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Gaaark (41)
Gaaark
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Linux user. Tries to keep feeding the brain with stuff. Husband and father of a young lady and a younger son who has autism/is autistic... that nut didn't fall far from this nut-tree, I'll tell ya: he gets it honestly. Now if only he'd sleep..............
I believe that God gave us the science, curiousity and intelligence to one day conclusively prove that God does not exist.
(email not shown publicly)
Linux user. Tries to keep feeding the brain with stuff. Husband and father of a young lady and a younger son who has autism/is autistic... that nut didn't fall far from this nut-tree, I'll tell ya: he gets it honestly. Now if only he'd sleep..............
I believe that God gave us the science, curiousity and intelligence to one day conclusively prove that God does not exist.
The Fine Print: The following are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Saturday March 16, 19
10:38 PM
I just bought a bow (up to 45# draw)
https://odinsonarchery.com/the-assassin/
and some arrows. If i do okay, i will look at buying another.
Anybody got experience?
Anybody got tips?
I've done some research and will do more, but experience is wonderful to learn from.
Just bought a bow for hunting:anybody got tips?
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The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
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(1)
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-- Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday March 16 2019, @11:13PM (10 children)
I've shot a few arrows but don't have much experience. I look forward to seeing what others have to offer on this topic.
https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/7/16/10-do-s-and-don-ts-for-better-bow-practice/ [americanhunter.org]
These look like some good tips. Maybe you want to create a pile of arrows used only for practicing and save others for hunting.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @01:55AM (4 children)
Those are some good tips. But to expand with some more.
I'd go on, but either the OP isn't serious and would be wasting my time, or needs major education in the basics of bow hunting and is better off joining an archery club or hunting class to get the information needed to get started, let alone hunting.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:06AM
One safety tip I will mention for everyone though: NEVER DRY FIRE A BOW. A proper hunting bow can literally explode in your hands if you dry fire it. True, most of the time it will just crack your string or bow, but I've seen the results of dry firing, namely a 60-year-old partially-bind archery range owner.
Also, one of the best YouTube channels about archery is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4IL0laJkpzH9JHmxNqjjMg [youtube.com] but it is focused on recurve target shooting, so some information should be gleaned from actual hunting classes or clubs.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:15AM
Gaaark is a Canuck. It's kill or be killed up there.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:42AM (1 child)
I'm thinking of joining a club, but I also want a bow I can use with very little 'extras' that can go wrong. If it is just a bow and string, less can break than if there are cams and wheels.
I want to learn a natural hunt: I plan on spending time building my strength, going for accuracy at short distances and then increasing the distance but accuracy is prime.
So yeah: I'm not going for awards and tournaments. I'm going for fun, accuracy and then distance. If I get 2 out of 3, then I'll work on 3.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Sunday March 17 2019, @04:26AM
That natural hunting thing is too much for me. Lying in wait beside a deer trail, just to pounce out on that straggling deer, and try to gnaw through the neck to get at the jugular - disgusting. That doesn't even take into account that the deer is making every effort to escape, trampling your testicles in the process, dragging you down the trail and bashing your head into every rock along the way. Mowgli had it right in The Jungle Story. We puny humans need every advantage we can get.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @04:19PM (4 children)
Just started watching this guys 'movie' (28 minutes in, so far): seems intelligent and has experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1vKkSSoNs [youtube.com]
I'm liking the idea of the simplicity of the 'long bow'.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @10:11PM (3 children)
I'm sorry but I am finding this whole "noble savage" with bows hilarious as you don't know what you don't know. But yeah, you like the idea of longbow hunting, but without the use of either a longbow or a hunting bow. I just hope that if you actually go out hunting, you remember to use actual hunting points and equipment, or you are likely to end up in jail if caught.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Monday March 18 2019, @12:42AM (2 children)
Ummmm... technically by definition, the Assassin IS a long bow and CAN be used for hunting.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 18 2019, @02:11AM (1 child)
Technically, the Assassin is a recurve bow, not a longbow, and is nowhere close to what you'd want to be hunting with because that is an unaccessorized ambi-shooter, but you'll find out soon enough. Being able to shoot a target is not the same as being able to hunt and kill live prey with an over-penetrating kill shot so you don't have to chase it down.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 19 2019, @10:48AM
No, technically the assassin is a longbow because the string does not touch the back of the bow like a recurve.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday March 17 2019, @12:12AM
Brits know all there is to know bout the shrimpin business when it comes to bows.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @12:59AM
Got a box full...
Buy cheap ones for practice.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday March 17 2019, @01:09AM
And I don't approve of killing animals. But Ivanka, Don Jr. & Erik love archery. And I've heard them mention All-Blade tips, sometimes referred to as points.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday March 17 2019, @01:11AM (1 child)
You know how William Tell used to shoot the apples off of peoples' heads?
Find a Jew and bet him a hundred bucks that you can shoot the Kippah right off his head. If he thinks you're a bad shot, then you are more likely to win the bet if you are good enough.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:07AM
And if your aim is a bit too low - you still win!
(Score: 4, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:21AM (2 children)
Send the kids out with the bow(s) while you sit by the fire, and play with Mama.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Sunday March 17 2019, @07:07AM (1 child)
You must be good with the bow first, then teach the kids second, *then* they will feed you.
For 2-3 summers max.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Sunday March 17 2019, @07:25AM
Touche. Except, my kids have never fed me. I think that it's against their religion or something. I know that they devour everything in their path, and there's nothing left when they move on.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @02:23AM (15 children)
Tip on proper aim: arrow tip points away from you.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @03:15AM (14 children)
Also expressed as "Pointy bits toward food." But then, in a thread on punching Nazis, some AC said you should be careful of eating anything with a CCW, "Cronic Conservative Wasting" disease. Do they have that in you area, or were you thinking of taking the neighbor's cats, like Ted Nugent (speaking of wasted conservatives)?
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @04:07AM (13 children)
I was planning on probably something like rabbits to start, if my accuracy is good enough...I don't want to see a rabbit hop away and die suffering.
Once good enough, if ever, I'll look into deer hunting possibly, and so far I haven't heard of any waisting diseases around here.
Maybe if the shit hits, I'll be able to hunt my own meat.
Just looking at accuracy first.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Arik on Sunday March 17 2019, @04:55AM (12 children)
Going after deer with a 45lb bow is probably a bad idea. Yes, our ancestors did it all the time. They were also accustomed to tracking wounded animals long distances to recover the meat.
We try to avoid that these days, both for our own sakes and to avoid inflicting unnecessary pain, so before you go deer hunting you'll be wanting to graduate to a stronger bow. A modern compound is much easier to shoot than a simple bow of the same power, and that gives you enough power to reliably penetrate deeply enough to kill a large animal quickly.
I hesitate to give you tips as I was never much of an archer and haven't done it in years, but as in most physical activities controlling your breathing is of the utmost importance. Also, if the bow is strong enough to give you difficulty in drawing it, try what I call the reverse draw. Start with the hand holding the nock by your cheek, with the other arm perforce folded in relatively tight to get it there without drawing the bow at all, then instead of *pulling* the string back, push the bow up and forward while keeping the nock where it is.
Not sure why pushing with the off-hand instead of pulling with the normally stronger one works better, but it does. I've drawn bows that way that I could not draw the other.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @12:29PM (11 children)
Reverse draw: I like that idea!
Yeah, I'd definitely need a stronger draw before I tried deer: I'm willing to kill for meat, but I don't want it suffering because I suck.
Accuracy first!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Monday March 18 2019, @03:54PM (9 children)
I would be careful with wacky draws, bad form, even with a relatively light bow, can do serious damage. There are styles that use different fingers, sides of the bow, anchor points, and even holding the bow with the feet, but pushing exclusively with the bow arm I haven't heard of before. There is a longbow technique called push pull where you focus on moving both arms apart at the same time, but I read that description as starting at anchor with your draw hand and just pushing with the bow hand, which makes my shoulder sore just thinking about it. It is possible Arik has some wisdom I know nothing of, or that I read his description wrong, I would just be cautious about fucking up your shoulders.
If you have a club or something like that that runs lessons nearby they can get you sorted (and usually fairly cheap, the club I go to is 5$/week), but they are certain to tell you that you are months or longer away from a 45# bow.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Monday March 18 2019, @09:23PM
I'm pretty strong but I realise there will be a training time period for my muscles. I'll just shoot for a bit every day until my muscles get used to it.
I'll probably get a tab pretty early on to save my fingers, but I do want to do some shooting without just to let my fingers'feel' the string.
I can see myself using a gap/finger walk combination for shooting, but really want to just get some exercise.
Our club costs $260/year, or $130 if you do volunteer work: I'll probably join and do the latter: they have a wooded area that is available 24/7/365 with targets, so I'll probably spend most of my time there.
Just gonna have fun and get exercise!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday March 19 2019, @03:50AM (7 children)
I don't think that's exactly what I said but I can see how it fits. To clarify, it's not quite exclusively - I wouldn't ever want to be was rigid as that implies.
This draw is sometimes called 'mongolian.' It was developed by little men trying to pull stiff composite bows on horseback. If you dig out videos and go over it frame by frame it's not exclusively pushing out - but that's the main thrust of it. The other hand tends to rise a bit right at the beginning and then pull back to the draw, but you don't need to think of that to make it happen. Subjectively, you push the bow-hand out and up, subjectively at about 45 degrees, but you let gravity with with you instead of fighting it, so you wind up about on target.
I didn't have a lot of time to vet the video so this one may have nonsense but I skipped around until I found the movement I mean. https://youtu.be/6lf9q6OQse0?t=556 it's less than 3 seconds there and from what I saw the rest of the video is focused on nothing we're talking about but at least you can see the movement in those 3 seconds.
I didn't like that video, though the three seconds are there, here's some more seconds. https://youtu.be/R5jLMOzsClQ?t=25 There are two gents drawing at that timestamp, one guy in grey with yellow sash and splotches already has his bow high. Not *exactly* what I'm talking about but actually very similar, the bow hand is up at 45 deg and he's going to work with gravity as he draws. The guy in the tan, second man to his left, is about to draw and he does exactly what I'm talking about. The camera draws back and you don't really see him release but watch that draw. His nock hand actually floats up to the temple before coming back down the cheek as the bow hand starts to extend out.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 19 2019, @07:01AM (5 children)
That is called a high draw. The proper way to draw is actually a mid-line draw, so your shoulder rotates, and at an curve, (called angular), so you use your arm does the work and back tension does the hold. This avoids overworking the shoulder and gives a good consistent anchor with less exhaustion.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4IL0laJkpzH9JHmxNqjjMg [youtube.com] has some good videos on high, mid, vs low and straight vs. angular. My only real criticism of his form is that he holds the string with his fingers in and arm twisted, instead of the proper form of untwisted and fingers out.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday March 19 2019, @07:44AM (4 children)
BUT
"The proper way to draw is actually a mid-line draw"
Sounds like bullshit.
What I'm only surmising you must call a low line draw is perfectly proper.
With a 30lb self bow trying to hit a rabbit. You'd be a fool to do anything else.
I only suggested my reverse or mongolian draw as a solution if the draw is difficult. It makes it easy to pull bows that would otherwise be difficult to draw.
If you don't need to do that to draw the bow, then you don't need to do that to draw the bow. The other way is probably easier in terms of getting on target quickly, assuming the bow isn't too strong.
I recognize the channel, watched a few of his vids, pretty sure he's going to be nuanced about it and not give me the one true right way to draw.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 19 2019, @11:07PM (3 children)
Suffice it to say, there are different problems with improper draws, including what muscles you use. But just watch some Olympic shooters. After setting the arrow, they set on the mid-line and do an agular draw, with a distinctive shoulder roll motion before anchoring with the string touching the face somewhere.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Wednesday March 20 2019, @02:30AM (1 child)
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 20 2019, @07:54AM
They also are the most accurate and fastest, shooting 3 arrows per 2 minutes at a target 70 meters away with an average shooting radius of 10 centimeters. That kind of consistency can only come from good technique. But hey do what y'all want, since that's what you are going to do anyway.
But anyone who wants to use a high draw at a range better ask if it is ok. Many ranges, indoor and out don't allow them due to the high risk of overshoot on a misfire.
And, that's the last I'll say about any of this.
(Score: 2) by quietus on Saturday May 18 2019, @11:44AM
The string shouldn't really touch the face -- it just looks that way because your draw hand does, at aim, at always the same position, somewhere along/upon the chin bone. The only thing that 'touches' your face is the 'kisser', a small ring attached to the bowstring a bit above the keep. With the kisser between your lips, and your draw hand at always the same position, you aim consistent, on condition of good muscle control -- the thing left to do is a correct configuration of your aim marker, taking into account wind speed and distance, and mental focus (hence the breathing control mentioned in another post).
As an aside: I do take it that the salesman gave advice on the correct power for your bow given your build and muscle power, but I'd start with something like a 24-26 pounder: you'll be using muscles you're absolutely not used to. Also, very important: the main thing are not your shoulder muscles, but actually your lower abdomen muscles, specifically the muscles going diagonally from your belly to your back. These require different exercises than the ones for your six-pack. Failure to train them will lead to serious back troubles.
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Tuesday March 19 2019, @03:43PM
Yeah, I definitely misread you, those were nothing like what I imagined after your first message, my apologies.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 05 2019, @12:43PM
<sarcasm>Aim for the head.
Or the heart.</sarcasm>
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Sulla on Sunday March 17 2019, @05:02AM (4 children)
Don't mess up your posture and have the skin ripped off your arm by the string
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @12:31PM (3 children)
GOOD advice! Have to keep that in mind. :)
Been doing a lot of research...will probably join the local club: illegal to fire on my property. :(
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Sunday March 17 2019, @07:09PM (2 children)
What do you mean, illegal to fire on your property?
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @08:02PM (1 child)
I'm in the city and bows are considered "firearms" and is illegal in city limits (this is Canada).
That said, i may just do it in a "Gee, i didn't know, officer" so i can get more practice in on random hours i can't get to the club. At least the club has a 24/7 outdoor wooded area that is accessible all year (only about a 15-20 minute drive away): i may have to use it at strange hours.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Sunday March 17 2019, @10:17PM
Where is my +1 SAD! Mod.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Sunday March 17 2019, @01:29PM (1 child)
First off, become familiar w/ your bow. Get arrows w/ practice tips that weigh the same as your blade tips. Start off at 10 yards, then when you're comfortable and can get consistent grouping, move the target back 5 yards. If you know where you'll be hunting, you can roughly gauge the distance you'll need to become proficient at.
Are you going to be using a tree stand or ground blind? In either case you should go into the woods a week before season starts and set up your area. Rake away any leaves that may be on the path you'll need to take to get to your spot. I like hunting when it's raining, because you can move around w/o making too much noise. But if it's dry, raking a path will help reduce the crunching noise you'll make when sneaking out to your spot.
Another thing I usually do is go squirrel hunting a few times before bow season opens up. Look for rubs and scrapes and other signs of activity. If the rut is late and doesn't start until well into the season, keep going out for squirrels until you start seeing the signs. If you find an area where there's been a lot of activity, set up your spot nearby. Bucks come back often to check their rubs.
Practice some scent control. Watch what you eat the day before, b/c nasty flatulence is not going to help. And don't pee anywhere near where you'll be sitting.
And most importantly, be patient. You have to get very close to your prey, and that takes time and skill to do well. The more you go out the better you'll get at recognizing signs, wind patterns, and other aspects of the woods. Think of it this way, would you notice a deer sitting in your living room? Well, out in the woods, you're in *their* house.
To be oneself, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday March 17 2019, @04:31PM
I think i'm a few years off doing real hunting, but i'll keep this in mind: didn't think about raking the area, but could imagine peeing in the area would be a real disaster, lol.
Maybe i should keep my pee and spread it around my garden to keep the rabbits away! Hmmm... ("Honey, why does the back yard smell like urine?") :)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by VLM on Tuesday March 19 2019, @05:18PM
TLDR is check out your local parks for free ranges, where you get about what you paid for.
I live in a recreational state with a popular deer season, both by extremely limited experience and lots of osmosis I know a bit about archery and especially the cub and boy scout merit badges. The scout merit badge is actually kinda difficult for the kids. You could do worse than to get the free merit badge info off the scout wiki and use that as your first training achievement. Its not impossible, but its also not easy, and it generally takes the local teen boys several weekends at the range to get to the merit badge level. Its somewhere free and standard to start.
Something no one commented on is roughly every other county park around here has worn out and limited tower and targets... dumpy, but theres a lot of parks and they're free.
On the other hand the fancy and expensive archery brick and mortar shop continues to defeat Amazon by having great indoor and outdoor ranges with tons of targets and its extremely well maintained... although its not free, not by any means.
I am unfamiliar with the local clubs, a distant gun club supposedly has a nice archery range for members, but that's a long drive compared to the local gun club... I would imagine combined bow and gun clubs are common.