Hello Fellow bowslingers
I have to apologize for the lenth of time between now and my last posting. I have been busy developing a new website and didn't get back here to check on what was happening. I had set up a couple posts and I thought I had them set to post automatically but alas, they didn't. I am new to all of this computer techy stuff and I learn, forget, relearn only
to find out that something has changed. So, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
Back to bowhunting deer and all it entails. It is late November and
the pacific northwest weather is definitely in late season mode. In this
state, we have two archery hunts for deer and elk. One is the early season
in September and then the late season in Nov/Dec.
I have talked about the early archery hunting season, with all the sunshine, berries and all but not to much about the late season. The archery hunting late season is like a whole different world in the mountains. It mostly rains with intermittent episodes of drizzle below 3,000 feet. I usually hunt deer and elk in the south cascade mountain region of western Washington. We can see Mt St Helens from our favorite elk hunting area. Because of the wide spread devastation and following regrowth activity in the area, it has the largest elk herd in the state. In fact, I read an article I found from the Washington Dept. of Fish and Game that talked about there being to many elk and over 170 animals perishing due to the lack of browse. Hard to believe.
Our bowhunting deer season and bowhunting elk season overlap where we hunt so for those who haven't filled a tag, we are hunting both. Most years, we still like to tent camp but I have a old camper we use from time to time. It is small but dry. I also set up a cabin tent for supplies and to use as a drying room. I purchased an inexpensive drying rack that is freestanding and will hold two sets of clothes. I have a propane heater that I set on low and we hang our drenched clothes on the rack to dry for a day so we always have dry camo. Even so, good gore tex rain gear is invaluable.
Late bowhunting season starts on the day before thanksgiving and goes through Dec 7th this year. I have been busy putting my late hunt paraphenalia together and plan on leaving next Tuesday morning to set up camp. Archery hunting in this part of the world is a lot like hard work sometimes but I enjoy every minute of it. I have actually made it to the gym about
3 times a week for the past couple months and I feel ready. The walking is either uphill, downhill or sidehilling on ground covered with wet slippery fallen branches. Even with all that, I find archery hunting and camping to be a blessed event. Every year I thank our creator for allowing me to partake of the majestic splendor of our hunting heritage. Until next time, good hunting.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Bow Hunting with a good scent eliminator
Hello fellow bow hunters,
Well, now I have spent a few days bow hunting elk and bow hunting deer this year. I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of it even though my tags are still not notched. I am now at home in the pacific northwest sitting with my laptop computer in the back yard. We are having absolutely splendid fall weather. It is 67 degrees, calm and the sun is shining. It just seems surreal that a few days ago I was high in the mountains, far away from and out of touch with civilization.
I had mentioned in a previous blog that one of my hunting methods is what many hunters refer to as still hunting. Still hunting is tricky but can be effective. It is a time when you put all your senses on high alert. I will usually walk very slowly for about 20 to 50 feet and stop. I am listening very carefully for any sounds and when I hear something, I try to identify it. For instance, a common sound in the mountains in the fall is a sudden thump. When I hear a sound like that I always listen for another one. The sound usually happens several times and I have spent time in the past trying to find it and I have. It is usually the sound of a large, heavy pine cone hitting the ground. If you listen closely, many times you'll see the red squirrel busy at work cutting down the cones from high in the tree. I will stand perfectly still for a couple minutes and do a 360 degree visual scan looking for anything that appears out of place. A good example is a light tan spot in the middle of a patch of ferns. Occasionally, it turns out to be the only visible part of an elk or deer. This happened to me last week.
The biggest problem for still hunters who are bow hunting deer, or bow hunting elk is their scent. When still hunting I try to walk into the wind as much as possible. The problem is that the wind doesn't like to cooperate and will swirl or switch directions quickly. If you are close to any game animals and they catch your scent, you most likely will not be close any more. This year I tried a new scent eliminator product and it seemed to work very well. I was impressed with it which is saying something. I was still hunting in the early evening when I saw a light tan color in the ferns and bushes. I stopped, I watched for any movement or sound that I would recognize. After about 3 minutes, I heard the sound of hide moving along a evergreen branch and then the sound of leaves being pulled off a bush or tree. I sensed that I was very close to several animals. After another couple minutes, the tan spot that had caught my eye moved. A few seconds later, I could see a large cow elk pulling leaves off a berry bush. Next I saw a calf elk move in behind her. There was an even larger elk than the cow standing in the trees but I couldn't make out the head.
I was about 30 yards from the closest animal and I noticed the wind had shifted and a slight breeze was blowing from behind me directly to the game. They continued to feed and walk downhill. I could not find a shooting lane. I was standing behind some 40 foot evergreens and looking through the branches. By the time I moved myself into a better position, the elk walked down a steep trail and were farther away than before. Due to the nature of the terrain, I just could not get in a clear shot. I didn't get a shot that time but it wasn't due to my scent. They never smelled me. I had sprayed my clothes and bow and arrows with Primos Silver XP Earth Blend scent eliminator and it worked.
The colloidal silver particles in Primos Silver actually destroy bacteria that causes odors. It also attacks odors caused by smoke (think camp fire), and food. Also it has a cover scent that smells very earhy. The combination of scent destroyer and cover seemed to work very well. I am going to be using it and I recommend you try it out on your next archery hunt. Check out Cabela's and Gander Mountains scent eliminator products Now, you will not be sorry.
Well, now I have spent a few days bow hunting elk and bow hunting deer this year. I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of it even though my tags are still not notched. I am now at home in the pacific northwest sitting with my laptop computer in the back yard. We are having absolutely splendid fall weather. It is 67 degrees, calm and the sun is shining. It just seems surreal that a few days ago I was high in the mountains, far away from and out of touch with civilization.
I had mentioned in a previous blog that one of my hunting methods is what many hunters refer to as still hunting. Still hunting is tricky but can be effective. It is a time when you put all your senses on high alert. I will usually walk very slowly for about 20 to 50 feet and stop. I am listening very carefully for any sounds and when I hear something, I try to identify it. For instance, a common sound in the mountains in the fall is a sudden thump. When I hear a sound like that I always listen for another one. The sound usually happens several times and I have spent time in the past trying to find it and I have. It is usually the sound of a large, heavy pine cone hitting the ground. If you listen closely, many times you'll see the red squirrel busy at work cutting down the cones from high in the tree. I will stand perfectly still for a couple minutes and do a 360 degree visual scan looking for anything that appears out of place. A good example is a light tan spot in the middle of a patch of ferns. Occasionally, it turns out to be the only visible part of an elk or deer. This happened to me last week.
The biggest problem for still hunters who are bow hunting deer, or bow hunting elk is their scent. When still hunting I try to walk into the wind as much as possible. The problem is that the wind doesn't like to cooperate and will swirl or switch directions quickly. If you are close to any game animals and they catch your scent, you most likely will not be close any more. This year I tried a new scent eliminator product and it seemed to work very well. I was impressed with it which is saying something. I was still hunting in the early evening when I saw a light tan color in the ferns and bushes. I stopped, I watched for any movement or sound that I would recognize. After about 3 minutes, I heard the sound of hide moving along a evergreen branch and then the sound of leaves being pulled off a bush or tree. I sensed that I was very close to several animals. After another couple minutes, the tan spot that had caught my eye moved. A few seconds later, I could see a large cow elk pulling leaves off a berry bush. Next I saw a calf elk move in behind her. There was an even larger elk than the cow standing in the trees but I couldn't make out the head.
I was about 30 yards from the closest animal and I noticed the wind had shifted and a slight breeze was blowing from behind me directly to the game. They continued to feed and walk downhill. I could not find a shooting lane. I was standing behind some 40 foot evergreens and looking through the branches. By the time I moved myself into a better position, the elk walked down a steep trail and were farther away than before. Due to the nature of the terrain, I just could not get in a clear shot. I didn't get a shot that time but it wasn't due to my scent. They never smelled me. I had sprayed my clothes and bow and arrows with Primos Silver XP Earth Blend scent eliminator and it worked.
The colloidal silver particles in Primos Silver actually destroy bacteria that causes odors. It also attacks odors caused by smoke (think camp fire), and food. Also it has a cover scent that smells very earhy. The combination of scent destroyer and cover seemed to work very well. I am going to be using it and I recommend you try it out on your next archery hunt. Check out Cabela's and Gander Mountains scent eliminator products Now, you will not be sorry.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Bow Hunting Unseen and Dry
Hello fellow bow hunters
Well, I'm presently back from an extended stay in the mountains. I have been sleeping in a tent and traversing the hillside for many miles. The first couple days it was windy and raining which made it chilly camping. I had brought along a 5 gallon propane tank and a Mr Buddy heater which got used for a couple nights. It is amazing how comfortable a person can get in a tent. We used our king size air mattress and a great king sized sleeping bag. With the heater running on low all night, it almost got to warm.
My wife came along for the first 3 days so she could pick blueberries. We had our camp tucked between some noble firs and more full blueberry bushes than you could shake a stick at. Unfortunately, she had to wear rain gear the first two days but she still picked berries. The bow hunters would get up before daylight and head out so as to be in a good area for the first hour of daylight. She would sleep in and then when she felt like it, walk around the camp and pick berries. When she got home, she froze about two gallons of berries in zip lock bags and dehydrated about four gallons and sealed them in quart jars. We will have blueberries until next year.
Bow hunting deer and bow hunting elk takes some physical conditioning, certain skills, some good luck and proper clothing helps. If you're out in the woods all day and you get wet and cold, you are less likely to thoroughly enjoy the experience. Believe it or not, I've actually heard other archers use profanity to describe such a hunt. I have been there, done that many times.
This trip I brought along some camo hunting clothes that really worked. Any one that has spent time hunting or hiking in the mountains knows the difference clothes can make.
There is a big difference between water resistance and water proof. If you are hunting elk and still hunting, you are putting a lot of time on your feet. You automatically start looking for a good place to sit a spell from time to time. I have done that while wearing water resistant pants.
I was comfortable and warm until I sat on a fallen tree and rested. When I got up, my backside was wet and became cold. It changed the hunt.
This time, I wore water proof pants with Gore Tex. Not only did I remain warm and dry, but camouflaged and hidden as well. The other thing I especially liked about the camo pants is the fact that they have a front zipper. I never did like having to pull my pants down for number one while standing in the driving rain. Take it from a fellow bow hunter, buy yourself a good pair of water proof boots and pants. They may be a bit pricey but they will last for years and probably save you money in the long run. I have tried several brands over hundreds of miles and many years and the Gore Tex has always outperformed. I bought mine at Cabela's and I recommend that you check them out now, while your thinking about it.
As always, have a safe, warm and enjoyable outdoors experience.
Well, I'm presently back from an extended stay in the mountains. I have been sleeping in a tent and traversing the hillside for many miles. The first couple days it was windy and raining which made it chilly camping. I had brought along a 5 gallon propane tank and a Mr Buddy heater which got used for a couple nights. It is amazing how comfortable a person can get in a tent. We used our king size air mattress and a great king sized sleeping bag. With the heater running on low all night, it almost got to warm.
My wife came along for the first 3 days so she could pick blueberries. We had our camp tucked between some noble firs and more full blueberry bushes than you could shake a stick at. Unfortunately, she had to wear rain gear the first two days but she still picked berries. The bow hunters would get up before daylight and head out so as to be in a good area for the first hour of daylight. She would sleep in and then when she felt like it, walk around the camp and pick berries. When she got home, she froze about two gallons of berries in zip lock bags and dehydrated about four gallons and sealed them in quart jars. We will have blueberries until next year.
Bow hunting deer and bow hunting elk takes some physical conditioning, certain skills, some good luck and proper clothing helps. If you're out in the woods all day and you get wet and cold, you are less likely to thoroughly enjoy the experience. Believe it or not, I've actually heard other archers use profanity to describe such a hunt. I have been there, done that many times.
This trip I brought along some camo hunting clothes that really worked. Any one that has spent time hunting or hiking in the mountains knows the difference clothes can make.
There is a big difference between water resistance and water proof. If you are hunting elk and still hunting, you are putting a lot of time on your feet. You automatically start looking for a good place to sit a spell from time to time. I have done that while wearing water resistant pants.
I was comfortable and warm until I sat on a fallen tree and rested. When I got up, my backside was wet and became cold. It changed the hunt.
This time, I wore water proof pants with Gore Tex. Not only did I remain warm and dry, but camouflaged and hidden as well. The other thing I especially liked about the camo pants is the fact that they have a front zipper. I never did like having to pull my pants down for number one while standing in the driving rain. Take it from a fellow bow hunter, buy yourself a good pair of water proof boots and pants. They may be a bit pricey but they will last for years and probably save you money in the long run. I have tried several brands over hundreds of miles and many years and the Gore Tex has always outperformed. I bought mine at Cabela's and I recommend that you check them out now, while your thinking about it.
As always, have a safe, warm and enjoyable outdoors experience.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Bow Hunting and Wilderness Access
Hello fellow bow hunters,
I'm getting sort of antsy. Bow hunting deer season opens tomorrow in Washington state. I have commitments so I can't head into the woods until Saturday. We plan on heading out on Friday to set up camp. We'll get up early Sat. morning so as to be in prime deer hunting area by first light. Archery elk hunting opens on the following Tuesday so we will be finding out, hopefully,where we want to be early Tues. morning.
I live on the left coast so our hunting areas are tenuous at best. Every year we have more and more forest access cut off by gates. It seems as though the large land owners in this part of the world are in sync with our flavor of politicians. Bow hunters, at least, are being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas. Its interesting, the pamphlet shows the areas to be open for bow hunting but when you get there all the roads are gated and locked. This is extremely frustrating. I can spend several days scouting and planning in an open area and then when archery season rolls around the roads are gated. They also add signs saying no motorized access. When I call the number on the sign to ask what my options are or when the road will be opened they rarely have an answer other than I can walk in.
Invariably, the gates are located miles downhill of where the elk and deer play. I don't even like to ask as to WHY we are denied vehicle privileges. The excuses, explanations, we get are sometimes quite hilarious. Last year the gate was open to our favorite hunting area. We have been hunting there for over 25 years and know the area very well. We were excited that we got to our favorite place and had camp all set up with opening season for bow hunting elk starting the next day. We spotted a small herd of elk about 1/2 mile from camp just before dark which included a royal elk. We were pumped.
It had been raining for the past 3 days, the ground was saturated and quiet. It continued to rain so our scent wasn't an issue. Just as we were heading into the woods, a truck drove up and 2 guys got out. They said they worked for the lumber company and that the gate had been left open accidentally by a logging truck operator. The area was closed to bow hunting due to FIRE
Danger. Even though I asked the 2 guys to show me how to light a fire using the blow torch I had sitting by the fire pit, they concluded that it would be difficult. To make a long story shorter, We ended up having to break camp and find a new area on opening day. Obvious to everyone, there was NO fire danger but the dictum had come down from above.
I would be interested in hearing if others are having problems similar to ours. I feel like we are losing more and more freedoms every year and unfortunately most people don't care unless it affects them personally.
I'm getting sort of antsy. Bow hunting deer season opens tomorrow in Washington state. I have commitments so I can't head into the woods until Saturday. We plan on heading out on Friday to set up camp. We'll get up early Sat. morning so as to be in prime deer hunting area by first light. Archery elk hunting opens on the following Tuesday so we will be finding out, hopefully,where we want to be early Tues. morning.
I live on the left coast so our hunting areas are tenuous at best. Every year we have more and more forest access cut off by gates. It seems as though the large land owners in this part of the world are in sync with our flavor of politicians. Bow hunters, at least, are being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas. Its interesting, the pamphlet shows the areas to be open for bow hunting but when you get there all the roads are gated and locked. This is extremely frustrating. I can spend several days scouting and planning in an open area and then when archery season rolls around the roads are gated. They also add signs saying no motorized access. When I call the number on the sign to ask what my options are or when the road will be opened they rarely have an answer other than I can walk in.
Invariably, the gates are located miles downhill of where the elk and deer play. I don't even like to ask as to WHY we are denied vehicle privileges. The excuses, explanations, we get are sometimes quite hilarious. Last year the gate was open to our favorite hunting area. We have been hunting there for over 25 years and know the area very well. We were excited that we got to our favorite place and had camp all set up with opening season for bow hunting elk starting the next day. We spotted a small herd of elk about 1/2 mile from camp just before dark which included a royal elk. We were pumped.
It had been raining for the past 3 days, the ground was saturated and quiet. It continued to rain so our scent wasn't an issue. Just as we were heading into the woods, a truck drove up and 2 guys got out. They said they worked for the lumber company and that the gate had been left open accidentally by a logging truck operator. The area was closed to bow hunting due to FIRE
Danger. Even though I asked the 2 guys to show me how to light a fire using the blow torch I had sitting by the fire pit, they concluded that it would be difficult. To make a long story shorter, We ended up having to break camp and find a new area on opening day. Obvious to everyone, there was NO fire danger but the dictum had come down from above.
I would be interested in hearing if others are having problems similar to ours. I feel like we are losing more and more freedoms every year and unfortunately most people don't care unless it affects them personally.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Bow Hunting, Broad Heads and a Water Break
Howdy fellow Bow Hunters,
Wow, I sure love this time of year when it comes to outdoor activities. This past weekend I decided to leave the bow and arrows alone. Bow hunting deer opens in my state on September 1st and bow hunting elk season opens 1 week later. I think that I am all set except I decided to switch broad heads this year. I am going to use 100 grain muzzy broad heads. I had been using 125 grains for the last couple years. That of course means I have some sighting in to do again. I am going to go for a slightly flatter trajectory. I'll get back to that in a moment but first I wanted to relate my weekend to you outdoor enthusiasts.
I have been hearing that the salmon were in the Puget sound for the last few weeks. I just had to go out fishing at least once before archery season. Every other year, we get a run of 'pinks' along the west coast and in the rivers. This year the run has apparently been excellent. My brother and I decided to take my boat out rather than go scouting. We usually miss the big runs of coho salmon because they come in during the bow hunting seasons. The pinks,however, are here now. We launched the boat at 9:30 am and motored about 4 miles to one of the Tacoma waterways. It turned out to be a spectacular day. The sun shined all day and we had a slight breeze which made it down right comfortable.
The water was sparkling with the city of Tacoma to our west and a shiny Mt Rainier to the east. We were using pink buzz bombs and jigging off the side of the boat and casting. It was fantastic as the fish would swim at times with their dorsal fins out of the water all around us. This is when the locals say "the water is boiling with fish". The average size is 4 to 6 lbs and they put up a nice fight when hooked. We used our trout poles with 8 lb test which made bringing them in a lot more colorful. Even though we could see fish that fact didn't mean that they were biting. We went through some long slack times when nothing was biting. Then all of a sudden, we would get bites and be very busy for a few minutes. We kept 6 fish in the 5 lb range and grilled one the next afternoon. It was awesome. My wife canned the rest and we will be eating salmon at deer camp. I think it tastes better than our store bought canned tuna.
Back to the subject of bow hunting. I have taken deer with broad heads weighing 145 grains and 125 grains in the past. I was told by a local 'expert' that the heavier weight tips could go
through hide and bones better for more knock down power. I have read several articles that supported that theory. I also, however, have read some interesting articles by archers who swear by the lower weight hunting points. The latter claim that with lower weight broad heads, the arrow has a flatter trajectory and greater speed. These factors make the 100 grain arrow tips more favorable for shooting in heavy timber. Your arrow has less chance of arching into a low branch and deflecting before contact with the deer. That is exactly what happened to me 2 yrs ago. I spent a good 30 minutes calling in a 5 point elk. The elk was only 35 yards away when I released the arrow. I didn't see the twig hanging down until my arrow was deflected. I can still feel the agony of defeat when I think about it. There is a lot of information to consider when taking a shot in the woods and I want to give myself the best odds possible.
If anyone has any good information on the subject, I would love to hear about it. I have come to the conclusion that as long as the blades are razor sharp they will do the job. I've switched my field tips to 100 grain and am in the process of re-sighting my bow. I am heading to the range now so until we meet again, good bye and good hunting. J G
Wow, I sure love this time of year when it comes to outdoor activities. This past weekend I decided to leave the bow and arrows alone. Bow hunting deer opens in my state on September 1st and bow hunting elk season opens 1 week later. I think that I am all set except I decided to switch broad heads this year. I am going to use 100 grain muzzy broad heads. I had been using 125 grains for the last couple years. That of course means I have some sighting in to do again. I am going to go for a slightly flatter trajectory. I'll get back to that in a moment but first I wanted to relate my weekend to you outdoor enthusiasts.
I have been hearing that the salmon were in the Puget sound for the last few weeks. I just had to go out fishing at least once before archery season. Every other year, we get a run of 'pinks' along the west coast and in the rivers. This year the run has apparently been excellent. My brother and I decided to take my boat out rather than go scouting. We usually miss the big runs of coho salmon because they come in during the bow hunting seasons. The pinks,however, are here now. We launched the boat at 9:30 am and motored about 4 miles to one of the Tacoma waterways. It turned out to be a spectacular day. The sun shined all day and we had a slight breeze which made it down right comfortable.
The water was sparkling with the city of Tacoma to our west and a shiny Mt Rainier to the east. We were using pink buzz bombs and jigging off the side of the boat and casting. It was fantastic as the fish would swim at times with their dorsal fins out of the water all around us. This is when the locals say "the water is boiling with fish". The average size is 4 to 6 lbs and they put up a nice fight when hooked. We used our trout poles with 8 lb test which made bringing them in a lot more colorful. Even though we could see fish that fact didn't mean that they were biting. We went through some long slack times when nothing was biting. Then all of a sudden, we would get bites and be very busy for a few minutes. We kept 6 fish in the 5 lb range and grilled one the next afternoon. It was awesome. My wife canned the rest and we will be eating salmon at deer camp. I think it tastes better than our store bought canned tuna.
Back to the subject of bow hunting. I have taken deer with broad heads weighing 145 grains and 125 grains in the past. I was told by a local 'expert' that the heavier weight tips could go
through hide and bones better for more knock down power. I have read several articles that supported that theory. I also, however, have read some interesting articles by archers who swear by the lower weight hunting points. The latter claim that with lower weight broad heads, the arrow has a flatter trajectory and greater speed. These factors make the 100 grain arrow tips more favorable for shooting in heavy timber. Your arrow has less chance of arching into a low branch and deflecting before contact with the deer. That is exactly what happened to me 2 yrs ago. I spent a good 30 minutes calling in a 5 point elk. The elk was only 35 yards away when I released the arrow. I didn't see the twig hanging down until my arrow was deflected. I can still feel the agony of defeat when I think about it. There is a lot of information to consider when taking a shot in the woods and I want to give myself the best odds possible.
If anyone has any good information on the subject, I would love to hear about it. I have come to the conclusion that as long as the blades are razor sharp they will do the job. I've switched my field tips to 100 grain and am in the process of re-sighting my bow. I am heading to the range now so until we meet again, good bye and good hunting. J G
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Bow Hunting Deer-a learning experience
Hello Bow Hunting friends,
I may have gotten a little carried away on my last blog with my personal camping preference but
I was reflecting on my early years. When I went on my first bow hunting elk and bow hunting deer camps I didn't have a clue. I really didn't know or care what to bring along so long as I got to hunt. It wasn't until I harvested my first elk, when I realized that I was not prepared. Since then I have learned a great deal and I am always learning more. I have shared deer camps and elk camps with people from all walks of life. I've hunted with longshoremen, welders, carpenters, lawyers, medical doctors, dentists, nurses, unemployed and the list goes on. One thing we all have in common is our love of nature, camping and the hunt. Each and every one of us seems to learn from each other and enjoy each others stories while any social barriers seem non existent.
These blogs as well as articles and other sportsmen,s sites are a great way to help and inform as well as entertain. Beginners can pick up tidbits that may improve the quality of their hunting trip. Some of the camping equipment and hunting accessories I talk about make the whole experience just a little better. Being prepared for the best as well as the worst, can make the difference between a great trip and a complete disaster. Like the time...
It was a beautiful fall morning. The sun was still behind the mountains but there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was already almost 70 degrees out at 06:30. Several of us at work had decided to go on a backpacking trip with our bows and arrows. We picked out a place on the green trail map where we would meet. It was on the Pacific Crest Trail in the central Cascade mountains.
I picked the 65lb back pack out of my rig, attached my bow and a quiver with 8 arrows. I had 2 20 oz. water bottles and some energy bars handy. I had never done this kind of hunting before and had spent the last week going over everything that I thought I would need. I was excited and apprehensive at the same time. All I had to do next was carry myself and the pack up 4 miles of switchbacks from an elevation of 1200 feet to an elevation of 5,000 feet.
The other archers had left the day before. I had to work on the day they left so I hiked up by myself and joined them on top. I found them in their camp about 5 hours later. They had set up a makeshift archery target and were having a friendly competition. I was in agonizing pain. About three quarters of the way up, my thighs were burning so bad that I hardly noticed the blisters forming on my feet. I hadn't taken the pack out on any trial hikes so I had no idea of how heavy that pack was going to be by the time I got up there. If I had, I probably would have noticed that my hunting boots were not the ideal footwear for uphill walking with a load. Just one more time that I had to learn the hard way. One of the other bow hunters was a emergency room doctor and had brought some mole skin pads and ibuprofen. I had neither and gladly accepted both.
We all had a great trip and saw many animals in a near pristine, road-less and awe inspiring countryside. The scenery and vistas were breathtaking, especially during sunrise and sunset each day. Because of that, I endured the blistering pain of walking for several days. I now know to wear comfortable hiking boots with 2 pair of socks. I also know that when I feel a hot area on my foot, to take my boots off, cool my feet and apply some petroleum jelly to the area which
decreases the friction. Since that time and to this day, I carry moleskin pads, small petroleum
packets and a pill fob with pain pills for emergencies in my fanny pack.
Until we meet again, J G
I may have gotten a little carried away on my last blog with my personal camping preference but
I was reflecting on my early years. When I went on my first bow hunting elk and bow hunting deer camps I didn't have a clue. I really didn't know or care what to bring along so long as I got to hunt. It wasn't until I harvested my first elk, when I realized that I was not prepared. Since then I have learned a great deal and I am always learning more. I have shared deer camps and elk camps with people from all walks of life. I've hunted with longshoremen, welders, carpenters, lawyers, medical doctors, dentists, nurses, unemployed and the list goes on. One thing we all have in common is our love of nature, camping and the hunt. Each and every one of us seems to learn from each other and enjoy each others stories while any social barriers seem non existent.
These blogs as well as articles and other sportsmen,s sites are a great way to help and inform as well as entertain. Beginners can pick up tidbits that may improve the quality of their hunting trip. Some of the camping equipment and hunting accessories I talk about make the whole experience just a little better. Being prepared for the best as well as the worst, can make the difference between a great trip and a complete disaster. Like the time...
It was a beautiful fall morning. The sun was still behind the mountains but there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was already almost 70 degrees out at 06:30. Several of us at work had decided to go on a backpacking trip with our bows and arrows. We picked out a place on the green trail map where we would meet. It was on the Pacific Crest Trail in the central Cascade mountains.
I picked the 65lb back pack out of my rig, attached my bow and a quiver with 8 arrows. I had 2 20 oz. water bottles and some energy bars handy. I had never done this kind of hunting before and had spent the last week going over everything that I thought I would need. I was excited and apprehensive at the same time. All I had to do next was carry myself and the pack up 4 miles of switchbacks from an elevation of 1200 feet to an elevation of 5,000 feet.
The other archers had left the day before. I had to work on the day they left so I hiked up by myself and joined them on top. I found them in their camp about 5 hours later. They had set up a makeshift archery target and were having a friendly competition. I was in agonizing pain. About three quarters of the way up, my thighs were burning so bad that I hardly noticed the blisters forming on my feet. I hadn't taken the pack out on any trial hikes so I had no idea of how heavy that pack was going to be by the time I got up there. If I had, I probably would have noticed that my hunting boots were not the ideal footwear for uphill walking with a load. Just one more time that I had to learn the hard way. One of the other bow hunters was a emergency room doctor and had brought some mole skin pads and ibuprofen. I had neither and gladly accepted both.
We all had a great trip and saw many animals in a near pristine, road-less and awe inspiring countryside. The scenery and vistas were breathtaking, especially during sunrise and sunset each day. Because of that, I endured the blistering pain of walking for several days. I now know to wear comfortable hiking boots with 2 pair of socks. I also know that when I feel a hot area on my foot, to take my boots off, cool my feet and apply some petroleum jelly to the area which
decreases the friction. Since that time and to this day, I carry moleskin pads, small petroleum
packets and a pill fob with pain pills for emergencies in my fanny pack.
Until we meet again, J G
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
My Camp for Bow Hunting Deer & Elk
Greetings fellow Archers
I talked a little bit on my last post about the hunting camp. I mentioned how I have grown to appreciate comfort while in camp. The days of bringing along a few essentials, small tent, some canned, dried and (prepackaged at home food) are long gone. I no longer look around for or cut my own stumps for sitting and eating on. I don't have to rely on getting small game or fishing in a near by river or lake in order to eat. These things I have done and they make for good memories but not my choice these days. Our current day deer and elk hunting camps are a whole different story.
We now take a large 2 room tent. I have a Mr Buddy heater that I keep in the bed room part of the tent. I have a 5 gallon propane tank with a 4 foot hose connected to the heater so I can keep the tank outside or in the dining area of the tent. The temperature in the mountains fluctuates tremendously between day and night. It can be 90 degrees in the afternoon and in the morning there is a layer of ice on the water jugs. The very next day the wind is blowing the rain sideways and I wonder when in my life I got so brain damaged as to do this with my own free will. I confess that I do really enjoy the hunting in nasty weather. The deep woods are an entirely different experience during the rains. The rain seems to push our scent to the ground and sounds don't carry. If you hear an elk bugle or a deer grunt, they are close.
Along with the heater, I now use a double thickness air mattress so that I can sit on the edge comfortably. I always bring along a jump start battery box with accessory plug in ports for recharging my cell phone, using a air pump, operating a dvd player or emergency starting a vehicle. I also have a sleeping bag that converts from warm weather to cold weather. Basically it is 2 bags in one that zips together several different ways. The heater is mainly for when I get up in the morning. It is soooo nice to crawl out of the sleeping bag into a warm tent.
I have my sleeping area in the back room of the tent. The main door I use leads to what I call the kitchen area. I have a light weight folding table with 2 chairs. Next to that, I have a small two layer stove stand with a 1 burner butane stove for morning coffee on top and supplies on the bottom shelf. I bring along a very good am radio with the weather bands so we can monitor any severe storm warnings. I have a bag I purchased to hold my radio and it has a large compartment where I store extra batteries. I do not venture into the wilderness without my GPS and extra batteries. There is a very good reason for that. I also have a lensatic compass in my pocket at all times.
We usually set up a table somewhere between tents or in a covered area in camp for cooking. We either cook over an open fire with a portable grate or on a 2 burner gas stove. We always eat very well nowadays. We usually celebrate after getting a deer or elk by cutting out a piece of back-strap and cooking it over a open fire with the help of tinfoil,butter,garlic,Johnnies seasoning and fresh picked Chanterelle mushrooms. Mm, I can taste it now.
I really like some of the wall tents and do prefer a large wall tent when elk hunting. The only problem with that,for me personally, is that it takes an extra trailer or rig to carry it and all the poles and wood stove etc. It also takes about a day to set it up correctly, which means attaching all the side cords to stakes. Just last year I witnessed a wall tent that was not staked down properly during a short wind storm. I think the bow hunter might still be out there somewhere looking for parts. I felt sorry for those guys. There were clothes scattered in the trees, utensils all over, just a major mess. If your going to set up camp for a few days or a couple weeks, it pays to do it right. I figure, you may as well enjoy the camp while you have it. That precious time seems to fly by faster every year. Until next time, J G.
I talked a little bit on my last post about the hunting camp. I mentioned how I have grown to appreciate comfort while in camp. The days of bringing along a few essentials, small tent, some canned, dried and (prepackaged at home food) are long gone. I no longer look around for or cut my own stumps for sitting and eating on. I don't have to rely on getting small game or fishing in a near by river or lake in order to eat. These things I have done and they make for good memories but not my choice these days. Our current day deer and elk hunting camps are a whole different story.
We now take a large 2 room tent. I have a Mr Buddy heater that I keep in the bed room part of the tent. I have a 5 gallon propane tank with a 4 foot hose connected to the heater so I can keep the tank outside or in the dining area of the tent. The temperature in the mountains fluctuates tremendously between day and night. It can be 90 degrees in the afternoon and in the morning there is a layer of ice on the water jugs. The very next day the wind is blowing the rain sideways and I wonder when in my life I got so brain damaged as to do this with my own free will. I confess that I do really enjoy the hunting in nasty weather. The deep woods are an entirely different experience during the rains. The rain seems to push our scent to the ground and sounds don't carry. If you hear an elk bugle or a deer grunt, they are close.
Along with the heater, I now use a double thickness air mattress so that I can sit on the edge comfortably. I always bring along a jump start battery box with accessory plug in ports for recharging my cell phone, using a air pump, operating a dvd player or emergency starting a vehicle. I also have a sleeping bag that converts from warm weather to cold weather. Basically it is 2 bags in one that zips together several different ways. The heater is mainly for when I get up in the morning. It is soooo nice to crawl out of the sleeping bag into a warm tent.
I have my sleeping area in the back room of the tent. The main door I use leads to what I call the kitchen area. I have a light weight folding table with 2 chairs. Next to that, I have a small two layer stove stand with a 1 burner butane stove for morning coffee on top and supplies on the bottom shelf. I bring along a very good am radio with the weather bands so we can monitor any severe storm warnings. I have a bag I purchased to hold my radio and it has a large compartment where I store extra batteries. I do not venture into the wilderness without my GPS and extra batteries. There is a very good reason for that. I also have a lensatic compass in my pocket at all times.
We usually set up a table somewhere between tents or in a covered area in camp for cooking. We either cook over an open fire with a portable grate or on a 2 burner gas stove. We always eat very well nowadays. We usually celebrate after getting a deer or elk by cutting out a piece of back-strap and cooking it over a open fire with the help of tinfoil,butter,garlic,Johnnies seasoning and fresh picked Chanterelle mushrooms. Mm, I can taste it now.
I really like some of the wall tents and do prefer a large wall tent when elk hunting. The only problem with that,for me personally, is that it takes an extra trailer or rig to carry it and all the poles and wood stove etc. It also takes about a day to set it up correctly, which means attaching all the side cords to stakes. Just last year I witnessed a wall tent that was not staked down properly during a short wind storm. I think the bow hunter might still be out there somewhere looking for parts. I felt sorry for those guys. There were clothes scattered in the trees, utensils all over, just a major mess. If your going to set up camp for a few days or a couple weeks, it pays to do it right. I figure, you may as well enjoy the camp while you have it. That precious time seems to fly by faster every year. Until next time, J G.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Bow hunting and camp, a place to stay
Hello fellow outdoor enthusiasts
I don't know about you but I am getting anxious. The deer hunting bow season starts in just 2 weeks in my state. One of the things I love about hunting is the camping. We usually set our camp up the day before opening. Sometimes if we have the time, we will get there a couple days earlier so we can scope out the area and pick berries. In the area that I hunt in western Washington, the hills are literally covered with blueberries in the end of August. Some people call them huckleberries, I call them blueberries because back in Minnesota we have small red berries that grow on and around stumps that we called huckleberries.
Some years my wife,Sandy, will go along with us for a few days so she can cook us lunch and dinner and then pick berries while we're out bow hunting. We usually hunt within a 5 mile radius of camp and can take a few hours mid day to rest, reflect, plan and EAT. Sandy will make us bacon and eggs with blueberry pancakes. She uses just enough batter to hold the blueberries together and always cooks over an open alder wood fire. No, there is no alder where we pick berries at 4,500 feet elevation so we cut some on our way up. Some of the guys that have hunted with us in years past, still talk affectionately about those meals.
In western Washington, our opening archery season for hunting deer and hunting elk overlap. We don't hunt in the best of areas for getting a deer but there are many elk in the area so we target elk but we are always ready for that deer as well. We occasionally see bear when out so my brother always buys a combo license to harvest a bear or cougar if the opportunity arises. We very rarely see a cougar but we do see their sign quite often. It always feels eerie to me when I see cougar tracks on top of my tracks from earlier in the day.
Unless I absolutely had to, I don't think I would try to take a cougar with a bow and arrow with no gun and no backup by myself in the middle of nowhere. I probably would have when I was a young whippersnapper of 40.
We always set our camp up in the berry fields. We get a spot that has plenty of trees to give us a wind break. We take along a large tarp to cover the tent and surrounding area. We place a high value on comfort while in camp. I like to take those niceties like fold up tables and camping chairs that are comfortable. We used to be bare bones type of hunter/campers but sort of grew out of it. There have been years when I got my game on the first day. We don't have party hunting in our state so while everyone else is out hunting, I was stuck in camp. One big thing that I have learned is to always, always be prepared to handle the game. For us, the hunt is about the meat as well as the rest. The hunting and the camping are great but getting meat in the end really makes it worth while. I bring one 7 day cooler filled with ice, plenty of 1 & 2 gal. baggies, skinning knives , game bags, rope, cleaning rags, plenty of water, game hoist, meat/bone saw and a grateful attitude.
A side note: One of the camping accessories I don't forget is a pair of comfortable evening chairs. We walk many miles up and down hill all day while bow hunting and are quite exhausted when we return to camp. We usually cook something that we have ready to go and then relax for awhile around the campfire before turning in. The folding chairs have foot rests and a high back that allow us to relax and watch the mountains night sky. I call them my star gazing chairs. We bring along regular folding camp chairs as well and prefer the larger ones with cup holders in the arm rests.
I don't know about you but I am getting anxious. The deer hunting bow season starts in just 2 weeks in my state. One of the things I love about hunting is the camping. We usually set our camp up the day before opening. Sometimes if we have the time, we will get there a couple days earlier so we can scope out the area and pick berries. In the area that I hunt in western Washington, the hills are literally covered with blueberries in the end of August. Some people call them huckleberries, I call them blueberries because back in Minnesota we have small red berries that grow on and around stumps that we called huckleberries.
Some years my wife,Sandy, will go along with us for a few days so she can cook us lunch and dinner and then pick berries while we're out bow hunting. We usually hunt within a 5 mile radius of camp and can take a few hours mid day to rest, reflect, plan and EAT. Sandy will make us bacon and eggs with blueberry pancakes. She uses just enough batter to hold the blueberries together and always cooks over an open alder wood fire. No, there is no alder where we pick berries at 4,500 feet elevation so we cut some on our way up. Some of the guys that have hunted with us in years past, still talk affectionately about those meals.
In western Washington, our opening archery season for hunting deer and hunting elk overlap. We don't hunt in the best of areas for getting a deer but there are many elk in the area so we target elk but we are always ready for that deer as well. We occasionally see bear when out so my brother always buys a combo license to harvest a bear or cougar if the opportunity arises. We very rarely see a cougar but we do see their sign quite often. It always feels eerie to me when I see cougar tracks on top of my tracks from earlier in the day.
Unless I absolutely had to, I don't think I would try to take a cougar with a bow and arrow with no gun and no backup by myself in the middle of nowhere. I probably would have when I was a young whippersnapper of 40.
We always set our camp up in the berry fields. We get a spot that has plenty of trees to give us a wind break. We take along a large tarp to cover the tent and surrounding area. We place a high value on comfort while in camp. I like to take those niceties like fold up tables and camping chairs that are comfortable. We used to be bare bones type of hunter/campers but sort of grew out of it. There have been years when I got my game on the first day. We don't have party hunting in our state so while everyone else is out hunting, I was stuck in camp. One big thing that I have learned is to always, always be prepared to handle the game. For us, the hunt is about the meat as well as the rest. The hunting and the camping are great but getting meat in the end really makes it worth while. I bring one 7 day cooler filled with ice, plenty of 1 & 2 gal. baggies, skinning knives , game bags, rope, cleaning rags, plenty of water, game hoist, meat/bone saw and a grateful attitude.
A side note: One of the camping accessories I don't forget is a pair of comfortable evening chairs. We walk many miles up and down hill all day while bow hunting and are quite exhausted when we return to camp. We usually cook something that we have ready to go and then relax for awhile around the campfire before turning in. The folding chairs have foot rests and a high back that allow us to relax and watch the mountains night sky. I call them my star gazing chairs. We bring along regular folding camp chairs as well and prefer the larger ones with cup holders in the arm rests.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Bow Hunting Deer Tales-Released
Hello fellow archers and outdoor enthusiasts
I was doing some browsing in a large sporting goods store the other day. Sometimes when I walk the isles of the store I'm not really looking for anything in particular. I'm looking for that new item that would really come in handy for elk camp or the deer hunt. Also, if I'm lucky, I will find a particular item that I broke or lost last year but forgot about until I spotted it in the store. This is not how it usually works. Most of the time, if I didn't replace the item as soon as I got back from camp last year, I will realize that I am missing it on my first bow hunting camp this year. I hate it when that happens.
I found myself purchasing a new bow string release. As I was standing in a line at checkout, I started reminiscing about how I came to need yet another release. I had stated in an earlier blog that when I first started bow hunting deer that I used a re-curve bow with no sights. I didn't even have dreams about a trigger release for a bow. That would have been far fetched dreaming. I used a simple leather pad with a whole cut out for my thumb and a slit between the index and middle fingers for the arrow. I used that fairly effectively for a couple years but I never really liked it. My fingers would get sore during practice and I would get string twist with many of my shots. This would cause my arrows to fishtail or wobble slightly.
I joined an archery team a couple years after I started bow hunting and at that time I graduated to leather finger tabs. This was a leather shooting glove with just 3 leather fingers and straps to hold them on my hand. I actually used these for many years, even after I switched to a compound bow. I know several archery hunters who still prefer them. Traditionalists will usually use this type of shooting glove or the slit tab mentioned earlier. I, however, made the switch to the trigger release. I fell in love with it. No more sore fingers and my accuracy actually improved.
There is one thing that you must remember when using a trigger release of any kind. You must always have it on your hand or rapidly accessible when hunting. You will spend much time on the shooting range sighting in your bow. You should be practicing with the same equipment you will use in the field. If you find yourself in front of a large deer or elk or whatever without your release, you will be in for an experience. I know, I've been there and it wasn't pretty. My gloves were kind of bulky with cotton fingers so I removed the glove and pulled the arrow with my bare fingers. My bow was set at 65lbs and it was my original compound bow which didn't have any let off. I was using cross-hair sights and a peep on the string. It was a 45 yard shot and my arrow went about 2 inches over its back. My sighting was different than it was with the release.
I have used several different types of mechanical releases since then. Last summer after watching the US archery competition I decided to buy a t-handle release. All of the finalists in the competition were using this type of release. I figured that they are the best shots in the US so they must know something. I bought a nice release and changed the way I held my release. With my old release, I held my hand with my palm down or facing my cheek. With the new t handle release I held my palm facing away from my cheek. This worked very well. My shots were right on and I thought I stumbled on to something great. Using that release had required me to adjust my sight pins, but once set I had great smooth releases right on target.
Now it was time for me to relearn and old lesson. On the weekend before opening day of bow hunting deer season I changed my field tips to broadheads and went to the range. I always have to make slight adjustments. It got cold that weekend so I took along a pair of my hunting gloves. I paid the fee to shoot at the target range where they have great broadhead targets. I hauled all my stuff to the target area and commenced to shoot. Believe me when I tell you, I simply could not use that new release with gloves on. It simply wouldn't work for me. I had just enough of a problem that I couldn't guarantee myself a clean release every time. I ended up going back to the range with my old release and re-sighting my bow the next day. This is just a reminder, always try to test new equipment in the same manner it will be used. Even though I've known this for years, last year it slipped right by me.
By the way, the reason for the new release this year. When I used the t-handle release I added a loop to my string which I liked. My old trigger release worked with it but the calipers were a little to wide which made it a bit difficult to grab the loop. These are very good points to remember when buying new archery equipment. The silver lining in this cloud is that I won't have to worry about having a back up release. Here is to having a great season. JG
I was doing some browsing in a large sporting goods store the other day. Sometimes when I walk the isles of the store I'm not really looking for anything in particular. I'm looking for that new item that would really come in handy for elk camp or the deer hunt. Also, if I'm lucky, I will find a particular item that I broke or lost last year but forgot about until I spotted it in the store. This is not how it usually works. Most of the time, if I didn't replace the item as soon as I got back from camp last year, I will realize that I am missing it on my first bow hunting camp this year. I hate it when that happens.
I found myself purchasing a new bow string release. As I was standing in a line at checkout, I started reminiscing about how I came to need yet another release. I had stated in an earlier blog that when I first started bow hunting deer that I used a re-curve bow with no sights. I didn't even have dreams about a trigger release for a bow. That would have been far fetched dreaming. I used a simple leather pad with a whole cut out for my thumb and a slit between the index and middle fingers for the arrow. I used that fairly effectively for a couple years but I never really liked it. My fingers would get sore during practice and I would get string twist with many of my shots. This would cause my arrows to fishtail or wobble slightly.
I joined an archery team a couple years after I started bow hunting and at that time I graduated to leather finger tabs. This was a leather shooting glove with just 3 leather fingers and straps to hold them on my hand. I actually used these for many years, even after I switched to a compound bow. I know several archery hunters who still prefer them. Traditionalists will usually use this type of shooting glove or the slit tab mentioned earlier. I, however, made the switch to the trigger release. I fell in love with it. No more sore fingers and my accuracy actually improved.
There is one thing that you must remember when using a trigger release of any kind. You must always have it on your hand or rapidly accessible when hunting. You will spend much time on the shooting range sighting in your bow. You should be practicing with the same equipment you will use in the field. If you find yourself in front of a large deer or elk or whatever without your release, you will be in for an experience. I know, I've been there and it wasn't pretty. My gloves were kind of bulky with cotton fingers so I removed the glove and pulled the arrow with my bare fingers. My bow was set at 65lbs and it was my original compound bow which didn't have any let off. I was using cross-hair sights and a peep on the string. It was a 45 yard shot and my arrow went about 2 inches over its back. My sighting was different than it was with the release.
I have used several different types of mechanical releases since then. Last summer after watching the US archery competition I decided to buy a t-handle release. All of the finalists in the competition were using this type of release. I figured that they are the best shots in the US so they must know something. I bought a nice release and changed the way I held my release. With my old release, I held my hand with my palm down or facing my cheek. With the new t handle release I held my palm facing away from my cheek. This worked very well. My shots were right on and I thought I stumbled on to something great. Using that release had required me to adjust my sight pins, but once set I had great smooth releases right on target.
Now it was time for me to relearn and old lesson. On the weekend before opening day of bow hunting deer season I changed my field tips to broadheads and went to the range. I always have to make slight adjustments. It got cold that weekend so I took along a pair of my hunting gloves. I paid the fee to shoot at the target range where they have great broadhead targets. I hauled all my stuff to the target area and commenced to shoot. Believe me when I tell you, I simply could not use that new release with gloves on. It simply wouldn't work for me. I had just enough of a problem that I couldn't guarantee myself a clean release every time. I ended up going back to the range with my old release and re-sighting my bow the next day. This is just a reminder, always try to test new equipment in the same manner it will be used. Even though I've known this for years, last year it slipped right by me.
By the way, the reason for the new release this year. When I used the t-handle release I added a loop to my string which I liked. My old trigger release worked with it but the calipers were a little to wide which made it a bit difficult to grab the loop. These are very good points to remember when buying new archery equipment. The silver lining in this cloud is that I won't have to worry about having a back up release. Here is to having a great season. JG
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Bow Hunting Deer-how far out is that
Hello fellow hunters
I was out shooting my bow the other day and I had a problem. Can you imagine that, a problem,
tell me its not so. Actually, little problems, or obstacles if you will, crop up fairly often in some of our lives. These obstacles can either prevent us from moving forward or they can trigger our creativity. I've found that most bow hunters are quite creative. They usually find a way over, under, around or just plain through obstacles.
One particular, persistent problem that people who bow hunt deer or any other game for that matter have is that of knowing the distance from arrow to target. This brings me to my little problem I had while shooting. My 40 yard pin was broken. It most likely got that way while I was carrying my bow through some very dense undergrowth in the pacific northwest. I now use fiber optic sight pins so it took me awhile to fix my problem. I had to take the sight apart and uncoil enough fiber to string it through the end of the pin. That was about the time my grandson asked me "how do you know when you have to use that pin?".
That question of his flipped my memory into overdrive. I began thinking about how when I first started bow hunting deer, I used a bear recurve that was 45lb draw and no sights of any kind. I shot purely instinctive. I was quite accurate up to 50 yards or so. When I shot, I didn't really know how far away the target was but somehow knew where to hold the bow. Needless to say, this became far more difficult depending on the terrain and light conditions. I switched to a peep sight and sight pins after a few years of missing 'the big one' a few to many times. I wanted something more accurate. Since then I have used a wide variety of sights from cross hairs to fiber optics.
The one big factor with using sights that doesn't go away, is that you really need to know your distance. If you use the wrong pin, it can mean a complete miss or worse, a low hit. I have spent two whole days tracking a poorly hit animal. That is another story all by itself. But, like I mentioned earlier, bow hunters and our ilk are very creative. We incorporated the use of range finders. These devices have come a long way since I used my first one. It was a small green box with a see through viewer that had a graduated scale inside consisting of 2 lines. I just had to put the brisket area of the deer or elk between the lines and it gave me the approximate yardage. This device did improve my accuracy and I made some good shots with it. The rangefinder helped in many circumstances but had some drawbacks. It wasn't useful in low light conditions and due to size variations in animals, it wasn't always right on.
I started using a Bushnell yardage pro shortly after I saw them advertised in my favorite sportsman's magazine a few years ago. The digital rangefinders sort of revolutionized the distance determining obstacle. They are great but a tool just the same and as such, they have their fall-abilities. I was still-hunting in the early evening when I spotted a large black tail buck. I guessed 40 yards but I had my rangefinder hanging from my neck. This is where I used to keep my binoculars but the rangefinder was to large for my pockets. As it turned out, raising the rangefinder to my eyes and using both hands in order to get the distance, putting it back down and raising my bow after wards proved to be a bit to much. Just before I got the bow in position, the buck became nervous, turned and walked away. I didn't get another chance. Even though I moved very slow and deliberately, there was very little cover for me when I spotted the animal.
I now use a Leupold rx11 digital rangefinder . I can place it in my breast pocket and effectively use it with one hand. This particular set has a nice feature that I have used to my advantage. It calculates the correct distance when shooting up or down hill. Remind me to tell you the story of when I walked to a ledge which had me standing over a heard of bedding elk. They were all between 20 and 50 yards away but my mind told me something different. Lets just say that my instincts in that instance were not 'right on'.
A Note from Jerry G, I now use a Leupold Rx rangefinder I really like. It fits nicely in my upper vest pocket and I can use it with one hand. Have you ever tried to move your bow when a deer or elk is looking in your direction? If you move at all, it had better be very slowly or better yet if the game was feeding, don't move until it goes back to it. When you do decide to make your move you don't want to have to let go of your bow if you don't have to. When bowhunting
deer or bow hunting elk, I use my rangefinder as my monocular. The Leupold has 6x magnification which is handy. I used to always carry a monocular anyway. My brother is currently using my other rangefinder which is a Bushnell Yardage Pro which he will not go in the woods without. Check them out now in Cabela's, when you are in the field, you'll be glad you did. Keep tuned for more bow hunting tips. JG
I was out shooting my bow the other day and I had a problem. Can you imagine that, a problem,
tell me its not so. Actually, little problems, or obstacles if you will, crop up fairly often in some of our lives. These obstacles can either prevent us from moving forward or they can trigger our creativity. I've found that most bow hunters are quite creative. They usually find a way over, under, around or just plain through obstacles.
One particular, persistent problem that people who bow hunt deer or any other game for that matter have is that of knowing the distance from arrow to target. This brings me to my little problem I had while shooting. My 40 yard pin was broken. It most likely got that way while I was carrying my bow through some very dense undergrowth in the pacific northwest. I now use fiber optic sight pins so it took me awhile to fix my problem. I had to take the sight apart and uncoil enough fiber to string it through the end of the pin. That was about the time my grandson asked me "how do you know when you have to use that pin?".
That question of his flipped my memory into overdrive. I began thinking about how when I first started bow hunting deer, I used a bear recurve that was 45lb draw and no sights of any kind. I shot purely instinctive. I was quite accurate up to 50 yards or so. When I shot, I didn't really know how far away the target was but somehow knew where to hold the bow. Needless to say, this became far more difficult depending on the terrain and light conditions. I switched to a peep sight and sight pins after a few years of missing 'the big one' a few to many times. I wanted something more accurate. Since then I have used a wide variety of sights from cross hairs to fiber optics.
The one big factor with using sights that doesn't go away, is that you really need to know your distance. If you use the wrong pin, it can mean a complete miss or worse, a low hit. I have spent two whole days tracking a poorly hit animal. That is another story all by itself. But, like I mentioned earlier, bow hunters and our ilk are very creative. We incorporated the use of range finders. These devices have come a long way since I used my first one. It was a small green box with a see through viewer that had a graduated scale inside consisting of 2 lines. I just had to put the brisket area of the deer or elk between the lines and it gave me the approximate yardage. This device did improve my accuracy and I made some good shots with it. The rangefinder helped in many circumstances but had some drawbacks. It wasn't useful in low light conditions and due to size variations in animals, it wasn't always right on.
I started using a Bushnell yardage pro shortly after I saw them advertised in my favorite sportsman's magazine a few years ago. The digital rangefinders sort of revolutionized the distance determining obstacle. They are great but a tool just the same and as such, they have their fall-abilities. I was still-hunting in the early evening when I spotted a large black tail buck. I guessed 40 yards but I had my rangefinder hanging from my neck. This is where I used to keep my binoculars but the rangefinder was to large for my pockets. As it turned out, raising the rangefinder to my eyes and using both hands in order to get the distance, putting it back down and raising my bow after wards proved to be a bit to much. Just before I got the bow in position, the buck became nervous, turned and walked away. I didn't get another chance. Even though I moved very slow and deliberately, there was very little cover for me when I spotted the animal.
I now use a Leupold rx11 digital rangefinder . I can place it in my breast pocket and effectively use it with one hand. This particular set has a nice feature that I have used to my advantage. It calculates the correct distance when shooting up or down hill. Remind me to tell you the story of when I walked to a ledge which had me standing over a heard of bedding elk. They were all between 20 and 50 yards away but my mind told me something different. Lets just say that my instincts in that instance were not 'right on'.
A Note from Jerry G, I now use a Leupold Rx rangefinder I really like. It fits nicely in my upper vest pocket and I can use it with one hand. Have you ever tried to move your bow when a deer or elk is looking in your direction? If you move at all, it had better be very slowly or better yet if the game was feeding, don't move until it goes back to it. When you do decide to make your move you don't want to have to let go of your bow if you don't have to. When bowhunting
deer or bow hunting elk, I use my rangefinder as my monocular. The Leupold has 6x magnification which is handy. I used to always carry a monocular anyway. My brother is currently using my other rangefinder which is a Bushnell Yardage Pro which he will not go in the woods without. Check them out now in Cabela's, when you are in the field, you'll be glad you did. Keep tuned for more bow hunting tips. JG
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Bow Hunting Deer-realities
Hello fellow hunters
I love hearing stories told of the one that got away or the one that didn't. Your very first harvest, or the last one taken and what made it memorable. I also would like to read about archery equipment that works very well and why you would recommend it to others. Most of us go by trial and error. We read about how great a companies certain accessory is, written by the company, and we think we need it. We buy it, try it and the product simply does not work like it was supposed to.
These seemingly minor glitches in certain hunting products can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety and frustration when they happen at the worst possible time. Let me give you an example.
I have taken many trips to north central Washington state to bow hunt mule deer. At my last count, I have harvested 13 mule deer and 2 whitetails in the Okanagon county area. I am not telling you that so as to brag but to let you know that there are many animals in that area and with persistence even an average bow hunter like myself can fill a tag.
One day, I didn't get one. Not because I didn't have the chance but because of a certain piece of equipment. I had scouted this area several times and found tracks and droppings of some very large mule deer. I found a couple well used trails that converged at a shallow spot in the river. I had watched a line of deer cross the river in that spot, early morning the previous day. On the other side of the river, there is farm land with large well hydrated alfalfa fields and No Hunting signs all over the place. That morning, I hunted in a tree stand I had built and hadn't got a shot. I decided to hunt the river crossing for that evenings hunt. There was a problem though, it was a very good looking place but trying to find a spot fairly close to the crossing were I would be somewhat concealed and able to move a bow without being seen was quite vexing.
Stand hunting in the 1st two hours of daylight and the last two hours of daylight have always been my most productive means. That is why I purchased my special hunting stool. It was a metal and nylon folding stool that had a built in day pack. I wore it on my back comfortably and it held all my essentials. If you've ever posted yourself behind a tree on your knees for 2 hours, you know why a stool. I had done everything perfectly. The tree that I decided to use for my blind was approximately 20 yds from 2 heavily used trails.
I had my self situated by 4:45 pm as it got to dark to shoot at about 7:30pm. At 5:30 I heard a cracking noise which spiked my heart rate from 60 to 120 instantly. I was ready. Arrow knocked, breathing calmed and on full alert. The first buck had 5 points on both sides and stood on the edge of the trees about 15 yards on the other side of my tree. As it turned out, that was the smallest of the 3 large mule deer bucks that stepped out simultaneously. I knew I would only get one chance. They didn't see me when I peeked around the tree but I knew that if I had tried to pull my string back they would have. I decided to have my bow at full draw when I looked again. So with my back to the tree, I pulled back, they were still there. I slowly started to turn to my left and just as my bow and arrow were rounding the tree, my stool squeaked. I might as well have shot off a firecracker. I've never seen animals move so fast from standing still. I swear they had to turn themselves sideways to keep from flying.
The moral of the story, Always check your equipment for unwanted sounds before you use it in the field. I only use that stool for day hikes and camp, not hunting stands period.
Do you have a bow hunting deer story? If so, we would love to hear it.
I love hearing stories told of the one that got away or the one that didn't. Your very first harvest, or the last one taken and what made it memorable. I also would like to read about archery equipment that works very well and why you would recommend it to others. Most of us go by trial and error. We read about how great a companies certain accessory is, written by the company, and we think we need it. We buy it, try it and the product simply does not work like it was supposed to.
These seemingly minor glitches in certain hunting products can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety and frustration when they happen at the worst possible time. Let me give you an example.
I have taken many trips to north central Washington state to bow hunt mule deer. At my last count, I have harvested 13 mule deer and 2 whitetails in the Okanagon county area. I am not telling you that so as to brag but to let you know that there are many animals in that area and with persistence even an average bow hunter like myself can fill a tag.
One day, I didn't get one. Not because I didn't have the chance but because of a certain piece of equipment. I had scouted this area several times and found tracks and droppings of some very large mule deer. I found a couple well used trails that converged at a shallow spot in the river. I had watched a line of deer cross the river in that spot, early morning the previous day. On the other side of the river, there is farm land with large well hydrated alfalfa fields and No Hunting signs all over the place. That morning, I hunted in a tree stand I had built and hadn't got a shot. I decided to hunt the river crossing for that evenings hunt. There was a problem though, it was a very good looking place but trying to find a spot fairly close to the crossing were I would be somewhat concealed and able to move a bow without being seen was quite vexing.
Stand hunting in the 1st two hours of daylight and the last two hours of daylight have always been my most productive means. That is why I purchased my special hunting stool. It was a metal and nylon folding stool that had a built in day pack. I wore it on my back comfortably and it held all my essentials. If you've ever posted yourself behind a tree on your knees for 2 hours, you know why a stool. I had done everything perfectly. The tree that I decided to use for my blind was approximately 20 yds from 2 heavily used trails.
I had my self situated by 4:45 pm as it got to dark to shoot at about 7:30pm. At 5:30 I heard a cracking noise which spiked my heart rate from 60 to 120 instantly. I was ready. Arrow knocked, breathing calmed and on full alert. The first buck had 5 points on both sides and stood on the edge of the trees about 15 yards on the other side of my tree. As it turned out, that was the smallest of the 3 large mule deer bucks that stepped out simultaneously. I knew I would only get one chance. They didn't see me when I peeked around the tree but I knew that if I had tried to pull my string back they would have. I decided to have my bow at full draw when I looked again. So with my back to the tree, I pulled back, they were still there. I slowly started to turn to my left and just as my bow and arrow were rounding the tree, my stool squeaked. I might as well have shot off a firecracker. I've never seen animals move so fast from standing still. I swear they had to turn themselves sideways to keep from flying.
The moral of the story, Always check your equipment for unwanted sounds before you use it in the field. I only use that stool for day hikes and camp, not hunting stands period.
Do you have a bow hunting deer story? If so, we would love to hear it.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Bow Hunting Stories
Fellow Bow Hunters
Well how about it? Are you one of those people who has to dust off all your hunting equipment and figure out what you broke, lost,overused or just forgot from last years hunt?
Or are you that archer that keeps his equipment in fine working order all year and practices regularly?
Either way, it is about that time again. You can begin to feel that slight fever rising. You have that urge to practice more. Your minds eye can just see that rack growing each day and the velvet is getting itchy. Bow hunting deer, bow hunting elk, bow hunting bear or what ever your favorite is, it is getting closer to that moment of truth.
My name is Jerry G. and I have been hunting about as long as I can remember. My dad made my brother and I little wooden guns when we were about 7 & 8 years old. He then took an old inner-tube and cut half inch strips making large rubber bands. He used a clothes pin on the back of the wooden gun as a trigger mechanism and whaala-we had real hunting pistols. When we were not shooting each other or mom, we would go out in the back field and hunt. It didn't really matter what we were hunting, we let our imaginations rule the day. I have been hunting ever since.
Even after over 45 years of hunting, I still enjoy all the various aspects of hunting. The seasonal weather changes, starting my bow hunting supplies list of needs, wants and wishes and the phone calls from hunting buddies wondering where we should go for opening. All this gets me to thinking about seasons past and the great stories told around the evening camp fire.
This is what this blog is about. Hunting prep.,trips,hits and misses and the stories told round that camp fire that somehow explains it all. I would love to hear your stories of how the season makes its way into your life. How you saw the biggest buck ever, missed and had to settle for a small deer on the last day. Please chime in, I know there are stories out there that just need to be told, albeit sans camp fire. We like stories about bow hunting deer,bow hunting elk or just bow hunting in general.
Well how about it? Are you one of those people who has to dust off all your hunting equipment and figure out what you broke, lost,overused or just forgot from last years hunt?
Or are you that archer that keeps his equipment in fine working order all year and practices regularly?
Either way, it is about that time again. You can begin to feel that slight fever rising. You have that urge to practice more. Your minds eye can just see that rack growing each day and the velvet is getting itchy. Bow hunting deer, bow hunting elk, bow hunting bear or what ever your favorite is, it is getting closer to that moment of truth.
My name is Jerry G. and I have been hunting about as long as I can remember. My dad made my brother and I little wooden guns when we were about 7 & 8 years old. He then took an old inner-tube and cut half inch strips making large rubber bands. He used a clothes pin on the back of the wooden gun as a trigger mechanism and whaala-we had real hunting pistols. When we were not shooting each other or mom, we would go out in the back field and hunt. It didn't really matter what we were hunting, we let our imaginations rule the day. I have been hunting ever since.
Even after over 45 years of hunting, I still enjoy all the various aspects of hunting. The seasonal weather changes, starting my bow hunting supplies list of needs, wants and wishes and the phone calls from hunting buddies wondering where we should go for opening. All this gets me to thinking about seasons past and the great stories told around the evening camp fire.
This is what this blog is about. Hunting prep.,trips,hits and misses and the stories told round that camp fire that somehow explains it all. I would love to hear your stories of how the season makes its way into your life. How you saw the biggest buck ever, missed and had to settle for a small deer on the last day. Please chime in, I know there are stories out there that just need to be told, albeit sans camp fire. We like stories about bow hunting deer,bow hunting elk or just bow hunting in general.
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