Let’s play a game bow hunting so long...
General Topic
Contributors to this thread:
I use to glue nocks on the back of the arrow... next?
I used to buy swaged aluminum shafts from Mike's Archery in Ironton, Ohio.
I used to adjust my sight to shoot Broadheads!
I got full penetration on a deer before I got full penetration on anything else!
I used to not waste a lot of time on bowsite.com before Al Gore invented the internet.
I own a trail timer that used a trip string to record the time a deer (or whatever) walked by. If you wanted to get fancy, there was an auxiliary port to plug in a 35mm camera, weather permitting.
I used to shoot aluminums and an overdraw? Guess that wasn’t so long ago tho...
I used to used skunk screen
I shot a compound before there were release aids.
I had to take my trail camera photos in to be developed.
I used Autumn Orange 2317s.
My compound bow had as many wheels as my truck!
I knew Kotaman when he still had hair
Killed my first deer with a herters farbenglass arrow
I knew Zack's Mom before Zack did...
Oh, I had a rangefinder you had to dial...
I used to have to guess the yardage and where to hold my one pin because it sure didn’t slide
I used to put fishing line across deer trails to see if anything came thru
I had a Baker climbing stand.
I used to use rubber tubing on my peep sight.....
My sight pins had the little round ends dipped in different colored paint...
All compounds (both brands) had wood risers and cable winches.
There weren’t even sights. There were fiber glass arrows.
The Herters Farbenglass arrows bring back memories.
That I cringe at "gun talk".
I didn’t have more than 2 arrows the same
My broadheads were "mechanical" in the sense that you could change the bleeder blades.
When Port Orford Cedar was THE shaft to have.
That I used or did almost everything on this thread. I don’t know Zacks mom though.
I actually had to read deer sign in the woods.
When 40” ATA compounds were considered short...
I worn wwll camo before treebark camo...
When I had to adjust each pin on my sight a little more to the left as the yardage got farther out. Also painted my brass pins to see them!
Killed a pile of deer, from home made wooden treestands...in my Army Fatigues.
Didn't evolve that much (I still shoot aluminums, bare bow, fingertab).
My first compound had 4 wheels and ya adjusted the weight by moving 2 of the wheels! Still have it!! Shawn
My spring was held on by teardrops
I took a deer with a Bear Whitetail Bow, took a picture with a disposable film camera, pinned the picture to the bulletin board, and called my buddy on a pay-phone
Killed my first deer with a bow with a Bear Pronghorn Hunter out of a Baker treestand. Probably 1984 Time flies man
Crazy thing was not using a safety belt in those dang Bakers. Can’t believe how intellectually weak that was.
Dirk PM Kota-man!!! LMAO! Shawn
I didn't need an app to tell me......
1. What the weather was. 2. Which way the wind blows. 3. What time it is.
In fact.....I still don't!!!
When I started bowhunting the air was clean and sex was dirty.
Used to order most of my archery equipment from Kittridge Bow Hut before the compounds came out. Still have a brown Herters fiberglass arrow.
Heck, we used to haul 2x4’s and plywood in to build stands. Looked for three trees growing close and just built them to fit on site. Had several close calls with rotten wood. Hell, didn’t even know what a safety harness was!
Here is a pic of an old tree stand I built about 20 years ago over a wallow. I didn’t have a gps back then and ended up forgetting where it was. I finally found it again 2 years ago
The only score I knew were the two legged does......
Fred Bear was on the TV and the shows weren't reruns.
I remember when VHS hunting videos were all there was.
That some guy named Duke Savora made broad heads..and I killed my first elk with one !
Oh yeah.....and they came in a 10 pack for about 20 dollars !!!!!!
I remember when Charlie was middle aged! :).
I remember the community forum.....
I met Charlie and Pat going on a bowhunt on the North Slope of the Brooks Range before Bowsite was around.
Never got lost at night until I bought a GPS
...first kill was a random arc of a fiberglass bow and field point, rabbit at about 1,000 yds, a wonderful thing to witness, it's gotten easier ever since...
I remember when Bowriter was young, I remember when Larry Jones was young, and Chuck Adams just coming on the "Scene" Fred, Gene and the others had been my inspiration for years before! I remember this new thing called Gore-Tex, but it was only for the military, luckily I am from a military family! But it still sucked! I remember this new crazy invention called a release!?!?! I actually said WTF!!!
When phones were hooked to the wall.
That brings back memories of the old Eastman hunting movies...
I remember hunting the rut and by then most bowhunters were done hunting but still had their tag. And yea, I did not know it was the rut as there were no tv shows about deer hunting.
Hot glue to fit both Bear Razorheads and field points to swag'd aluminum and wood shafts...
Kota,
A good father would pay for his illegitimate son’s sheep hunt since he missed all the Christmases during childhood...
I remember thinking tree-stand platforms made from pine boards were too fancy. Killed several deer while simply standing on a branch 15 feet up.
I used skunk scent that came in two different bottles.... I use to put my hunting clothes in a garbage bag with pine sol on paper towels
My camo was BDU's when I got out of the military. Before that I had no camo!
Remember when archery whitetail season in Indiana opened the second week of October and closed the second week of November. Annual limit...one deer either sex. Man have times changed! How long ago? Hint: The President of the United States had the same last name as the release I shoot today.
Been bow hunting so long I'll never be able to afford to retire.
My stabilizer was built out of a ratchet handle.
Coleman made these bows.
Coleman made these bows.
Flipper 2 and a Berger button !! On a Browning Deluxe Nomad !!
In Iowa, you got one tag....bow or gun. Gun tags were a draw for buck only or either sex. Party hunting was illegal but they did it anyway. Shotgun only so everyone took their pheasant gun, threw some slugs in and if they actually shot at some paper, they would figure how many feet high or low and how many feet left or right to put their bead. lol
I read every one of these posts and said “I remember that”
my first "real" camo was treebark.
yup after military surplus i got me some tree bark camo
Hey now! I still have the rubber tube on my peep.
Savora three blade Bh, I killed my first elk with one, believe in 82. Brass pin bow sight with no pin guard.
Made my first bow from a osage limb about 1950. Back then, there wasn't the info out there on bow shooting that there is today. Being right handed, I held the bow in my right hand. By the time I learned I was shooting left handed I had already shot tons of rabbits and fox and didn't want to change. Still shooting the same way, 69 years later.
You guys crack me up! Especially Kota and Zack!
Seems like yesterday that I’d look forward to the latest issue of Bowhunter Magazine. To heck with the articles, I’d flip to the black and white centerfold to get the latest sale code from Bowhunter’s Warehouse so I could order another tab and Flipper II rest.
We used to use an overdraw to cut down on arrow weight for more speed
Or my first sight was foam tape with those stick pins with the big colored heads stuck in the foam
When my string tracker got tangled 4 feet before my arrow would have most definitely killed my first archery deer. That thing went directly in the trash!
I remember the bow and cue on dort hwy in flint, mi. The targets were on tracks so you didn’t have to walk up to get your arrows. The place was full of the most beautiful bear bows. Scarred me for life. Thought I might be able to get something with one of those.
My first compound had limbs that resembled a recurve.
I’ve been bowhunting so long I was doing it before it was cool.
I've been bowhuntin' so long, I took lessons from Ishi!!!
If that was really you and Ishi that would be real cool! But since he died in 1916 I doubt you are 112.I wanted to name my dog Ishi but wife and daughter would not go for it. I do plan on having a dog in future named Ishi.
I used to full dip my red XX75s in green paint because I thought the red aluminum would scare the animals.
I've hand-swaged cedar shafts with a knife to glue Bear razorheads on, then glued the bleeder blade in. Then wrapped orange rabbit fur between nock and fletching to create a "lighted nock".
My favorite shows were Saturday MLB game of the week with Curt Gowdy/Tony Kubiak and American Sportsman. Watched Fred Bear make a heart shot on huge grizz with stick, string and a lot of adrenaline.
I used to use and remember the Nelson Arrow holder, Brush Buttons, and a brass pin-on compass. Also, the Jones style camo caps.
My two finger glove felt so uncomfortable compared to just using my fingers.
Good luck, Robb
I used to hunt with 3 blade Bodkins that had to be glued on.
I remember being 12-13 years old bow hunting in Florida in September and COOKING inside this thing
A lease included a utility bill.
I survived several slips down the tree in my Backer Portable Stand.
Curt Gowdy was my go-to show. American Sportsman. I think Fred Bear was on it once.
Google :"Fread Bear Grizzly Hunt". Vintage tv excellence!
I can’t believe we survived the baker sliding tree stand. You could ride it all the way to the ground.
Tree lounger!!! Took your life in your own hands when you had to turn around in that clunker, but my lord it was comfortable
When I wanted another tree stand, I went to the lumber yard so I could build another one.
Had to paint my brand new compound flat gray and black because they only came with 'bright, shiny new paint' on them.
Trebark was the best camo around
I remember hauling 5 gallon Pails of sand into the bush so that I could spread it on deer trails and count the tracks and determine sex and size in a certain time period. That’s a tough haul. But it was reusable. Take it over and try again
Tree stands weren’t legal to hunt from in Michigan till after I’d killed my first deer
Myles Keller was my hero. Bob Fratzke had the cool camo. Dick Idol was the man, even Cabelas named a camo line after him. Chuck Adams had the beanie and a smile and that huge quiver full of giant aluminum arrows. Noel Feather was doin' his thing!
Back in Minnesota, there used to be a limit on how high tree stands could be.
My first site was a Keller Pendulum.........................camo was treebark.
Zack and Kota......................................LMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Watched videos of Bob Foulkrod and Dan Fitzgerald , The Wensels,bowhunting October Whitetails over and over again then the first hunting show came on TV on Sunday nights Buckmasters with Jackie Bushman.
Never heard of CWD. Hunted every farm in the neighborhood. Went to Herters for archery supplies.
When I started bowhunting, there were no deer in Iowa.
My idea of processing wild game was making pemmican! (Sous vide? He must be French Canadian. LOL)
I've been at it since back when baseball caps had curved brims.
In reference to Genesis and GBTG...I remember getting permission to hunt almost anywhere by simply asking, now almost every property is hunted or leased. I still gain permission to hunt some good places but it takes a lot more work building relationships and trust but usually doesn't last long...the property will be sold to someone for hunting land and the cycle starts over. It seems that I spend more time hunting for ground to hunt than hunting the animals on them. I refuse to lease but will always provide whatever services I can to help the landowner.
The "wheel" hadn't been invented yet!
We built our Baker stands from instructions we ordered ($2.00!) from a tiny ad in Bowhunter mag.
I used A string tied to my arrow to track a shot deer.
Had to send my arrow order in to Cabelas by snail mail and wait weeks for arrows to show up. If they were wrong, a few more weeks to return and get new ones. This process started in May because we waited until the last minute to order:)
Called my dad on a rotary phone when I got home after killing my first Archery deer.
Stole these first 3 from others as they also apply to me.
I started BC (before Compounds).
I used to buy swagged aluminum shafts from Mike's Archery in Ironton, Ohio.
I own a trail timer that used a trip string to record the time a deer (or whatever) walked by. (I still have 2 of these).
I used to used skunk screen
Started hunting out of trees by standing on limbs sometimes with leg on either side of limb above it for safety, then graduated to using a plywood platform with conduit leg.
Spent many Saturday wondering thru Herter's in Waseca, MN
Fluted aluminum arrows were cutting edge...
You didnt move your rest... You just made each pin slightly further away (or closer to) the bracket it mounted to.
TreBark was the latest and greatest in camo.
Used to like this Bear Archery ad
DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that Zack's mom???
I remember my first compound was a Jennings and it cost me $103.00 new back in the mid 70's. gottoohunt
Hmmm...I got scolded for posting that on LW once... ;) BTW, what's wrong with 'swagged' arrows? Too light? Just curious, I still use them.
Haha great thread, some of y’all are older than dirt.
I wouldn’t even think about shooting my bow without my arm guard on.
That would have cost bluedog a star or two...
Jim Pickering was my shooting coach back in the hay days.
bluedog- Jaquomo inspired me with that Bear ad. So I bought the Playboy that included the ad. I post a copy of that pic wherever I set up a spike camp!
That framed Bear ad is in my hunting camp trailer. Survived the rollover/totaling of my previous camper without a scratch.
I was shooting a compound bow before they were legal to hunt with in Pa.An I also had the first compound in our area.
my first dozen of port orford cedar arrows cost 8 dollars came with super hilbre broad heads
I was hunting in Minnesota before using a release was legal. (Truth!) Legally, Archers could only shoot with them during practice. Not while hunting.
Microflite shafts with bear razor heads.
Very few had compounds. And it was a very big deal to shoot a deer with your recurve/longbow in southern Michigan. Deer numbers were very low then. And pheasant numbers were high.
I used to hunt with a recurve and Kwikee Kwiver clamp on without a hood, Bear Razorheads exposed. Shot with a glove and didn’t know what a tab was. Didn’t own a single piece of camo
My first “Converta-point” arrows were a Bear Archery product. They were cedar arrows with a huge outsert to change from field points to Bear Razorheads glued to short aluminum broadhead adaptors. The heads were all mounted crooked by the factory due to the indentation bumps to index the back of the bleeder blade into. But they had a lot of FOC and weight but flew very poorly from my Browning recurve. No compounds around my area yet in ‘72.
Bowhunting October whitetails was about the only vhs movie out there. I started with a Martin cougar mag in target sparkle copper finish that I wrapped in snake skin. My boots were herman survivors with felt lining. Whats funny is that I am sitting in a car dealership getting my new truck serviced and while scrolling down reading this post and the bear ad appeared. An elderly lady next to me goes "oh my".
Hell-Kota still had hair when I started!
Took me seven years to harvest my first bow killed whitetail.
My first stand was a milk crate on the ground..
My dad's been bowhunting so long that when you try to walk to one of his stands in the dark with a headlamp it looks like there are 1 million eyes staring at you from every direction from all the bright eyes tacks he has on trees. I actually have to ignore all the tacks and walk to the trees by memory. It's ok though as there are so many tacks a stand thief will quit before they ever find a stand that way...
PAUSE:
Bowhunting October Whitetails is still, I believe, the greatest bowhunting movie in the history of the earth. I watch it a few times a year still. LOVE that film. LOVE IT. If you have not seen it, and are reading this, find it, buy it, cherish it :)!
RESUME: "BOWHUNTING SINCE X THREAD"
Jasper, I had the same Kwikee/arrow setup on my Dad's Tigercat, which is what that bow looks like...Is it? TK
Trapper, No that was a Shakespeare Necedah. Do you still have your Dad’s bow?
Don't make me talk about your momma too Jason! :)
Tying in my peep with dental floss while watching a bob McGuire hunting video tape.
I bought my first bow,a used solid fiberglass one, for 5 bucks. Gas was cheap then and they had a special if you got 10 gallons of gas you got a free steak knife. Wonder how that would work out these days. Shot my first buck with a Bodkin with glued on razor blades and that was years later with one of those new models. Could hardly believe that I actually killed a buck with a bow. People seemed to discount bowhunters as takers of game in those days.
I got my first bow, a whitetail hunter from Feline archery ( $63.95)and my Easton aluminum arrows from FS Arrows. Then I loaded them with that wasp 6 blade. I hunted with the baker treestand and used skunk screen to mask my scent. I had it all figured out in 1978
Using unhooded kwicky kwiver.
Ive been bowhunting so long, there was no deer shaming. Shooting a fork horn was an accomplishment. There was pride in everyone that did it. Paper plate sized groups at 20 yards were considered good. Amazing that at 42 I've seen and tried pretty much every thing in this thread. When I started, there were only a select few people doing it. It was no fad. It wasnt the cool thing to do. I remember the very first 3d targets to come out. I remember my dad bring home a "blemish" delta deer target for me in my teens. I cut that thing in half over the years shooting at it. I LOVE my new bow, but boy do I miss those old days.....
I bowhunted Illinois FIRST EVER DEER season. 1957. I say I started bowhunting in 1956 (small game) as that is when I bought my 1st real bow & joined the local club.
How about changing blades on the green Wasp broadheads with the two split rings. The blades were cross cut injector razor blades.
Solid form there ahunter!
Black bear. I still have some of those in my barn. They were the last BHs my dad used.
I been bowhunting deer before Ohio had deer,thank God for Pennsylvania.
30 years from now today's youngsters will write things to the same question such as, "I remember when Solo Cam was all the Rage..."
Form is pretty much the same with my Longbow that captured 1st place in Traditional class in the NFAA 5 day field national in Pa. in 2015. I remember when Micro-Flite 8s were the best shaft you could get.
I remember Forgewood shafts (compressed wood)
First Camo was a set over coveralls tied died
If one of the "high end" mountain gear companies would start offering woodland green and brown they would not be able to produce enuff to keep it in stock. The best patterns ever were the first ones.
.....I remember when a NR could draw a N.M. elk tag every other year, if not more frequently.
Damn phone...
Brear, Brown Bear, round wheels & laminated wood riser, shot with fingers & no sights.
Did pretty good at local 3-D tournaments with that Brown Bear. Good times.
I remember fondly and painfully, bear hugging a tree to be able to bring up a TSS plywood and metal strap stand up the tree with your feet. This was, of course, after having a Baker stolen. Yes, metal cables, two part skunk cover scent, dented orange arrows, no releases, painting bow with camo paint, brass pins, painted pins, bent pin bracket to make for a miss at a buck, good quality BDU camo pants. And watching Curt Gowdy and the American Sportsman to prime me to have a deep and long lasting interest it the great outdoors. How about remembering reading about "Deer Hunter" on the the Bowsite in the early years?
Lots of cool stuff. I remember moving from the green wasp to the orange wasp and how huge the upgrade was.
I remember indoor 300 rounds b/4 there was an X ring. I remember when you could find an indoor Chicago rounds someplace every week (indoor, 20 yds, multi colored face, 16 ends xs 6 arrows = 96 arrows)
I remember bowhunting Elk & Mule Deer in Colorado as a Non Resident & my tags cost $35 total & points & drawing an area was non existent. I remember bowhunting as a non resident in Wisconsin & your lic. was $10 AND you were allowed all small game, Deer & A BEAR with a bow.
Cool stuff Ghost and ahunt!
been bowhunting so long,,,,
Fred Bear asked me for pointers,,,,,,,,,
Ishi once asked me about my deer hat so he could make one for himself. Except he used a real doe cape, looked way cooler than mine...
I remember meeting Fred Bear & talking one on one with him for an hour about bowhunting Grizzlies at Cobo Hall, Detroit at the huge Pro/Am back then 1968.. AND never asked for his autograph. Saw many famous archers of that era that weekend.
I think I bought this in 1980 at Arrow Manufacturing in Costa Mesa, CA. It still works.
I think I bought this in 1980 at Arrow Manufacturing in Costa Mesa, CA. It still works.
What a great thread. It brought back so many memories. I to used the skunk screen. Buddy of mine mixed two bottles together and poured them in the bottom of a locker. They looked for that skunk for a week.
I remember bow hunting Colorado unit 76 every 3 years and 66 every year as a nonresident
I remember when Illinois did not allow non-resident Deer hunting. I remember as a Archery shop/lane owner being unable to sell any of my 200 recurves in the shop because everyone was switching to compounds in the mid 70s (Now I could triple my money on them). It was a "very tough" transition" for those in the business.
mid 70s BEST BHS out there. Replaceable blades, Wasp, Satellite, Savor, Rocky Mountain. Not shown Razorback 5s. Oh so many + Bear Razorheads, Hilbre, Hi-precision, 003 & others.
I have a signed copy of Wensel's Hunting Rutting Whitetails from 1982. Used to have a subscription to Deer & Deer Hunting back when the group publishing it called themselves the 'Stumpsitters'. We made our own Baker style stands and ladder stands from 2x4's and plywood. Hard to believe how things have changed in over 40 years of bowhunting.
I bowhunted Black Bear in Minnesota b/4 draws & you only needed a small game lic.. They were not considered biggame. I remember "stump sitters" Myke.
I was young enough to be a model.
some great memories on here,,,
The blades on my broadhead blades look like they belonged on top of my dads razor. Refer to pics several posts above..... man this post really makes me feel old
Pat McManus was my favorite reading material!
I remember shooting Beman Carbon Flash arrows with outserts and over the shaft nocks. Shooting Satelite broadheads out of my Hoyt Rebel XT. I remember when Utah was statewide archery for deer, using the dial in rangefinder and shooting an overdraw 6 inches long haha those were the good old days for me! Fun thread
Got my first compound when Jimmy Carter was president!
I remember when A field round was tge round & 3-D was never thought of except home made targets & a NOVELTY" round. That little 5 yr old boy is 45 now & a veteran archer/bowhunter.
I remember, barely but I do remember when the the Bowsite Search feature actually worked!
Anyway Zack... tell your mom I’m a Gemini. Brown hair, some of it anyway, and brown eyes. Love campfires, romantic walks on the beach... and in the woods... with a bow. Call me!
I used to shoot and hunt with a longbow...wait a sec...I still do...
raichad0's Link
Got my first compound when Jimmy Carter was president! Yes!
I still have grooves in my butcheek from sitting on that hand attachment that came with the baker climbing stands.
We bought our licenses and wore them on our back
I remember when feathers was the only fletching that came on an arrow. I remember when Pete Shepley (PSE) shot a recurve (Dick Roberts I think). I remember when PSE Factory was in Illinois.
i watched dan fitzgerald’s grand slammin small game and predators, passing through, corn crazed white tails on an endless loop.
climbed up screw in steps to hunt out of an API baby grand tree stand, the loudest, creakiest aluminum piece of crap ever built.
I shot with this group of characters today at my sons. He has 12 assorted 3-ds & other targets on his few acres (Son, G-son & 3 of sons grade school buddies)- 3 in their 40s & I remember them paling around at 10. It was a fun day.
taped a wooden matchstick to my recurve for a sight...stole a pillow from the house, rolled it in dirt and tied it to a crotch in a tree for a "treeseat"
My 1st sight was a piece of styrafoam taped to the front of my bow & I used a hat pin.
My dad's archery distributor catalog was 2 pages.
How about changing blades on the green Wasp broadheads with the two split rings. The blades were cross cut injector razor blades.
I used to think of Vanna White while I was in my stand.
I think of Vanna White now in my stand. She's still a kid at my age.
I remember when this was the best sight on the market (chek-it) & it was $50. Many indoor 300s shot with this on recurves & fingers.
My first compound had 4 wheels.....
I remember when NO one thought this to ne wrong.
I remember shooting in the Cobo Halls $20,000 pro/am in 1968. I shot a 288 & 292 with a 70" 42# American Archery Pro Supreme, chek it site & fingers. I remember the scores because I have them written down in some of my "old stuff".
shot my first a spike deer from the ground with a wood arrow and a 40lb red wing hunter. I had lunch with Fred Bear at McDonald's in Grayling Mi.
I was shooting a bow b/4 Illinois had their 1st Deer season. Illinois 1st Deer season was 1957.
i remember when everyone shot a recurve, compounds were a some kind of new gadget. however, most important, when someone killed a deer, of any size, everyone in the local archery crowd celebrated.
archer56-that is SO true.
Yep, I remember that as well... Just killing a deer with a bow was an extraordinary event! Sadly, that day has long since passed! If it isn't huge, massive, a "Shooter" or a toad, it is less an accomplishment. Kind of sad!
In our circle of bowhunters, family & friends A DOE still gets a high five & congratulations. We just all enjoy bowhunting..
AZ didn't have a archery season, last day of deer season was any deer, and Colt made arrows. Arrows were wood, yellow, with feathers and razor blade broadheads. Rangefinders were nonexistent and camo was a red flannel shirt.
Terry
A Jenninjgs Model T compound I bought when they came out. Retired my Herters Sitka recurve that I still have....
I rangefinded with my Sprandel sight.....
...................... Long b/4 a compound was thought of.
Easy to remember back to POC shafts, glue on nocks, hot melt for broad heads, and feather fletchings, because yesterday I finished up some new arrows for this year doing it that way still! Yes I remember before releases were legal in Minnesota, and those that got it passed were photographed with the governor, all wearing a Fratzkee Camo sweater.
I remember when people didn't say "I smoked him"
I remember when Micr-flite 8 fiberglass arrows were the best arrow you could get. I killed this guy with one.
I knew how to kill a deer before Bowsite was a thought.
My first bow set up was a Mountaineer Archery shooting 2016’s and Razorback 4’s. Absolutely loved that thing. Not quiet 30 years ago....
I used to step off and put out range markers before range finders. Sometimes painted the yardage on trees. You didn't need batteries for your range finder when they did appear.
ahunter76, check these out.
And these. The ferrell is glued in ad just the tip screws in/out. same Ferrell for target point and broad head.
I'm so old I remember this as the tool of a poacher..............
Rooster-yep, that was the arrow in those days. *s fit EVERYONE.