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