Traditional Hunting

[Preacherboy]

Hello everyone,
I am new to this site and wanted to say Hi. Was wondering if anyone has gotten a deer yet? It has been hard hunting this year for me. Too many acorns and green grass. These freezes might help the situation though.
Just started hunting with recurve this year--been a compound hunter for a few years. Have taken deer with compound but haven't had a chance with recurve. I am, by choice, going traditional and am loving every minute of it.
God Bless and Good Hunting--Preacherboy

[Graybow]

Hey Preacherboy, I'm new here too. I just joined the LSBA last month. I started shooting a recurve about 4 years ago. I love it. Take it everywhere I hunt. So much lighter carrying it up mountains in Colorado! Put a lot of fun back into the hunt. It has been tough hunting this year with all the available food. We just had our second frost Saturday. I'm hoping it will improve the hunting. We need some more cooler weather also. I don't like hunting in the heat!

[Frontloader]

I would have to concur on the heat, acorns, green forbs, pecans, full moons, and anything else the pigs and deer are eating or using to avoid me this year. :x

I am on a small 600 acrea tract surrounded by about that much land that is not being hunted. Half of our land is a slough so they can't be in there much. Plenty of tracks and rooting but little in the way of game movement during daylight hours. Saw deer and hogs in Oct. but little in November. Does were too far away when I saw them and now the season is over for them. The little bucks I saw were too far away when I did see them. Tough to be a bow hunter under these conditions. Looks like I will be eating a lot of chicken next year.

Pigs should start moving more in the day I hope when it cools down. If not, then I may have to start night hunting. However, best I do that after deer season. :)

[biggen]

Preacherbou I am also hunting with a recurve this year for the first time. All I can say is stick to it you will be FRUSTRATED!! I have missed two deer already but I refuse to give up altough I could have easily shot them with the compound.

[walking eagle]

Remember, the arrow goes where the eyes are looking!

[Preacherboy]

No giving up--enjoy shooting recurve, in fact I am selling my compound bow this week--hopefully. Recurve is so much quieter (on the draw anyway). Only frustration that I have is the lack of moving deer. Big problem right now is 2 horses and 2 "Stinking Goats" on my lease. Came close to removing one of them goats last evening--glad I didn't now.
Have resorted to ground blind and trail hunting-harder, but more challenging.
Hope's up.
God Bless and good hunting--Preacherboy

[walking eagle]

Preacherboy, HTM Blunts educate uninvited guests. It may take several "lessons", but they will get the message. Hang in with the stick bow, I know when I started, I got very frustrated, but I figured if Fred Bear could do it, so could I. Another little piece of advise, Shooting a stick bow is not an excuse for sloppy form. Practice, practice, practice.
Walking eagle

[LostHawg]

As was stated. Practice, Practice, Practice.

I took a 4 point on the 21st of Oct. with my longbow and cedar arrows w/Zwickey Deltas. Arrow went right in the kitchen, oven and all.

Good luck. It'll be a fun adventure.

[Tomme]

I still like hunting with a compound, though there is really something beautiful and graceful in a nice recurve. Now that I've taken a buck at Ft Hood, I think I'll really practice with the recurve and go out there for a doe after Christmas. So should I use a Palmer, or that old Ben Pearson Colt that harvested the hog at Brushy Hills?

Guess you can call me Half Bad and Half Trad (HBHT).

[T-Post]

Tomme,
You shoot both ways so you must be one of those "cross dressers"!
I have seen some rather intersting photos of you in drag.

[biggen]

I tried trad for the first time this year. I shot everyday but three until opening day(From Jan. 02). I was excited BUT that soon vanished after three deer shot over and one I thought I hit good but never found (uuugh!). I reluctantly pulled out the wheels and shot two does. I have put the wheels up again and I'm still shooting daily with the recurve. Maybe next year will be better!!
Biggen

[Tomme]

Watch your mouth T-Post or I'll hit you with this purse.

Now let's clarify this. I wear a wig. I don't dress in drag (at least not for hunting), far too drafty. As far as hunting trad I keep thinking I hear your voice whispering in my ear ..."Shoot the Tree. Shoot the Tree."

Biggen I love to shoot my recurve, but if I'm looking to put meat in the freezer or maybe a shot at a real trophy, I'm just not confident enough. I'm still challenged with whatever equipment.

[walking eagle]

For the novice stickbow shooter that overshoots critters, try this . Take a plain white paper plate and place it on your target, shoot 6 arrows at 15 yards. Make note of your arrow grouping. Next, place a small dot about the size of a dime in the center of the plate, shoot another 6 arrows, and compare the grouping with the first salvo. I would bet that the second one is considerably better than the first. What this demonstrats is that you have to PICK A SPOT and CONSENTRATE on that spot! My favorite spot on a deer is the front elbow when their head is down and feeding. That elbow is situated low and lined up with the boiler room in this posture.
If you are shooting without sights, and you look at the whole animal, you will shoot high ever time
Good luck, and practice, practice, practice.
Ron

[Tomme]

Real good advice Ron.

I might also add to be sure and hit your anchor point with the hand pulling the bow string. The one pig I took with a recurve was at 23 yards. I was zoned in low on the heart, and I kept thinking anchor, anchor, anchor as I drew the arrow. I didn't hit the heart, but I was close enough that I got the pig.

[walking eagle]

So true Tomme, form is everything, regardless of what kind of bow you shoot.
Ron

[LostHawg]

Also, I think when it comes down to actually scoring the right hit, focus is the key factor in success. Especially if you're shooting instinctive, you need to practice blocking out any outside destractions.

90% of the battle is won if you can only concentrate, keep your focus, on that one spot. Never, and I mean NEVER, shoot at the target, deer, hog, etc. Shoot at the smallest spot you can pick. "from The Patriot" "Aim small, miss small".

[Chunky]

i went back and forth between compond and traditional for a year.

there were some frustrating times let me tell you.

I once missed a small doe 4 times in one night. each time she was standing in exactly the same place. the 4 arrows were grouped in about a six inch circle. i just kept shooting over her until i ran out of arrows and then just watched her eat corn.

another time i had a doe in the perfect spot. 8 yards slightly quartering away. i shot and she jumped the string, the arrow went over her by a good bit. then 20 minutes later another doe shows up walking down the same trail, when she is in the same spot...i am talking the the same tracks. i draw, force myself to hold just below her chest for the drop and shoot. she never moves a muscle. the arrow sticks in the mud just below her and she is still standing there. you could have heard my groan from the camp house.

so i feel your pain brothers, and these are just a couple of the dozens of stories. still don't give up....the third deer down the trail above i shot through the heart.

remember to pick a spot, i think this is the most common mistake.

and lastly,,,,it's better to miss low than to hit high.

[Tomme]

LOL. Loved the story Chunky. Now if I can just get three to come by my feeder.

[biggen]

Scratch on deer this year with recurve. Going to Massie next week to order new recurve. I have a poundage in mind but what do you great stickbow shooters think is best poundage. Of cours this leaves you out Tomme! (i said Great) :lol:

[walking eagle]

Stay with a poundage that you can handle. Weight does not kill, accuracy does.
Ron

[Tomme]

All right Biggen, I think I'm going to challenge you and all the other solely Trad shooters on the Spring LSBA hunt. Heck to give you a handicap, I won't even use my Palmer, I'll use an old Ben Pearson from the 60's. I think I can still take you guys. Then after I've established supremacy, I may switch back to my compound.

Just call me

Half Trad & Half Bad.

By the way, I agree with Ron's comment. I know a very well known Trad shooter that said in his young days before there were poundage requirements he took whitetails with 30# bows. Now of course that's illegal to do today, but in his youth it was not. What was most important was shot placement.

[Linedawg]

Let me see if I have this right. You are only going to bring your Pearson bow for the April hunt? Interesting! There could be some friendly wagering involved!? 8)

[Tomme]

Don't mortgage your home for betting money. I'd hate to leave you guys homeless.

[Chunky]

i love a challenge, so count me in on the trad bet in April.

i would rather have something personal than your money.

maybe we could come up with a prize, like a quiver, knife, or maybe a little picture with everyone participating signing on the border. i read on the leatherwall about a year ago about a hog hunt where they had some type of hog statue trophy they awarded to someone each year. what do the rest of you think?

i am the wrong guy to ask about weight, my bows have gotten heavier and heavier over the last 10 years until i am up to near 80 lbs. i know, i know, i am messed up. my first one was 50 lbs and that was a real fun weight to begin with.

[Tomme]

I like Chunky's Idea. How does this sound. I think we can buy one of those small concrete pigs and we'll chip in on a prorata basis. Depending on how many want in on this challenge probably $2-5 apiece. We'll all sign the pig and put something like LSBA Grunts and Gobbles 2004 Trad Challenge on it. Whoever gets the biggest pig gets the pig. This will make winning the challenge more "CONCRETE". (Get it concrete, LOL, I've got a million of em). I think we could also then take a picture of that person holding it aloft like the Stanley cup while the rest have laid their bows at my (er that person's feet) and are bowing. What do you think?

Only question is are we going to do this just for hogs (that's the easiest) or can you win with a turkey? If we bring turkeys in (other then you guys that is) what size turkey beats what size hog?

[Linedawg]

I think, for the sake of keeping it simple and fun, we just go with the biggest hog or first hog. One or the other. Count me in. I've got a place on the mantle for a new trophy! 8)

[Chunky]

i love it, i guess i can find room for it somewhere, lol.

we will need a way to weigh the hogs, if you want i will go pick up a concrete hog and then those that want to can chip in at the hunt. i am the new guy, so i don't mind putting the money up front.

we will want a quality celabration pic for the magazine.

it was tomme's idea so he should probably be final judge, keeper the money and handle any other offical duties that may arise.

we will want a poster or sign at the sign-in or gate so that all "traditionalist" that want to may participate.

[biggen]

I like the idea but i don't trust anybody that can use "prorata" in a sentence.

[Linedawg]

Depending on the cost of the concrete hog let's just say $5 a piece. Any left overs could be donated to the LSBA or given to the winner to sweeten the pot.

Trusting Tomme is always questionable! :wink:

[LostHawg]

I'm in on the hog thing and donating the residuals to the LSBA. I'm not in it for the turkey hunt. I'm afraid that everytime I cluck on my call Tomme'll come a'runnin with his arrow nocked. :shock: :twisted: :lol:

Oh yeah, a 2nd on $5.

So, Tomme, just how DID you mount that draw-loc on your recurve? :?:

[Chunky]

Okay, the concrete pig has been purchased, and a fine fellow he is.

the game is on!

he was not expensive and i will gladly donate him to the cause. he is large enough for many signatures, yet can be carried, with effort, by the average guy (me). They had a bigger one which looked more realistic, but I could not lift him alone and the rough texture of his hair would make him difficult to decorate. i chose one that is more piggybank looking to meet our needs, besides none of you were there to help me carry the other one.

i am planning on leaving him in his ah-natural state of concrete, unless you think he should be painted. i wouldn't mind painting him, its just that i am afraid that the signatures would not stick and wipe off.

let me know.

[LostHawg]

You sure did go out of your way mighty fast just to buy me a trophy. Thanks. You can paint it the traditional Arkansas Razorback Red, white and black. :twisted:

[Chunky]

hum,,,i tried to post late last night, but it is not here to day so i will try again.

the concrete pig has been purchased! he is a fine fellow worthy of the glory we will bestow upon him. he is sort of piggybank looking, but his smooth sides will give us a nice surface for decorating him. he is as big as he can be and still be carried by the average guy (me). heavier than a ladderstand but lighter than a feeder.

they had a bigger and more realistic looking pig, but i could not lift him alone. none of you were close enough to help me so i got the smaller one. the bigger one was rough with a hair look and wouldn't have been as good as anyway.

i wish i could have gotten that big one and painted him and put him out on one of the roads,,, cost you guys some arrows. haha

anyway, the pig was not expensive and i will gladly donate him to the cause. give me your opinions on wheather or not i should paint him or leave him in his ah-natural concrete state. i worry that if painted the signatues will not stick and will wipe off.

so tell me what you think, and no one else buy a pig.

[Linedawg]

No need to paint my trophy. I'll just use it as a door stop anyway! :lol: It's probably just as well that you didn't get the big one. I would hate for Tomme to hurt himself carrying my trophy! :wink:

[Chunky]

okay, i see my original post did make it, but i am not smart enough to figure out that it started a second page, duh, you guys are going to feel terrible when a guy as dumb as me wins the pig. don't forget that part about laying your bows at my feet in homage.

sent my deposit in, so the game is def on. i guess there are four of us so far.

i may "rent" the pig out for a doorstop. :lol:

[LostHawg]

Uh, I don't rent pigs. :roll:

Glad you got the small one. I've been hanging out in an apartment waiting for my house to sell. Not enough room yet for the big one. Thanks for the kind gesture. BTW, if you lay your bow on the ground at my feet I may take it as being a gift. :wink:

[Frontloader]

From all the babbling going on, I hope you guys don't let your pie hole over load your *** hole. :roll:

I know that a top notch hog killer is coming on this hunt, and if he gets a chance at the VW size hog seen in September, you might as well pack up your tinker toys and go to the house. And I don't mean Talkalot Tomme. :P

And I am not kidding. :wink:

Now I need to talk to Brushy Hills to see what was the largest hog killed during deer season. To see if the VW was kilt or not. :lol:

[LostHawg]

Frontloader, I gave on trying to prevent that ages ago. There are two of me. The sane, reasonable proper me and the mouth me. Anyway, what better way to fill a pie hole than with a thick slab of BBQ pork? ...and a concrete pig for a center piece.

[Tomme]

Hmmm, off site a few days and oh my the number of personal slanders. You guys are in trouble now. I've actually shot a couple of PRACTICE arrows. Let's see two ought to be enough right? We are talking recurve.

Good job chunky. We could still chip in the cash and either give it to LSBA or use it to buy raffle tickets for the hog winner. I'll bring my old spring scale. It's somewhat sprung but would have the same bias for all.

I see you guys chickened (make that turakeyed) out on the gobbler part of this. Too bad, I was going to have life size portraits of some of you blown up and use them as TURKEY DECOYS. But wait a minute, come to think of it, for some of you they will still work as HOG DECOYS.

Can any of you squeal like a pig?

[LostHawg]

Well, Tomme, I don't know. Give us a demonstration.

I've got plenty of turkeys on my lease. What I don't have is hogs. I want hogs!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P :lol: :D :P :lol:

[Chunky]

i agree that we should go ahead and chip in a small donation to be used for the next prize or for the club.

i am working (research and development in the garage) on a secret hog drawing formula. this may be so easy i'll feel guilty, almost.

i just hope it is not so strong as to draw any "losthawgs" into my hunting area. :lol:

[LostHawg]

Just ain't no tellin'. Onct I git goin'... :twisted:

I'm still up for the donation as well.

[Linedawg]

I am still up for the donation as well. Chunky we appreciate your donation but don't feel like you have to. After I turn over the money I don't care who ends up with it. Well, except Tomme.

Now, I'm always thinking and sometimes it pays off and other times it doesn't. I just thought of a twist we could add to the little wager. The biggest hog gets the trophy with the signatures and picture and so on. How about the first person to (from our little group) bring in a hawg will have it skinned and cleaned by the others in the group. From skinning rack to cooler. There would of course be the gratuitous picture of said individual enjoying a cool beverage while the others toil over his hog. Now that would make for a memorable picture. Any one willing to risk a little labor? :twisted:

[JPaul]

Don't know if I'm gonna be there yet but just a suggestion for the trophy, how about instead of first killed or biggest, going by total weight brought in by the end of the hunt. Be kinda like a fishing tourney. Takes some luck out of it and gives all involved insintive to hunt hard threw the weekend.

[Linedawg]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Puts a little more suspenders to the hunt. A guy with a couple of hogs could be beat by a last minute monster hog. I'm up for the change. I still think Tomme should have to clean the first hog I bring in.

[Chunky]

you guys are just lucky this is all traditional, or i would turn "killer" loose on ya.

[Chunky]

wow i got the attachment to work, cool, now you guys have to tell me how to get one of those ugly disembodied heads on my posts. i have an ugly head now i need to know how to attach it.

as far as the bets go, i am up for anything. just call me the house, as in what have you got bet against the house, and you can sometimes beat the house, but the odds are always in the house's favor. :lol:

if we do change to most total weight, you guys may have to take some of my hog meat. i only have an F250, and don't want anything to go to waste. :lol:

really looking forward to the hunt.

[Linedawg]

Oh no Chunky! No secret weapons or pinch hitters. Just stick flingers. :)

As for the disembodied head. Mine is a pic that Spike had and he stuck it on there for me. I have no idea how to do that stuff. Heck you're one up on me just for posting the pic.

[LostHawg]

We pause for a moment of inspiration:

[LostHawg]

And...

[LostHawg]

Sorry guys, I had to throw them in there. Notice that Errol Flynn is checking the back tension of Howard Hill. Notice how intense is the expression in Fred Bear's eyes.

Cool stuff.

Now, remember when you are butchering my hogs, I can't eat sausage. So, I need to save as many cuts as possible. If you folks want the sausage meat, just say so. I don't think I have room for 2500 pounds of pork anyway.

[Linedawg]

Let's see, we're allowed 10 hogs per day at an average of 100lbs. I better get some more coolers! 8)

Great pics Losthawg. I've been reading Fred Bears biography and hes was deffinately an exceptional man.

[biggen]

That bow howard is using must be a stage prop. look how far back the string is on his face. How about the hog with the least wieght. That is for my bothers from back east!! :lol:

[Ronny]

I heard that.

[Chunky]

checking back tension huh? well there will be no checking back tension at the hunt! no, no, no, there will be none of that. :lol: :lol:

[LostHawg]

He was shooting actual broadheads at the stuntmen, so I suppose he did gear down a bit. He generally hunted with 70# up to even over 100#. Took 3 elephants in his time. I'm sure that took some KE. Amazing, the stuntmen actually WANTED to be shot by Howard. Go figure. :?: :?:

The smallest hog? Sure, I reckon Tomme needs to win something. :twisted:

And, you're right Chunky. No checking for folks back tension. :shock: :lol:

[Chunky]

the more i think about it, the more i like the idea of the biggest.

never been a fan of the "wack em and stack em" philosophy. I am still in regardless of what we decide.

i am good with the smallest gets something, if we totally exclude tomme he will just go back to compound for good.

thanks for the pic's losthawg.

I've got lots of "kin" in arkansas and can call hogs!

[Tomme]

Well I see there has been some loose usage of my name here!

Just because I'm accurate enough to hit those small porkers (unlike some on this thread that can only hit the big ones) several of you have seen fit to make slanderous statements. That does it, I'm really practicing now. I'm working my way up to three arrows a day. I might even have to put that Pearson away and use a better recurve (should I go with an Indian or a Shakespeare?).

Pauls suggestion of most poundage was an interesting idea, but I don't want to work that hard. Besides I'll be working the check out booth while a lot of you will be out hunting (Hunting defined as visiting the pig auction in town), so I'd vote for biggest hog for the main prize. I'll pick up the trophy for whichever of you takes the smallest. I think a bag of pork rinds would be appropriate, don't you? Maybe a small bag.

[LostHawg]

Okay, I like the biggest and smallest the best as well. What say you?

Tomme, I must confess, you just may have a point. It is more difficult to shoot the smallest. Provided you shoot one from your stand. But, I think we should make it a rule that the pig has to be free ranging and outside the 3 foot range.

I like pork rinds. Like cracklins better though.

[Linedawg]

OK, biggest hog gets the cement piggy, smallest gets the small bag of pork rinds. What about the first hunter to bring in a hog has it cleaned and quartered by the hunters? This should get interesting.

[Tomme]

You guys are killing me. This has been toooooo funny. And hey those shots at two feet are hard to connect on, tougher then 20 yards if you ask me, especially if he's about to take a bite out of your leg!

Steve I've got this picture...kind of rodeo roping style you know. Shoot the pig.....bail out of the stand.... run to where it's stopped...grab it and run like mad back to the truck....spinning tires, dirt and gravel flying through the air everywhere, a Dukes of Hazards fishtailing run back to camp.... I'm first, you guys clean...

[LostHawg]

That'd be hillarious. I could just picture one of you guys doing something like that. Especially Mike. I'm too lanky and would hurt myself trying to get out of the stand. :oops: :lol:

[biggen]

WOW Mike, losthawg sure has alot of confidence in you!! :P

[hogslayer]

OK, I thought tomme was the unstable one. A concrete pig? this is unreal. be careful on your challenges as last year a kid outshot the adults practicing. And if bowjunkie shots trad he has had a dry spell and is due some luck. If any of you wound a hog, you should get tomme to help track it, he is good bait, I remember an hog chasing him through the woods and him yelling don't shoot it's me...as if we could not tell the differenc between a hog and tomme, ok difficult challenge but tomme would be the one making the noise.

[Tomme]

Ok, I talked to Paul Hodges (Samsdad), he wants in on the concrete pig shoot. He says he may need us to carry the pig over and put it in this truck as his arm is too tired from shooting his stick 100 times a day in preparation for the trip up to Bugscuffle for the shootout. He did graciously allow that he would take a few minutes out of his busy schedule to show us how to harvest hogs and win the trophy. (Note - please address rebuttals to either Paul Hodges or Samsdad. )


Beware of hogslayer. Don't get on the other side of a hog from him. He's concentrating so much on the shot that he doesn't worry about pass throughs (as in pass through you). I had to shine a Q beam in his eyes to keep him from taking a shot at me. He kept hollering, stop shining the light in my eyes I can't see to shoot the hog. Since I was right in line with the hog,I hollered back "That's the Idea".

Now I don't think he would have really shot until I was out of the way. I think he said I'll give you to the count of three to get out of line. One, two ... twang. I think we should change his handle from Hogslayer to Safety Hazard.

[Linedawg]

That sounds very reminiscent of a hunt I attended some years back! :lol: I believe there were at least five people in the general area of the hog and for a short time no one had a bow. When the bow did arrive we were still hearding the hog around! :roll: Yep, I think I do remeber that hunt.

[bowjunkie]

LOL....Ask Tomme about the time he and I hunted Brushy a few years ago and the hogs dumped out on me on the road at 1AM at point blank range...about 20 of em! Tomme had parked up the road from me and was walking back towards me while I walked up the road (we had pushed the same group off a few minutes earlier). All of all sudden Tomme hears S Q U E A L from my direction....I was in the middle of the road when they ran out on me and I loosed at point blank with my recurve on the lead pig (about 60 pounds)....then all Hell broke loose as the big sows tried to get my (as Hawg would say) lanky a$$. Long story short the hog got away as I hit it in the shoulder....but it sure was fun and I don't think at the time that Tomme knew if it was the hogs squealing or me....haha. 8)

[LostHawg]

Hey, a thought just occurred to me. (Do ya smell the smoke?) Does anyone have a map of the ranch? Better yet, a map TO the ranch.

[bowjunkie]

Let's try this...hope it is readable:

[bowjunkie]

FINALLY! 3rd times the charm!

[Linedawg]

Don't worry junkie. No matter what Tomme says, we know where the squealing was comeing from. :P

[bowjunkie]

DOH!!!! I'm gonna get you wabbit!

[LostHawg]

:roll: I believe Mike thinks EVERYONE lives in SE Texas!!! LOL


That map'll get me there. Thanks.