Archery

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Archery
We all love our coolio firebreathing hunks of steel but the need for archery especially post SHFT is needed IMO. The ability to dispatch anything living and breathing quietly is a plus. Hunting with archery equipment that requires you sneak in or ambush in very close proximity makes you better as a hunter period not to mention better in overall tactics which is a thinking mans(womans) game. A good recurve or traditional style bow can use wooden type arrows that you can easily fashion with woodscraft skills. The compound as I am shooting here requires a much tougher arrow and wooden ones should never be used for safety reasons. Bows can in price can be from insane to $50 at a pawn shop or garage sale if you dont get hung up by older models or peer pressure brand names. I even have a couple that we use for fishing, however they are equipped to shoot regular arrows as well for targets of opportunity when presented. Practice doesn't require a special area or range and can be done with a few safety measures in a normal yard with a reusable target. For those who do not have great upper body strength or limitations there are bows with lower poundages in women and youth models or possibly look at the crossbows. Even the lower poundage bows will take large animals at decent ranges with proper arrows and broadheads. I killed 20 minutes today and practiced at various ranges and worked out the old man shoulders and stayed in the game with little to no effort. I'd like to see /hear what you have and your thoughts.

[MustangGal]

Well, you have made me regret selling my crossbow. I sold it after my back surgery. I don't think I could use it now anyway, but DH could.

[Swordarm4]

I used to send about a hundred a day down range , but I've really slacked off over the last year. It's something I need to pick back up.

[monkeybird]

Believe it or not, I was taught Archery in High School P.E. Class. Of course today it wouldn't be allowed!! I loved the sport.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I used to send about a hundred a day down range , but I've really slacked off over the last year. It's something I need to pick back up.

I have an older bow with not much of a let off and running 65lbs so 20 is about good for me. I only hit it about once every 2 wks. I'm not great with a bow like i am with guns but i know my limits which is about 30yds and I use any excuse to make my wife a hunting season widow LOL
I like it because I can stand on the porch even on a rainy day, not get my equipment wet, bust off a few, kill 1/2 hr and feel like I did something worthwhile and it's fun. I like the hunt, even when i get busted because i ground stalk alot, because i am in close enough to hear the animal breathe with these old Army ears using my super ninja skills and the adrenaline dump is what makes you know you are still alive!

[Swordarm4]

I do a little stalking, but honestly over the last two years bow season has turned into get out of the house for a break season . I mostly use it to scout my areas , or just sit and watch. I shot a Mathews x4 with about 80 lbs on it, I imagine about fifteen or twenty pulls would do me in right now !

[610Alpha]

Been looking to buy some arrows in bulk but can't seem to find any good deals....got any sites you recommend? I am going to keep any eye for garage sales this spring. Prices seem to have went way up or its just been a long time. Thought about making my own but even then not sure if I would save much.

Thought Cedar arrows might be cheaper but they aren't...aluminum seems pricey to me and no way can i afford carbon fiber.

[Swordarm4]

Find a archery shop and see if they have any that were cut but never picked up. I've found some good deals like that, of course they usually aren't my length but they make good practice shafts. Also just keep an eye out for sales, carbons can be found cheap, but if your shooting an older bow you'll wanna stick with aluminum, they seem to like the heavier arrows.

[610Alpha]

I will have to try the archery shop....a dozen arrows w/o tip from basspro is $54.99...about $4.58 an arrow.....i wonder if i could build them cheaper myself

[Piper]

I made the switch from compound to an old Shakespeare
recurve and love shooting instinctive. My new project is
to make a selfbow out of Osage orange. I am collecting
Deer tendons to make the string and the arrows will be
bambo with Osage Orange end caps. My dream is to
hand build a bow, string, arrows and broad head and
take a deer with it. If interested I can post pics as I
progress and give updates

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I made the switch from compound to an old Shakespeare
recurve and love shooting instinctive. My new project is
to make a selfbow out of Osage orange. I am collecting
Deer tendons to make the string and the arrows will be
bambo with Osage Orange end caps. My dream is to
hand build a bow, string, arrows and broad head and
take a deer with it. If interested I can post pics as I
progress and give updates

That would be very interesting to see

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Well burned up my old target so the family got me a new one today. Summer is perfect for skill set practice because by the time you sling a few arrows and it gets hot you can break because you will begin to wear out and need to relax the upper body. You can stand in the shade and set the target in the shade to help as well.



Might wanna get one before someone starts whining about assault quivers and armor piercing arrows

[Tackleberry]

Hey guys! I am going bow hunting for wild hogs in Southern Oklahoma this September. I'll be using a PSE Thunderbolt (70lb draw) w/ carbon fiber arrows tipped with 100gr Muzzies. I've had the bow for 14 yeas but it is accurate and reliable. I've chrono'd the carbon fiber arrows at 253 fps. I've heard hogs require pretty stout arrowheads. Any thoughts?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Hey guys! I am going bow hunting for wild hogs in Southern Oklahoma this September. I'll be using a PSE Thunderbolt (70lb draw) w/ carbon fiber arrows tipped with 100gr Muzzies. I've had the bow for 14 yeas but it is accurate and reliable. I've chrono'd the carbon fiber arrows at 253 fps. I've heard hogs require pretty stout arrowheads. Any thoughts?

Way too cool, you will be down in Gods country. Yep the broadheads need to be strong, muzzies are GTG (Good to Go). Since the shots will be at shorter ranges for the most part down there you might even consider the 4 blade to bleed them out quicker IMO. Hogs arent really any tougher than other game exept for the shoulder plate which i try and avoid unlike gun hunting. 70Lbs is alot for ground stalks for most because of the amount of movement it takes to draw. Its a great set for blinds but i dunno what you can do. If nothing else practice the draw wth the least amount of movement possible before ya go, hogs dont have great eyesight but hear and smell very well and their eyes pick up sudden movement. Man have fun and post some pics on here when ya get done!!!

[Tackleberry]

Way too cool, you will be down in Gods country. Yep the broadheads need to be strong, muzzies are GTG (Good to Go). Since the shots will be at shorter ranges for the most part down there you might even consider the 4 blade to bleed them out quicker IMO. Hogs arent really any tougher than other game exept for the shoulder plate which i try and avoid unlike gun hunting. 70Lbs is alot for ground stalks for most because of the amount of movement it takes to draw. Its a great set for blinds but i dunno what you can do. If nothing else practice the draw wth the least amount of movement possible before ya go, hogs dont have great eyesight but hear and smell very well and their eyes pick up sudden movement. Man have fun and post some pics on here when ya get done!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the broadheads, Matt. Typically, I have my bow at 65lbs of draw so I don't think the extra 5lbs will do much on my ability to draw the bow without much movement. I'll be in a tree stand with no shots beyond 35 yards from the tree. I've never shot from a tree stand before. I've used plenty of ground blinds and spot and stalks here in AZ though. I know I have to adjust for the angle of the shot because of the geometry. If I get one, you guys can definitely count me posting photos.