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Alright the 20th is coming up fast and I'll be on my first pronghorn hunt with a bow. Nebraska's website says this is supposed to be a 25 year high for herd count, and being a bad drought year I'm guessing that finding water is going to be the key to success. Is there another tactic I'll want to have in my head for a plan B?
Is there anyone around the Nebraska/Wyoming/South Dakota area able to give a first hand update on what they are seeing? Thom
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association Compton's Traditional Bowhunters >>>---TGMM Family of the Bow---> Posts: 885 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Aug 2010
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Box Butte West on private land. I will be catching up with the rancher soon, but I was wondering what hunters were seeing across the area. Thom
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association Compton's Traditional Bowhunters >>>---TGMM Family of the Bow---> Posts: 885 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Aug 2010
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Not worthy of it's own thread, but I'd like to throw this out there for input:
One of the bows I'm thinking about taking is a osage selfbow, I got my arrows tuned and I did a round of testing on them today. Here are the results: 650 total grains 264 total grains up front (based on Grizzly 160gr) 19.9% FOC 11.0 gpp 136-139 fps
It all sounds great to me, except that arrow is going so slow. It hits where I aim, but I wonder if an antelope would still be around by the time it got there? Even though it's dead silent, I'm worried about the critter having time to see it coming and react.
Anyone shoot low speed arrows at pronghorns? If this is a recipe for disaster I could take this one off my packing list. Thanks. Thom
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association Compton's Traditional Bowhunters >>>---TGMM Family of the Bow---> Posts: 885 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Aug 2010
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Water sounds like a good plan A. Plan B could be a wheat field, alfalfa field or something like that depending on how much agriculture is in your specific area because where I live at least the antelope seem to love those fields. You also said it was a ranch, if he has cattle and the antelope are accustomed to them a moo cow might be worth a try.
-------------------- Now then, get your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me.- Genesis 27:3 Posts: 269 | From: CO | Registered: Apr 2012
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Hey Thom you engineers get way to techinical with your equipment and all those fancy statistics. Here is the bottom line, can you hit a coffee can lid at 40 yards
-------------------- For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. Posts: 1065 | From: Greenville, Mi. | Registered: Sep 2004
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I'm just worried about an arrow that slow heading for a critter that can move that fast. Wondering if anyone else has done it. Probably a few hundred years of Sioux steak dinners by arrows going about this fast, probably should have put it in perspective first.
Bryce, I appreciate your thoughts. There are some alfalfa fields and cows are free ranging on parts of it too. I've heard pronghorns can travel corridors along the edges of these fields and they frequently use the same crossing points over and over. Good plan B stuff like I was asking for. Thank you! Thom
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association Compton's Traditional Bowhunters >>>---TGMM Family of the Bow---> Posts: 885 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Aug 2010
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quote:Originally posted by sticksnstones: I know, I know, but it's what I do
I'm just worried about an arrow that slow heading for a critter that can move that fast. Wondering if anyone else has done it. Probably a few hundred years of Sioux steak dinners by arrows going about this fast, probably should have put it in perspective first.
Bryce, I appreciate your thoughts. There are some alfalfa fields and cows are free ranging on parts of it too. I've heard pronghorns can travel corridors along the edges of these fields and they frequently use the same crossing points over and over. Good plan B stuff like I was asking for. Thank you! Thom
Thom, if you are THAT woried about it, I have a bow I would be happy to loan you for your hunt. Sends an 850 grain arrow at around 180fps.
Seriously, I wish you all the best on your trip and hope you have fantastic time with lots of goats to choose from. Be sure to take lots of pics for those of us that can't tag along!!!
Traditional Bowhunters of Georgia Compton's Traditional Bowhunters Michigan Longbow Association Professional Bowhunters Society TGMM Family of the Bow Posts: 1047 | From: Gainesville, GA | Registered: Dec 2004
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Your HH Crocodile at 73# is about as much as I feel comfortable bringing to anchor without eating a extra bowl of Wheaties first!
I'll have my Contour and will plan on mostly shooting video, but I'm sure I'll snap a few pictures along the way too. Thom
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association Compton's Traditional Bowhunters >>>---TGMM Family of the Bow---> Posts: 885 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Aug 2010
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quote:Originally posted by sticksnstones: Your HH Crocodile at 73# is about as much as I feel comfortable bringing to anchor without eating a extra bowl of Wheaties first!
I'll have my Contour and will plan on mostly shooting video, but I'm sure I'll snap a few pictures along the way too. Thom
Awesome Thom, can't wait to see the pics and video. I'll give you a shout perhaps over the weekend.
Traditional Bowhunters of Georgia Compton's Traditional Bowhunters Michigan Longbow Association Professional Bowhunters Society TGMM Family of the Bow Posts: 1047 | From: Gainesville, GA | Registered: Dec 2004
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Thom, might give a shout out to Mike Yancey from Pine Hollow Longbows. He's taken antelope with self bows. Enjoy your hunt and take lots of pictures. We're rootin' for ya buddy!
-------------------- "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. To front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived"- Thoreau "TGMM Family of the Bow" Posts: 1893 | From: Flint & DeTour Village, Michigan | Registered: Oct 2005
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im anxious to see pics from this trip! i 2nd the alfalfa if he has it, antelope love that stuff, and i love to eat antelope that have been eating that stuff!
-------------------- is it September yet?? Posts: 727 | From: newcastle wyoming | Registered: Feb 2007
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Steve, I'm off to a weekend of camping and shooting but will be unpacking Sunday afternoon/evening if that works for you.
Rick, I appreciate the tip and will check in with him. I was thinking about you the other day, I'm guessing you gotta be down to counting hours at this point! What's the last day again? 2013 Hog Heaven dates are posted, hint hint.
huntinmuleys, I'll be in your back yard! I'm guessing you'll know what the country will look like, but I'm really looking forward to posting them anyway!
I made a few tweaks with my gear, and those arrows are flying much flatter now. Will shoot my candidate bow/arrows this weekend at Elm Hall and see how it does. My hunting partner dropped in tonight and we worked on his arrow setup a little bit too.
Next step is to start sharpening these Grizzlys, wish me luck! Thom
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association Compton's Traditional Bowhunters >>>---TGMM Family of the Bow---> Posts: 885 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Aug 2010
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That rattler backed, moose horn tipped, snaky bow sure is a looker Thom. As quiet as you have it pushin' arras now I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just don't drop the string when the goat's lookin' your way and you'll be fine. I hope my widow puts the sting on one of them lopes. One of God's most beautiful critters. Huntin' trips like these remind me of bein' 8 years old and waitin' for Christmas morn! Great stuff and a great life; kill or no!!
Posts: 484 | From: Grand Haven, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2009
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