A random encounter with a couple Wild Life regulars
I was in Gander Mountain in Roanoke on Saturday to pick up a couple things for my boat when a tremendous thunderstorm hit.
Needing to kill time while waiting for the rain to let up I headed toward the archery counter and promptly ran in to Chris Vaughn, whom I met a few years ago and who has sometimes showed up on here with a nice deer.
We chatted hunting for a while and then he headed out.
I was at the archery counter to check out — drum roll, please — crossbows.
Regular readers may recall that I have no problem with the law that allows able-bodied hunters to use crossbows during archery seasons. The success rate is the same as among users of compound bows. And it encourages more participation in hunting, and that’s a good thing.
I have had no personal interest in using a crossbow because I just like shooting my regular bow. That’s the bow I picked up the other day to shoot, only to find that I couldn’t draw it without a hard effort. And it’s not like I have this thing set at 70 pounds. It’s more like 53 pounds. (I may have endurance, but I’m weak even when I’m not hurt!)
I think what’s going on is that a pinched nerve (self-diagnosis) that I’ve been fighting in my neck/back for about two months is weakening my left shoulder. I can actually draw the bow no problem with my left hand. It’s the pushing against the riser part that’s hard.
I’m seeing a doctor later this week for this, and I have hope I can be ready to hunt with a bow in two months. (I backed off the limbs to probably 40 pounds and was able to shoot about 20 times last night.) But in case I won’t, I’d hunt with a crossbow if I had to.
The other appealing thing about a crossbow is that it might give my kids a chance to hunt during archery season. They will be 10 and simply can’t draw a hunting bow.
But will a crossbow fit them?
As I was looking at an Excalibur, I spotted a kid who looked to be about their size walking buy. I asked if he’d be willing to see if the crossbow fit him.
It did.
His dad was smiling during the process, and I was looking at the dad I kept thinking, “How do I know this guy?”
So I asked him.
Well, it was J.R. Mitchell, an enthusiastic bowhunter (pictured here with a deer he killed in 2008) who is always posting super positive congratulatory notes on hero shots I post — especially those featuring kids.
My wife is always kidding me about how I run into people I know just about everywhere we go. I think it’s a good thing.
It was great catching up with Chris, and great finally meeting J.R., who was just as positive and enthusiastic about bowhunting in person as he is in his posts here.
I’m looking forward to more random encounters in the coming months with others who share my love of the outdoors and living the wild life.
August 2, 2011 - 1:35 PM
Mark for the life of me everyone wants a bow with a 70 lb pull. I’ve been trying to sell my Mission X-3 practically new, but no one want it because it has a 60 lb pull.
I’m trying to sell it because it’s too short for my draw length. i won’t go into detail on how this happened, let’s just say I was got taken…
I just need one that will let me extend my arm all the way.
Amateur – My bow’s current draw weight is probably about 40 pounds and it is shooting about six inches low at 25 yards. Which means it would still be more than enough to kill a deer. And, think about it: How many youngsters kill deer every year with bows with 35- to 40-pound draw weights?
High draw weights do provide for more margin for error on distance estimation because the arrow trajectory is so flat for longer than with a slower arrow speed. The key to killing a big game animal with a bow is and always has been shot placement. Blistering arrow speed can help that, but it’s not necessary.
As for your Mission, unless it’s really short, you should be OK. You don’t want your bow arm straight anyway.
Okay here’s a link to my youube video shooting that Mathews Mission tell me what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysU8HIuzevc
Also I plan on upgrading my camera for hunting to the hero head cam the videos from those head cams are phenomenal and I suggest all hunters and fishermen that plan on recording their hunts or fishing excursion to invest in this system it’s great!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-idLHeNIg74
Summer Bass Fishing on the California Delta – GoPro HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3TEcDjDUWo
Two things, Amateur.
One, your draw length may be a bit short, but it’s not drastic.
Two, I’ve got a Hero HD. Great for fishing shooting but for hunting it’s really a secondary camera (pointed at the hunter) because the game would have to be really close to show up.
I plan to use mine some this season for that.
Amateur,
Have you checked into exchanging cams with a dealer? I know several that would plus 25 bucks. Whitetail Outfitters and Southern Supply would I know. As for the poundage, well I pull 60 lbs on both my PSE’s. With the EVO I’m shootin’ 297 fps with a 446 grain arrow. My AXE 7 I am at 291 fps with the same arrow weight. To me, at 60 lbs that is smokin’! Plus too, at this draw weight I can shot more arrows without tiring quickly. With todays cams and limbs, 70 lbs isn’t needed. Maybe back in the day, but not now. Accuracy is more important to me and I like having a balance between a semi heavy arrow and a fast bow just for the kenitic energy it will produce. A light arrow on a fast bow just ain’t gonna cut it for me.
Hey I took that picture…….. LOL JR is a great guy and a very positive person….
Mark
Actually the two cameras are different, from my understanding of the users the HD GOPRO is much better than the HD Hero which was being sold in Dick’s and other stores.
The HD Hero goes for a $179.99 the GOPRO goes for $299.99 this is definitely a buyer beware product because of the similarities. I would say go to the official website.
Still for Camcorder users there is a guy that makes a metal piece that you can attach to your bow stabilizer that can hold a small camcorder if anyone is interested ask and I’ll post a link to him.
I have purchased one for $12.99 and it does work with 30 sec installation. (Screw off-Screw on) Yet you have to hold your bow steady and have your motion control set on your camera.
I purchased it last year and I was impressed with it because $12.99 beats $75.99 and 5-10 minutes installing one on the perfect tree.
Mark
Check this skydiving video you’ll love it!
OjarProductions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5UuWp-lASI&feature=related
Touch the sky HD (Skydiving) by wasim_raider
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT-1KCwvlFg&feature=related
Awesome!
Mark,
I have a Matthews Z7 set at 58lbs. I tore my rotator cuff last fall using it, probably due to over use rather than the draw weight. I am going to turn it down just a tad, since there is plenty of velocity to hunt with. In any event, I had surgery this spring, and am ready to hunt again this fall. I thought long and hard about a crossbow, and I am ok with using one if and when the time comes. It beats not hunting…..
Ed – Glad to hear your shoulder is better. I had X-rays on my shoulder and they turned up nothing. So the next step is an MRI.
My bow is probably set at about 45 pounds now and I am able to shoot it. But I can’t hold it for more than a few seconds. It actually still shoots pretty hard and since I rarely take a hunting shot outside 20 yards I wouldn’t have a problem using it even at that draw weight.
A friend has offered to loan me a crossbow for the season if I need it. I am banking on being able to shoot my bow. In fact, I bought my hunting licenses today and bought an archery license (not a crossbow license).