Trad hunting, I'm not to sure now....

[mcgroundstalker]

I'd like to think that a "heavy broadhead arrow" is the way to go for trad gear hunting...Eight to Ten grains per pound of draw weight...Most broadheads come in 125gr. weight...Seems to be a standard of the industry...The Woodsman you mentioned is a 150gr. screw in that I've been thinking of using for deer hunting next season...Seem to need ALOT of weight up front to stabilize some carbon arrows...

Boy...I'm outa breath...my 2 cents...mike... ...

[buddha]

I want to start with carbon arrows, i shoot them with my compound. They take a lot of abuse and still shoot well. I'm petty sure i will be throwing arrows all over the place when I start. So the next thing is which carbon arrows? I know there are a lot of choices out there, anyones out there perferd by you guys?

[project mayhem]

Buddha, I use beman ICS hunters, with about 200 grains up front...the cool thing is they shoot from both my short fifty pounder, and my longer 57 pounder, carbons are great, good luck buddy and have FUN!

[buddha]

Originally posted by project mayhem:
Buddha, I use beman ICS hunters, with about 200 grains up front...the cool thing is they shoot from both my short fifty pounder, and my longer 57 pounder, carbons are great, good luck buddy and have FUN!

How do you get 200 grains up front? A 200 field point and broad head? Wow! much to learn!

[Roger Norris]

buddha - I use carbons. Here is my set-up for a 57# Super Shrew: Carbonwood or Carbon Vapor 3000's, cut at 29", with a 130 grain head (field point or Magnus 2 blade). Glue a steel insert (110 grain) into the standard glue on head to create a 240 grain head for the up front wieght. For whatever reason, carbons seem to fly best with lots of wieght up front. Experiement with the carbons you have now and see if they fly right.

[buddha]

Thanks for all the feedback Roger! I live about 15 miles from the Super Shrew man Ron! Here is a ?? for ya, how/when will I know its the arrows/weight and not me shootin straight? Should i get 2 differnt spine of arrows?

[Roger Norris]

Thats a great question...your release can fool you sometimes. It helps to have a shooting partner, someone who can shoot your bow, watch you shoot it. It's tough in the beginning, because a poor release can make you think your arrows are wobbling in flight.

Shoot 3 arrows and look at how they stick in the target (a bag is no good for this, use a hard foam target)Look for the shafts to be at consistent angles.

It also helps to go to a proshop where they understand traditional arrows and spine. Let them help you with a set of arrows that are right for your bow. You can experiment from there.

[buddha]

Thanks for all the feedback! Ive been out of state working, left on the 2nd got back yesterday. Sorry about the delayed thanks!

[mcgroundstalker]

Well Buddha...What's the scoop?...Are you gonna jump in to trad hunting yet?...

Dig this...Eight years ago I read a story in one of the hunting magazines that got me interested in trad bows...(I had compound bow trigger time for years)...Said, if you can keep your shots on target at five yards...Go Hunting!...Just limit your shooting range to five yards...Go For It!

>>-----> mike <-----<<

PS...I NEVER LOOKED BACK!!!

[Thicket Hunter]

buddha,
 Don’t do it. Just say no. Get an intervention. This stuff is like crack and hard to put down. I too was a compound shooter until this last Christmas when my *@$#% son gave me a recurve. Now it’s all I want to shoot. Seriously though, it is a blast. You don’t have to shoot 100 arrows a day or spend hours at a range. I try to shoot at least every other day for about 30 minutes and am fairly consitant at 15yds if I don't loose my concentration. I am working up to 20yds. I get home from work and shoot a little, it doesn't eat up all that much time.  

There are some film clips on this site that show good form. Use that and get with someone who shoots to watch you, then shoot and have fun. That’s what its all about. No one person has all the answers and like it has been said, “there is more than one way to do it” Don’t tell anyone but some on this site actually shoot carbon arrow and not cedar ones they hand carved. Get a used bow, some arrows, arm guard, glove/tab and start shooting.

Remember, its about having fun, not beating ourselves up or making the enjoyable something miserable.

Mark

[jdupre]

One small suggestion. Only concentrate on shooting the ARROW at the target. Most people put too much emphasis on the bow, but it is the arrow that does the work at a target or game. Whichever style you choose, MAKE that arrow go into the target.

[NDTerminator]

I started Traditional again about three months back after a couple decades of compound bows.  I practiced (and continue to practice) some every day.  It took about 4 weeks before I felt I could ethically take a 20 yard shot at a deer. Two weeks later I bumped off my first Traditional kill, a doe at 21 yards (see my avitar).

If it's remotely comfortable out, I stump shoot a bit nearly every day.  I have a 60 yard outdoor range but if it's too cold or windy to shoot outside I move to a 40 foot setup in my barn or 25 feet in my basement. I feel it's crucial to shoot a bit every day to get the muscles in condition and keep them that way.

When I'm shooting on the close setups accuracy really isn't a challenge, so I concentrate on form.

Rik made a valid point.  A few days ago, I stripped all the gadgets off one of my compounds but the sling & string silencers. I put on a Center Rest Flipper that has been in my tackle box since God knows when, turned it down to 53-54lbs to match my recurves, and did a quick tune with the same 520 grain CX Terminator Hunters I'm shooting from my recurves.  It was quite simple to get perfect arrow flight shooting with fingers and the flipper rest.  

I was amazed at how well the Traditional style I developed with my recurves translated to the barebow compound. I was downright deadly.  Bear in mind this is a 34" compound that is in no way designed to be shot with fingers. Also bear in mind the compound is no where near as fluid to shoot as a Trad bow.

Just FYI, my style is to hold about 4-5 seconds at full draw with lots of back tension while trying to burn a hole through my chosen spot with my eyes. I release when it feels right.  I hold my bow vertical with no cant. I'm about as far from the G. Fred/Fred Bear school of snap shooting as a guy can get...