Ice Age Archers- Mastodon Hunt

[duncan idaho]

Thought you all would find this interesting. This is a direct quote from the January 2012 issue of SMITHSONIAN Magazine.

"Near the end of the last ice age, a group of hunters in Washington state bagged a Mastodon. A new Texas A&M University led study of a Mastodon rib- with the PROJECTILE Point still embedded in it, shows that the animal lived 13,800 years ago. It is some of the oldest evidence of hunting in the New World, and more evidence that humans arrived well before the Clovis people, once thought to be the first Americans."  

Well, it is nice to think that the early hunter used a heavy self bow and heavy arrows, but, based on my research, it was probably a spear point. However, doesnt stop me from thinking about a Mastodon hunt and what I would use.mmmmmm. Probably a Sasquatch R/D/ longbow, double carbon limbs, 72 to 75 pounds in weight, 850 to 950 grain arrows, with a two blade VPA head, and, I would let that lead leg go as far forward as possible, in hopes of sliding through the ribs. Whats your Ice Age rig?

[DGF]

Fall can't get here soon enough.

One things for sure, heavy arrow and scary sharp 2 blade broadhead. No matter what I chose to use I wouldn't go it alone. The thought of quartering it out hurts my back just thinking of it.

Dan

[Ray Hammond]

Mike mitten and Denny Sturgis because they could each carry a ham afterward -would be my choice

[Mudd]

After reading Guru's posting of Andy's report about how the 300gr VPA did on Water Buffalo I think I'd want my arrows tipped with them.

That was a serious wound on an animal with very thick hide covering what almost amounts to under armor with those wide overlapping thick ribs.

I would also want to hunt it much the way they did...as one member of a large hunting party...lol

God bless,Mudd

[maineac]

The hair must have really slowed down the arrow on entrance.  I might up my arrow weight a bit just to have some more momentum.  Oh and have a big opening in the back of the blind for a quick exit.

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

I'll just run em off a cliff and save my arrows for conquering the tribe down the river.

[Rufus]

Might have to change the old saying "Pick three hairs and shoot at one" to "Pick three hairs and shoot between two".  

[flinter]

Darn, I knew I made a good hit on him!! I'll keep hiking the rain forest looking for another, in the mean time I'll chase those pesky elk that keep getting in the way, with my 59 lb. Bill Stewart takedown longbow, 700 gr. arrows tipped with a Woodsman Elite broadhead.  

[straitera]

Like the way you think BC! Nice setup perfect for the closest thing we now have to a stone age carnivore...Rosienaztydon.

[Ken Taylor]

Can't you just envision someone trying to decide what mount they should have done?

[JamesKerr]

I think I would want an 80# Black Widow recurve with atleast 1,000 grain arrow tipped with a razor sharp 2 blade.

[owlbait]

Like James I'm going to choose a bow with a long proven track record- Zipper recurve, 800-1000grain arrow with one of the NEW Kodiak single bevel heads. I like that S-wound channel with the 2 blade penetration! 2 holes, a third of the way up, slightly behing the crease.  He'll probably drop in sight before the blood drips of those long hairs and leaves a trail to follow! If I can't get the Zipper, I'll use a walnut cored Longwalker longbow. They sure like heavy arrows!          :D

[TxAg]

Gota love the Aggies!

[Blackhawk]

During that time, the elk were over 7 feet at the shoulder with an antler spread of 13 feet.  Even the beaver was the size of a modern black bear.

I concur that we should all be hunting in gangs and NEVER alone.

[rayzor150]

When going after beaver the size of a black bear I prefer stiff spined shaft, a minimum of 18% FOC and a very heavy head.

[ScottL]

I'll just eat what everyone else kills

[moththerlode]

Kind of hard to get off a good shot running and screaming like a girl

[Sam McMichael]

Yeah, motherlode probably has it just about figured out. This could be a time I'd leave the bow at home and carry a .458 magnum.

Now a 7 foot elk sounds interesting...

Of course you realize that if we organize a hunt, they will arrest us all. I don't think we could take our bows into the Museum of Natural History.

Does Rhinehart make Mastadon targets?

[rdoggsilva]

Originally posted by moththerlode:
Kind of hard to get off a good shot running and screaming like a girl