turbo

My friend wore wife sewn cammie fleece boots over his Danners,and killed a big mulie yesterday. Even with wet soil, he credits part of success to "sneaky feet." I went in earlier this month down a catclaw thick ravine in undershorts and socks, with one arrow. Only possible shot was at 38 yards ( too far, laser ranged later...yep, the joys of primitive gear). Buck was often at 20 yards, does 12, 15, and was unable to get a shot due to brush. Point is this: No way ever I could have done that approach in pants and boots. We both are really tired of sound costing us opportunity, and I am hanging up the 50 cotton/50 nylon desert cammies till pistol season. "Swish,swish, swish, dang, they were right there!"

Remember the "agony of defeat" from the NBC sports theme, with the ski jumper tumbling? Maybe the older members do. Anyway, bowhunting this state can be rendezvous with defeat. In many ways, that is the juice.

Yotebuster, Some say: The edge on a single bevel will be structurally weaker, so that is why single bevels need to be of high quality steel and beefier in grain weight. Therefore, they cost more. Magnus Broadhead guys stated that after their testing, they feel there is no definable difference. As I like to "internalize" the dynamic spine of arrows with 125 grain points, 90% of the time, heavier single bevel will not work for me. I must admit, I am still researching. Can't fault anyone for getting a better connection in archery. Researching this online can kill an evening quicker then "4 4" fletch vs 3 5" fletch"

"in the washes" LMAO, but unfortunately true.

About 12 pounds max for a day hunt in weather above 32. Water included. Osprey backpackk coming in at 2.5 pounds helps immensely. Down jacket helps as well. Wisdom is starting for me,I guess. Decades to get there. About 25-30 for an overnighter in winter, usually a few canteens. Can find water, usually. For more nights, more weight due to food. Old Zwarskis binos...heavy. Pistol, SA ruger.... sort of heavy wool shirt....heavy book for night time...sorta heavy. everything else, light. Hunt with wooden stick bows, wood arrows, so I save serious weight there, and also this weapon system has a lower hunting days to kill ratio which keeps my pack light on the hike out.

Awesome weight loss. A friend dropped 54-57 pounds of fat, and reports easier hiking and hunting. His rifle is 10 plus pounds, and recently he carried 70 pounds down a mountain trail for one night. In that case, we did not stay. The easier to glass terrain was much further than I recalled, so we hiked up and out, and he felt it. Connected later that day, btw, in a more traveled place. He was wiped. I hiked and worked out every day since. Difference partially lay in pack weight. Obviously he has to make cuts. My big DANA Design pack was under 30 lbs, and I have cut of all manners of needless straps, fanny pack options for the brain top, etc... I like to hunt the more wilder sides of AZ with a bow. Every ounce adds up about a half mile in, certainly. He is thinking a lighter rifle. But getting under 7 pounds with scope and sling will be tough. Also, eliminating excessive gear weight is genuinely worthwhile. I carry a used REI down jacket, and my main pack is 2.5 pounds, an Osprey. All the packs at sportsmans and Cabelos are too heavy. Backpacking gear can be used. Somewhere between lighter gear and a little less rifle weight is the happy spot for wilderness treks. Let us know what you do.

Good job getting the pictures of animals. When hunting, I usually get photos of the does. Watched a herd of mule deer chase away a coyote pack. Would have been a great photo. Nice to get these photo stories.

The water journey into hunting was cool, Getting into the wilderness, solo, always a good thing. Going after a certain big buck and connecting is impressive (I have tried, and failed). Lots of fore thought and intent with that harvest, and congratulations.

No gun needed. You are bowhunting, and, importantly, finding bucks. Success rates with a bow are lower, esp.out West. (that is Frederick Remington's The Luckless Hunter, and I think of that when a period of no shot opportunites arises from my efforts.) Remember that the pattern of where they are over the last few days doesn't mean that they can change on you, and be "right there" so be ready for the shot. The deer are not reading from the story line, I remind myself, as I am; a season's limited days means nothing to them, so each new day is just that, a fresh start. Stay on them.

Said two things to my girlfriend yesterday: "No one is posting monster coues on the bowhunting thread." and "...don't need camo, esp. Kuiu expensive stuff. Just be still when it counts." Solid trophy, with a great set of Kuiu gear.

Osprey Talon 44 lightweight pack. Less than 3 pounds. Bought it last December, shot a deer with it on, never knew it was there. It is black (comes in black or blue, but you can rig a cover of sorts). Older I get, more I appreciate lighter equipment.

Ambush is better. All my success has been with some form still hunting-spot and stalk. I have always been in the area though, places I knew held deer. Much, much, much time invested. But the best way is ambush. This season, been stalking within 60 yds, 80 yds, and 30 yds. My excuses: wind swirls in the monsoon afternoon, each time, with help from the broken glass we call soil here. Also, I shoot homemade longbows, so accurate range is not so great for me. I am going to switch to ambush style this weekend, for mule deer. Sit in a ground chair, behind brush and some old camo jackets hung by cord. For what its worth, if that helps you.

Az KIller, that is impressive. A friend I hunt with dropped 40 plus pounds,and got down to 15% or so...He is a lot quieter bowhunting Took a willingness to try new things: lift weights, some flights on the stairmaster (100), and when he hurt his arm (construction) he walked for three weeks. Diet changes, of course (soda equals fat past age 24,). I dropped about 12 pounds since 2015, and am at 13 -15% bodyfat, usually. Feel awesome at age 50. we all have to motivate each other to get to that individual's sweet spot. That need not be 10 % bodyfat, btw. And I find going uphill easier without 12 pounds of extra fat.

Catfish kev, Regarding the APOe types and determination. Years ago I took the 23andme genetic profile test. Then, recently, I happened to read about the APOe types. FInding the markers on the DNA from another site allowed me to look on my raw data that the 23and me provides. Basically, most people benefit from the Mediterranean Diet. Others actually require more fat; a friend doesn't lose weight unless he eats enough animal fat and protein. People like me do better with less fat (not 0 fat). I eat mostly veg., almond and conconut milk and then sometimes smoothies, and then sometimes good meat and fish. Research it. There are test on line, but 23 and me is a good place. I learned I am a slow metabolizer of caffeine. Good topic and lots of things to consider. I agree that counting calories works. Some kind of metric is good. Pounds go up and down, look for an average overt weeks and months.

Paleo sometimes is taken as"eat as much meat and fat as you want. Cavemen ate mammoth fat constantly." However, for some, that will not help long term living. For instance, the APOE genotype you have determines how you process cholesterol. If you have the APOE 4 in you, your body will have higher levels, even on a mostly pant based diet. If you are APOE 2, you can eat more fat and meat, and have lower levels. I have the APOE 3/4, so my previous Paleo diet was inflammatory. I would eat an egg or two, with yolks, some fish, and some cabbage and garlic for breakfast. Grains came after the meat, fish, and veggies. Btw, I am lactose intolerant. And alcohol cause some burning sensation. fun... In short, one person's Paleo may not be another's Paleo. The Mediterranean Diet may have too much fat and alcohol for some, like me. But, eating vegetables, minimal processed foods, minimal sugar, etc...will help keep weight down, and give vitamins and other minerals. As far as working out to stay fit, calculate the amount of exercise to burn a glass of wine and/or one extra peanut butter sandwich. It's eye opening. The original poster has kids, so I doubt he can work out 1.5 hours 6 times a week. The correct type of Paleo will help keep weight off.

Nap time is mandatory for me. Splits the day into two parts, and I treat the second part as a new day. Clears my head. I have learned to "wake up" slowly, looking around, listening. Once, I heard what sounded like footsteps and awoke to see a fork horn moving away. Blind, brush or spot and stalk time, eventually the Z-monster is coming. I agree,btw, sitting eventually yields shots.

After the theft, a lot of people would have quit until they "reloaded" their quivers. Way to stick with it. On another site, a hunter missed in the last hour of Jan 31 at a mulie, but still stayed in those last gusty moments to arrow another mulie. Tenacity and patience rule the day.

I followed a lion once, thinking it was a bobcat's eyes. A fox looking at the "bobcat" got my attention. Long story short, I lit a fire as the lion snarled and paced within 15 or less yards for a while. Daylight came, and I lived. Yeah, and then the snakes...

Saw this deer with a buddy that sleety, snow Saturday. Went up and arrowed him at 13-15 yards. Largest deer for me, a 5 point, barely. Bow is homemade hickory self bow, rawhide backed, about 50# at 24-25 inches. Inclement weather a big help that day. Made the shot from a huddled up position. Have a Merry Christmas.

Great job. Tell us the story.

The broadheads were Zwickey 125 grain 2 blades. I chose 2 bladesafter my first coues; I shot downward off a cliff, and the Zwickey 4 blade I had on the chundoo shaft went almost through the spine, but the bleeders kept it from full penetration. He bleed out still, but I went to two blades after that incident. I keep the arrows fairly long for my draw, as it helps spine. I am really working on having my draw increase to closer to 25.75", as that make arrow tuning easier. Ace broadheads at 145 grains are on my Missouri arrows. Stu Millers dynamic spine calculator helps a lot. I looked into the single bevel for added insurance when a hit misses the mark, but some broadhead manufacturers on other sites said their test yielded no difference. The double bevel, I am told, hold their edge longer in the field, and with no torqueing on impact compared to a single bevel, more momentum goes into penetration.

Lark, The bow: The bow is hickory from a tree my uncle and I cut in Missouri. I designed it for a "shorter" draw. That is the important part. There a some coues that are alive today, over the years 2012 t0 2014, because I am stubborn and refused to accept that I draw primitive bows to a max of @25inches. My recurve is 46# at 28", so I am drawing about maximum 37# at my draw. Deer have experienced many an arrow swish under the deer, or land in front of the vitals. After testing my draw almost every day, and finally accepting the length (researching others, like Ryan Gill who shoots 22" on primitive bow but is fairly tall in stature), I picked an Osage Tribe type bow, keeping the working limbs wide. The wide limbs help prevent set while strung for up to 12 hours, in monsoon humidity. A knot on the stave made a bend-in-handle D bow like many Natives used impossible; the narrower arrow pass makes the bow more forgiving of spine. The rawhide protects the back from the inevitable stumble and the rocks of beloved Arizona. The bow is a bit overbuilt, as the humidity varies so much here. Archers/weightlifting/tennis elbow caused me to switch from drawing right handed to the left. Best thing to occur! I tried a longer bow wiit a tapped on sight pin, using Olympic anchor. Accurate, but not practical at my range limitattions. In Missouri, in some swampy marshland, I could not shoot on my haunches. And trying to get up more vertical on my knees was too much motion. Two times I spooked the deer; Missouri deer do not tolerate that motion within 20-25 yards. So I went back to a more gap-instinctice style. I kept practicing, in my house (not married, obviously, LOL), at 15 and 14 and 13 yards, closing the dominant right eye and canting the bow and not moving the bow hand. The hunt, for anyone interested: Going to build a blind, I saw the motion of a deer about 250 yards. I froze, and soon realized that I was underdressed and wearing a blue and grey wool shirt-jac, and that deer see blue pretty well. After an hour of "True Grit" motionless in the sleet, I looked again, and my newly purchased, but pre owned Swarvoski 10x42 binos picked out a tine, and a ear and eye. I pulled the coffee bags-camo material out of my lightweight pack, put on tan over the blue, and went up into an area were I had come close and missed before. I get into that 30 yards zone, and no deer. There should be two bucks, so I just weighted, arrow nocked. I waited and waited, and finally saw an eye, that dark camera eye the deer have, through a yucca. I slowly moved onto my haunches and waited. That deer got up, to feed, and I felt lucky. His buddy came in, to about 14 yards. I shot. The arrow hit some unseen woody stem, I guess, and it twanged and turned sideways like a semi truck skidding on ice. I can see the colors on the arrow well. That buck then comes in trying to wind me, as I am huddled up in a ball, low in the grass. I drew an other arrow from my back quiver, and that moved the buck out at a walk. Luck was with me. The original buck came in, and when it looked to move off its broadside position at 15 yds or so, slightly uphill. I grunted once. He stopped, I released. The 530 grain arrow hit into the neck, as he moved, and thunk, blood shot out. Later autopsy showed that the buck turned upon release and the broadhead went into the neck and up into the muscle below that spine. In any case, I waited a while, tracked it and found it bleeding out. I should have waited longer, but wasn't sure if I had inflicted only a minor wound. I followed up with an other arrow, a mulefat shaft, and "that was that". I had killed a coues spike in 2011 with the recurve, but this is my first primitive bow success. I originally posted here as Natureboyfloyd, but had to change some things internet wise. I appreciate all who share information and tips here; Regarding the camo vs no camo, a member named Bull said, I think, something to the effect that if you are going to try to kill Indian style, you better be real humble, and not overly confident. I think about that a lot. Mark

Merry Christmas, I can get within 40 yards, regular in my two hunting grounds. My weapon of choice, recurve or self bow, means I need to be 20 and under. I have only two deer with a bow in three years, so I am no expert. (aka natureboyfloyd….I needed a new account). Yesterday sums up what I think is a common error. Moving that extra step when not looking. I "knew" a deer lay in the swale, and had an arrow nocked. But, I simply did not look through a fallen oak, no leaves just the log and branches, and as a result the buck got up, meekly and embarrassed, at 30 yards, Had I just looked another 30 seconds, I may have had a chance. Many of blown stalks are a result of not moving slow. With a compound, I think a person can stalk and shoot within 40-45 yards if patient. I move slow when I either watch every bug and blade of grass, or imagine that someone else is hunting me. Corny, but slows me down. These deer seem hard to pattern to with in 40 yards, so any funnel you find is golden. Happy Holidays. Let us kill some deer and post a few.