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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Blaino on January 20, 2014, 07:30:00 AM

Title: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 20, 2014, 07:30:00 AM: I'm hoping to see some pictures of big animals taken with self bows.

Elk, moose, brown bear, big hogs (250+).

Kudu, eland....... Buffalo?

Add arrow and bow stats would be neat also.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: on January 20, 2014, 08:22:00 AM: I don't think this warthog necessarily fits into your "big critter" category, but it is the only animal I have ever shot with a selfbow. When I was practicing with it at camp, the PH walked up to me and told me he did not think I could kill a warthog with that bow. That afternoon I proved him wrong!

This is an Arvin Weaver selfbow, about 50# at my DL. And I used a wooden arrow with a Magnus broadhead on it.

(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/SouthAfrica2009241.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/SouthAfrica2009241.jpg.html)

Bisch
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Fattony77 on January 20, 2014, 08:41:00 AM: way to show 'im, Bisch! :clapper:
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: KentuckyTJ on January 20, 2014, 08:44:00 AM: Haha, I love it Bisch. He didn't know you like we do.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Brock on January 20, 2014, 09:05:00 AM: How big is big to you? Dick Robertson, Paul Brunner, Dean Torges, John Strunk, Ted Frye (Raptor Archery, Jay Massey and many many others all shot the biggest of North American game animals with selfbows or backed bows(sinew or rawhide, etc)....Elk, black bear, grizzly, moose, whitetail....they and many others have done it all.

Go through an edition of Primitive Archer magazine and can see everything from small game to African plains game....cougars to bobcats.....coues deer to 6x6 elk...and even Yukon moose. Though the magazine is more about sharing knowledge and skills there are also a few hunting stories and hero shots. :)

Here is search link with eland, antelope, manitoba bear, moose, bull elk, hogs, whitetail, pronghorn antelope, cougar, javelina, wild boar, kudu, wildabeest, and more

https://www.google.com/search?q=osage+selfbow+trophies&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=KizdUpqUL6qtsATk7oCoBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ& biw=1920&bih=904 (https://www.google.com/search?q=osage+selfbow+trophies&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=KizdUpqUL6qtsATk7oCoBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=904)
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: KellyG on January 20, 2014, 06:07:00 PM: How is this fella?

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/gillk/meand1sttraddeer.jpg)

45#@ 27" with a self arrow and homemade metal head.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: ron w on January 20, 2014, 06:28:00 PM: What Brock said above!!!!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 20, 2014, 07:10:00 PM: I think self bows are just about as cool as it gets!
Got me a hickory stave on the way to try and scratch this itch....
Bisch & KellyG- that's what I'm talkin!

Let's keep it going....
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Hot Hap on January 20, 2014, 09:05:00 PM: Bisch-What is the diameter of that arrow? Looks like a 1/2" or more. Congratulations.

Thanks-Hap
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Cookus on January 20, 2014, 09:21:00 PM: Heckuva buck KellyG! Tell us about that piece of osage and the "hawg" it bit!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: KellyG on January 21, 2014, 04:08:00 PM: cookus Here is the old thread on it.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=110580;p=1
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Terry Green on January 21, 2014, 05:51:00 PM: Doug Campbell killed a Bison with a 53 or 57# bow, can't remember which, and a stone point that went 7 yards.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: MacRae on January 21, 2014, 05:58:00 PM: Just keep 'em tight and hit 'em right!

Seriously, though...I think Bisch nailed it...both figuratively and literally...
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Onions on January 21, 2014, 06:48:00 PM: Great story Bisch!

KellyG...that is a fantastic buck!

chris <><
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 21, 2014, 07:40:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Terry Green:
Doug Campbell killed a Bison with a 53 or 57# bow, can't remember which, and a stone point that went 7 yards.
Now that would be a BIG critter! Hopefully Dough will see this tread and slap that picture on here.

Where is the elk?
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Tajue17 on January 21, 2014, 07:44:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by KellyG:
How is this fella?

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/gillk/meand1sttraddeer.jpg)

45#@ 27" with a self arrow and homemade metal head.
now that's impressive and a selfbow pulling 45@27--> anyone skeptical about light weight bows here ya go!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Walt Francis on January 21, 2014, 10:31:00 PM: This buck was taken by Hunter Rung, with a 58# Osage selfbow he made last winter in one of my bow classes

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Hunters%202013%20Buck/Hunters2013Buck064_zps9ceaf2d9.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Hunters%202013%20Buck/Hunters2013Buck064_zps9ceaf2d9.jpg.html)

Below are pictures of some critters taken with my Osage selfbows Pigger 63# & Budster 58#:

Here's Bucky:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/2010Buck022.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/2010Buck022.jpg.html)

An Alaskan Moose:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/P1000734_zpsf13b7a55.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/P1000734_zpsf13b7a55.jpg.html)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/table071_zpsf3c8943c.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/table071_zpsf3c8943c.jpg.html)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/table122_zps4fcc6f8a.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/table122_zps4fcc6f8a.jpg.html)

A Ranch Bison:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Buffalo2007007.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Buffalo2007007.jpg.html)

A Kitty:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny022.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/mountainLionLenny022.jpg.html)

As Terry said, Doug Campbell has taken several bison and elk with selfbows. Mark Baker has taken an Alaskan Moose and elk with his selfbows. Guess you might say that I don't have any reservations regarding the lethality of an Osage Selfbow. Maybe they will stop in a post some pictures of their critters.

Hopefully, there will be an Alaskan Brown Bear to add to this thread in May.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Walt Francis on January 21, 2014, 10:38:00 PM: Also, both of Marks son's, Boone & Corey, have taken nice elk, antelope, & deer with their selfbows.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: KellyG on January 21, 2014, 10:48:00 PM: Walt well I think you have take about 2 of the larges mammals in north america. Good luck with the bear. You going for coastal browns or interior Walt?

Thanks for sharing those for sure.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: on January 21, 2014, 11:54:00 PM: Man, you guys rock! Those are some great animals, Kelly and Walt!

WOW!!!!

Bisch
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Walt Francis on January 22, 2014, 12:02:00 AM: Hi Kelly,

You started your trade bow yet?

Pigger, Hunter, and I will be teaming up with Brother Bob who lives in Juneau, stalking coastal brown bears for a week. Hunter is going to play photographer the first week and then both of us will spend the next week hunting black bears with our selfbows.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: cahaba on January 22, 2014, 02:15:00 AM: Those are some awesome kills. Lately I have been wanting a self bow. I have a great hickory tree in my yard that would make a couple of good bows. If I can just find the courage to start the project!
Just the other day my dad out of nowhere gave me a draw knife and a rasp. He had no idea I was wanting to build a self bow. That's got to be a sign.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Pat B on January 22, 2014, 12:04:00 PM: Its just wood, cahaba!
If you are going to cut the hickory tree wait til spring, once the leaves come out. During the growing season the bark will "slip" making it easy to remove, exposing what will be the back of your bow. If you cut now the bark will be difficult to remove.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: 2treks on January 22, 2014, 12:10:00 PM: A buddy from Ontario killed two bull moose season before last. 57# osage curve, wood arrow and a journeyman head.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 22, 2014, 07:20:00 PM: That's what I'm talkin bout Walt! What was your arrow setup for the moose and bison?

Still no elk.... :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: nineworlds9 on January 22, 2014, 08:29:00 PM: Awesome pics! No reason a well designed selfbow can't do what a glass bow can.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Eric Krewson on January 22, 2014, 11:19:00 PM: Steve Welsh has killed a pile of elk with a BBO I made for him. He shoots mid 50s in poundage.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/hunting%20stuff/stevewelch5x6resized.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/hunting%20stuff/stevewelch5x6resized.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 23, 2014, 02:00:00 PM: Eric- It was maybe 5 years ago when I was trying to get some reviews on bows I was thinking about buying.... You said "Why not just build one." I wish now that's what I did. Better late then never though.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Mark Baker on January 23, 2014, 09:54:00 PM: (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Markandmooseresize.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/woodwizard/media/Markandmooseresize.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Kbull5.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/woodwizard/media/Kbull5.jpg.html)

Here's a couple selfbow kills....bull moose in AK, and my son Kory with a fine bull elk. Both bows are osage selfbows, in the upper 60's, to low 70's poundage. Wood arrows, mine is pine, Kory shoots cedar...and Ribtek on mine, Kory killed his bull with a magnus.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Mark Baker on January 23, 2014, 09:55:00 PM: I never killed a bison, but one of Doug's kills was with a selfbow I made for him. I also was in on a couple.

We've killed a pile of animals with the selfbows and there is no greater thrill....big ones or small ones!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 24, 2014, 08:56:00 AM: Those are some awesome animals Mark!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: KellyG on January 24, 2014, 07:05:00 PM: Walt nope I really can't until March most likely.

Well you should see some big brownies in that area. Those should be coastal which can hit the 10' mark.

Funny the black bear up there don't get heavy but they do get tall.

Be safe Walt and some very nice animals taken with the good ole self bow.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Steve H. on January 24, 2014, 11:59:00 PM: The black bear in my avatar photo was killed with a 66# Osage, cedars, and the first DC Damascus tradepoint. Shot at 8 or 9 yards in AK.

I've hunted a few times with the same bow for browns and passed up one shot.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 26, 2014, 09:54:00 AM: That's a big bear Steve!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: LongStick64 on January 26, 2014, 10:27:00 AM: The Magic of Osage !!!!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: tippit on January 26, 2014, 12:17:00 PM: Couple of black bears with self bows...tippit

My handmade Osage bow with Woody Blackwell stone head.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/1st%20Annual%20Quebec%20Bear%20Quest/QuebecBearQuest07042.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/1st%20Annual%20Quebec%20Bear%20Quest/QuebecBearQuest07057.jpg)

Hickory Eastern Woodland self bow by my friend Eric with tippit forged head.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Quebec%20Quest%2008/QuebecQuest08095.jpg)
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 26, 2014, 05:50:00 PM: Good stuff Tippit!

I really dig that hickory bow :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: tippit on January 26, 2014, 10:24:00 PM: Blaine,
I just noticed you're less than an hour away from me as I'm in Aiken till July. We need to get together sometime :) I have a couple self bows down here plus two in the works.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Benjy on January 26, 2014, 10:38:00 PM: Jeff, now you've gone and done it! I'll have to drag Blaine down there with me next time I come see you...
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 30, 2014, 10:44:00 AM: TTT

Tippit & Benjy- sounds like a plan!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Mike Yancey on January 30, 2014, 08:06:00 PM: (http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/caribou20pic1.jpg) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/caribou20pic1.jpg.html)

(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/WYdeer-1.jpg) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/WYdeer-1.jpg.html)

(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/manatoba1.gif) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/manatoba1.gif.html)

(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/TexasTurkey2013015.jpg) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/TexasTurkey2013015.jpg.html)

(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/o9antelope2-1.jpg) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/o9antelope2-1.jpg.html)

I have taken a bunch of stuff with selfbows and even more with sinew backed osage bows.
Mike
www.pinehollowlongbows.com (http://www.pinehollowlongbows.com)
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: b.glass on January 31, 2014, 12:45:00 PM: Nice thread! :notworthy: ...to all of you!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on January 31, 2014, 06:59:00 PM: Sinew backing counts as a selfbow to Me.

Mike, what was the bow and arrow setup did you use to take that caribou?

P.S. your hickory bow kit came today. Thanks a bunch!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Mike Yancey on January 31, 2014, 09:21:00 PM: The caribou was taken with a osage takedown and a pine shaft, took two caribou on that trip with that bow. Same set up on that bear picture in Canada.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: CoachBGriff on January 31, 2014, 10:08:00 PM: I dream of taking something with a bow I make myself one day. I have a farm full of tall, straight osage. All I need is the time and some know-how.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: akaboomer on February 01, 2014, 07:44:00 PM: Mike, I met a young man Thurday that you helped build a selfbow. Logan was a pleasure to meet. He was at the Arkansas Knifemakers Association meeting. In fact Lin Rhea, a Master Bladesmith, text me to see if I had Logan's contact info to let Logan know help is available for him in knifemaking.

Chris
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Mike Yancey on February 02, 2014, 08:22:00 AM: (http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/logan.jpg) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/logan.jpg.html)
Chris,
Logan is a great kid. Here is a picture of the deer that he took back in the fall with the sinew backed osage bow that he made with me in a class back in the summer last year.
Mike
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: JMartin on February 02, 2014, 09:36:00 AM: Great pictures! I love selfbows, just about all I shoot any more.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Ghost Dog on February 02, 2014, 10:37:00 AM
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: LongStick64 on February 02, 2014, 10:53:00 AM: I have to second Ghost Dog, I own selfbows that do not lag behind by composite bows. And there really isn't a better feeling than when you make one yourself and see how well they shoot. They do take a little more experimentation to find the right arrow but that is part of the experience.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on February 02, 2014, 12:44:00 PM: Ghost Dog- that was the point of this thread, to show others what a selfbow is capable of.....

It seems like a lot of the selfbow hunter that used to post on TradGang either got banned or no longer post. That stinks because I remember seeing some of those critters and being in awe. The combination of woodsmanship and craftsmanship was truly inspiring!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on February 02, 2014, 12:53:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Mike Yancey:
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/logan.jpg) (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/mikeyancey/media/logan.jpg.html)
Chris,
Logan is a great kid. Here is a picture of the deer that he took back in the fall with the sinew backed osage bow that he made with me in a class back in the summer last year.
Mike
Awsome look at that smile :clapper:
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Blaino on February 05, 2014, 08:25:00 PM: Back up
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: swamhuntr on February 11, 2014, 02:37:00 PM: awesome bows!
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: VictoryHunter on February 11, 2014, 04:49:00 PM: Cool stuff, definitely on my bucket list.
Title: Re: Self bow power aka big critters
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on February 11, 2014, 06:05:00 PM: Self bows cant kill anything :rolleyes: