting, this could exacerbate the problem, or cause a perfectly normal flying arrow to go off course. I've never had that happen with three-or 4-blade heads, but I have sometimes had erratic flight with two-blade heads shot through window screening. That's why I switched to three- or four-blade heads. Something to consider. Also, if you are shooting through netting, make sure it is stretched tight. Loose netting is more prone to catch the broadhead or fletching. Long story short, window netting can cause what would otherwise be a normal flying arrow to become erratic. Most times, it does't, but it can.

I have a hunting buddy who bounced an arrow with an expandable head off a turkey using a compound. He attributed that to the light arrow and expandable head. I've killed about a dozen birds and have never had an arrow bounce off, though my brother did have an arrow stopped by a turkey's wing butt, and the bird ran off with his arrow. If you're shooting a 300 grain broadhead, your arrow must be over 600 grains so arrow weight shouldn't be an issue. Are you sure the arrows bounced off, as in came flying back at you, or could they possibly have just gone through a bunch of feathers, deflected and ended up on the ground near the bird. There's a lot more feathers and non-lethal area on a turkey than there is lethal kill area. As Bob said, the bones and feathers in the wing butt area are particularly large and tough. But you shouldn't have any problems running an arrow through a bird's back. Do you round the tips of your broadheads? That would certainly retard penetration. The only other reasonable explanation I can come up with is very poor arrow flight, i.e., a wobbly arrow, which might impact at a glancing angle rather than perpendicular to the target. I assume you're not using a string tracker, which could jam and stop the arrow. I'll noodle it some more, but something seems amiss. A well placed sharp broadhead on a heavy arrow out of a 50# bow should not bounce off.

Michael. I think I have a copy of that Stalker spine tester article. Think I got it from popular Mechanics. Regardless, I did build a spine tester based on that article and it works quite good.

Never would have guessed. I was thinking some sort of unhandy bottle openers. Agree that many states had 7/8-inch as the legal standard. I wonder if our local game wardens carry a tool like that with them.

I doubt John was referring to the type of material used. Pretty sure his concern would be moisture and perhaps debris getting in them. (And maybe just tradition. After all, Howard didn't use them.) I don't use them. However, because of that, I'm more likely to get grit in the lower string loop, which works on fraying the string. Don't think it makes much difference either way as long as one checks the string periodically. 😎

Looks like a parabolic cut, a little high on the trail end, perhaps. Light distortion in the pix may make the cut look rougher than it is. The fella does seem to be using the feather as a psyhco-trigger though.

Chuck. I have some land in northern Wisconsin, which I suspect is similar to yours. Aside from doing a little brushing for firewood, I plant my butt on a tree stump and let mother nature take its course. But, good luck in your efforts.

Beautiful bow. I like jets. Unfortunately, about 7# too heavy for me anymore. Good luck on your sale.

Hmmm. Sure make some pretty mushrooms, James. Maybe you could put one of those small led lights in the end and make lamps out of them. 😁

Glad to hear you're progressing nicely. Hmmmmm. If you're only taking Tylenol, seems the single malt should also be available, in small dosages to start, of course. Larry: I agree with the surgeon's advice to not do it until one is ready, but it doesn't necessarily restrict what one can do later. For me, it was just the opposite. Had a knee replaced. I waited too long to do it. Before that, it was so bad I could only stand/walk on it a half hour and I was done for the day. Of course, no pain afterward. Still canoeing and portaging, rough shooting grouse in the north country until my legs (not my knee) get tired, hunting elk in the mountains out West, etc. I'd say the time to do it is when the affected joint begins to restrict what you can normally do. I can certainly do a lot more post op than pre op.

If I were only 10, maybe 20 years younger. Excellent bow at an even better price. Just too heavy for me.

I think some Olympic style archers still use spin type vanes.

Best for a speedy recovery. It will make a humongous improvement in your mobility.

OK. Fall Hunt. I should have read a little more carefully.

Fall Hunt. What you're describing is just a high wrist grip, but you're doing it on a low wrist bow. G.F. Asbel in his first book on instinctive shooting advocated the same. That's before he had much experience shooting a longbow/ASL though.