Years ago I hunted Ontario, Canada for spring black bear with my Cascade recurve bow. I was on a baited stand with a large 8 foot high wood platform with a cheap plastic chair to sit in. A peaceful gurgling stream nearby masked any small sounds I had made.

A huge male boar was entering the bait site to my right.  My guide says, if he’s larger than the barrel, he’s likely a “book” bear.

The huge boar made the 50 gal. barrel look small. 

My 68lb bow, was just out of reach, leaning against a tree branch had an arrow on the string just a few feet from me. The bear walked to the base of my stand.

I leaned over to watch.

The bear stood up, and his whole head popped above the platform, just 3 feet away from my boots. I played possum with my eyes mostly shut.

Again, my bow was two feet away, no gun, no bear spray. He rocked his head back and forth, trying to get my attention,  but did not try to climb.

Finally, he got down, but as his front paws hit the ground, he bounced back up, trying to get me to respond. His huge nose sniffing intently and rocking again. I stayed still, eyes closed except for my tiny eye slits. My heart was flipping out in my chest. Should I grab my bow? Not yet. I hoped he would get down and head for the bait. He got down and bounced once more. I remained still…except for my heart.

Now, he got down and headed to the barrel.

He’s under my platform. I stood and grabbed my bow. I was using Easton XX75 2216 arrows with big Rothaar Snuffers. The bear being underneath me gave me no shot. Finally walking around the barrel I lifted my bow for the shot. The bear caught the movement and stood facing me. I did not want that bear coming back to my stand so I drew and shot him in the chest and struck his huge breast plate. The 700 grain arrow hit him, but never penetrated past his breast plate. My arrow stood out on the bear like an arrow hitting a tree trunk. Holy Crap!

The bear got down and bent the protruding arrow into a U shape. The arrow pried itself out as the bear ran off.

Darkness  fell and I had to walk 200 yards to my vehicle bow at the ready. I crazily drove 20 miles to get my guide. 

We came back that night and found the arrow. The tip of the snuffer was bent as it was pried from breast bone. Dark red blood drops lasted for 10 feet and disappeared. The next day we searched but quickly lost any trace.  I’m sure the bear healed but I never forgot that incident. It’s really not that uncommon. Today, I will hunt again with a backup 10mm pistol or my rifle.

Recently, I read of a similar situation below but with rifle. 

https://www.fieldandstream.com/hunting/bear-climbs-into-hunters-tree-stand/

Can you say adventure!

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2024 

August is just a month before Archery season begins in New Hampshire.

Sharpen your shooting skills and get your arms in shape. Distance judging is another skill that we can work on. Shooting downward from a tree stand at say my max range of 40 yards with a crossbow

or 20 yards with recurve make practice a must.  

I use a Leupold laser rangefinder that accounts for the down angle such as the TBR True Ballistic Range models.

Shooting your practice broadheads vs field points can ensure hunting accuracy. If you hunt from a tree stand then practice in one too, or at that height.

Watch out for branches and clothing that can brush your string and send your arrow off the target.

I developed a mental pre-draw checklist, for branches and clothing/armguard you should too.

Good Shooting!

I am very pleased with my 10 Point Turbo Crossbow (390 fps) and my NAP Killzone Cut-on-Contact 100 grain mechanical broadheads however at 35 to 40 yards, my target points hit 6 inches higher than the Killzone broadhead. I have adjusted for the broadheads.

Killzone provides a practice blade. It isn’t easy to assemble the practice blade but once done, it works. Note that the there is a pencil point type head that you can get as well for this broadhead but i prefer cut on contact point. Haven’t killed a deer with it but we shall see.

Now is the time to purchase hunting items because they’ll be sold out come August/September.

Good Shooting!

Honestly, I fussed and researched quite a bit before purchasing my new USA Made Crossbow.  My goal was to purchase a fast and accurate, cost effective crossbow, with a crank cock decock system. I did not want to fuss with shooting my bow at my truck after a day of hunting,  I wanted an easy way to decock it. Note: In New Hampshire law, crossbows cannot travel cocked in your vehicle. 

My new Ten Point Turbo S1 is for all intent a 400 fps (390 fps actual) Crossbow with built in ACUSlide cock and decock system for the crossbow. This crossbow breaks into the “best of the best” category with features costing $2000 or more. MSRP is around $1299 to $1399.

https://www.tenpointcrossbows.com/product/turbo-s1/

I purchased the crossbow at my local crossbow shop Wyvern Creations,LLC in Lee, New Hampshire. Wyvern is operated by David Wilkins. David just sells crossbows and you can find Wyvern on the web too. See below.

https://www.wyverncreations.com/tenpoint-crossbows-c-77/turbo-s1-p-1340.html

A must have feature for me on this crossbow is the cock/decock mechanism to minimize back and shoulder strain from repeated shots with a rope cocking method. I like this brand new 2021/2022 design as the cock and decock mechanism is not an add-on, it is part of the bow stock. Some 2019 models are still being sold, but I prefer the newer design I have purchased.

. Dave gave me  personal instruction too, and three 100 grain Killzone mechanical broadheads with 2 inch cutting diameter. And a sling too. 

Length (w/o foot stirrup): 31″
Width Axle-to-Axle (uncocked/cocked): 11″ / 7.2″
Power Stroke: 11″
Weight (w/out accessories): 7.3 lbs. (with ACUslide)
Draw style: Forward Draw
Safe De-Cocking: ACUslide

The Micro-Trac barrel, the advertisement says, is one of the best and reduces string contact by 50% providing long string life. The barrel is machined and not molded as some lesser models are. Molded barrels are said to be somewhat less accurate than the machined barrels but I have no experience with them so I am not a good source of info on molded barrels. 

The RangeMaster Pro Variable Speed Scope has a dial for speed adjustment that you can see on the adjustable turret below and a red or green lighted pins. I like that in low light at dawn or dusk.

I adjusted the scope for 20 yards with 6 carbon arrow shots, then backed off to 30 yards and used the 30 yard pin. It was spot on! Then to 40 yards. It was spot on. The scope speed dial said 390 fps and that was proof as the dial adjusts the pin space. 

The arrows are  Pro Elite 400 Carbon Arrows (.003” straightness) and come with a detachable 3-Arrow Quiver that attaches parallel to the crossbow. I like that. 

This new Killzone Rear Deployment broadhead (pack of 3) is said to open up to 2 inches and hit the same impact as field points. My test shows that they in fact do fly like the field points out to 40 yards where my test ended. I tried my 100 grain muzzy three blade and it hit 10 inches lower at the 390 speed setting at 40 yards. 

My overall opinion of this crossbow out-of-the-box is excellent. Many others have reviewed this bow with similar excellent results. 

I will hunt with this bow, maybe soon in turkey season. We shall see…

Good Hunting!

Shooting hunting weight recurves and long bows in my basement, during winter, does great things for my shooting basics skill level and strength.

Photo Copyright 2022

And it can do great things for you as well. Sure, most basements are at max 10 yards but that is all you need for the most important basic skills.  Skills like good form, draw and release, follow thru, and important back muscle strength are the foundation for your back yard bullseyes and vital zone hits on wild game.

Outside, many tend to concentrate more on the target and bullseyes which takes another level of concentration, sometimes leaving the basics in the back seat like a poor release and follow-thru.

Twanging the string sideways at full draw, means the arrow will fly left or right. And taking down your bow too quickly upon release can affect arrow flight.

You can practice a perfect release by drawing your imaginary bow and releasing your hand and fingers in a rearward motion to touch the back of your ears and neck.

It’s what happens at the bow that makes the shot, just as it  is the golfers swing that creates a great straight shot or a bowlers step and follow thru.

Real pros know that, if you can’t be master of the basics, then you can’t master the craft. Further, at short range, it is easy to see that your string nocking points and brace height contribute significantly to arrow flight. I have two bows braced for practice and discovered my knock point was too high on one and perfect on the other bow.

Bare shaft tests through paper at say 3 to 5 yards can aid in setting knocking points too. On a compound you also set your plunger button left/right and tension. There are books on bow tuning.

If I have not shot in a week or so, I will shoot a bow of less poundage for a few day and work back up to a bow of higher poundage. You will also discover a bow poundage which allows full use of back muscles like 50 pounds. But then shooting a heavier bow of say 55 pounds, you are not coming to the same full draw as with the 50 pound bow.  Regular practice allows the building of  muscle and soon the 55 pound bow will be drawn to the same full draw. Just remember not to over practice and damage your back muscles. Stop at a high point of your practice session.

Arrow spine and length are also essential but we will save that for another time.

Good Shooting!

Training to shoot heavy poundage bows like 55 and 60 pounds accurately, on the first arrow, takes dedication and perfect training daily or every other day… for my older bones.

In my case, in long years past, I have dedicated time for a heavy weight custom traditional recurve hunting bow of 68 pounds. Once I stopped shooting that bow for months, it was back breaking for me to get back to shooting it with accuracy.

The answer was to build up with lesser weight bows which I did not have, and could not afford, at the time. Moving forward to today, I am retired from quality assurance engineering and have access to inexpensive recurves and long bows at a fraction of the cost to train without muscle or shoulder injury. Recovery, from a shoulder or muscle pull takes months.

I wrote an archery article in August 2021 for hunters to get back to preparing for deer hunting. I was shooting a 45 pound Samick Sage takedown recurve that cost me $140 dollars. See photo below. Great bow for the price. I learned that I could purchase separate limbs for it for just $74 dollars. I bought 50 pound limbs and was happy to step up and begin training in my back yard in October moving from 45 to 50 pounds in draw weight,  but I did not stop there.

Recently, I purchase a Bear Montana longbow, shown below, in 55 pounds and training indoors in my basement on form, draw, anchor and release. I used to shoot instinctive but found my overall accuracy improved by shooting 3 fingers under the arrow. I created the leather quiver 20 years ago, and gave it a coat of polish. 

Below is a 42 pound hickory self-bow recurve backed with deer sinew I have just completed.  It started as a long bow stave in my office for 20 years collecting dust. Nice to have it finished.  Shoots smooth! 

I walk the string an inch lower than the nock for better eye alignment with the arrow. I am  having so much fun indoor basement shooting at 10 yards in training that I purchased a 60 pound set of limbs for  my takedown recurve and  just began shooting it. I am working up slowly on the 60 pound limbs but shooting the 55 pound long bow regularly. The arrows fly like darts! Wow! I think 60 pounds is enough. 

Good Hunting!

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Here are just a few 3D shots with John LeBlanc and Ed Hale with traditional recurve and Long Bow at Country Pond F&G. What great fun!! I attached my Tactacam to the Recurve but I can’t see my arrows fly. Bummer! Fun anyway! Enjoy. Let’s cook up some foam!

Shooting a cost-effective traditional recurve or long bow barebow (no sights) in your back yard or at a 3D shoot.

It’s just great fun and trains your mind! It’s quiet too, so it won’t bother the neighbors. I like it because it is great for arm, chest and back muscles and coordination. And it sharpens your conscious mind in terms of self-awareness of breathing and muscles just like shooting a rifle. 

I have two inexpensive, but accurate, takedown bows (Samick Sage) of 45 pounds and a 50 pound OEELINE Bow below. Only $115 to $130 dollars each for bow and string. Can’t beat the cost-effective nature of traditional archery!

Getting Started?

Purchase a half dozen starter arrows can be purchased for $30 to $60 dollars or so. Very inexpensive setup as compared to a compound bow. You will need an arm guard and a shooting glove or finger tab. 

Shooting Glove

Finger Tab

Arm Guard

If you are just starting out, I would join a sporting club and find an experienced traditional archer willing to help. 

I have been shooting recurves and long bows for more years than I care to count. I’m picking up my recurve to see if I can meet my hunt expectations and have some 3D Archery fun.

 Arrow spine and length charts on-line can help you find a good shooting arrow of aluminum or carbon or even Port Orford cedar. Buy a bow square and knock points and a crimp tool. 

Brace height is the distance from the string to the inside bow grip some call the throat. Many Europeans call it Fistmele – the breadth of a fist with thumb stuck out to give the correct height of a string from a braced bow, approximately 7 inches. Brace height can be adjusted by twisting the bow string several turns to tighten the string and increase the brace height, if needed.

See the chart below for a guide. Best to use your manufacturer recommendation. 

Shooting at unknown distances is key to calibrating your eye and mind. One of the best, and fun, techniques I use is to purchase a Judo point head below, screw it onto your arrow and shoot it in grass at balloons. The spring barbs catch the grass and your arrow will flip and not get lost. It is fun to hear the balloons pop! Gotcha! 

The wind increases the challenge as the balloon bumps along the grass like a rabbit. I trained three youngsters to shoot compounds this way along with traditional bullseye targets and 3D Animals.

Hunting Stances

A good archery shooting stance is where your feet are a shoulder width apart and if you are right handed you will face nearly parallel to the target and your face is looking toward the right. In hunting, you must train and adjust your stance with the existing terrain however. Traditional target archers stand upright and recurve and long bow hunters stand a bit more like the letter C, hunching a bit over the arrow. Recurve target bows rarely get over 30 to 40 pounds. In contrast a hunting bow begins at 40 pounds pull at around 28 inches of draw and often 50 to 60 pounds pull or more at full draw. 

Stances can be adjusted based on the bush and terrain you are in, so experiment. My bow is canted so my eye is next to the arrow nock for better aiming technique. I use an under arrow draw method.

Draw and Anchor

Push the bow with your left bow arm and pull with your right arm. If I can’t feel my back muscles tensioning, then I am not at full draw. 

Full draw means the use of back muscles and is critical for good arrow flight, accuracy and form.  Accordingly,  I don’t try to shoot a bow that is too heavy in draw weight to start.

Your anchor point is often on your right cheek for a right hand shooter but that can change with different techniques. It is all about form, and repeating that form, just like golf and bowling. 

Release

Release is letting go of the string. Keep your arm up like at full draw and release the string in a rearward motion. Plucking the string sideways will send your arrow left or right. 

Follow-thru

After the string is released, maintain the stance for a few seconds allow your drawing arm and hand to finish its rearward motion. This allows you to create a body form which completes the release. And it looks and feels cool to do. 

 Both conscious and sub-conscious self-awareness is a large part of archery. Use of your mind, stance, form, eyes, arm and back muscles and release at the bow means a better flying arrow at the target. 

Good Shooting!

© Copyright 2021